Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Practice Report: WR Brown Starting Fast, Leadership Emerging, 'Finishing'
August 02, 2019 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Since the day he arrived as a transfer from Texas Tech in 2017, Colorado wide receiver Tony Brown has quietly made consistency his trademark.
Last season, Brown finished third on the team in receptions and yards, hauling in 32 catches for 333 yards and a touchdown. But heading into his senior year, expectations — his and his coaches' — have been elevated.
Friday, in the Buffs' second practice of fall camp, Brown had an outstanding day, hauling in several long balls from Steven Montez in 7-on-7 and team drills, as well as making some tough catches on intermediate routes.
It was enough to get the attention of head coach Mel Tucker.
 "One guy that stood out today was Tony Brown, a veteran guy," Tucker said after Friday's workout. "He and Steven have very good chemistry. He showed up in some intermediate routes and also on the deep ball a few times. That's always good to see when your veteran players who have played a lot of ball are leading by example, making plays."
There's no doubt that Brown has earned the confidence of Montez — but Brown said CU's quarterback has great trust in the entire receiving corps.
"I feel like Steven can depend on all of us," Brown said. "We're all playmakers, we all bring something to the table. It's not just me. We all have deep threat ability."
Montez did indeed distribute the ball evenly in the workout, also finding Laviska Shenault Jr., K.D. Nixon and Dimitri Stanley on a regular basis.
Brown, though, is showing the consistency that has earned him the designation of a "Steady Eddy" from WRs coach Darrin Chiaverini in the past.
"I think that's a big part of my game," Brown said. "My biggest thing is being consistent every day, being that guy that's ready every play. I don't want to have any ups and downs. Me being consistent, getting my rest, taking care of my body, perfecting my craft each day is important. I keep telling myself to get one percent better every day. One percent each day."
No doubt, it is early in camp. The Buffs have 23 more practices before they open the season Aug. 30 in Denver against in-state rival Colorado State (8 p.m., ESPN). Still, Brown likes where the summer and early camp have taken him so far.
"I know we're just two days in, but I feel like this is my best camp so far," he said. "I feel like I'm better than I was last year or the year before that. I made a lot of improvement in the offseason and had a good summer, and I think I can build on that. I just want to be that guy they can depend on every day, every play."
LEADERS CONTINUE TO EMERGE: For the second straight day, Tucker said CU players are continuing to assume the role of leaders.
Thursday, he singled out linebacker Nate Landman for taking the reins in that area. Friday, it was WR Nixon.
"Today in our punt drill K.D. was very helpful with the young guys that were gunners," Tucker said. "He helped those guys get lined up, make sure they had the right split, make sure they were in and out of the huddle and then he took his reps as well. It was an extra effort on his part to be a leader, but he knows how important it is. He's in shape, he's got energy and that's what we have to have from our veteran players. That's very good to see. I'm proud of K.D. for that and all of our older guys that are stepping up and leading for us."
Those kinds of developments will be critical for the Buffs as they move forward in fall camp — especially when the dog days of August hit home, that time when camp is a couple of weeks old and the first game is still a couple of weeks away.
"In the spring coaches were the leaders," Tucker said. "Now some of the older guys that know what our expectations are as a coaching staff, they're starting to step up and they're starting to lead. They're starting to take ownership, hold each other accountable, hold themselves accountable. With the coaches and those guys, we have more leadership. That's better for our team."
PRACTICE REPORT: After practice, Tucker told his players and then the media that he was pleased with the way his players "finished" on Friday. He challenged the players Thursday to improve in that area, and said he saw that improvement.
"We talked a lot yesterday about doing a better job finishing plays and our guys came out today and made a conscious effort to do that," he said. "Runners running through the echo of the whistle, receivers catching the ball and tucking it and bursting to the goal line. That allows our defense to get their pursuit angles and also finish on the ball."
One player that Tucker said improved in that area Friday was freshman running back Jaren Mangham.
"Jaren did a much better job today finishing runs," Tucker said. "He's a big back, he's a powerful guy, he's got good feet. Just learning how to finish and push through. We talked about that and he made a conscious effort today to do that." …Â
CU coaches also continue to stress ball security. "Ball security is job security," Tucker told the Buffs. Tucker, by the way, spends some time every day working specifically with defensive backs. He played in the secondary in college and has coached the secondary at a number of stop during his career. ...Â
One of the biggest plays from the defense in team drills came when junior linebacker Nate Landman batted a ball in the air near the line of scrimmage and fellow linebacker Carson Wells nabbed it for an interception … Linebacker Quinn Perry also knocked down a pass at the line of scrimmage … Safety Derrion Rakestraw had beautiful diving knockdown of a ball and safety Aaron Maddox came across the field to bat down what looked like a sure completion …
Wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. continues to make tough catches look easy ... Tony Brown, K.D. Nixon and Dimitri Stanley also came up with nice catches ... But while the WRs are showing up, one of the Buffs' biggest points of emphasis is on the running game, an area that Tucker has stressed will become more consistent this year. Tucker has said he wants a "stable" of backs, and Mangham, Alex Fontenot, Deion Smith, Jarek Broussard and Joe Davis are all showing the ability to find open space. Still, as Tucker noted, it's difficult to gauge their effectiveness in shorts and helmets, something that will change next week when the Buffs don full pads for the first time in camp ... Â
One of the more hotly contested position battles in camp will be safety, where Maddox, Rakestraw, grad transfer Mikial Onu, Trey Udoffia, Isaiah Lewis and true freshman Mark Perry are all getting some reps ... Up front on offense, redshirt freshman Casey Roddick got some time with the No. 1 group at left guard ... Sophomore inside linebacker Jonathan Van Diest continues to get plenty of reps next to Landman in the middle ... Â
Newcomers, meanwhile, are getting their chances to compete as well. That's especially true on the defensive line, a spot where true freshman Na'im Rodman turned heads on Friday. Also getting time with the top units in the trenches have been JC transfers Jeremiah Doss and Janaz Jordan , as well as true freshmen Austin Williams and Lloyd Murray Jr ... Other newcomers getting some quality reps in the first two practices include inside linebackers Marvin Ham II (a true freshman) and JC transfer Jash Allen; and D.J. Oats and K.J. Trujillo in the secondary.
SCHEDULE: The Buffs will be in shells (shorts and shoulder pads) Saturday for their open practice at Folsom Field. Gates will open at 8 a.m. (admission is free) with practice starting at approximately 8:50 a.m. and lasting for about two-and-a-half hours. A post-practice autograph/meet-the-team session will take place as well.
The Buffs will then have Sunday off and return to the field in shells on Monday before their first full-pads workout of camp on Tuesday.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
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