HONOLULU — In preparing for his debut as an offensive coordinator Saturday night, Colorado legend Eric Bieniemy made senior tailback Rodney “Speedy” Stewart one of his pet projects.
Lightly recruited out of Columbus, Ohio, Stewart has carried the load for three seasons as CU’s most consistent running back. But Bieniemy believes he can get more out of the 5-foot-6, 175-pounder. There’s more there, in coachspeak.
Stewart was known to occasionally take a play off. It did not happen often, from what Bieniemy could decipher from watching 2010 game films. But for Bieniemy, once is too many.
During his days as a featured running back, Bieniemy always finished plays with a nonstop motor. He earned unanimous first-team All-America honors while helping lead Colorado to the 1990 Associated Press national championship.
“I told Speedy, ‘Here’s what you’ve got to understand: The next play is by far the most important play that you’ll ever have,’ ” Bieniemy said. “The bottom line is, we’ve got to learn to not take anything for granted. When you take things for granted, now you’re letting the next man down.
“What he has to understand is, with all that he has done, it comes with a great deal of responsibility.”
Bieniemy’s preaching seemed to strike a nerve. Stewart had a terrific August camp, taking more of a leadership role in CU’s new pro-set offense that emphasizes the running game.
Through three quarters against Hawaii at Aloha Stadium, Stewart had 49 yards on 16 carries. But he also had 90 yards on three catches, including a 52-yard pass play.
Bieniemy likes to say that Speedy has a chance to leave “big footprints” at Colorado. Entering the season, Stewart, with 2,744 career yards, needed to average 92 yards for the 13 regular-season games to break Bieniemy’s school rushing record of 3,940. CU does not include statistics from bowl games in his all-time records.
If Stewart does become CU’s all-time leading rusher, Bieniemy will be the first to greet him with a hug.
“E.B. is a good coach, a real good coach,” Stewart said. “He’s a perfectionist. He wants us to do something the right way all the time. If you mess up, you’re going to hear about it and he’ll make you do it over again.
“He expects big things of me this year. I’m a senior, so he expects me to lead. That’s what I’m trying to do.”
In addition to learning to maintain a higher level of effort, Stewart has improved his blocking in pass protection and his route running as a receiver out of the backfield, Bieniemy said.
And of course, Bieniemy has given some tips about toting the rock.
“You never want to take away a running back’s God-given ability,” Bieniemy said. “The only thing I’m doing is giving Speedy a starting point, teaching him how to read (the play) and to make sure he’s staying in sync and in rhythm with our offensive line.
“If he can do that, the rest is his show.”
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
