QB Montez Says Buffs Need To 'Come Out Swinging'
October 23, 2018 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — After two straight losses — both on the road — the Colorado Buffaloes believe they have some business to attend to Saturday when they host Oregon State in a 1 p.m. homecoming game at Folsom Field.
Among the top orders on the agenda will be regaining a little of the mojo that produced a 5-0 start and propelled the Buffs into the nation's top 25. That includes getting their offense back on track, one that has endured back-to-back season lows in points (20 and 13) and yards (265 and 263) over the last two weeks.
According to quarterback Steven Montez, the proper response — along with a solid week of practice — involves an angry mood.
"It is kind of like being backed into a corner," Montez said at Tuesday's weekly press conference. "The only way you are getting out of there is to come out swinging. That is what we plan on doing Saturday."
The 5-2 Buffs (2-2 Pac-12) have plenty on the line Saturday against the Beavers (1-6, 0-4). They can clinch bowl eligibility with a win and also stay in contention for a Pac-12 South title run in November.
Montez is confident the Buffs will approach Saturday's game with the proper attitude.
"It speaks to what this team is all about and how this team is wired," he said. "This group of guys on offense and defense has a lot of fight in them. They won't go out without a fight. That is what I expect on Saturday. You are going to see that physical football that we talk about on offense and defense. You are going to see us probably air the rock out a little bit and run it as well … We'll have a few wrinkles for Oregon State specifically for what they do. We will have a good plan for them and we'll go out there and be physical and hopefully out-execute them as well."
The Buffs' struggles on offense over the last two weeks have been spread across the board. CU's passing game — which was averaging 293 yards per game after the first five weeks — has averaged barely half that (157) over the last two games. The rushing attack, meanwhile, has been held under 120 yards twice.
"It will be huge for us this week to get some positive things going on offense," Montez said. "We have a good offense here. Oregon State is going to be a good team so we just have to see who brings their A-game on Saturday. We are going to work hard this entire week to get us prepared. Hopefully, we will go out and execute."
Throughout the first five weeks of the season, Montez was among the nation's top five quarterbacks in completion percentage. While his numbers have slipped over the last two games, he is still 11th in the nation with a 69.3 percent clip — 158-for-228 for 1,734 yards, 12 touchdowns and four interceptions. He is also fourth in the Pac-12 in total offense, averaging 270.6 yards per game.
Tuesday, Montez said he has been working on his reads and progressions — the process of moving through the potential open receivers on the field.
"Getting through progressions is one of the things I really need to improve on right now, and it needs to improve quick," he said. "Not getting stuck on the primary (receiver) and getting all the way through from primary to our third or fourth read. We have been working on that in practice. It has been getting better each day we work on it with the different progressions that we have."
Montez, by the way, has started 19 straight games, dating back to the beginning of the 2017 season. That is now tied with Joel Klatt for the fourth-longest such streak in CU history. Gale Weidner holds the record, starting 31 in a row from 1959-61.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
