UT position analysis: Wide receivers Lots of catching up to do

Talk to Tennessee football coaches and they’ll tell you as much.

It’s put-up-or-shut-up time for a heralded group of Vols’ wide receivers.

"We have a chance to be a solid corps, but those guys have to step up and prove themselves," offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe said. "We’re not looking to play by committee. We’re looking to earn playing time."

The only thing UT’s receivers earned last year were bewildered looks after too many inconsistent routes, dropped passes and virtually no big plays.

That could be about to change.

Robert Meachem, Jayson Swain, Bret Smith, Lucas Taylor, Josh Briscoe and Austin Rogers return.

They were greeted by Trooper Taylor’s move from running backs coach to receivers coach. Their reward was an entirely different level of work ethic and expectations.

The sight of receivers doing up-down punishment drills was a common one after dropped passes or mistakes this past spring.

"The receivers are better," head coach Phillip Fulmer said. "They’re blocking their rears off, catching it more consistently and trying to do more with the football after they catch it."

Cutcliffe confirmed the receivers had executed the best spring blocking he had seen in a while.

He also said their route running was "100 percent better than when we started."

Receivers produced only two plays of 40 or more yards all of last season.

"There has been a lot of talk around here the last couple of years about not consistently catching it or separating," Cutcliffe said. "I think we’re better at both.

"You don’t have downs that you can give up, so those guys are certainly going to be accountable."

Meachem and Taylor made the greatest strides in spring workouts.

"Robert Meachem and Lucas Taylor are the two guys who bring some dynamics to our football team," Fulmer said.

Meachem, a highly touted junior out of Tulsa, Okla., was the star of the Orange and White game and seemed to regain some confidence.

"If you can get him a couple of balls early, get the lid off and get him going," quarterback Erik Ainge said, "nobody can cover him."

Meachem has led the Vols in receiving yards in each of his first two seasons. Last season, he had 29 catches for 383 yards and two TDs.

Swain was right behind Meachem with 27 catches for 380 yards, but zero TDs.

Swain missed most of spring drills after having arthroscopic surgery on a knee, but coaches have seen the senior from Huntsville, Ala., shed some pounds this offseason and become one of the team leaders in voluntary workouts.

"I’ve asked those guys to lose weight and they’ve done that," Cutcliffe said. "I’ve asked them to run from the minute they walk on the field to the minute they leave.

"They’ve got enough game to do something and be quality receivers in the Southeastern Conference."

Smith had some inconsistent moments but came on strong toward the end of spring drills "showing another gear."

Taylor could be the guy to watch in fall drills. The former high school quarterback from Carencro, La., has the kind of play-making ability the receivers couldn’t seem to materialize last season.

Rogers, Briscoe, Bill Grimes, Casey Woods and Slick Shelley provide depth. And don’t rule out the possibility of defensive back Demetrice Morley getting a shot at playing some receiver.

At tight end, the Vols have a versatile trio in Chris Brown, Brad Cottam and Jeff Cottam.

"We’re using those guys in a lot of ways," Cutcliffe said. "We’ve tried to make them a more physical part of our team.

"We’re certainly going to involve them in the pass game. I think those guys can be playmakers and it’s going to create a very versatile position for us."

Oak Ridge walk-on Rick Daniels-Mullholland and true freshmen Lee Smith of Powell and Luke Stocker of Berea, Ky., also will get their looks this fall.

Outlook: Look for some major improvement out of the receivers this fall.

They were expected to be a strength and possible key to a national championship run last season. It never happened.

Trooper Taylor brings a new attitude and a new energy in an effort to revive UT’s "Wide Receiver U" reputation.

"It’s not three yards and a cloud of dust," Taylor said of Cutcliffe’s approach to offense. "We’re going to do whatever it takes to win, but I’m telling you the wide receivers and tight ends can line up anywhere."