Rusty Simmons
Senior LaReylle Cunningham scribbled an interesting message on the wipe-off board before the receivers' meeting Tuesday. "He walked to the front of the room and wrote 'LaReylle Cunningham: two pancakes,' " said sixth-year senior receiver Sean Young. "It just shows that he's pumped up about hitting someone and freeing up space for our running backs." Cal coach Jeff Tedford was pleased with the receivers' run blocking - including Cunningham's two opponent-flattening pancakes - in the 38-31 win over Michigan State, but he called for the group to be more productive Saturday against Washington State in the passing game. It appears Cunningham is taking those numbers personally, too. Young had four catches for 81 yards in Week 1. The other six receivers combined for one, 6-yard reception.
"Of course we take it personally," said Cunningham, who had the 6-yard reception but also dropped a tough, low pass. "We need to improve on catching the ball and digging out the safeties and blocking. Everything really. Running better routes, not missing assignments and lining up correctly. "We'll do it." When Cunningham says something, he usually follows through. Forced into action because of a rash of injuries in 2005, the then-walk-on redshirt freshman maintained that he would make plays in his first collegiate start. He caught five passes for 112 yards, including a 57-yard score that launched a dramatic 42-38 comeback win against Washington State.
"I've been playing football since I was 8 years old, so I look at is as another day in the office," Cunningham said. "I always have confidence in myself, because I practice hard and am well-prepared." Cunningham had just five catches for 43 yards the last two seasons, playing a limited role behind Lavelle Hawkins, DeSean Jackson and Robert Jordan. His production in practice, however, has been consistent. "He makes those 'oh catches,' " Young said. "He goes up and (Randy) Mosses people. When the ball is in the air, we expect him to make some kind of crazy, one-handed grab." Cunningham's hands are huge, and he makes one-handed catches look routine. In a training camp scrimmage, he had two one-handers, including one while he was being pushed out of the side of the end zone. "He has some of the nicest hands I've ever seen," tight end Cameron Morrah said. "As long as we can get the ball in his area, he'll come up with a big play. You just watch him in practice, and he has plays that are unbelievable." Receivers coach Kevin Daft and Tedford both said that part of the unit's limited production against Michigan State was the game plan and flow of the game. Cal primarily utilized Morrah and tailbacks Jahvid Best and Shane Vereen - 14 catches for 172 yards - and rolled up 203 rushing yards.
"It's good to see that (the receivers) are taking pride in their performance and want to improve, but at the same time, we don't want them to push," Daft said. "It's not like we called plays to stay away from the receivers; we were just taking what the defense was giving us," Tedford said. "By no means are avoiding throwing the balls to our receivers because we're afraid of their inexperience.
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