By Rusty Simmons
Cal sophomore tailback Jahvid Best calmed speculation Tuesday that last year's season-ending hip injury had resurfaced when he explained his limited participation in practice during the last week. Best, who was held out of practice the final five days of training camp, said coaches simply thought he was overworked during the first two weeks. He took most of the repetitions during that time, when backups Shane Vereen (ankle) and Tracy Slocum (turf toe) were nursing injuries. "It's bothered me, but I know they're looking out for me and my best interests," said Best, who consistently tried to sneak into drills. "I feel like I need the reps and the drills to make myself as good as possible, so I always try to get in as much as possible."
Coach Jeff Tedford has maintained all along that the coaching staff is "just being smart" with Best, but sitting a running back for five days is out of the program's recent norms. Marshawn Lynch took limited reps about every three days during game weeks, and Justin Forsett, who had ankle, shoulder and back injuries, rarely took full off-days. Pressed about a possible return of the hip injury or something new, Best said, "No. There's nothing. There haven't been any injury problems." Tedford said Best will get about 25 touches a game, including somewhere around 65 percent of the carries. Best said he is going to return kickoffs, and he'd like to do even more. "I want to do all of it," he said. "If I had my choice, I'd still be playing gunner, too. Anything they'll let me do, I'm going to do it."
More Longshore: Three days after senior quarterback Nate Longshore spoke with the media, Tedford expanded for the first time on his meeting to tell the incumbent that sophomore Kevin Riley would take the first snaps of the season. "Obviously, he was very disappointed during the first meeting I had with him, but there is no other person who is more dedicated to the team's success," Tedford said. "Even though he's not out there in the huddle, he's coaching guys. "It's just really impressive to see a guy refusing to go into the tank and feeling sorry for himself." The conversation was clearly uncomfortable for Tedford, who has spent countless hours watching video, talking game plans and building a relationship with Longshore during the last three years. Tedford took a beating from fans and media last season, when he stuck with an injured Longshore during Cal's second-half collapse. "You never want to disappoint somebody," Tedford said. "That's tough. It's not easy to do."
Briefly: Linebackers Zack Follett and Anthony Felder, center Alex Mack and fullback Will Ta'ufo'ou were named Week 1 captains. Tedford said eight or nine players were voted captains and will be rotated throughout the season. ... Mack called first-time starting tackle Mitchell Schwartz a "huge human" and a "brilliant guy," which speaks volumes coming from a player who is 6-foot-4, 316 pounds and graduated with a 3.6 grade-point average in legal studies. Schwartz is a 6-6, 323-pound redshirt freshman who has won the right-tackle job. ... Riley said his father has plans to see him play in person at the collegiate level for the first time this week. Faustin Riley is the coach at Beaverton High School in Oregon.
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