Buffs Camp Position Preview: QB Montez Ready To Take Game Up; No. 2 Still A Battle
August 09, 2019 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — When fall camp began for the Colorado Buffaloes, there were a handful of positions about which there was little or no question concerning who the CU starter would be when the lights go on Aug. 30 for the Buffs' season opener in Denver.
Quarterback, of course, was one of them. Senior Steven Montez has started every game for the Buffs over the last two seasons, and he has been the presumptive No. 1 since the Buffs opened the Mel Tucker Era last spring.
Montez has only cemented that spot thus far, with his first week in training camp maybe his most consistent in his five summers in Boulder. He has thrown the ball extremely well, he has worked closely with quarterbacks coach/offensive coordinator Jay Johnson on the playbook, and he has shown all the signs of being ready to take his game to the next level.
"I've been really impressed with his intellect and how quickly he picks up the schemes, the things that coach Johnson asks him to do, whether they're run checks, pass checks," Tucker said at last weekend's CU media day. "He really runs a good show. He's got command of the huddle."
Those are the things Tucker and Johnson have been watching carefully, the areas in which they wanted to see steady progress.
The arm? There's never been a question.
"The first time I saw him throw the ball, I said this guy's got as good an arm as anyone that I've seen — and I've seen some really good quarterbacks and coached against some really good quarterbacks," Tucker said. "In terms of arm talent, he has no deficiencies. He has really good size and he has really good mobility. He's a fierce competitor."
Johnson echoed those assessments.
"He's very talented," Johnson said. "Unbelievable arm talent. Probably one of the best arm talents I've seen. The thing I'm working with is the balance in the throw game. Imbalances lead to inaccuracies, so we're trying to work on that. Nobody has the luxury to sit back there and just throw it. You have to move, you have to feel the soft spots, the sweet spots — we're trying to work on all that."
Johnson is also helping Montez improve his decision-making process. Like many other strong-armed quarterbacks, Montez has never seen a throw he doesn't think he can complete — an attitude that has gotten more than one gunslinger in trouble.
"He's doing a good job mentally, and that's been pleasing to see," Johnson said. "You have to have a plan and we're working on that. When you get in those precarious situations, do you have a plan? Sometimes that plan is just throwing it away. That's been an emphasis for all of us — every quarterback. You can't will things to happen. Sometimes when things start to break down and feet are our clock, sometimes throwing it away is a good thing."
Montez has shown a particularly deft touch with the deep ball in camp thus far — "I love to see him spin the rock the way he does," Tucker said — and the new offense seems to be a good fit for him.
The key, Tucker said, will be making sure CU gives him the necessary help in every area. That means improving pass protection, developing a consistent run game and utilizing all the offensive weapons he has available.
But Montez isn't the only quarterback having a good camp. Johnson and Tucker both said they like what they have seen from the other scholarship quarterbacks — and that backup spot is where a position battle is still brewing. Junior Sam Noyer and sophomore Tyler Lytle have both followed up solid springs with good fall camp performances, and a healthy redshirt freshman Blake Stenstrom has put himself in the mix.
Wednesday, Tucker said it's "too early to tell" when it comes to even identifying a timeline for picking a No. 2. But as is the case with every No. 2, whoever earns the spot with the Buffs will have to be ready to play at a moment's notice.
"It's going to be what it's going to be, obviously," Tucker said. "We want to have as much depth at that position as possible. We've got four guys on scholarship who are more than capable of going out there and getting the job done. We'll see how it shakes out."
Both Noyer and Lytle have been getting plenty of snaps in camp, with both getting a chance to work with the top unit on occasion. The two have both displayed solid arms and have made excellent plays — and have both had their difficult moments as well.
Stenstrom, meanwhile, is having a good camp as well after missing spring ball with an injury.
"They all have some very good characteristics," Johnson said of his QBs. "I think they're all skilled. What I'm looking for is consistency, particularly now. The volume (of plays) that we have is greater and the volume the defense is doing is even higher. Those two things coupled together, how can they handle it? I'm looking for the guy that can consistently handle it at a high level."
WHO'S BACK: Seniors Steven Montez, Josh Goldin; Junior Sam Noyer; Sophomore Tyler Lytle; Redshirt freshman Blake Stenstrom.Â
WHO'S NEW: Freshman Grant Ciccarone.
WHAT'S IN STORE: This is a big year for Montez in a number of ways. It's his last chance to lead the Buffs to a winning season as a full-time starter and his last chance to impress the pro scouts. Meanwhile, the battle for the backup spot becomes even more important. Whoever gets the job will likely head into next spring as the Buffs No. 1 at the position.
STAT TO REMEMBER: Montez has put up solid numbers in his CU career, with 6,902 yards passing, 46 touchdowns and 23 interceptions. But in his three years in Boulder, his QB rating has dipped slightly each year. That's a trend he would love to reverse this year. Most importantly, however, is the stat that matters most — wins and losses. He would no doubt love to leave a senior legacy of a winning season and bowl game.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
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