Contra Costa Times: Cal's young offensive linemen learning on the job

It must be a little disconcerting for Cal fans to look at the offensive line and see three players who had never taken a Division I snap before this season.  On the flip side, at this time next season those players will still be young but have substantial experience. Left tackle Mitchell Schwartz, right guard Justin Cheadle and right tackle Donovan Edwards are learning on the job. They've held up well at times, made mistakes at others. But they are talented, and should improve. "Those guys are getting in there and battling," Coach Jeff Tedford said. "I think the growth and the development will continue. They all care. They all work hard."

Throw in walk-on sophomore Mark Boskovich at left guard, and center Alex Mack is the only offensive lineman who had any measurable experience before this season. Boskovich saw a handful of snaps last year. Schwartz and Cheadle are redshirt freshmen. Edwards, a sophomore, is a junior college transfer.

"Playing games like the one we just played, having that many young guys play, should be really, really rewarding in the future," Boskovich said. "Playing in that situation is quite a learning experience. My first game (against Colorado State), I was pretty nervous. I wasn't that nervous at all for USC. It shows how much more comfortable I am out there." Although most of Cal's receivers have said they don't have a preference who plays quarterback, Nyan Boateng did say it might be better to stick with one guy. The junior pointed to Saturday, when Kevin Riley replaced Nate Longshore at halftime at USC and completed just 4 of 16 passes for 59 yards with an interception.

"At first, as a receiving corps, we felt like it didn't matter who was in there," Boateng said. "But in the middle of a game when you switch quarterbacks like that, the timing gets thrown off a little bit. I think we need to just have one guy and stick with it." Boateng also said he has been frustrated with the Bears' lack of production in the passing game. "It's been real frustrating, but that's what happens when you have new starters and you graduate all your receivers," Boateng said. "It takes a little bit of time. I didn't think it was going to go this far into the season, but I think we learned a lot from (the USC game) and I think we're going to build on it." Cal can expect an exciting atmosphere when it visits Reser Stadium on Saturday to play the No. 23 Beavers. Oregon State can win the Pacific-10 Conference title if it wins its final three games.

But playing a tough game in Corvallis might not be a bad thing for the Bears, who have won the past two games there by a combined score of 90-20. Meanwhile, the Beavers have won the past three meetings at Memorial Stadium. The last home team to win in the series was Oregon State, in 2002. "It's hard to explain," Tedford said.