Sacramento Bee: Cal offense has a new look

Coach Jeff Tedford hopes the spread formation will spring both of his big-time runners.

By Joe Davidson Maybe it's just a big Jeff Tedford tease.  Cal's football coach already is presiding over a yard-chewing offense during his rebuilding project in Berkeley, and he's adding a wrinkle? The spread offense is now part of the Bears, meaning a shotgun formation with any number of angles and options with the intent of inflicting defensive anxiety.   "I can't imagine Cal's offense getting more productive than it's been," USC coach Pete Carroll said. "But they're going to try."

The Bears scored nearly 33 points a game in an injury-wracked 2005 season that still produced eight victories and a third successive bowl game. That scoring average represented the fourth-highest at Cal. And Tedford's impact? Of the top five scoring teams in school history, four have been created under his headset.   So why change from conventional football to this?    "There are certain parts of the spread that matches our talent very well," Tedford said. "We are not changing our offensive philosophy, but the spread attack does give you the option to have two running backs on the field at the same time. The luxury that we have is that our tailbacks can spread out and catch the ball."

The luxury that Cal has is having two big-time backs, period. And a wealth of receivers, which means if the offense finds a rhythm, "it'll be like Cal's running downhill," Arizona coach Mike Stoops said.  The Bears have such a wealth of returning talent -- 18 starters in all, seven on offense -- that they are ranked in the top 10 in five preseason publications. Much of that preseason attention starts with perhaps the best 1-2 tailback tandem in the land. Marshawn Lynch is a Heisman Trophy candidate, seemingly on the fast track to the NFL with his size, speed, vision and balance. The junior rushed for 1,246 yards last fall despite missing all or parts of three games. His yardage represented the third-most in Cal history.

Lynch is flanked by junior Justin Forsett, who produced 999 yards last season and would be a full-time starter just about anywhere else. Senior Marcus O'Keith also has big-play ability, with his 71-yard run the team's longest last season. There also are receivers galore: DeSean Jackson, Lavelle Hawkins and Robert Jordan. The offensive line is rebuilding, with three departed mainstays, but Tedford said his line is athletic and prepared. The problem, if that's fair, is the uncertainty at quarterback. And within days, with camp set to start today, there might be no uncertainty at all. A year ago, Nate Longshore beat out the same competition he faces now. There's a race for the spot only because Longshore went down in last season's opener against Sacramento State, suffering a broken leg. Joe Ayoob and Steve Levy tried to carry the load. Ayoob showed promise but struggled. Levy led Cal to victories over Stanford in the Big Game (27-3) and BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl (35-28), but the senior already is behind.

He was suspended from the team for his role in a bar incident in June. Last Wednesday, he pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor for allegedly throwing a pint glass and received probation and community service. Thursday, he was reinstated to the team but remained suspended for the season opener at Tennessee on Sept. 2. For now, it appears either Longshore, a sophomore, or Ayoob, a senior, will trigger the spread. Longshore is bigger, but Ayoob is more mobile, which is an advantage in the spread. "It gives our team a lot of confidence to have Nate back," Tedford said. "There will be a tremendous amount of competition at quarterback, but that gives the team that much more confidence to know any of those guys can go in and get it done."  The difference for Cal could be its defense. The Bears return seven on a unit that is shaping up to be the best in the Pacific-10 Conference. Defensive tackle Brandon Mebane could be a first-round draft pick next spring. Linebacker Desmond Bishop of Fairfield led the Bears in tackles last season with 89. Linebacking is a strength, with former UC Davis coach Bob Foster directing a unit that includes former Grant High School great Worrell Williams.

The secondary is anchored by Daymeion Hughes, who had five interceptions last season.  How good is Cal this season? "Very good," Hughes said. "Hopefully, we win a national championship."  When Tedford arrived five years ago, there were no expectations outside of sheer survival. He inherited a team that had gone 1-10 in 2001. Now with Heisman talk, spread talk, bowl talk, even national title talk, Tedford never flinches. "There are external and internal expectations, and we focus on internal expectations," he said. "It's all up to us to go out there and get the job done."

Cal Golden Bears

2005 finish: 8-4 (4-4 in Pacific-10)

Coach: Jeff Tedford (33-17)

Offensive scheme: Spread

Defensive scheme: 4-3

Last conference title: 1975 (tie)

Last bowl appearance: 2005

Key offensive players: QB Nate Longshore, RB Marshawn Lynch, WR DeSean Jackson

Key defensive players: DT Brandon Mebane, LB Desmond Bishop, DB Daymeion Hughes

Outlook: Say hello to the spread offense, all the more to unleash Lynch and Jackson. The defense is Cal's best in years. There's enough talent overall to make a run at the program's first conference title since 1975.