Colorado’s offense has been a mess through three games, and now the coaching staff is saying what everyone can see. Tight ends coach Brett Bartolone didn’t hold back when discussing the unit’s struggles, delivering some tough truths about where things stand.
With the Buffaloes sitting at 1-2 and looking lost on that side of the ball, honest conversations are finally happening about what needs to change.
What Colorado TE Coach Brett Bartolone Say About the Team’s Offense?
According to a social media post by Scott Procter, Bartolone was direct about the offense. “Whatever we’ve been doing hasn’t been working… we have to find an identity and solidify the QB position,” the passing game coordinator said.
Colorado TEs coach/passing game coordinator Brett Bartolone: “Whatever we’ve been doing hasn’t been working … we have to find an identity and solidify the QB position.” pic.twitter.com/77HHkZ1rGG
— Scott Procter (@ScottProcter_) September 17, 2025
The criticism comes as Colorado sits at 1-2 with poor offensive numbers. The Buffaloes are scoring just 17.0 points per game and averaging 334.3 total yards. Their passing game has been especially weak, putting up only 176.7 yards per game through the air.
Things get worse in the red zone. Colorado has scored touchdowns on just six of 11 trips inside the 20-yard line (54.5%), wasting chances to put points on the board. The Houston game showed how costly those missed opportunities can be — the Buffs managed only 20 points in a 36-20 loss that exposed their offensive problems.
The quarterback rotation hasn’t helped either. Colorado has shuffled between Kaidon Salter, Ryan Staub, and freshman Julian Lewis all season without finding consistency. The offense has managed just five explosive plays of 20 or more yards through three games, showing how little big-play ability the unit has right now.
How Did Kaidon Salter Become Colorado’s Starting QB Again?
According to Sports Illustrated, Kaidon Salter is expected to start Saturday’s home opener against Wyoming. The Liberty transfer started Colorado’s first two games before getting benched for Ryan Staub, who then struggled in the 36-20 loss to Houston with 204 yards passing and two interceptions.
The quarterback situation has been chaotic from the start. Salter began the season as the starter but lost his job after the opening loss to Georgia Tech. Sanders then used a three-quarterback rotation against Delaware, giving Salter, Staub, and five-star freshman Julian Lewis two series each to prove themselves.
Staub came out on top from that tryout, completing 7 of 10 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns in the 31-7 win over Delaware. However, his performance against Houston was not enough to keep the job. The redshirt sophomore managed just six points in the second half as Colorado fell behind early and never recovered.
Now, Colorado seems to be turning back to the quarterback they thought could solve their problems from the start.
Salter’s track record at Liberty shows why Sanders initially picked him — a 23-6 record as a starter with 6,046 passing yards and 57 touchdowns over four seasons. He also ran for 2,056 yards and helped lead Liberty to a 13-1 record and its first Fiesta Bowl appearance in 2023.
So far at Colorado, the numbers have been more modest due to the constant quarterback changes. Salter has completed 30 of 44 passes (68.2%) for 261 yards, one touchdown, and zero interceptions.
He’s also contributed two rushing touchdowns on 22 carries for 68 yards. Those numbers represent steady production from a quarterback known for taking care of the football.
Now, the Buffaloes need Salter to bring the stability that’s been missing all season. With Wyoming up next and tougher Big 12 games looming, they can’t afford to keep switching quarterbacks every few weeks if they want to turn this season around.
