Mike MacIntyre has been getting this question a lot lately: How frustrating is it that you guys are so close to getting over the hump, but aren't quite there yet?

Even before the query is complete, the Colorado head coach has his response tee'd up.

"Sitting on 'so close' is a lot better than sitting on 'far away,'" MacIntyre said, half chuckling, half serious. "That's where we used to be, so it's a lot better. We are improving in increments. We were so bad when we got here. We've come a long way. And the 'long way' has us right there on the verge. Now we have to get over the hump."

Just so there is no confusion, MacIntyre isn't resting on moral victories or accepting attaboys. He sees things in black and white and wins and losses as clearly as everyone else. But he's also aware of what it takes to turn this Colorado program -- one that had plummeted into being one of the worst in college football -- into a competitive team from a Power 5 conference. This isn't San Jose State, a school that MacIntyre turned around before coming to Colorado. And he knows it.

"I'm patiently impatient, if that makes sense," MacIntyre said. "You have to be that way to build a strong foundation and a strong program. It takes time to do that. We've been progressively moving forward. ... It takes a while to build. And in a power conference against well-established programs, it takes longer."

As far as wins and losses go, the Mike MacIntyre era is undistinguished on paper. A 10-27 record over the last three seasons, including a 2-25 mark in Pac-12 competition, doesn't even qualify as mediocre. But within the black and white is a hue of gray that gives MacIntyre both reason for optimism and a leg to stand on in his quest for a culture change in Boulder. There is quantitative, empirical evidence that Colorado is in fact getting better each season under MacIntyre, despite what the record says.

For instance, in his first season (2013) Colorado only had one game that it lost by one possession. A year later that number rose to four, including two double-overtime losses. Last season, five of Colorado's nine losses were by a touchdown or less. The proof is there. Colorado is becoming tougher to beat.

But losses, be it by five points or 50, are still losses. MacIntyre knows the only magic bullet is time. Quick fixes are rare, and when they do happen, they are usually fleeting. MacIntyre isn't trying to build a one-year wonder. He's trying to construct a sustainable program that can be competitive annually. That takes multiple recruiting cycles. And he's confident his Buffs are almost at the point where they can start establishing themselves.

"We have a big senior class and a huge junior class and a lot of guys who have played a lot of football," MacIntyre said. "They understand the importance of little details and understand it's a process. It's a process in perseverance and it's a process in work ethic.

"I tell our team all the time, we're a better team if you look over your right shoulder and that guy can beat you out. And you look over your left shoulder and that guy can beat you out. We're starting to get to that point. And when you get to that point, that's when you become more than a good team. You become a good program."

Last year saw significant improvement on the defensive side of the ball. For the first time under MacIntyre, the Buffs were in the black in turnover margin at plus-1 (compared to minus-10 the year before) and they were the only Power 5 conference team to force a turnover in every game (only six total teams pulled it off). They also dropped their defensive scoring average from 39 points per game in 2014 to 27.5 in 2015 -- sixth in the league.

But it's still two steps forward, one step back. Because while the defense surged, the offense regressed -- specifically in the red zone where the Buffs were last in the league and 120th nationally (38 of 54).

MacIntyre cited that as the No. 1 priority this spring, saying he needs to see more efficiency out of the offense. Clouding the issue is a lack of quarterback depth for the spring session. Sefo Liufau is continuing to rehab a Lisfranc foot injury and his status for 2016 remains in limbo.

"All I can say is a Lisfranc injury is very, very, very serious," he said. "Mentally you think you're back, and then you can't stand on it for a couple of days. I've been through a lot of them. Sometimes it takes a year. Sometimes it takes two. He's working hard at getting back. That's where it sits."

If Liufau can't go in 2016, Texas Tech graduate transfer Davis Webb is expected to be in the mix to start, though he won't be on campus until May. Liufau's backup last season -- Cade Apsay -- was recently dismissed for violating team rules. That leaves Jordan Gehrke and Steven Montez taking the bulk of the snaps. It's helpful for them to get reps, obviously. But probably won't do much in the way of continuity if Liufau returns or Webb gets the starting job.

Two steps forward, one step back.

"Well get there," MacIntyre said. "We've got depth now. That's comforting to a coach. We'll keep improving and fine-tuning."