Colorado Football: How will Mel Tucker fare in Year 1 with Buffaloes?

Buffaloes have talent at skill positions

Colorado’s offense started out last season on fire and averaged 37 points per game through the first five contests, which were all victories. However, the unit limped towards the finish line and averaged just 19 points per game over the teams’ last seven contests, which were all losses.

Senior quarterback Steven Montez has 6,841 career passing yards and he’s currently No. 3 on Colorado’s all-time list for passing touchdowns at 46. He also has the mobility to move the chains and extend plays.

The Buffaloes are green at the running back position after losing 1,000-yard rusher Travon McMillan. No rusher on the roster had more than 69 carries last season and Colorado finished 100th nationally in rush yards per game. However, Montez has an arsenal of weapons to throw the ball to this fall, including junior wide receivers K.D. Nixon and Laviska Shenault.

Nixon is the short and elusive one of the two, who led the team yards per catch. Shenault earned All-Pac-12 honors as a true sophomore and led the league in receptions, receiving yards per game and had five rushing scores. Not to mention he accomplished those feats in just nine games.

Shenault and Nixon are the Buffaloes’ dynamic duo and combined for 138 catches, 1,647 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.

Everything starts with the big boys up front and Montez will be operating behind an offensive line that returns three starters. If the offense wants to improve the unit will have to do a better job at keeping Montez upright and healthy after allowing 34 sacks last season.