The Buffs have been sliding as they dropped two games in a row, bringing their overall record to 3-2. However, this week’s game looks like a bounce-back opportunity, as they head back to Folsom Field to face off against the Arizona Wildcats (2-2). Besides Utah and USC — who have jumped off to strong starts — the PAC-12 South looks open. There are three straightforward keys to the game; succeed these, and Buffs will be back on the right track once more:
Unleash Montez
The Arizona Wildcats have won in their last two trips to Boulder, and they’re looking to get their third. Stopping them requires the Buffaloes to unleash quarterback Steven Montez. Five games into the season, Montez has recorded 1,272 passing yards while completing 65.2 percent of his passes, which make for some pretty good numbers. He’s also the second-leading rusher on the team, and his 213 yards on the ground showcases his versatility. What he hasn’t been doing is taking care of the ball. He has six interceptions, most of which have put the Buffs in undesirable circumstances. Montez has to put things together for a full game, displaying both his passing and rushing ability. If he does, the this Buffs team will be hard to beat, come Saturday.
Get the offense in sync
As soon as Montez gets it going, the rest of the offense will start clicking. They go as he goes, and lucky for him, he has playmakers galore — they just have to all get it going at the same time. Running back Phillip Lindsay is on pace for his second consecutive season of 1,000-plus rushing yards, and has been a very consistent runner; scoring a touchdown in every game this season. It’s up to the Buffaloes to align that with the passing game as well. Though the passing game hasn’t been bad, with wide receivers Bryce Bobo, Devin Ross and Shay Fields, it should be better. Through four games, that receiving core has 878 total yards with five touchdowns. It should be on the Buffs to use this as a game to get them more involved and open up the running lanes as well. Expect a heavy dose of passing to get the offense back on the right track. This is the week.
The defense needs to turn up the heat
To say the Buffs’ pass rush has been a struggle would be an understatement. Against two very talented quarterbacks that will surely be playing at the next level in Jake Browning and Josh Rosen, the Buffaloes were only able to record a single sack. With a defensive unit that has linebacker Drew Lewis, Rick Gamboa, defensive lineman Leo Jackson, and defensive back Isaiah Oliver, among others, the pass rush desperately needs to step up as Colorado heads deep into conference play. Every win matters, and getting pressure up front is where that begins.