By Rusty Simmons
Hours after the Cal passing game was the subject of coach Jeff Tedford's derision, the quarterbacks provided a retort with mostly crisp play in Saturday's scrimmage, the Bears' first of three during the spring. Incumbent quarterback Kevin Riley made the opening statement, getting the initial repetitions with the starters and capping a 70-yard touchdown drive with a 34-yard strike to Marvin Jones. As the threesome competing for the starting gig mixed in and out with the first- through third-stringers, Riley, a junior, went 7-for-12 for 89 yards, and current No. 3 Beau Sweeney, a redshirt freshman, went 5-for-7 for 55 yards.
Riley didn't show the "look-over-my-shoulder" personality that was evident at times as he competed with Nate Longshore last season. After potential touchdown passes were dropped on back-to-back 30-yarders, he came back with a 9-yard scoring bullet to Nyan Boateng during goal-line drills. "Coach called us out in the passing game Friday, and we tried to respond and get it done," Riley said. Sweeney practiced with the scout team last season and said he didn't really start digesting Cal's multiple offense until January. That's hard to believe considering a three-play sequence in which he tossed a potential 44-yard touchdown pass that was dropped, took a bad snap and turned it into an 8-yard gain with a jump pass and converted a fourth-down play with a 22-yarder to Ross Bostock. The lone disappointment was current second-stringer Brock Mansion, a sophomore, who was 2-for-9 for 33 yards and threw seven consecutive incomplete passes after a 35-yarder to Alex Lagemann on his first attempt.
BRIEFLY: Tedford said projected starting tight end Tad Smith could miss four to six months with a broken scapula. ... Tailback Jahvid Best (hip/foot surgery) is jogging on a non-weight-bearing treadmill, according to Tedford. ... Jones and cornerback Chris Conte made the most of their opportunities with Jones catching three balls for 47 yards and Conte being involved with nearly every tackle on his side and timing two pass break-ups perfectly. Projected starters, receiver Verran Tucker and cornerback Darian Hagan, are still being held out of practice to focus on academics. ... Kicker Giorgio Tavecchio made a 44-yard field goal that would have been good from at least 50, but the new long snapper-holder combination of Matt Rios and Mansion/Bryan Anger also botched two attempts. ... Trevor Guyton forced a fumble, Cameron Jordan, Tyson Alualu and Solomona Aigamaua each had a sack and Mychal Kendricks picked off fourth-stringer Ryan Wertenberger.
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