Buffs' Wildcat Formation Has USC's Attention; Montez Deep Ball On Target; Johnson Tackles For Loss Growing

BOULDER — They run the formation only a handful of times per game, but when the Colorado Buffaloes shift into their wildcat look, it gets everyone's attention in a hurry.

It's no wonder. The Buffs have been extremely productive from the formation, one that has either a running back or wide receiver line up and take the direct snap from center. While three different players — K.D. Nixon, Travon McMillian and Laviska Shenault Jr. — have run from the wildcat, it is Shenault who has had the most success for the 5-0 Buffs. The sophomore wide receiver has scored four touchdowns running up the middle from the wildcat — including two in last week's 28-21 win over Arizona State — and has converted four fourth downs.

It is just another reason the USC Trojans have spent extra time this week preparing for Shenault as they get ready for Colorado's 8:30 p.m. visit Saturday to the Los Angeles Coliseum (FS1).

Overall, Shenault has carried the ball 13 times for 41 yards for the Buffs (No. 19 AP, No. 18 USA Today). But that's just a side dish to go with the main meal — 51 catches for 708 yards and six receiving touchdowns. He has caught at least one touchdown pass in every game and leads the nation in receiving yards per game (141.6) and receptions per game (10.2). He has eight of the Buffs' 20 longest plays from scrimmage, including touchdown catches of 89, 57, 40, 30 and 28 yards.

"His physical presence on the outside, his route running ability — he is a deep ball threat first, great deep ball skills," USC coach Clay Helton said. "But then he has the ability to get the ball out on the perimeter. One-on-one tackling is going to be imperative to get him on the ground. (He is) a very strong physical person, 215 pounds with great ball skills. Very unique talent."

But while the Trojans are preparing for the threat Shenault poses on the outside, Helton said they have also been putting in extra work this week preparing for the wildcat — particularly since they haven't seen the formation from other opponents this year.

"He's got a running back mentality. Everybody in the park knows he's running it and they're being very successful with it," Helton said Wednesday. "(I'm) not giving away any game plan, but it's something you have to work on. We actually started early. We usually start red zone, goal line tomorrow; (this week) we actually started it yesterday. Just not seeing it a ton this year, in preparation for it. Not giving any game plan away, but we have spent extra time just in that facet. It's something they bring to the park each and every game."

The Buffs began incorporating the wildcat into their arsenal in fall camp, using a variety of players to take the direct snap. They have also made tweaks to the formation as the season has progressed, lining up stacked tight ends, running counters and putting players in motion in order to provide defenses a different look.

CU head coach Mike MacIntyre has hinted there are more different looks in store.

"I am pretty sure (defenses) will keep keying on it," MacIntyre said after the win over ASU. "We'll have some other wrinkles up our sleeve to do some different things with it. Our line is just blowing them off. Our tight ends are kicking people out. Laviska hits it downfield fast and he's powerful."

THIRD TIME A CHARM FOR MONTEZ? Colorado quarterback Steven Montez will make his third start against the Trojans. His first came in his redshirt freshman season, when he was filling in for an injured Sefo Liufau.

Montez suffered his first career loss as a starter in that game as the Buffs came up just short, 21-17, in the Coliseum. Last year, the Trojans took a 38-24 win in Boulder. In the two games combined, he is 55-for-93 for 651 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions.

"One of the things I showed the kids in the team meeting is how strong a man he has become," Helton said. "You're talking about a 6-5 body, almost 230 pounds. You look at what he's doing right now, escaping and creating not only running the ball and pulling it down, but finding his receivers. We've seen a lot of quarterbacks, they've either been a runner or they stay in the pocket. This kid is doing a nice job of creating with his legs and arm. We're going to need to contain him and get off the field."

Montez has taken a big step forward in throwing the long ball this year, as he has improved both his touch and his accuracy.

A year ago, Colorado had eight completions of 40 yards or longer in 12 games.

In five games this year, the Buffs already have eight completions of 40 yards or longer.

"Last year, we kind of struggled hitting the deep ball," Montez said. "A lot of times it was me. I was underthrowing and overthrowing the receivers and we had some guys open. This year, we are doing a better job of hitting the deep ball."

JOHNSON IMPROVING RAPIDLY: Junior college transfer Mustafa Johnson was one of the more pleasant surprises for the Buffs last spring, as he made the transition from JC ball to Division I quickly.

He has taken another step since then. Johnson, a 6-foot-2, 285-pound sophomore, is setting up home in opponents' backfields. Johnson is 11th in the nation with nine tackles for loss and 23rd in the nation in sacks with 4.5. In 224 defensive snaps, he has 37 tackles, second-best on the team.

He credits much of his steady improvement to defensive line coach Kwahn Drake.

"He's taught me a lot of new techniques, how to play box, and how to anticipate what's going to happen before the play happens," Johnson said. "So he taught me a lot of football knowledge and on top of that taught me a lot of life stuff, helping bring the energy to the team, helping out with the D-line and turning up."

Johnson said the goal against the Trojans will be to continue to disrupt their backfield — first against the run.

"It's going to be very important that we keep the temperature going and keep our physicality going and turn it up even more than what we have," he said. "It's going to help us with a lot of messing up the run game, help messing up the pass game. Our goal is always to stop the runs, keep teams one dimensional and help us. I think our physicality is going to make a big difference because it's going to allow us to make more plays on the ball and disrupt their offense. And that's what our goal is."

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu