SF Chronicle: Special teams see improvement

CAL NOTEBOOK

Bruce Adams

Thomas DeCoud can't really explain it. He just knows he's got a knack for blocking punts and kicks.  DeCoud, a sophomore standout on Cal's special teams, has blocked five kicks -- two punts, two field goals and one extra point -- in his career. He batted down yet another field-goal attempt this year, but wasn't given credit for a block because the ball advanced beyond the line of scrimmage.  "Honestly I don't know," DeCoud said of his talent.  It's a new skill. At Pinole Valley High, DeCoud returned, rather than blocked, punts. He also played basketball in high school. And his 37-inch vertical leap could have something to do with those blocked place kicks.  DeCoud, who also is in the regular defensive rotation as a defensive back, says morale has greatly improved on the Bears' special teams -- after some rocky outings and costly breakdowns earlier in the season.  "We knew we weren't playing as well as we could," he said. "We took it in stride and knew we had to get better."  Things have been going smoother in Cal's kicking game, just in time for Saturday's game against No. 1 USC at Memorial Stadium.  "We have to go out there and go play for play with them," he said.  The streak: Cal was the last team to beat USC, winning 34-31 in triple overtime in 2003. Since then, the Trojans have won 31 games in a row.  "I think some of our guys who were here then can maybe draw on that a little bit," coach Jeff Tedford said. "But we are such a young team and most of our team was not here then. ... I don't know how much you can talk about what happened two years ago with this group."  

Briefly: USC coach Pete Carroll says he would expect Cal quarterback Joe Ayoob to make great strides during the offseason -- recalling the development of his own quarterback, Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart. "It took him into his third year here," he said. "That's a long haul." As for Ayoob, Carroll said, "He's had to do so much, so early. It's hard on every quarterback." ... If USC wins Saturday, it would give the Trojans 22 consecutive Pac-10 wins. That would tie the conference record, set by Cal in 1948-50.