Brooks: Bieniemy's Backs Know Meaning Of Demanding

(Note: Fifth in a series previewing the Buffs position-by-position during training camp. Today: Tailbacks/fullbacks.)

BOULDER - He's grinning broadly when he says it, but Eric Bieniemy might be only half-kidding (maybe less) when he refers to last winter's coaching transition as a "hostile takeover."

If they believed they fully understood the meaning of "demanding," returning football players at the University of Colorado - particularly those at Bieniemy's position (running back) - quickly discovered they were badly misinformed.

"Yeah, they're pretty demanding," senior tailback Rodney "Speedy" Stewart understated a week into preseason camp. "But they're demanding for the right reasons. They want you to do the right thing. They want everybody doing their job."

And in Bieniemy's world, which revolves around football done right, not carrying out an assignment to the letter brings a quick trip to the sidelines. Stewart and CU's entire stable of tailbacks/fullbacks have heard, "Get out of this drill" countless times since camp opened on Aug. 4 - most of the time with ah, a colorful adjective preceding drill.

But there's a method behind the "EB" mayhem. Bieniemy, maybe new Buffs Coach Jon Embree's closest friend in coaching, is trying to groom his backs into steely, steady, utterly efficient and complete players.

Of the nine tailbacks/fullbacks on CU's roster, Bieinemy inherited six. Whether any of that half dozen would make Bieniemy's 2012 prospect list is of no concern now.

"Here's what you've got to understand: Whether I recruited them or not, my job is to make sure that they learn how to have the same attitude and mindset as their position coach," he said. "These are some competitive kids, so from that standpoint, yes they are (his kind of player).

"Now, understand this, too: These guys are Colorado Buffaloes. So they're family. When we took over as a staff, we understood that these guys were going to take on the personality of the people who are leading them. So we came in and it was a 'hostile takeover,' you know what I mean? But the bottom line is, these kids have been great. I can't stress it enough. They've been great."

It didn't take long for Bieniemy's players to understand where he was coming from or what was expected from them.

"I think I'm living up to this camp's expectations," senior tailback Brian Lockridge said. "The coaches demand a lot; you either do it or don't do it. They want the guys who do it - no excuses, just get it done. And that's good, having that behind you and that sense of drive to be perfect is a great thing to have.

"They demand a lot and it's one thing to have 'EB' yelling at you, but you yourself also wants to do it right. If not, they'll get another guy, guaranteed. It's great; everyone's competing and I'm loving it.

"I've always been a guy who's highly motivated, but you have something extra (in that regard) with 'EB.' He's a real fiery coach; you want to do things right, everything perfect. Not to say I didn't want that before, but there's more than me (motivating him) now."

Bieniemy's first tailback will be Stewart, who last season surpassed 1,000 yards for the first time in his CU career. After "Speedy," well, Bieniemy wants to develop a stable of backs, each capable of being plugged in and competing at a high level with the offense not downshifting. Nothing less, he contends, will get the Buffs through a demanding 13-game schedule that offers no breaks.

"I'm coaching all of them to be the starter," Bieniemy said. "When you're called on to play, we're not going to change the game plan. We're going to do what we do. When 'B-Lock' gets in there, I expect him to run the ball efficiently, to average 41/2 yards a carry. I expect him to pick up a blitz when he has to. And when he's called upon to make a play in the open field, that's going to be his job - and regardless of whether it's 'B-Lock,' Tony Jones, D.D. Goodson, Malcolm Creer, Josh Ford . . . or the fullbacks.

"All the guys are going to be coached to be the starter. I want these kids to understand that in any given situation, you never know what might happen. I want them to gain confidence . . . we're not going to change what we do. You never know when your time might come. You've got to step up. The team is counting on you to play at a high level."

Although Stewart is expecting as much from himself as Bieniemy is, he always has refrained from setting personal goals. "I really don't do that," Stewart said. "I'm learning to go hard on every play, that's the biggest thing I want to do this season - coming out every day, going hard and understanding the offense. I don't want to aim too high and come in lower than what I wanted. I just want to have a great year - the whole team, winning and getting this experience from the coaches."

But there is a yardage total that has Stewart's attention: If "Speedy" rushes for 1,197 yards this season - he ran for 1,318 last season - he can overtake his position coach as CU's career rushing leader.

Stewart might remind Bieniemy of himself - at least in size. Bieniemy played at CU as a 5-7, 195-pound tailback for the Buffs' 1990 national championship team and setting the school's still-standing career rushing record (3,940 yards). Stewart is 5-6, 180, and Bieniemy sees the makings of "a complete football player.

"That's the thing I love about him. When the ball's not in his hands I want him to accept the challenge of being a better pass protector. I want him to realize his ability of getting out of the backfield and having the ball thrown to him. I want him to realize that he cannot take this moment in his life for granted. Each and every day he's in practice, that particular play becomes the most important play. Don't take this time for granted; have a sense of urgency."

After about three months of training last spring with CU's sprinters on the track team, Stewart says he picked up "a lot of little details and techniques" that have made him faster. "They work their small muscles, their hips. I'm definitely faster now than when I started working with them."

"The little details" Stewart referred to, said CU sprint coach Drew Morano, specifically are "things like lifting his knees, working his arms and staying relaxed . . . those will be big for him."

Stewart's quickness is obvious, said Morano, "but his speed was an issue, and that's something we took upon ourselves to help him with. He had to work on getting his knees up and getting that lift to pull away from people - and not decelerate once he gets past 20 meters. We worked a little bit on his explosion, getting out of the blocks, but the main thing was working on his top-end speed. That's where he needs the most work. Obviously he can get through the hole, but getting away from the cornerbacks trying to run him down was kind of our main goal."

Morano said Stewart went beyond willing to learn: "He was a sponge. He would absolutely do anything; he would look me right in the eye as I talked to him and try and take in everything I said. And if he thought he was deficient in anything, he said, 'What can I do to fix it?' He was great; I really enjoyed having him around. He's very humble, a very good young man."

Almost everything Stewart absorbed under Morano should be beneficial this season. Straight-line sprinting is what Bieniemy wants from Stewart. In the past, he sometimes has been a "dancer," moving too much laterally when straight ahead is the best route.

"That's my goal . . . I want him to see he's a much better runner when he's going north and south," Bieniemy said. "I will say this: My job isn't to take away 'Speedy's' creativity. My job is to give him a starting point and from there, execute the scheme. In open field, be 'Speedy.' But there's certain footwork we want; we want him to get north and south. He's so good when he puts his foot down and accelerates to that hole. That's what I want him to understand; yards are hard to come by.

"When I'm out there with him, I quote my old running backs coach (at CU). Oliver Lucas used to say, 'I don't want you out there stomping snakes and killing all that good grass; put your foot down and get up the field.' That's what I want from 'Speedy.'"

Bieniemy, who also is Embree's offensive coordinator, has installed a hard-nosed running game that will feature Stewart usually lined up behind a fullback and a mammoth offensive line. The pro-style attack, said Stewart, has been welcomed by players, but he adds: "It doesn't really make a difference whether we're in a spread or pro offense. It's us coming out and doing our jobs every single day, drilling it in our heads that if you come to practice you can't take time off. You've got to do everything right all the time. Once you do that, it comes easier."

One of the fullbacks in front of Stewart and Lockridge will be senior Evan Harrington, who like senior Tyler Ahles is a converted linebacker. Bieniemy says he "couldn't be any more proud" of the pair - even though he wasn't sure how either would take to the transition. "We joke about this in the running back room," Bieniemy said. "The first day I said, 'Oh Lord, I don't know about this.' But I'll tell you, those are two prideful kids. The only thing they want is a chance to get on the field and show what they can do. Improvement and strides has been light years. They're getting better. I wish they weren't graduating . . . they're just great kids."

Harrington, a 2010 transfer from the College of The Canyons, left spring drills with a decree from Bieniemy to gain weight. At the time, the 5-11 Harrington weighed 212. He reported to camp weighing 230 - the product of strength and conditioning director Malcolm Blacken's off-season program, continued weight work back at his junior college in Santa Clarita, Calif., and Harrington simply become more diet conscious.

Harrington played fullback in high school, so the position switch didn't thrust him into a completely foreign role. He's been pleasantly surprised, though, by how much Bieniemy's offense appears to utilize his position.

"It's been pretty surprising; we've been getting a lot of check down routes and seeing the ball a lot," Harrington said. "It's been an adjustment for me, but it's been fun. I'm just trying to do everything I can to get better each day, and more importantly to help the team out.

"My blocking is up to speed, but there's always room to get better. 'EB' says every day to work on something to get better - whether it's blocking, catching the ball or just your assignments. I'm not where I need to be, but I come out every day and try to get better."

Bieniemy expects that from all of his players, and he's seen a night-day difference from his introduction to them last winter and this summer. "The first few days this spring, we came into it as a staff and said, 'Oh my goodness, we've got a long ways to go,'" he recalled. "But those guys bought in and worked their tails off each and every day and progressively made improvement and strides.

"After going through that spring process and getting to where we are right now, we are a lot better than what we were. But understand this, I want to be cautious when I say this, we're a lot better because we know what to do. Are we there yet? No. There's still a long ways to go. But I do believe this: if they continue to work as hard as they are and put the time and effort into the books, the sky can be the limit for this group of guys."

The offense he and Embree introduced in January is heavily influenced by what each learned as NFL assistants - Embree with Kansas City and Washington, Bieniemy with Minnesota. CU's players, said Bieniemy, identify with what they're being taught because they see it on Sundays.

"The beauty of it is, with the pro style we're running, coming out and showing guys what the Minnesota Vikings and the Washington Redskins did, it gives the guys an added sense of motivation and enjoyment in what they're doing," he said. "Watching a Bret Favre or Donovan McNabb or Adrian Peterson or Percy Harvin . . . they're running the same exact scheme as we do.

"These kids are all in; they're working their tails off. I've been in this profession now for 11 years and that's all you can ask - work hard and focus on improving one aspect of your game each and every day. We've seen that."

CU's offense, said Lockridge, is a fine fit for his and his teammates' skill sets: "It's a good match . . . it's hard-nosed football, running downhill. But most of all it's physical. Football is a physical game and coaches want you to play that way. That's football."

Bieniemy remaining tailbacks include returnees Tony Jones and Josh Ford, and incoming freshmen D.D. Goodson and Malcolm Creer. All, insists Bieniemy, will play: "We've got 13 games. I've got to have six starting running backs. Bottom line is, my job is to teach, then motivating them in the proper way. At times I know my methods can be, ah, misconstrued. But the bottom line is, I'm going to love 'em up and make them understand, hey, the reason why I'm hard on you is because I need you to make this play. I'm going to be their harshest critic, but also their biggest fan."

BUFF BITS: Wednesday morning's practice featured an abundance of two-minute drills that Embree said was as much about conditioning as situational work. He said his players need "to keep pushing themselves, but for the most part I'm pleased with how practice went." . . . . Embree said he already has looked at Hawaii "a ton . . . I've seen every (2010) game on both sides and certain opponents I've watched five or six times, both sides." He called Hawaii a good opening test: "We're going to see guys like their quarterback seven or eight times (in the Pac-12). You might as well find out early." . . . . He said he's confident in his whole team, but singled out the defensive line as "having a very good camp." He also said the offensive line, when it is up to speed with its five starters, has looked solid . . . . A defensive back making his move is redshirt freshman corner Josh Moten, or "J-Mo." "He's been good the last couple of days," Embree said. "He's one of the few guys out there who catches it when he touches it. He's had a couple of picks and he's been aggressive and physical. 'J-Mo' has definitely put himself in the mix." . . . . Junior defensive back Makiri Pugh, a 2010 transfer from Georgia, has requested a shift to wide receiver. He practiced at the position Wednesday morning. Embree said a better evaluation of Moten as a wide out would have to wait until spring . . . . Various punting situations were emphasized Tuesday morning, and Embree said incumbent sophomore Zach Grossnickle had taken a slight lead over walk-on freshman Darragh O'Neill. Grossnickle's punts appeared to have better hang time - a huge factor for Embree, who will allow the competition to continue for a couple more days at least . . . . Along with the usual nicks and bruises of a preseason camp, the flu bug continues to run its course through the Buffs. Embree said 15 to 20 players have been hit, with many requiring two, three and four IV bags for re-hydration. Still, very few have missed practice. "That's the mindset of these guys," he said, lauding them for their determination. In his post-practice huddle, he asked for a show of hands of how many of them were "nicked." About three-quarters of the team's hands went up. Because of their efforts, he told them, "We beat somebody today . . . we're working hard and it will pay off." . . . . Held out of practice Tuesday were Stewart (tight hamstring), receiver Paul Richardson (sore groin) and tight end Kyle Slavin and safety Will Harlos, both with flu symptoms. Embree said it was his decision to hold out Stewart and Richardson because he knew the abilities of each and wanted to evaluate other players at their positions . . . . Back-up quarterback Nick Hirschman (foot sprain) expects to return to practice on Monday . . . . Former Buffs tailback Chris Brown has attended the last two days of practice. He said his NFL career is behind him and he's in the process of determining where he wants to settle, with Houston (his current home), Chicago (his hometown) or Boulder being his three options.

THE INSIDE LOOK AT . . .

Running backs/fullbacks

Coach: Eric Bieniemy, first season at CU under Jon Embree; second stint on CU staff.

Returning starters: TB Rodney Stewart, Sr.

Returnees: TB Brian Lockridge, Sr.; TB Tony Jones, Fr-RS; TB Josh Ford, Soph.; FB Evan Harrington, Sr.; FB Tyler Ahles, Sr. (both Harrington and Ahles are former linebackers).

Newcomers: TB D.D. Goodson, Fr.; TB Malcolm Creer, Fr.; FB Nick Plimpton, Fr. (walk-on).

Key losses: TB Corey Nabors, TB Cordary Allen (moved to tight end).

Stat line: The Buffs ran for 137.0 yards a game last season, with Stewart averaging 109.8 and scoring 10 touchdowns. He topped 1,000 yards (1,318) for the first time in his career. When Stewart hits the 256-yard mark this season, he'll become the fourth Buffs player to hit 3,000.

Bottom line: Bieniemy demands much of his backfield and believes the Buffs' 13-game schedule will demand that his entire stable of backs be ready to play. Stewart should be in for a banner season in a running game that has been prioritized, and once Lockridge hits 100 percent physically his productivity should increase. The fullbacks will be key in CU's offense; Harrington appears a good fit at the position. If the Buffs running game isn't productive, it won't because it hasn't been emphasized. Newcomer to watch: Goodson.

Next: Wide receivers

Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU