Buffs QB Montez Ready For New Culture Of Tucker Regime

BOULDER — When Colorado quarterback Steven Montez heads into spring ball in March, he will be playing for his fourth offensive coordinator, third quarterback coach and second head coach in his five years in Boulder.

Montez wants to make sure his fifth and final season is his best as the program begins a new path under the direction of new head coach Mel Tucker. For CU's seniors, it will be one last chance to put a winning record on the board and earn a trip to a bowl game, something that has happened only once at Colorado (2016) in the last 13 years.

"I think everybody's ready to have a big year and put in the work we need to do to get there," Montez said earlier this week after a particularly grueling strength and conditioning session. "We all know that's the kind of culture Coach Tuck brought in — we're expected to win immediately. I think everybody's excited about that."

Indeed, one immediate theme that became apparent from the day Athletic Director Rick George introduced Tucker at a press conference is that CU isn't expecting to go into rebuilding mode. George made it clear he expects Colorado to win right away under Tucker, and Tucker — whose watchword has become "relentless" — has embraced those expectations.

His new players have seized upon that mentality.

"I don't think anyone in our locker room is thinking about taking a year or two to rebuild," Montez said. "I think Rick George and (associate A.D.) Lance Carl brought Coach Tuck in to win right away. They brought him in to change the culture and get us on top right now. I think that's what he's going to expect and I think that's what we all expect."

After starting three games as a redshirt freshman in 2016, Montez took the reins full time the following season, and has started every game since, a stretch of 24 straight games.

But while his numbers have been solid, they have by no means been spectacular, and each of the last two seasons have ended with 5-7 records and the Buffs home for the holidays instead of playing in a bowl game.

Still, Montez has already left his mark on the CU record books. He is fourth on Colorado's all-time passing list (6,841 yards), fourth in completions (565), third in touchdown passes (46) and third in total offense (7,648), and he will enter his final spring at Colorado as the incumbent starter.

But with a mostly new coaching staff, including new offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Jay Johnson, there is no doubt the competition will be open — likely the case at virtually every position. That will mean last year's backups, junior Sam Noyer and sophomore Tyler Lytle, will get a fresh look, as will redshirt freshman Blake Stenstrom.

This spring will also see the Buffs install a new offense under Johnson. While Tucker and Johnson haven't detailed what kind of attack they want to run, Johnson has said it will be a balanced attack, likely similar to what he ran as offensive coordinator at Louisiana and helped implement as an offensive quality control assistant at Georgia.

Montez started his career at CU with Brian Lindgren as his quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator. After two years, Lindgren and Darrin Chiaverini shared co-coordinator duties, and last year, Chiaverni and Klayton Adams were co-coordinators while Kurt Roper served as quarterbacks coach.

Now, Montez is anxious to begin working with Johnson. The two met briefly when Johnson was announced in December, and once the current recruiting season is finished, the quarterbacks and their new position coach can begin meeting regularly.

"There's always something you can learn and I think we're all looking forward to it," Montez said. "Every coach has something to bring the table and make you better. You always just try to be the best you can and put what they teach us out on the field. I think we all want to learn as much as we possibly can and I think we're all excited to get going."

Tucker's new system has already altered the Buffs' routine from past years. Instead of an early spring ball session, Tucker moved spring practices back to a more typical time, with the first practice scheduled March 18 and the spring game set for April 27.

That means a longer initial strength and conditioning session — nine weeks instead of five.

"It's longer, but that's good," Montez said. "We come in and work hard every single day. When spring ball starts, it's obviously going to be different because it's a new head coach, new coordinator and a new quarterback coach for the second straight year. I think it's a great opportunity for us to learn, grow and get better as players. You can already tell there's a new culture and some high expectations. I think everybody's excited about that."

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu