Colorado football took care of business against the Colorado State Rams in their first game of the season by a 14-point margin of victory.
Colorado started fast against their in-state rival Colorado State. The Buffaloes are coming off a 10-win season where they made it to the PAC-12 Championship Game. Quarterback Steven Montez had a strong first half in the absence of Sefo Liufau.
Running back Phillip Lindsay and wide receiver Shay Fields were left as the leaders of the Colorado offense. Montez also looked good when he got the chance to play last year. He’s the guy with the keys to the Buffs’ offense this year.
Colorado State had a great performance in the opening weekend of the college football season when they beat the Oregon State Beavers 58-27. Rams quarterback Nick Stevens was the real deal with his huge performance in that game. However, Stevens did not manage a single touchdown and threw two interceptions.
The Colorado defense looks every bit the part that they did last year. Even with the departure of key players such as defensive back Chidobe Awuzie, the Buffs shut down a prolific Colorado State passing attack. Trey Udoffia and Evan Worthington each picked off Stevens once.
We know, once again, who the best college team in the state of Colorado is. The Buffs should compete in the PAC-12 again in 2017. With how much the Washington Huskies struggled in the first half against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Colorado could have a great shot at winning the PAC-12 North again.
Now, let’s take a look at 3 key takeaways from Colorado’s victory over Colorado State.
1. Steven Montez still needs some work
Colorado has a QB with a huge arm in Steven Montez. He just needs to control his throwing a little bit better. Montez threw one touchdown and two interceptions. He found his primary targets, Shay Fields and Bryce Bobo, 14 times.
Some PAC-12 secondaries are very good. USC and Washington are two of the best teams in the conference and both have great secondaries. Colorado State does not have a great secondary. Yet, Montez found Ram defensive back Kevin Nutt Jr. for two interceptions.
Since Montez has not even started half a season yet, we can’t jump to conclusions. He could dramatically improve over the coming weeks. The recklessness he shows should improve as he gains more valuable experience.
2. Phillip Lindsay needs more national attention
Phillip Lindsay will be the best player on this Colorado team. He was the primary source of offense last year. That should only increase this year. Lindsay totaled 140 yards on 19 carries with one touchdown. He added another 16 yards receiving.
Colorado showed tonight that they need scoring from whatever source they can get it from. Montez struggled to consistently find his receivers. Lindsay averaged 7.4 yards per carry and seems like the most reliable option for the Buffs.
Of Colorado’s 143 rushing yards, only three came from a source not named Phillip Lindsay. Backup running back Michael Adkins II rushed for 10 yards on four attempts. Hopefully for Colorado fans, Lindsay stays healthy for the entire season.
Lindsay does not get the national attention he deserves. Numerous PAC-12 running backs such as USC’s Ronald Jones II, Oregon’s Royce Freeman, Washington’s Myles Gaskin, and Oregon State’s Ryan Nall fly under the radar.
3. PAC-12 South take notice
Colorado and Utah seem to be the forgotten teams of the PAC-12. Both competed at the top of the PAC-12 South. The Buffs should be better than the Utes but both will give USC a good challenge in the division.
The favorites to walk away with the PAC-12 Title seem to be USC, Washington, Stanford, and Washington State. Washington did not look great in their opener. However, the Stanford Cardinal looked fantastic when they faced the Rice Owls in Australia.
The Buffs slipped under the radar last year. This year, they have a target on their backs. Opposing teams will be better prepared for what head coach Mike MacIntyre and the Buffs have to offer. Yet, they handily defeated a very good Group of Five program in Colorado State.
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If Oregon State proves to be a competitive team this year, that directly correlates to a positive outlook for Colorado. Not only should they compete at the top of the PAC-12 standings, no one should be surprised if they make it back to the conference title game.