Colorado Football: 2017 Buffaloes season preview, predictions
By Zach Bigalke
Offense
Last season, the Buffaloes improved their scoring numbers by a full touchdown from their 2015 production. That proved the difference between a 4-8 campaign and reaching double digits in the win column. And things should be just fine on that side of the ball, with nine starters returning from a group that put up 31 points per game in 2016.
The offensive line returns four of its five starters. The one new starter in the group, center Jonathan Huckins, is a redshirt senior who started 10 games at guard as a sophomore in 2015. This season, the group should be even better at protecting the quarterback and generating positive rushing plays.
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As a result, the running game could especially be improved. Phillip Lindsay enters his senior season as one of the top running backs in Colorado history. He led the Pac-12 with 16 rushing touchdowns in 2016 and could be even better this year. Lindsay is the linchpin in a deep group of senior skill players.
How will Steven Montez fare as full-time starter?
That group will have a different quarterback distributing the ball now that Sefo Liufau has graduated. But Steven Montez is not necessarily an unknown quantity. He was the starter for three games last year as Liufau fought through injuries, going 2-0 against the Oregon schools but losing to USC. He made it into 10 games overall last year as the backup to Liufau.
In the process, Montez threw 140 passing attempts. The redshirt freshman completed just under 60 percent of his throws for 1078 yards, nine touchdowns, and five interceptions. He also ran for 231 yards and a touchdown while averaging more than four yards per carry. The youngster was a great safety net for MacIntyre’s staff in 2016.
But now that Liufau is a Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie, Montez will be called upon to replicate his performances over an entire season. If he can boost his completion rate by even one to three percent, Montez would fall right in line with Liufau’s productivity in 2016. Between the two, they split around 450 passing attempts last year. If Montez even just trebles his attempts, he could finish with 3500 passing yards and 30 or more touchdowns.