Oakland Tribune: Bears seek next Forsett

Redshirt freshman Montgomery holds edge in battle to be No. 2 running back

By Jonathan Okanes

BERKELEY — Now that Justin Forsett has been elevated to starting running back, it's time for Cal to find the next Justin Forsett. Forsett flourished as a backup to Marshawn Lynch the past two seasons, rushing for 1,625 yards and 10 touchdowns. It's clear coach Jeff Tedford doesn't like to rely on just one tailback to carry the load, and now the Bears are in search of someone to fill the role Forsett had.  "We need depth there, just like we had Marshawn back up J.J. (Arrington) and Justin back up Marshawn," Tedford said. "You need depth. You need to keep (Forsett) fresh. We're not going to pound him. Hopefully we have the depth that there's not a great dropoff when he comes out."  Redshirt freshman James Montgomery is the leading candidate to give Cal that production in a part-time role. Montgomery was considered one of the top running back prospects in the nation when he went to Berkeley from Rancho Cordova.

"Right now, we're all just working hard. We're not really thinking about that," said Montgomery, who suffered a concussion late in practe. "It's on my mind, but we're just trying to get everybody better right now. Everything will fall into place. We're competing, but it's not cutthroat. The best guy is going to win the job."  Cal is deep, albeit unproven, at tailback.  Tracy Slocum, another redshirt freshman, came to Cal with just as much fanfare as Montgomery but was hurt during spring practice and fell behind on the depth chart. And the Bears also have two of highly regarded freshmen in Jahvid Best of Salesian and Shane Vereen. Tedford said there is a chance that both may play this season as true freshman.  "My focus now is trying to find a No. 2 and No. 3 guy to try to take some of the load off of (Forsett)," Cal running backs coach Ron Gould said. "We've been very fortunate to have two guys ready to go.

"At Cal, we don't rely on one guy to carry the load for us. You want guys who can come in and maybe improve when they get in there. We never talk about a dropoff. They'll all be the same, or better."  Best continued his impressive camp with another good day Friday.  "He's very, very fast — unbelievably fast," Tedford said. "He's picking things up well. He's doing a good job."  

CATCHING ON: One of the big questions at Cal is whether opposing teams will punt to Heisman Trophy candidate DeSean Jackson. They may not, but it might not be as easy to prevent the Bears from throwing to him.  While Jackson is a consensus All-American at wide receiver, Cal has a supporting cast that has some calling the receiving corps the best in the country.  Robert Jordan caught 43 passes for 511 yards and four touchdowns last season, and enters 2007 having caught a pass in 30 straight games, the fourth-longest streak in the nation among returning players. Lavelle Hawkins hauled in 46 passes for 705 yards and five touchdowns in 2006 and earned All-Pacific-10 Conference honorable mention.  "DeSean is one of the best players in the country. We know that as well as everybody else," Jordan said. "They're not going to be able to double him. We're too deep."

Jordan said the biggest challenge facing the receivers during camp is to maintain the high level they've established for themselves.  "Everything is so easy now," Jordan said. "We have to push ourselves. It's hard to stay on top. It's easy when you're climbing the ladder. Anything less than excellence is a disappointment to us. We hold ourselves to that."

REAL FOOTBALL: The Bears practiced for the first time in full pads Friday, and will practice in pads again for the next three days. Today, Cal will hold its first double-day session.

"It's more realistic. It's more like football, so you see where guys are at, and they really go after it," Tedford said. "It's real football. It was great to see them flying around like that."

EXTRA POINTS: Wide receiver Nyan Boateng, a transfer from Florida who is sitting out the season, attended practice. Boateng was arrested in Florida last month and charged with burglary residence, battery and criminal mischief after allegedly barging into the home of his former girlfriend. Tedford said Boateng has been suspended for the fall semester. ... Tedford said walk-on tailback Bryan Schutte has quit the team because he lost his passion for football. ... Highly touted freshman offensive lineman Matt Summers-Gavin is recovering from a concussion after falling the day before camp opened. ... Starting free safety Thomas DeCoud suffered with a twinge in his hamstring.