The status quo was unacceptable. Following the 2009 season in which the LSU receivers corps ranked No. 92 nationally with 2,363 receiving yards, LSU coach Les Miles decided it was time for some fresh ideas.So Miles put an end to the Russell Shepard experiment  — the sophomore previously worked at quarterback, running back and receiver. Starting in the spring, Shepard, who has five career receptions for 34 yards, became a receiver and nothing else.Though he may still get an occasional snap, Shepard knows what his purpose on the team is.”I’m a receiver for the rest of my career,” Shepard said. “I’ll get in and do some Wildcat things, and I love doing that. But at the same time I’m a full-time receiver.”While the addition of Shepard may help make up for Brandon LaFell’s departure to the NFL, Miles’ brightest idea might have been bringing in passing game coordinator Billy Gonzales from Florida.Gonzales worked under Florida coach Urban Meyer at three different schools from 2001 to 2009.Last season Gonzales’ offense at Florida produced 217 passing yards per game, 35 yards more than LSU’s 182 yards-per-game average.Miles has been impressed by Gonzales so far.”He gets the most out of his players,” Miles said. “He is requiring them to be a thinking man’s receiver as well as being physical in blocking and catching. I think you will find that our receivers will play better because of him.”Gonzales’ players praise his talents as well.”If you look at his offenses at Florida, they did a great job of getting their athletes into open spaces and getting their athletes the ball,” Shepard said. “He’s doing an amazing job of getting the ball into our hands and letting us make plays.”Shepard may be the highest profile of the receivers, but he is by no means the most seasoned. The Tigers return two starters from last season’s corps, senior Terrence Toliver and sophomore Rueben Randle.Toliver, the lone senior receiver, heads the crew with 85 career receptions for 1,241 yards and seven touchdowns. While leading by example on the field, he also steers vocally.”Terrence does a great job of taking charge and making sure we work together as a unit and as one,” Randle said. “Sometimes he’ll get us motivated with a little talk and he’s always the first one on the line to teach us everything.”Toliver said he prefers to lead with his actions rather than his words.”Russell [Shepard] is really one of the more vocal guys,” Toliver said. “I’m just one of those quiet guys who likes to lead by example by letting everyone see what I do, and they’ll fall in behind me.”Randle, who grabbed 11 receptions for 173 yards and two touchdowns in 2009 as a freshman, expects to take on a larger role in 2010.”I just want to be able to make more plays for my team when they need me,” Randle said. “Last year was a learning experience for me to just get my feet wet.”
 
 
 
—-Contact Rob Landry at [email protected]