The 3-2-1, Special Teams concerns and importance of Conference opener

Today we play Sunday Morning Quarterback with a 3-2-1 column. We tell you three things we learned, ask two questions and make one bold prediction following Colorado’s 45-28 loss to Michigan.

Popular: Michigan Game Takeaways | Mistakes plague CU in 45-28 loss to Michigan

Message Boards: I Care More About the Injuries Than the Score | Gonzalez Gone for the Year

Poll: Did Colorado Lose Because? | ST coach owes the players/coaches and fans an apology.

1. Special teams is a major cause for concern moving forward. Prior to the Buffs’ 45-28 loss to Michigan, Special Teams had looked just fine. However, against a top tier program, Colorado’s Special Teams play led to the collapse of a 21-7 first quarter lead. The punt team allowed a blocked punt, which turned into a touchdown which made it 14-7.

The Buffs went up 21-7 and actually had an opportunity to go up 24-7, but Colorado kicker Diego Gonzalez shanked a 36-yard field goal. Also in the 2nd quarter, Colorado punter Alex Kinney literally punted into the protection, setting up another Michigan touchdown to make it 21-14. That second touchdown scored by Michigan’s Jehu Chesson awoke that 110,000 fans which Colorado had silenced to start.

There is no question that special teams led to 14 points for Michigan and -3 for Colorado in the first half. Special teams also allowed a 54-yard punt return for a touchdown. That is 21 points in the game Colorado’s special teams game is responsible for. Oddly enough Colorado does not have a special teams coach and to add insult to injury after the game it was announced that Colorado kicker Diego Gonzalez is done for the year with a torn Achilles tendon.

2. Sefo Liufau’s play has been tremendous. Liufau’s play through three-quarters was among the best in all of college football on Saturday.

Stood tall in the pocket, read through his progression, and put the ball where only his receivers could get to it, even former NFL Quarterback and now Michigan Head Football Coach Jim Harbaugh raved about Liufau’s play after the game, “I have the utmost respect for Sefo Liufau and the game that he played and the player he is. That first post route he threw, you cannot throw it any better. The next touchdown he threw on a fade route, that you cannot throw any better that he did. He was really effective all game. Then he gets that ankle injury which looked pretty serious, he hops up and throws a post route as good as you can possibly throw.”

After the game Head Colorado Football Coach Mike MacIntyre said Liufau’s injury was a sprain and they would not know the severity of the injury until Sunday or Monday. Through three games Liufau has a passing rating of 182.0 (2nd in the PAC 12) throwing for 54 of 76 (71.1 percentage) 768-yards, 6 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, with an average pass completion of 10.1-yards.

3. We knew this going into the game, but the fact that Colorado’s secondary is among the best in the country was reiterated against Michigan. As a unit, they have only allowed 3 passing touchdowns through three games and are giving up just 196-yards per game passing.

Chidobe Awuzie coming off the corner blitz caused and fumble which led to a score, Tedric Thompson made some incredible plays throughout the entire game, and Ahkello Witherspoon made some great deep ball man coverage plays.

It established that the athleticism and talent of the secondary will allow Colorado Defensive Coordinator Jim Leavitt to be aggressive with his plans to get heat on the quarterback or to send run blitzes.

1. Is Steven Montez ready to take over at Quarterback this week? If you look at the box score Montez has some very ugly passing stats in the few plays he saw against No. 4 ranked Michigan. 0 for 7 passing with a quarterback rating of 0.5. However, it should be noted that two of his early passes were right on the money, both of the passes dropped. One pass hit fullback/tight end George Fraizer right in the hands in the end zone.

That would have changed the entire game, maybe the bigger question here is why throw a deep ball to Fraizer with the game on the line? Montez has it in him and the loss should not be pointed at his lack of preparation, he was put in a very tough situation where any backup quarterback would have struggled and until he literally gives away a game, Colorado fans should hold judgment until after he’s led the team an entire four quarters.

2. How important is this conference play opener on the road at Oregon? A subscriber to CUSportsNation.com put it well on the message boards.

BuffaLaw8487 said, “I care more about the injuries than the score. Beating Michigan in Ann Arbor is a tall order for good teams. Even very good teams. Losing doesn't shock me. But Sefo getting hurt is the headline. Guy was freaking balling before he got hurt. And his loss stings worse than the final score.”

Very well put, while upsetting Michigan would garner national headlines it’s your PAC 12 play that counts, thus being banged up going into Autzen Stadium to take on Oregon will be another uphill battle for Colorado. Starting off Conference with a loss could be demoralizing for the team, especially if they were to get trounced. Your conference opener sets the tone for conference play, so in other words, the Oregon game is very important, especially when you’re 2-25 against conference foes since 2013.

1. This next game against Oregon will determine the direction Colorado goes for the remainder of the season. Is Colorado going to rebound from this Michigan loss and fight for their shot to win the PAC 12 South or are they going to fold up shop? Our prediction is Colorado will hold the rope and continue the rise. It’s been proven that you better not sleep on the 2016 Buffaloes.

Kyle Henderson is the Publisher of CUSportsNation.com, follow him and the staff on twitter @CUSportsNation | Phone number is: (720) 336-2717