Junior receiver Kerry Meier leads the nation in receptions. Four receivers have already recorded 100-yard receiving games, and Kansas is the only school in the nation that has three receivers averaging more than six catches per game.

But that doesn’t mean coach Mark Mangino is pleased with how the wide receivers have played so far. In fact, the seventh-year head coach is anything but.

“I think we have a mentality with some of our receivers where they want to catch passes, but as far as the other things that come with the game, running precise routs and blocking, I thought we were very substandard (Friday) night,” Mangino said. “I think a few of our young receivers got to understand that there’s a lot more to that position than just catching the ball.”

The KU running game has gotten off to a dismal start in 2008 — rushing for only 315 yards in three games — and Mangino attributes some of the problems to the wide receivers’ lack of blocking on the perimeter.

“I think a lot of our issues in the run game — some of them deal with the offensive line, some of them deal with the running backs,” Mangino said. “But I think the receivers, watching tape, had opportunities to get some blocks for our run game and did not do it, did not sustain their blocks. That’s disappointing when you can get running backs on the next level and not get help from their receivers.”

Sophomore receiver Johnathan Wilson leads the group with 276 yards receiving on 19 catches. Meier has 29 receptions (tied for first in division 1-A) and 253 yards receiving while sophomore receiver Dezmon Briscoe has 237 yards receiving and four touchdowns. Freshman receiver Daymond Patterson has 149 yards receiving on 13 catches.

But still, Mangino would like to see the group improve in areas not associated with catching passes.

“Kerry does a decent job of it,” Mangino said. “I think the rest of our receivers need a lot, a lot of work.”

The team has been playing without senior receiver Dexton Fields, who has missed the last two games with an injured foot. Fields led the team in receiving in both 2006 and 2007 and also was one of the teams best blocking receivers. Mangino said that if the current receivers don’t improve their blocking, he will find guys that will.

“I made it very clear to those guys that if you don’t block, you can’t play,” Mangino said. “We’ll put somebody in there that will and we’ll get the ball to them and have them make the catches. You cannot be one-dimensional and be successful at the wide receiver position.”

— — Edited by Andy Greenhaw