Buffs hope changes at top lead to more wins
For a program that has won 27 conference championships and a national title, Colorado football has become somewhat of an enigma.
The Buffaloes claimed a Pac-12 South title in 2016 but failed to win more than five games during each of the past two seasons. A change at the top has brought enthusiasm and a renewed push for success.
Orlando Sentinel college insider Matt Murschel ranked all 130 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in the country entering the 2019 season. The Sentinel staff will take a closer look at a new team daily, counting backward from No. 130 to our projected No. 1 team.
Today at No. 73: Colorado
Coach: Mel Tucker (0-0, entering first season; 0-0 overall)
2018 record: 5-7, 2-7 in the Pac-12 Conference; sixth in the South Division
Look back: Mike MacIntyre took over a mediocre Colorado program and quickly transformed the Buffaloes into a Pac-12 contender in four seasons. But as quickly as the program rose to relevance, it fell back to Earth with consecutive five-win seasons. Making matters worse, the team started 5-0 last year before dropping seven straight to close the year. MacIntyre was fired and Mel Tucker was brought in to turn things around.
8 Defensive starters returning: 6 Defensive starters lost: 5 3 Key losses: OL Aaron Haigler, OL Josh Kaiser, WR Jay MacIntyre, RB Travon McMillian, WR Juwann Winfree, DE Israel Antwine, DT Javier Edwards, DB Nick Fisher, LB Rick Gamboa, LB Drew Lewis, DB Evan Worthington
Top returnees: WR Tony Brown, OL Tim Lynott, QB Steven Montez, WR K.D. Nixon, OL Colby Pursell, WR Laviska Shenault, OL Will Sherman, OL Brett Tonz, CB Delrick Abrams, DE Mustafa Johnson, LB Nate Landman, LB Davion Taylor, LB Carson Wells, CB Dante Wigley
Strengths: Senior quarterback Steven Montez has demonstrated the ability to play at an elite level, but he has been hampered by miscues that have prevented him from taking the next big step forward. At 6-foot-5, Montez has NFL size and arm strength, but he struggles with his accuracy, having thrown 23 interceptions during 27 career starts.
Receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. led the Pac-12 in receptions (86) and yards per game (112.3) while accounting for 1,011 yards despite missing the final three games to injury. He scored 12 times on plays of at least 20-or-more yards last season. He’ll be joined by another player with big-play capabilities in junior K.D. Nixon, who was second on the team in receiving with 636 yards while also contributing in the return game.
Tucker’s background is in defense, so you would expect there to be extra emphasis on that unit heading into 2019. Colorado ranked fifth in the Pac-12 in total defense, allowing 380 yards per game, and the group returning features the team’s top tackler in linebacker Nate Landman (105 tackles) and the top sack leader in defensive end Mustafa Johnson (8.5 sacks).
Weaknesses: Despite producing a 1,000-yard rusher for the third straight campaign, Colorado saw its rushing offense toil throughout much of last season. The Buffaloes were ninth in the conference after averaging 143 yards per game on the ground. Alex Fontenot (43 yards) is the top statistical performer returning but he’ll be joined by redshirt freshmen Deion Smith and Jarek Broussard as well as true freshman Jaren Mangham.
The offensive line was pummeled much of last season, ranking near the bottom of the league in sacks allowed (34) while finishing last in tackles-for-a-loss-allowed after giving up nearly nine per game in 2018. Senior Tim Lynott is a three-year starter, and he is the anchor for a group that returns three starters as well as a graduate transfer in Arlington Hambright.
Outlook: Tucker brings a hardnosed approach, cultivated during his time working as a defensive assistant at Alabama and Georgia, to a Buffaloes program that has been to one bowl game during the past decade. The Buffs have the potential to rebound quickly, especially if returning players buy into his approach.
The upside for Tucker is that he inherits a roster with several offensive weapons, including Montez and Shenault while the defense features key veteran leadership from Landman and Delrick Abrams.