Spring Position Preview: After Montez, Experience At QB Is Limited

This is the sixth in a series of position previews as new Colorado head coach Mel Tucker and his staff conduct their first spring ball session in Boulder. The Buffs began spring workouts March 18 and will conclude with the April 27 spring game at Folsom Field.

BOULDER — Experience is not in abundant supply when it comes to Colorado's quarterbacks — at least not after the incumbent starter.

Only one quarterback on CU's roster, senior Steven Montez, has ever started a college game. In fact, when you combine the total number of career passes attempted by all the other quarterbacks on the Colorado roster (46), Montez has attempted more passes in one game three different times in his career.

Montez will enter his senior season with 24 consecutive starts and 27 in his career. He is already fourth among CU's career leaders in passing yards (6,841), attempts (907) and completions (565); and is third in touchdown passes (46).

But after the Colorado senior, experience at the position is sorely limited. Junior Sam Noyer has appeared in nine games in his career and attempted 41 passes with 21 completions; sophomore Tyler Lytle has played in four games with five attempts to his ledger (four completions). Neither has thrown a touchdown pass in college.

Also on the roster are redshirt freshman Blake Stenstrom and junior walk-on Josh Goldin, who found himself thrust into action last year as the holder for field goals and PATs after regular Alex Kinney suffered a shoulder injury.

2018 IN REVIEW: Colorado's quarterback numbers last year were a reflection of the Buffs' overall season.

Montez started the year as one of the nation's hottest signal callers, throwing for 1,420 yards, 11 touchdowns and just two interceptions in CU's first five games — all victories. Along the way, he won the Maxwell Award national Player of the Week award, and was twice selected as a Davey O'Brien Great Eight Star of the Week.

But over the last seven games of the season, all CU losses, Montez threw just eight more touchdown passes to go with seven interceptions, including two that were returned for scores in a loss to Cal in the season finale.

To be fair, Montez was backed into a corner to a large degree. He lost one of the nation's best receivers, Laviska Shenault Jr., in Week 6, and also worked behind a patchwork offensive line that ended up yielding 34 sacks. And, while CU did produce a 1,000-yard rusher in Travon McMillian, balance was by no means a consistent part of the equation. Opponents knew Colorado needed to throw to move the ball and adjusted their defenses accordingly.

Both Noyer and Lytle did see some game time last season. Noyer played in five games, going 8-for-14 for 60 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions; Lytle played in four games, going 4-for-5 for 55 yards, no touchdowns and one interception (all against Utah).

WHO'S BACK: Every quarterback who took a snap last year, along with Stenstrom, returns this season.

WHO'S NEW: The Buffs did not add a quarterback in Tucker's first recruiting class, something he will obviously address next year. But there is still a good chance CU could add a transfer or walkon between now and fall camp to give the Buffs a little more depth and another arm in camp.

SPRING STORYLINES: Tucker has made it clear since the day he arrived that nobody has a guaranteed starting job. He brings a "clean slate" philosophy to spring ball and is expecting everyone to earn their job.

Still, Montez no doubt has a massive head start on the competition, and he has helped himself already this spring by spending plenty of time in the film room and studying CU's new offense. He looked steady in CU's first spring practice, and appeared relatively comfortable in the new offensive sets.

But this spring will also be an opportunity for Noyer and Lytle to make some headway, particularly with new offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Jay Johnson in place.

Johnson is the third quarterbacks coach for CU in three years, as well as the third coordinator/play caller. He will almost certainly give Noyer and Lytle plenty of repetitions and a chance to push Montez, as well as get themselves comfortable with the offense.

Learning that offense, of course, will be the top priority. New formations, new scheme and new terminology will all be at the forefront. Even lining up under center, something Buffs QBs seldom did over the last several years, will be part of the equation. How quickly the quarterbacks learn the offense and gain command of their duties will go a long way in determining where they enter fall camp on the depth chart.

Stenstrom has been limited by an injury this spring but coaches are hopeful he will be ready for fall camp.

FALL CAMP LOOK AHEAD: After getting their feet wet with the new offense in spring ball, the Buffs will no doubt want to hit the ground running in fall camp.

While the depth chart won't be etched in stone, CU's coaches will no doubt have a very good idea of who their starter will be — and they will also likely have a clear idea on who the leader is in terms of a backup.

It doesn't mean there won't be competition in fall camp. That's when the starter and clear No. 2 will be decided. But CU coaches will also want their top two to get in as many reps as possible in the fall in the new offense before the Aug. 30 opener against Colorado State.

For Montez, fall camp will be crucial. He has an eye on playing at the next level, and CU's new pro-style offense should be invaluable in helping him prepare for that step. But more importantly, he will enter next season knowing he has one more year to hone his physical and mental skills and prove to NFL scouts that he deserves to hear his name called in the NFL Draft.

SPRING SCHEDULE: The Buffs will have two more practices this week before taking next week off for spring break. They will return to work April 1 and wrap up the spring with the annual spring game April 27 at Folsom Field.

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu