Montez, Buffs Offense Set For Stingy ASU Defense

BOULDER — This week might not present the most-favorable conditions for the Colorado offense to shake its first-half blues.

When the 2-1 Buffs open Pac-12 play Saturday at 3-0 Arizona State, they will face a defense that has given up just three touchdowns in three games — and zero points in the first three quarters.

Kickoff is set for 8:10 p.m. on the Pac-12 Network.

It is not as if the Buffs haven't shown they are capable of reaching the end zone, as CU is averaging a healthy 36.3 points per game. The problem has been establishing some consistency early in the game.

In three games, CU has scored just 34 points in the first half, with 24 of those coming in the opener against Colorado State. The Buffs have managed to make up for the slow starts offensively with big second halves, scoring 75 points after halftime, including 51 in the fourth quarter. That has already eclipses the Buffs' fourth-quarter total from all of 2018, when CU scored just 39 points in the final period.

Still, there's no doubt the Buffs don't want to wait until after halftime to get their offense in gear. Playing from behind — something CU has been forced to do in all three games — isn't a trend Colorado would like to continue.

"It's just details," CU offensive coordinator Jay Johnson said of the first-half difficulties. "Details of what we do. If we look back, that's what makes it such an amazing game. All 11 have to be on the same page. We've had just a little bit of a mishap here or there, which has really reflected on us in a poor way."

Of course, anytime an offense struggles, the focus always begins on the quarterback. Colorado senior Steven Montez hasn't shied away from shouldering the responsibility.

"As a senior quarterback, a lot of the time when things don't go your way in a game, it's on the quarterback," he said. "I take all the responsibility that's given to me and I go out there and try to do my best. When things don't go our way and adversity hits us, like last week, we have to bounce back and we need have to come back and work. I think that's the biggest thing, just coming back, putting in the work, putting in the time, and then I think good things will happen for us in the future."

Thus far, it's been an up-and-down season for CU's senior quarterback. Now in his third year as CU's starter — and playing for his third quarterback coach in as many seasons — he has had his moments of brilliance (225 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter against Nebraska) as well as his struggles (115 yards in the first half vs. Air Force).

But Johnson said Montez continues to make progress, especially in such areas as pocket presence.

"That's always a work in progress," Johnson said. "That's probably one of the hardest things for a quarterback to really acquire. I think he's made great strides. There's a few times where he has had some pocket presence that needs to improve but we're working on it every day. He's really locked in. I think he's really, really been focused and I see some really big improvements. But we still have some room to grow and hopefully we can get there."

YOUNG ASU LINE: Arizona State may have one of the youngest starting offensive lines in the nation. The Sun Devils have two true freshmen starting up front in left tackle LaDarius Henderson — still just 17 years old — and right guard Donovan West. Meanwhile, they are protecting a true freshman quarterback, Jayden Daniels.

It's no secret the group has struggled early. Arizona State is averaging just 19.7 points per game, 111th in the nation, and has been held under 20 points twice in three games (but both were wins).

ASU has also already yielded 10 sacks this season, something Colorado will no doubt try to exploit. The CU defense has recorded eight sacks this year.

NO DEPTH CHART CHANGES: While CU had some shuffling on its offensive line last week against Air Force, this week's depth chart remains unchanged.

The changes on the O-line saw freshman Casey Roddick and sophomore Chance Lytle both get some significant snaps, with both on the field in the fourth quarter when CU scored two touchdowns to push the game into overtime.

Both bring size to the trenches. Roddick is listed at 6-4, 330 pounds; Lytle is 6-7, 320.

"Those are big strong kids that you really want to see play like big strong kids," O-line coach Chris Kapilovic said. "The thing is, you look at those big strong guys and they have no experience, they haven't played. That's the thing — you have to keep feeding them, bringing them along, rotating in practice, getting them some game reps so they can develop."

But this week's depth chart once again has junior Kary Kutsch starting at left guard and sophomore Colby Pursell at right guard.

BUFFS BITS: One change on the depth chart this week is sophomore Chris Miller moving into the No. 1 spot at right cornerback opposite Delrick Abrams Jr. at the left. Mekhi Blackmon is listed as the No. 2 at both corner spots … There is obviously also a change at strong safety, where Derrion Rakestraw is the starter in the wake of Aaron Maddux's injury last week … Saturday's game is an interesting matchup, as it pits the nation's No. 2 scoring defense (ASU giving up just 7.0 points per game) against the 39th scoring offense (CU at 36.3 per game). Meanwhile, Arizona State's offense is 111th in the nation in scoring (19.7 per game) while Colorado's defense is 98th in the nation (30.7 per game) …

Colorado is 81-42-2 all-time in conference openers, but just 4-15-1 when the opponent is a ranked team … The Buffs have won 32 of the last 41 pregame coin flips … This week's captains are quarterback Steven Montez (offense), linebacker Davion Taylor (defense) and Beau Bisharat (special teams).

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu