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Nelson Spruce vs. Paul Richardson

Spruce or Richardson? Who's the better receiver?

  • Nelson Spruce

    Votes: 8 16.7%

  • Paul Richardson

    Votes: 40 83.3%
  • Total voters
    48

Justin M Guerriero

Club Member
Club Member
I've had this thought ever since Nelson Spruce made it onto the Rams' practice roster: If there was a hypothetical situation where I was an NFL general manager that had both PRich and Spruce to add to my roster and I could only pick one, who would I go with?

Here's a quick comparison:

PRICH:
best season at CU (2013): 83 receptions, 1,343 yards, 10 TDs, 50 catches of 10+ yards, 16.3 receptions per game.
40 yard dash time: 4.40
Height: 6'0"
SPRUCE:
best season at CU (2014): 106 receptions, 1,198 yards, 12 TDs, 43 catches of 10+ yards, 11.3 receptions per game.
40 yard dash time: 4.69
Height: 6'1"

Who's got the edge then? Personally, I'd pick Spruce. I think his final year at CU really helped to further shape him to where now it seems like he's going to be a valuable asset to the Rams this season. NFL.com notes his route running abilities. I think that's his biggest strength. I remember at postgame press conferences when he'd speak to the media and one thing that he repeatedly talked about was "winning routes." The guy knows how to win routes. He's good at shaking off corners and is dependable in man to man coverage. Also per NFL.com, they compared him to Danny Amendola. I think that's pretty spot on.

No disrespect to PRich though. He's a beast, too. But his injury history worries me and I sometimes I do think he gets overpowered by opposing secondaries. He's kind of a small guy. Not the bulkiest player. Spruce on the other hand....well if you've never seen him without a shirt on let me assure you-- the guy is jacked. Coaches and players alike used to comment on his physique. So as of right now, I think Spruce is the one who will shake things up first and have a good year in 2016. Considering strength, skill, football IQ, and presence...I'm going with Spruce. How about you?
 
As mentioned totally different.

Spruce is a tough dude who will do anything he is asked to help his team. PRich if you could keep him healthy though gives an explosive element that Spruce can't.

Based on what we know now I would probably take Spruce because I don't know if PRich is ever going to give you a full season but I'd love to have a healthy PRich who can take the top off a defense. He also in college was willing to do the short stuff so isn't one dimensional.
 
Richardson has NFL star potential and more natural talent, I'd say, but it depends on what kind of system you run and need.
 
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I'm still taking P-Rich but I wish both all the success in the world and that we have some great Spruce/P-Rich battles in the NFC West
 
The only reason I put Spruce on top is because of durability.

I love PRich, but you can't be the better receiver on the sidelines.
 
Rams have until 4pm Tuesday but Spruce is predicted to make the 53 man roster , FWIW. Last year was a bad season to miss for P-Rich with how Seattles passing game came on the last half of the season. I love Spruce as much as any Buff fan but I'm rolling the dice on P-Rich.
 
With P-Rich's inability to stay healthy, I'm going to say that Nelson has a better pro career.

That being said, and as much as I loved watching all that Nelson did for the Buffs these last 2 years, P-Rich was as dynamic of a receiver we have seen in a Buffs uniform in probably 20 years.
 
P Rich is probably one of the top two or three receivers at CU ever. That's including guys like Cliff Branch, Mike Pritchard and Michael Westbrook. He's right in that group, IMO. Spruce isn't, but as has been pointed out, he may end up with the better pro career. QB's like guys who catch their passes, even when the passes aren't that good. I suspect Spruce will become some NFL QB's go-to guy before too long. A modern day Rod Smith. Unheralded out of college, but has a fantastic and highly productive career. Somehow, I just don't see PRich doing that.
 
PRich is great for Seattle since he has that speed to make defenses pay for loading up against the run. Spruce will be catching passes from Goff so both WRs ended up in good spots.
 
sackman said:
P Rich is probably one of the top two or three receivers at CU ever. That's including guys like Cliff Branch, Mike Pritchard and Michael Westbrook. He's right in that group, IMO. Spruce isn't, but as has been pointed out, he may end up with the better pro career. QB's like guys who catch their passes, even when the passes aren't that good. I suspect Spruce will become some NFL QB's go-to guy before too long. A modern day Rod Smith. Unheralded out of college, but has a fantastic and highly productive career. Somehow, I just don't see PRich doing that.
Click to expand...

What? None of those guys were on Spuce's level. Spruce is the best receiver to ever come out of the University of Colorado.
 
I'm with everyone saying the comparison doesn't make any sense, 2 different styles for one. It's not a knock against Nelson at all, he's one of the best to ever play here, no doubt. Give PRich 4 years at CU, what do his numbers look like?
 
sackman said:
P Rich is probably one of the top two or three receivers at CU ever. That's including guys like Cliff Branch, Mike Pritchard and Michael Westbrook. He's right in that group, IMO. Spruce isn't, but as has been pointed out, he may end up with the better pro career. QB's like guys who catch their passes, even when the passes aren't that good. I suspect Spruce will become some NFL QB's go-to guy before too long. A modern day Rod Smith. Unheralded out of college, but has a fantastic and highly productive career. Somehow, I just don't see PRich doing that.
Click to expand...
FLounder said:
What? None of those guys were on Spuce's level. Spruce is the best receiver to ever come out of the University of Colorado.
Click to expand...

I don't put Spruce at the level of the top CU receivers in history. He wasn't as good as Westbrook, Branch, Pritchard, even Carruth. Spruce is probably more comparable to a Logan but I would not put him at that level either. Logan didn't have the stats because of a different era but was an outstanding college WR. Spruce had great stats but much of that is due to the era and the lack of other options on the team.

PRich comes in right behind those guys. I don't think he was quite at the level of the best but was close and like most of them he had that dynamic explosiveness to change a game on any one play that Spruce just doesn't provide.
 
Last edited:
Nelson Spruce is the best receiver we have ever produced, if I'm throwing a Hail Mary I want Spruce, Westbrook, or Pritchard to catch that ball. I don't trust any other guy. Spruce is the epitome of a "receiver'.
 
FLounder said:
Nelson Spruce is the best receiver we have ever produced, if I'm throwing a Hail Mary I want Spruce, Westbrook, or Pritchard to catch that ball. I don't trust any other guy. Spruce is the epitome of a "receiver'.
Click to expand...

You are making a stretch of a statement considering that most of the All Conference teams (AP for example http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...ated-press-all-pac-12-football-team/77570450/

didn't even consider Nelson one of the best two WRs in the PAC12 last year and the NFL didn't think enough of him to draft him in 7 rounds.

I think he is going to prove a lot of those scouts to be mistaken as he sticks in the league and has a long and productive career but no he isn't in the same class as a bunch of guys who were first day draft choices, all-Americans, and scared the stuff out of DCs.
 
How can you argue with stats?! All I'm saying isSpruce was the most productive receiver CU has ever had. I am not wrong.
 
FLounder said:
Nelson Spruce is the best receiver we have ever produced, if I'm throwing a Hail Mary I want Spruce, Westbrook, or Pritchard to catch that ball. I don't trust any other guy. Spruce is the epitome of a "receiver'.
Click to expand...

If cliff branch were reading this thread, he'd never stop laughing.
 
You said Spruce is the "best receiver we have produced."

As far as stats, you realize stats can be skewed... right?
 
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