Stockton Record: Cal Bears wonder if it's time to smell roses

Bob Highfill

Record Staff Writer

BERKELEY - On a recent cool morning in Strawberry Canyon, Cal coach Jeff Tedford emerged from a huddle of huge men after a long practice. As he made his way off the field, the feeling emanating from the players standing behind him was as thick as the clouds hanging over Memorial Stadium.

Is this the year outside expectations mesh with internal ability? Should Bears Backers make arrangements for Pasadena? With the bevy of talent and the depth in Berkeley these days, why shouldn't Cal fans be thrilled about their favorite team's prospects? The prognosticators expect big things. The Bears were picked second behind USC in the preseason Pac-10 media poll, and 12th nationally in the preseason coaches poll. Saturday, The Associated Press ranked them No. 9.

But for Tedford, Cal's fifth-year leader, preparation and settling on a quarterback are job No. 1 right now. "As far as we're concerned, the way we prepare hasn't changed," Tedford said. "We focus on our own expectations and how we reach them each and every day. It's all about us and how we prepare more than about expectations." The only really big question mark hanging over Tedford at this stage is who will start at quarterback, which happens to be his area of expertise. Will the starter be sophomore Nate Longshore, who suffered a season-ending injury in last season's opener against Sacramento State? Might it be senior Joe Ayoob, Longshore's replacement, who struggled in his first year out of junior college? Will Tedford go with senior Steve Levy, who became an overnight sensation after leading the Bears to victory over Stanford in the Big Game and over BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl? Or will redshirt freshman Kyle Reed break through and earn the starting nod?

One thing's certain: Levy won't play in the season openeron Sept. 2 at Tennessee. He tested his arm in the offseason by allegedly throwing a beer mug in a bar room altercation and will serve a one-game, team-imposed suspension. Tedford wouldn't say who had the upper arm last week. "They're all doing a good job," said Tedford, who has coached six quarterbacks selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. "They all show flashes of being able to be very efficient running the team. So, it's a competitive position and one that we feel good about because we have good depth there."

Cal also has depth at running back. Junior tailback Marshawn Lynch is on the Heisman Trophy watch list. The 5-foot-11, 217-pound Oakland native displayed his speed and strength last season when he rushed for 1,246 yards and 10 touchdowns. Junior Justin Forsett and senior Marcus O'Keith could start for most teams. All three averaged better than 7.6 yards per attempt and combined to score 20 touchdowns last season. There's also depth at wide receiver. Sophomore DeSean Jackson, and juniors Robert Jordan and Lavelle Hawkins, formerly of Edison High, look to improve on their combined 90 receptions for 1,227 yards and 12 touchdowns.

The Bears have depth along the offensive line, but they lost four starters from last season. Experience will come from senior guard Bryan Deemer (6-4, 311) out of Tokay High and Delta College, guard Erik Robertson (6-2, 315), tackle Scott Smith (6-4, 286) and center Alex Mack (6-5, 300).

Senior tackle Brandon Mebane returns as a first-team All-Pac-10 performer and leads a defense that features explosive speed at linebacker. Senior Desmond Bishop leads a young but talented group that includes Mickey Pimentel at strong side linebacker, Anthony Felder and Zack Follett at weak side linebacker, and Greg Van Hoesen at middle linebacker. The defensive secondary had been slated to return two starters at cornerback in Daymeion Hughes and Tim Mixon, but Mixon tore his anterior cruciate ligament while returning a punt during a scrimmage Thursday.

Thomas DeCoud is the heir apparent to Harrison Smith at safety, and Brandon Hampton, a former walk-on running back, is expected to replace departed rover Donnie McCleskey. The Bears will be thrown into the fire right off the bat when they travel to Knoxville to face the Volunteers. Cal will play host to UCLA on Nov. 4, travel to USC on Nov. 18, and host the Big Game with Stanford on Dec. 2.