Montez’s performance may put Noyer in passing lane
WASH.» Eight PULLMAN, games into the season, the Colorado football team has proven that it has a long list of problems to fix.
In striving to salvage this season, CU coach Mike MacIntyre has decided to put the quarterback position on the top of that list.
During the Buffaloes’ 28-0 loss to Washington State on Saturday night, MacIntyre benched sophomore starter Steven Montez and turned over the keys of the offense to redshirt freshman Sam Noyer.
“It was not very good at all,” MacIntyre said of Montez’s performance.
Noyer’s performance wasn’t good either. Montez and Noyer combined to complete only 11-of-31 passes for just 74 yards.
With four games remaining, the Buffs (4-4, 1-4 Pac12) have to figure out which quarterback gives them the best chance to win.
And don’t forget walk-on Casey Marksberry, who made his collegiate debut Saturday. He was 2-of-3 passing for 20 yards.
“Definitely Casey could be an option if we don’t throw it to the right guy and read the right coverages,” MacIntyre said. “We’ve had people wide open and doing things, and we have to do it.
“We have to coach them better. We’ll definitely take responsibility for it, but players make plays and players win games when you get out on the field. We just have to do a better job of coaching them, and hopefully they’ll do a better job of playing.”
The only CU quarterback not in the running to be the start this fall is true freshman Tyler Lytle. MacIntyre said he won’t waste Lytle’s redshirt year at this point.
Before the Buffs’ loss to Washington State, Montez had done a solid job most of this season.
Going into the matchup with the Cougars, he was sixth in the Pac-12 in passing efficiency. He has twice as many touchdown passes (12) as interceptions (six). He still hasn’t thrown in interception since a pick-six against Washington in CU’s Pac-12 opener Sept. 23.
Montez played well in a 27-23 loss to UCLA on Sept. 30, and had it not been for his receivers dropping two touchdown passes, the Buffs may have won that game. The next week, the Buffs lost to Arizona 45-42. But it was hardly Montez’s fault; he passed for 251 yards and three touchdowns.
Montez had a bad first three quarters Oct. 14, but he was exceptional in the fourth and led the Buffs to two late touchdowns in a 36-33 win at Oregon State.
Saturday was, by far, the worst of Montez’s 11 career starts. He misfired on his first seven passes and finished 4-of-13 for 21 yards.