BOULDER - Aside from battling a subconscious drift toward position meetings with the University of Colorado secondary, former cornerback Cha'pelle Brown seems at ease with his spring switch to receiver.

A 49-yard reception during a weekend scrimmage also might have begun to ease the minds of CU offensive coaches desperately scouring the roster for playmakers in the passing game.

Brown, a diminutive (5-foot-7, 175 pounds) sophomore from La Puente, Calif., is the latest in- house addition to a receiving corps figuring to be strengthened by incoming freshmen Kendrick Celestine, Markques Simas and Josh Smith.

But until their summer arrival, the Buffaloes steadily are moving past the "make do" stage in the pitch-and-catch phase of an offense that last spring was as unfamiliar to returning players as the Chinese alphabet.

"Last year, our guys were so honed in on (specific) routes and assignments and trying to get it all right," receivers coach Eric Kiesau said. "This year, they know what they're doing (schematically) and can focus on positioning their body to make a catch.

"They're taking it one step further, and that's a natural progression from new coaches, what we teach and what is expected of them. We're going in the right direction."

Most Buffs fans hope that's downfield. CU's passing game in 2006 was the worst in the Big 12 Conference, averaging 118.5 yards a game and producing only seven touchdowns. CU recorded 18 passes of 20-plus yards and two of 40-plus yards.

An unstable situation at quarterback was the key. With inexperienced junior Bernard Jackson thrown into a starting role, the offense groped for an identity from September through November.

Although he remains at quarterback this spring, Jackson appears on the verge of returning to a transient role or one calling for situational duty. Newcomers Cody Hawkins, a redshirt freshman, and Nick Nelson, a junior- college transfer, have injected more precision and continuity into the passing game than was evident last spring.

The next phase: Developing that missing link with receivers.

In making the transition to offense, Brown returns to a position he last played in high school.

CU coaches critiqued him at receiver last season during "crossover" periods, when Kiesau noticed Brown as "the guy who was showing up well. . . . He looked very natural at it," Kiesau said, adding Brown's attention to detail has made his transition smoother.

Other returnees include Dusty Sprague, Patrick Williams, Stephone Robinson, Cody Crawford, Jarrell Yates, Michael Kachmer, Cameron Ham and Scotty Mc- Knight, although McKnight broke his right ankle Saturday and will miss the rest of spring drills.

Brown won't match up well physically with most Big 12 corners. Thus, Kiesau is eyeing him as an "inside" receiver who can use his speed and elusiveness to get around linebackers and find a void.

"Once he's more comfortable, he can be very special as an inside guy. We have to be smart as a staff to put him in a position where he can be successful."

Brown identifies "toughness" as his chief attribute and likes Kiesau's idea of working inside.

Said Brown: "It's cool. . . . I'm just in there trying to make plays."

There's no doubt the Buffs can use more of them.

brooksb@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5466