Contra Costa Times: Growing pains for Cal receivers

By Jay Heater

Sophomore Robert Jordan, the old man of Cal's wide-receivers corps, was contemplating whether he thought the passing game would have a huge impact on the Bears' ability to be successful in their final three games. ``It's all about what the defense will allow us to do,'' said Jordan, who has 24 catches for 375 yards. ``It's not up to us.'' Words of wisdom from the 19-year-old. Jordan has to be the wily veteran considering he is the only wide receiver on the team who saw significant action last season. Cal's other starting wide receiver is freshman DeSean Jackson, and a notch behind those two is sophomore Lavelle Hawkins, who is a junior college transfer playing his first season. The key backups are sophomores Sam DeSa and Noah Smith, who just returned after sitting out the past seven games because of a broken leg. Anyone wondering why Cal is averaging more rushing yards (247 per game) than passing yards (215.6) need only look at the inexperience at wide receiver. ``You look around here and everyone is 18 or 19,'' Jordan said of his fellow wide receivers. ``It's tough. I know that last year I was afraid to make mistakes. I got past that. Now I know I am supposed to be a veteran, but I'm learning something every day. ``We have a ton of speed here and we are fully loaded, but everyone still is learning.'' The learning process, which included the education of a first-year starter at quarterback in Joe Ayoob, might have been more difficult than expected. Jackson (29 catches for 397 yards) was one of the marquee recruits in the country, and, coupled with Cal Coach Jeff Tedford's offensive expertise, expectations were high that Jackson would dominate from the first day he stepped on the field. At times he has shown his awesome physical talent, but he has yet to dominate a game. ``Everyone knew that we are very young'' at wide receiver, Jackson said. ``We knew that it was going to take time.''

Time, and pain.

Smith was the first to fall, breaking his fibula in the opener against Sacramento State. Jackson (shoulder injury) and Jordan (collarbone injury) missed the Washington State game Oct. 22 after being injured the previous Saturday in a loss to Oregon State. ``I didn't think my shoulder would be that bad,'' said Jackson, who originally thought he would be able to play against Washington State but had to sit out when he was unable to practice. Now, Tedford has his full complement of wide receivers, mostly healthy and ready to go. ``This past week, sitting out really helped me,'' Jackson said. ``I'm not worried about protecting it.'' Jordan said he isn't quite 100 percent, but he is ready to play. ``I take it all in stride,'' he said.