Versatility becoming second nature for Buffs' secondary

BOULDER — Greg Brown always preaches versatility to his players in the University of Colorado secondary, but he had no idea how versatile several of them would have to be to help the unit accomplish its work this spring.

“Versatility . . . I mean that’s got to be the key word in the secondary right now,’’ Brown said. “We’re so depleted with injuries, so thinned out. It’s been amazing that guys have been able to step up and play different positions.’’

The Buffaloes began spring drills without cornerbacks Jalil Brown (shoulder surgery) and Anthony Wright (knee strain) and with corner Ben Burney’s participation limited.

And for at least one member of Brown’s bunch, the injury bug has been a literal problem.

Senior cornerback Cha’pelle Brown has been slowed by a bout with giardia — an intestinal parasite usually contracted by ingesting contaminated water or spoiled food. Brown has no clue how he contracted the bug and swears he hasn’t been sipping from Boulder Creek.

All he knows is he has lost practice time and weight. And listed at 170 pounds, the 5-foot-7 Brown doesn’t carry too many pounds that would be classified as extra.

“I couldn’t keep nothing down,’’ he said of his ailment. “I got a long ways to go (to be completely well) — a long, long ways. I can do most of the stuff we’re doing now, but not at 100 percent. I’m just trying to get through.’’

CU’s other senior corner, Burney (aka “Bionic Ben’’), is fresh off a year in which he underwent five different surgeries. After starting 12 games in 2007, he sat out 2008 and is participating on a limited basis this spring, doing seven-on-seven passing work but no tackling and no scrimmaging.

“But he’s covering well,’’ Brown added.

In addition to frequent starting corner Gardner McKay, CU lost starting safeties Ryan Walters and D.J. Dykes. Patrick Mahnke and Anthony Perkins got experience filling for the latter pair, and Brown is optimistic each will improve over their debut seasons.

But in Mahnke’s case, the depletion elsewhere has had him leapfrogging through the secondary. Ditto for Travis Sandersfield.

“Mahnke spent two solid days as a starting corner and did a heck of a job,’’ Brown said. “But there are plenty of guys wearing two and three hats in the secondary — playing corner, playing nickel, playing safety. I’m really proud of our guys in playing the different positions.’’

Mahnke, a true sophomore from Mountain Vista High School who came to CU with the reputation as a playmaker, said Brown’s mantra of “competing every day’’ never has been truer than this spring.

“He’s always said the best will play at whatever position, so we just have to come out every day and compete,’’ said Mahnke, who has added 10 pounds and now weighs a solid 207.

Mahnke said he has “done all right’’ in April drills thus far, adding, “There’s plenty of things to work on. I definitely need to work on my man coverage, get more familiar with the playbook. You can never be too familiar with it.’’

He and Perkins started in place of Walters and Dykes in the season finale at Nebraska — an experience Mahnke said was immeasurable from a learning standpoint.

“It helped out a tremendous amount,’’ he said. “Even though at the beginning of the season and midseason I didn’t play that much, just those few plays you get acclimate you to the speed of the game and how physical it is.’’

Come August, depending on who fares well in the remainder of spring work and who is healthy, Brown believes he will field four players who will be as good or better than last season.

“We like the guys we’ve got,’’ he said. “We obviously haven’t arrived yet. We’re right in the middle of learning and creating some chemistry . . . we’re just in the process of getting to know each other and how we’re going to play, the schemes we’re going to run.’’

BUFF BITS: CU got its first 2010 commitment on Thursday afternoon when quarterback Danny Spond, of Columbine High School, informed coach Dan Hawkins he would sign with the Buffs in February. Spond, a 6-2, 230-pounder, previously listed Stanford as his top choice, according to Buffstampede.com. . . . CU’s second spring scrimmage will be held Friday afternoon in the practice bubble, meaning the practice will be closed to the public. . . . Hawkins said the work will be shorter than last Saturday’s scrimmage, which was about 125 plays. . . . Hawkins said guard Ryan Miller (sprained ankle) and tailback Demetrius Sumler (neck strain) could participate, but receiver/return specialist Josh Smith (sprained ankle) is questionable after suffering his injury “horsing around” Wednesday night at the campus recreation center. . . . After Friday, the Buffs will have four spring practices remaining, including the spring game (April 25, 1 p.m., Folsom Field).