Tuesday, March 29, 2005

TEDFORD IS HOPING DESA CATCHES ON

CONTRA COSTA TIMES

•Ex-Monte Vista High receiver has a chance at significant playing time

As a senior at Monte Vista High School in 2002, Sam DeSa caught 19 touchdown passes.

As a Cal redshirt freshman in 2004, DeSa caught one pass for 3 yards.

Obviously, Cal coach Jeff Tedford is hoping for more.

So when spring practice began for Cal on Monday, Tedford was hoping that DeSa would begin to blossom into an impact wide receiver, the type expected when he won the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the best wide receiver in high school football.

"Sam is right on the borderline," Tedford said. "He needs to step up. Last year he was too inconsistent in practice. Now he needs to renew his passion for the game. This is a time when Sam can improve and get that confidence back."

Cal lost four senior wide receivers who played key roles last season, so an opening exists.

"This is a chance for some of these guys to separate themselves," Tedford said. "Because it's going to be a whole deal new in the fall when we add the other guys (including top recruit DeSean Jackson, junior college transfer Lavell Hawkins)."

Watching Worrell

Redshirt freshman linebacker Worrell Williams (6-foot, 245 pounds) has lost about 10 pounds during Cal's offseason training program. "He is in better shape," Tedford said. "In the beginning, it was tough for him. It's hard for freshmen to learn the commitment that they have to make, but that's what the offseason conditioning program is for. It's going to be fun seeing him play at 245 pounds. He is a guy who can run around and put a lick on people." Cal lost senior linebackers Wendell Hunter, Francis Blay-Miezah, Sid Slater and Joe Maningo, so Worrell will have the opportunity to earn a starting spot.

Time for Thomas

Sophomore Thomas DeCoud (6-3, 190) is expected to earn a starting role at free safety during spring workouts. DeCoud had been projected as a cornerback out of Pinole Valley High School. "Ultimately he will be a safety for us," Tedford said. "It's more of a need thing, and he has the physical, inside game to play safety. We will continue to work with him at both positions."

On the run

Breaking in new quarterbacks, Tedford said he is confident his veteran offensive line and strong cast of tailbacks, including freshman All American Marshawn Lynch, will help smooth over that transition. "We are going to depend on our entire corps of running backs, including Marshawn, Marcus O'Keith and Terrell Williams," Tedford said. "Marshawn gave us a taste last season of what he brings to the table. We are excited about getting him into the game on an every play basis."

Punishment levied

Tedford said he has suspended redshirt freshman defensive back Bernard Hicks for the first three games of the 2005 season due to his arrest for marijuana possession. Wide receiver Robert Jordan who was with Hicks at the time of his arrest Feb. 27 in Berkeley and was charged with carrying a concealed weapon, a charge Tedford said was dropped, will be suspended for the first game of the season.

Extra points

Tedford reminded the media Monday that his 2005 team is a young and inexperienced bunch. "We talked as a staff (Monday) and reminded each other that we are not the team we were last year," Tedford said. "We lost 26 guys and a lot of them were seniors. During spring practice, there will be mistakes made out there." ... Tedford said he checked with the NCAA on Monday and didn't receive a decision on wide receiver Chase Lyman's petition for a sixth year of eligibility. Lyman can't practice with the team until the NCAA announces it decision. ... Tedford said he voted in favor of instant replay, which the Pac-10 is utilizing this season.

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