SF Chronicle: Cal's Staff Gets a Shuffle

Tedford names new coaches

Rusty Simmons, Chronicle Staff Writer

Cal coach Jeff Tedford said during each of the season's final six weeks that the offseason would include a re-evaluation of every part of the program.  He didn't waste any time putting his promise into action.  Tedford announced a major overhaul to the coaching staff on Sunday, including the hiring of 49ers quarterbacks coach Frank Cignetti as the Bears' quarterbacks coach/offensive coordinator.  "The main reason for all of the realignment of the coaching staff is so that I can be more efficient with my head-coaching duties," Tedford said. "I can spend more time with a lot of things that weren't possible as the play-caller and with being so involved with the offense. ...

"Things weren't neglected. I always tried to keep my finger on the pulse of everything, but it's hard to do it all."  Along with Cignetti, Bay Area native Al Simmons was hired as defensive backs coach, quarterbacks coach Kevin Daft was moved to take charge of the receivers and graduate assistant Tosh Lupoi was promoted to defensive line coach.   Offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Jim Michalczik got a title change to assistant head coach/assistant offensive coordinator/offensive line coach, defensive line coach Ken Delgado accepted a position at another school and receivers coach Dan Ferrigno and defensive backs coach R. Todd Littlejohn are no longer with the program.

It's still unclear if the Ferrigno and Littlejohn decisions were mutual.  "What difference does that make?" Tedford asked. "I don't know if that matters. I'd like to leave it at that."  Cal's mess of a season courts that type of confusion. The Bears went from 5-0 and No. 2 in the nation to an irrelevant team that lost six of seven and was forced to claw back from 21 points against a mid-major team to finish with a winning record.

The biggest win of the season was a 31-24 decision at Oregon on Sept. 29, but that victory also foreshadowed the ensuing freefall. Quarterback Nate Longshore sprained his ankle, missed the Oregon State loss the next week and threw one fourth-quarter touchdown to eight interceptions the rest of the way. He was replaced in Cal's 42-36 comeback win over Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl by redshirt freshman Kevin Riley, who was supposed to take a couple of series but instead snatched MVP honors.  "I feel confident that we have a stable of strong quarterbacks that we feel confident in," Tedford said. "Competition is good and healthy. As with all of the positions, it's nice to know that we have some (competition) there." Cignetti takes charge of an offense that sputtered in the second half of the season and found its way only when the backup created a quarterback controversy in the bowl game. "What you do is go into spring ball and you coach and demand that your players prepare to perform," said Cignetti, who says he is excited about returning to college football. "What it really comes down to is performance, but you treat them all the same."

 

Cignetti, 42, brings 19 years of coaching experience from the NFL (49ers, New Orleans and Kansas City) to the college ranks. His time (2002-05) at Fresno State, along with recent conversations, is what impressed Tedford, a Fresno State graduate.

During his four years in Fresno, Cignetti's offense twice finished among the nation's top 10 in scoring and third-down conversions. In 2004, the Bulldogs averaged 52.8 points a game during the final six games and became only the sixth team in a Division I-A history to score 50 or more points in four consecutive games.

"He brings a lot of energy," said Tedford, who has backed away from play-calling. "You're going to see a guy who loves football and is fired up. ... Not only is he knowledgeable, but he loves ball." There was a rumor that started in Internet chat rooms and made it into print that former Fresno State quarterback and current 49ers backup Trent Dilfer was in the running for Cal's offensive-coordinator job.

"I don't where that came from," Tedford said. "Trent is a very good friend and we talk football all the time, but ... as far as Trent doing this, I don't know where that came from." The coaching changes were essentially the first phase of the re-evaluation process that follows a topsy-turvy season. Tedford said evaluation of offensive and defensive schemes, recruiting and day-to-day operations remain. He also said he doesn't expect anything out of the norm as far as player turnover.

"What are the fine lines between winning and losing?" Tedford asked. "It's such a fine line between a 10-win and a seven-win season. What are the things that will make us better and put us over the top?  "It was a learning experience for us this year to not be on the winning side of some of those games. We need to take a strong look at that."   The coming month might not establish tangible changes in schematics, recruiting or day-to-day operations, but by Jan. 15, receiver DeSean Jackson and center Alex Mack have to announce whether or not they'll be early entries into the NFL draft.

"I've spoken with them," Tedford said. "I'm supportive of what they want to do. I'm trying to do my best to inform them on the process and the pros and cons of both sides.  "They'll sit down with their families. I don't think either of them has made up (his) mind, but in the next week, they will."  Then there's Longshore, who went from being one of the country's best junior quarterback to an afterthought on New Year's Eve. He has the option of declaring for the draft, going on a Mormon mission or coming back to Berkeley and competing for a starting job. "I talked with him after the bowl game in the locker room and congratulated him on the win," Tedford said. "I'm going to be on the phone to players after the holiday break. I'll talk to him in a couple of days."