Boulder – Early in preseason camp, Colorado offensive coordinator Shawn Watson didn’t have much confidence in his group of wide receivers.
But as the days tick down to CU’s season opener against Colorado State on Saturday, one thing has changed.
Confidence.
Watson says CU’s wide receivers are in a much better position to be the playmakers he expects them to be this season. He said they made big strides the past couple of weeks.
“They’ve been really good fundamentally; they’ve been really good assignment-wise,” Watson said. “They’ve given me everything they have, and because they worked so hard, they are getting better and better and better, and they’re starting to make plays.
“So, I feel good about where they’re at right now, and I expect throughout the season we’ll just continue to see them grow.”
Watson has his five-man rotation set. Dusty Sprague and Evan Judge are the starters, with Alvin Barnett, Patrick Williams and Vance Washington providing support.
“Those five guys have been playing particularly well,” said Watson, adding that sophomore Reggie Joseph will have a role as well.
Watson is not the only person noticing. Quarterback Joel Klatt has been impressed, too.
“They’ve done a tremendous job taking coaching,” Klatt said. “Coach Watson has worked really hard making sure they know their assignments.
“They’ve worked themselves into a very efficient group of wideouts, and I’m excited to get this thing going this year.”
Klatt has had previous experience with Sprague and Judge, who both played big roles on the team last season.
Chemistry with Barnett, Williams, Washington and Joseph still has to be developed.
“They are a little younger, a little more inexperienced, but more athletic,” Klatt said. “So I’m excited to get out there Saturday and see what the adrenaline does for them.”
Watson said the wide receivers’ improvement has made it easier for him to slot them in the offense. He has a better idea of the players’ strengths, and what plays they can make consistently.
“You can see each one of their roles and how we’re going to use them with each of the different personnel groups we’ll be in,” Watson said.
“So, they have done a really nice job of mastering our offensive concepts. I’m really happy with where they are.”
Sprague, a third-year sophomore from Holyoke, is just eager to get on the field and erase the most-talked-about subject in reference to the receivers during the offseason – dropped passes.
“All eyes are on us as a group right now,” Sprague said. “It’s sort of nice. We’re excited to come out and prove some people wrong.”
