Brooks: WRs Take Cue From Their Coach, Grind Away

(Fourth in a series of position-by-position previews of the 2013 Buffs to be posted on CUBuffs.com during preseason camp. Today: Receivers)

BOULDER - Talk to enough of Troy Walters' Colorado receivers and one word describing his coaching/playing philosophy is mentioned in nearly every conversation.

It's "grind" - and if the relevance of it is lost on any of his players they're probably not long for Walters' world.

"Regardless of the situation, you have to grind . . . he's a big grinder," offered junior slot receiver D.D. Goodson. "That means if you're first string or third or fourth, there's no excuse for not putting in work."

In his brief post-practice position meetings, Walters likes to pose this question to his guys: "Did you outwork the DBs at USC today? Oregon's? CSU's? I want them to feel like when they finished the day, they became better. They gave everything they had. I call it a grind because this isn't easy. You're going to feel like not getting up because you're sore. In order to be a great player and a great team we've got to do the extra even when you don't feel like it.

"I tell them that each day is a different day; it's a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately sport. Whether you had a successful day or a miserable day, the next day is a new day. There's always someone trying to take your spot."

Walters believes it's mandatory for his players to win the "50-50" battles for receptions. He hopes fans leave Folsom Field oohing and aahing about the tough catches the Buffs made, but privately he'll know a tough catch was made "because it's one we've been working on."

That's grinding, and Walters is cleat-wearing, whistle-blowing proof that it pays. A quick, compact receiver at Stanford, he finished his career in 1999 as a consensus All-American, the Biletkinoff Award winner and the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year. Walters never took a day - nary a play - off, and he expects the same from the Buffs receivers. He can make fierce demands because he's demanded the same of himself.

Said Goodson: "He's a really engaged guy. He comes out in his cleats and he's ready to go at it every day. He's a big competitor and back in his day he was a real playmaker. So that's what he brings to us. We have to make plays, have to set the tone in every practice. We have to get it going. Coach Walters has experienced it, so he knows what he's talking about. People listen when he's coaching us."

Before spring drills, Goodson moved from tailback and joined a receiving corps that at least (and at long last) looks the part. It's been a while since the Buffs were taken seriously at the position, but that might change this season.

Paul Richardson returns from knee rehabilitation and should be able to stretch the field. Underrated Nelson Spruce is back after leading CU in receptions in 2012. Tyler McCulloch is a big (6-5) and now more experienced target. Goodson seems a natural fit at his new position and the large and talented Jeff Thomas, a January enrollee, and any one of a trio of other freshmen could make an impact.

A hamstring problem abbreviated Thomas' spring work, but Walters is counting on him compensating with harder work although Thomas has been hampered early in camp. The incoming freshmen are Bryce Bobo, Elijah Dunston and Devin Ross. Walters says each will be given a chance "and if they're better than the veterans they're going to play. We're not good enough to not play someone who can help us win."

Richardson, said Walters, is "explosive, a game-changer . . . get him the ball anywhere on the field and he can change the scoreboard in a hurry. But he needs to stay healthy. We've had that talk; it doesn't matter how explosive you are, if you don't stay healthy you can't help us. He's got to understand that. He was voted a captain so he's working hard."

Walters has told "P-Rich" to put everything out of his mind - the Sept. 1 opener vs. Colorado State, total receptions and yards, yards per catch - and concentrate on being his best every day in practice. "Take it one day at a time and be the best out there," Walters said. "If you do that, then the season will take care of itself."

Will the Buffs feature enough other capable receivers to allow Richardson to escape being double-teamed twice a series? Walters thinks so, but adds, "The other guys are going to have to prove it in a game. I know Spruce had a decent year last year, but we're expecting more from him. He's got a year under his belt and has to be a guy who takes advantage of teams wanting to double Paul."

Walters said McCulloch, Thomas and the others have to do that, too: "That's respect, but as a staff we've got to find ways to move Paul around and if he is getting doubled we've got to find a way to make it hard on a defense to double him. And we'll do that. I don't think you can double him every play. And when they don't double him we've got to take advantage."

Goodson's two seasons at tailback helped him with a grasp of the offense that not many receivers have. Walters calls him "a guy who knows everything. He's able to play because he understands the offense and what we're trying to do. That gives him a head start on a lot of the guys. He's a little guy (5-6, 170) but he's quick and plays strong. In the slot he doesn't get bumped off by the linebacker and he's quick enough to beat a linebacker in space. You put him in space and he's going to make some things happen."

Before arriving at CU in 2011, Goodson had played receiver throughout most of his career. He was good from a team perspective with the switch to tailback, but not entirely comfortable. Shortly after Mike MacIntyre arrived in December as CU's new head coach, Goodson approached him about moving to receiver and discovered MacIntyre already was mulling the possibility.

"We were on the same page with it; right time, right place. It just all worked out," Goodson said. "It feels really good. I've played the position all my life and now I'm finally back at it. I feel like I can make a lot of plays. I feel good about my body and my hands. I've been working with the quarterbacks and I feel like we've got a good connect."

Already, Goodson's confidence in the receiving corps is building as much as his own. "I never get content or complacent, but I also feel like I can make the most of my talent at this position and I can make the most plays for my team," he said.

Could this be the group that gets a CU receiving corps back on the map?

This was Walters' answer: "I think we have the potential to be one of the best units in the Pac-12. I know in the preseason rankings we're last (CU is picked sixth in the Pac-12 South) and I think our guys have used that as motivation. But the big thing I tell them is if you do the little things, do what we ask, then good things are going to happen. I think this is going to be the start of getting Colorado football back to being known for producing some pretty good wide receivers."

Goodson agreed: "I see all of these receivers as playmakers for this offense. This is our time to step up and lead our team. I see that out of this receiving group. We've got a target on our backs, a chip on our shoulders. I feel like it's up to us to change this thing around."

THE INSIDE LOOK AT . . .

Wide receivers

Coach: Troy Walters, first year on CU staff

Returning starters: Tyler McCulloch, Jr.; Nelson Spruce, So.

Returnees: Paul Richardson, Jr.; D.D. Goodson, Jr.; Keenan Canty, Jr.; Alex Turbow, Sr.

Newcomers: Jeff Thomas, Fr.; Bryce Bobo, Fr.; Elijah Dunston, Fr.; Devin Ross, Fr.; Wesley Christiansen, Jr.; Cheldon West, Jr.

Key losses: Dustin Ebner, Gerald Thomas, Jarrod Darden

Stat line: Spruce's 44 receptions and 446 receiving yards led the Buffs in 2012, making him only the third freshman in school history to lead the team in receiving.

Bottom line: The return of Richardson should boost the Buffs' passing game, and with overall swift development (and consistent QB play) this receiving corps could be surprisingly good. Spruce proved his reliability last season but more is expected of him this season. Goodson appears ready to flourish at his new position, McCulloch figures to be a steadying influence and the speedy Canty has had his flashes. Thomas is a blooming talent, but injuries have limited his camp work just as they did during the spring. Watch for one or more of the other three freshmen - Ross, Bobo, Dunston - to make a move in camp and get on the field in September.

Next: Defensive backs

Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU