Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Contra Costa Times: Job 1: Tackling 275-pound TB

Texas A&M's Lane poses one huge problem for Cal's defense

By Jay Heater

BERKELEY — At 6-foot-2, 265 pounds, Cal's Nu'u Tafisi is the typical size for a Division I-A defensive end. At that size, he also is giving away 10 pounds to Texas A&M's tailback. Yes, tailback.  Aggies sophomore Jovorskie Lane is a 6-foot, 275-pound wrecking ball who will be aimed at Tafisi and his defensive teammates in the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 28 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.  "There are two kinds of running backs," said Texas A&M coach Dennis Franchione. "There is the kind who makes you look good because they can make guys miss. Then there is the other kind that can make you look good when guys don't block because they can run you over."  Lane, who has scored 19 touchdowns this season, fits into that second category.  Linebacker Desmond Bishop knows the Bears have their hands full. "We have to get him before he gets started," Bishop said. "We have to gang-tackle him. And he is very quick for a big guy. He will try to run around you sometimes."

Franchione laughed when he was asked if he ever imagined coaching a 275-pound tailback. "No," he said. "It's pretty neat. And if you watched our films, you wouldn't believe how light on his feet he can be."  Defensive tackle Brandon Mebane said he has been impressed with Lane, but he said the Bears will be up to the task. "His size motivates our defense even more to stop him," Mebane said. "It's going to be a challenge.  "That's a big dude. I have to give him credit for being that athletic. That's amazing, to see him move and carry his weight like that."

Mebane, now a 295-pounder, played some fullback at Crenshaw High in Los Angeles and once broke a 60-yard run. But he just shakes his head when he thinks about playing tailback at 275 pounds.  Cal coach Jeff Tedford didn't even attempt to find a huge body to play Lane's role on the scout team. "You can't simulate a 275-pound tailback," Tedford said.  Although Lane has scored 19 touchdowns, he is Texas A&M's second leading tailback in terms of yardage. He has gained 689 yards and has averaged 4.3 yards per carry. Mike Goodson leads the Aggies with 785 yards and a 6.9 yards-per-carry average.  Goodson is a freshman whom Franchoine compares to Reggie Bush.

STILL SEARCHING: Although Cal's offense struggled the last three games of the regular season, accounting for a combined three touchdowns, quarterback Nate Longshore was confident that the Bears will be back on track in the Holiday Bowl.  "We have so many play-makers," Longshore said.

Cal struggled to get the ball to its playmakers down the stretch.  "It's a long season for everyone," Longshore said. "As teams get more time to prepare, it gets more difficult. There was no one reason that teams shut us down."  Tedford said next season he would like to see Longshore drop a few pounds from his current 235 pounds. Longshore said he wants to play at the same weight next season, but that the weight would be distributed differently.  He said some injuries — he wouldn't disclose the exact nature because he doesn't want opponents to be able to target an area — have kept him from training the way he would like.

EXTRA POINTS: Cal worked through a fast-paced, two-and-a-half hour practice on Tuesday morning and then Tedford dismissed the players so they could head home to spend time with their families. The Bears have to reassemble in San Diego on Saturday afternoon. ... Although Cal will be attempting to wipe out some memories of the dud they fired at the Holiday Bowl in 2004, Tedford said he will keep things lighthearted in the days leading up to the game. "A bowl game is meant to be fun," Tedford said. "That's why we are going early. They are going to have plenty of fun, then we will cut it back as it goes."

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