Buffs QBs Know Importance Of 'Next Man Up'
August 16, 2017 | Football
BOULDER — Of all the lessons learned from the Colorado Buffaloes' 2016 season, one of the more important was how valuable the "next man up" philosophy actually is.
Every coach preaches the principal, stressing the importance of backups being prepared to step into the No. 1 role at a moment's notice.
But it's often not until such a situation occurs that the significance of such preparation becomes evident — and the Buffs saw exactly that when quarterback Sefo Liufau went down with an injury in the third quarter of the Michigan game.
Liufau was replaced in the game by then-freshman Steven Montez, who struggled in his second appearance as a Buff. Montez, who later admitted he wasn't as prepared as he could have been, did not complete a pass in seven attempts and was sacked twice.
But given a week to prepare, Montez came back the following week to lead Colorado to a 41-38 win at Oregon, a game that saw him earn Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week honors as well as several national awards.
It's a lesson that CU head coach Mike MacIntyre believes this year's No. 2 quarterback, redshirt freshman Sam Noyer, has taken to heart.
"I think it was great lesson for him to understand that any time you could be in there," MacIntyre said after Wednesday's practice. "He saw how Steven responded and how Steven did really well sometimes and sometimes he wasn't quite ready coming off the bench. That's even helped Sam because he was right there with him, signaling. … He goes 'That could be me next year.'"
Noyer has had an excellent camp thus far. He's made big strides since last fall, due in part to a year in the weight room as well as the simple benefit of more experience with CU's offense.
"I see a very good athlete, I see an excellent arm, I see a guy that has improved from last fall's camp to this fall's camp," MacIntyre said. "He's very athletic, he can make all the throws. I've been really really pleased with Sam."
Noyer has had plenty of chances to prove himself in camp, working mainly with the No. 2 offense, but also getting some snaps with the No. 1 group on occasion.
"The way he's preparing, the repetitions were giving him, all that is a little bit different when you're up with the ones and the twos most all of the time," MacIntyre said. "I think that helps him be prepared against the talent and the speed of the game."
LEE A REDSHIRT CANDIDATE: MacIntyre said senior running back Donovan Lee could be a candidate for a redshirt.
Lee is one of three seniors in the backfield this fall, but the other two — Phillip Lindsay and Michael Adkins II — have already used their redshirt year. How it plays out will depend upon whether the Buffs are hit by injury in the backfield this year.
"Donovan and I have talked about that," MacIntyre said. "Because we lose so many running backs, it would be good for him to be able to come back if he could. But if we get injuries, he's ready to roll and play because he can do so many things for us, and special teams."
MacIntyre said Lee is receptive to the possibility. If Lee did end up redshirting, he would be the only senior next year in a group that would also include Beau Bisharat (who will be a junior next fall) and Alex Fontenot, a freshman who will likely redshirt this season.
PRACTICE NOTES: After putting in their longest practice of camp on Tuesday, a three-hour session in full pads, the Buffs were back in light pads for Wednesday's workout, one that saw them go through a brisk 90-minute session that emphasized situation drills. The Buffs worked on end-of-game scenarios, interception returns and put in some more red zone work, and also put in some special teams work.
SCHEDULE: The Buffs will be back in light pads Thursday, then return to full pads on Friday for an evening scrimmage, the third and final major scrimmage of camp.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
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