AP: AP panel ranks USC No. 1 in preseason poll

NEW YORK — After a season of chasing, USC is again the team being chased.  That is exactly the way coach Pete Carroll and the Trojans like it. For the third time in the past four years, USC begins the season No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25. "It's exactly where we hope and expect to be," Carroll said. "It's a symbol of what we're all about." USC received 62 of 65 first-place votes and 1,622 points from a panel of media members to easily outdistance No. 2 Louisiana State in the poll released Saturday. The Tigers received two first-place votes and 1,511 points. They haven't started a season ranked so high since 1959, when they were preseason No. 1.  No. 3 West Virginia received the other first-place vote. The Mountaineers have never been ranked higher in the preseason.

No. 4 Texas and Michigan round out the top five, and defending national champion Florida is sixth.  In the USA Today coaches poll released earlier this month, USC and LSU were 1-2, ahead of, in order, Florida, Texas, Michigan and West Virginia.  The Southeastern Conference leads the way with six ranked teams in the AP poll. The Big Ten and Big 12 are next with four each and the Pac-10 and Big East have three apiece.  Pac-10 teams joining USC in the Top 25 are No. 12 California and No. 14 UCLA.

Unranked Washington opens its season Aug. 31 at Syracuse before playing four ranked teams in September — No. 24 Boise State (Sept. 8), No. 11 Ohio State (Sept. 15), at UCLA (Sept. 22) and USC (Sept. 29).   USC has been the country's top program since 2002, going 59-6 with two national titles and a near-miss. This season, the Trojans sound as if they expect to walk away from the BCS National Championship Game on Jan. 7 in New Orleans with the crystal football.  "That's what we're here for. We're here to do it better than anybody has ever done it before," Carroll said. "That's the single thought."

Notes

• California fullback Will Ta'ufo'ou will miss from three to six weeks after spraining a knee ligament during a scrimmage Thursday.

AP preseason Top 25
First-place votes in parentheses. Total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote:
Team	2006	Pts	Pvs
1. USC (62)	11-2	1,622	4
2. Louisiana St. (2)	11-2	1,511	3
3. West Virginia (1)	11-2	1,396	10
4. Texas	10-3	1,375	13
5. Michigan	11-2	1,371	8
6. Florida	13-1	1,276	1
7. Wisconsin	12-1	1,192	7
8. Oklahoma	11-3	1,166	11
9. Virginia Tech	10-3	1,148	19
10. Louisville	12-1	1,031	6
11. Ohio St.	12-1	876	2
12. California	10-3	790	14
13. Georgia	9-4	782	23
14. UCLA	7-6	605	—
15. Tennessee	9-4	571	25
16. Rutgers	11-2	560	12
17. Penn St.	9-4	542	—
18. Auburn	11-2	519	9
19. Florida St.	7-6	392	—
20. Nebraska	9-5	377	—
21. Arkansas	10-4	376	15
22. Texas Christian	11-2	283	22
23. Hawaii	11-3	256	—
24. Boise St.	13-0	187	5
25. Texas A&M	9-4	162	—

 

SF Chronicle: Cal fullback Ta'ufo'ou to miss season opener after spraining knee during practice

California fullback Will Ta'ufo'ou will miss three to six weeks after spraining a ligament in his knee during a scrimmage.  Coach Jeff Tedford said Saturday that Ta'ufo'ou, who was injured Thursday, is expected to miss the 12th-ranked Bears season-opener against No. 15 Tennessee.  Ta'ufo'ou, a junior, played in all 13 games last season and is expected to start this season.

SF Chronicle: Injured fullback could miss 3-4 weeks

Rusty Simmons

Cal coach Jeff Tedford had yet to see the MRI results as of Friday, but he said the injury to starting fullback Will Ta'ufo'ou appears to involve the medial collateral ligament in his left knee. If that is the final diagnosis, the junior will miss at least three to four weeks.   Ta'ufo'ou was injured during Thursday's scrimmage when he was hit on the outside of his knee in a solid tackle by safety Bernard Hicks. Ta'ufo'ou walked off the field under his own power and was in a knee brace by the end of the scrimmage.  He has been impressive since the Holiday Bowl, in which he got his first start for Byron Storer, who broke his arm. Ta'ufo'ou is a bowling-ball-like blocker and has proved to be a receiving threat as well.

Tedford said sophomore Brian Holley and junior Zach Smith, a transfer from Duke, are next in line. "Holley has some experience in the offense and knows what we're doing, and, being an older guy, Zach has done a nice job of picking it up," Tedford said. "They are both physical guys and can handle that job."

Briefly: Tedford said Hicks sustained a mild concussion, but not on one of his patented crushing hits. He was inadvertently kicked in the head as he went to make a tackle. ... Sophomore cornerback Syd'Quan Thompson was back at practice Friday after missing the scrimmage with a slight ankle tweak. He made a nice cut and break on a pass intended for DeSean Jackson. ... Redshirt freshman cornerback Charles Amadi continues to be hampered by a nagging ankle injury, according to Tedford.

CollegeFootballNews: 2007 Preview: California Golden Bears

As long as Head Coach Jeff Tedford continues to rebuff offers to leave Strawberry Canyon, Cal will be a perennial threat for ten wins. However, the upcoming season provides unique challenges, as Tedford and his staff must replace a few all-time great Bears. It's a good thing the program has recruited so well the past few years because no Pac-10 school lost a more productive quartet than star running back Marshawn Lynch, leading tackler linebacker Desmond Bishop, defensive tackle Brandon Mebane and All-American cornerback Daymeion Hughes.

Every year Tedford is back, he's the key returner for Cal, a program that was in complete disarray before he arrived in 2002. The Bears are currently riding the wave of their best five-year stretch in more than a half-century, dramatically upgrading the pool of talent and routinely finishing the season ranked and in a bowl game. That a hollow feeling of unfinished business existed after going 10-3 in 2006 is a testament to just how far Cal has come, since going 1-10 in 2001. To fully complete this extreme makeover, however, the Bears still must get to the Rose Bowl, and must renovate their outdated facilities, a touchy subject that's reached the courts and raised the ire of local neighborhoods and environmental groups.

With a winning tradition beginning to take root, Cal doesn't rebuild, it reloads. Yes, last year was the Bears' golden opportunity to knock mighty USC from its Pac-10 throne, but that doesn't mean they won't be right back in the thick of the 2007 race, especially since the Trojans come to Berkeley Nov. 10. With the trio of quarterback Nate Longshore, running back Justin Forsett and receiver DeSean Jackson back for another year, Tedford's offense will once again roll, giving the revamped defense time to break in six new starters.

What to watch on offense ... Cal is just one of five teams in the country that has ranked in the top 25 in scoring the past five seasons, a trend that'll continue in 2007. Tedford's an innovator, but there's a national misconception that the Bears are content to heave 50 passes a game, when balance and deception are the objectives. Super-sub Forsett supplants Lynch in the running game, but at 5-foot-8 and 185-pounds, he'll need support from redshirt freshmen James Montgomery and Tracy Slocum. Longshore will build on his debut as the starter by getting the ball into the hands of Jackson, a home-run-hitting receiver and the nation's most explosive punt returner.

What to watch on defense ... The busiest Cal coach this off-season will be defensive coordinator Bob Gregory, who'll be trying to piece together a cohesive unit after his defense was torn apart by graduation. There's no easy way to replace Hughes, Mebane and Bishop, so potential stars, such as tackle Derrick Hill, linebackers Zack Follett and Worrell Williams and corner Syd'Quan Thompson will be asked to grow up and assert themselves real fast.   The team will be far better if ... it can locate a consistent pass rush. The Bears had just 12 sacks over the final eight games of 2006, leaving a pretty good secondary to fend for itself. If they fail to create pressure for a second straight year, those young corners are going to be toast once the Pac-10 portion of the schedule begins.  

The Schedule: Considering one of the "away games" is down the road at Stanford, the schedule isn't all that bad. The non-conference schedule is interesting, starting off with a must-win, national-showcase home opener against Tennessee, before going to Colorado State and then returning home for what should be an easy win over Louisiana Tech. Getting USC at home might mean everything in the Pac-10 race, but league road games at Oregon, UCLA, Arizona State and Washington should derail any hope of an unbeaten season.

Best Offensive Player: Junior WR DeSean Jackson. Think Ted Ginn Jr., but smaller and more productive. The 6-foot, 166-pound wisp is one of the nation's fastest players and a game-breaker whenever he has the ball in his hands. The ultimate deep threat, Jackson has averaged 17.1 yards per catch on 97 grabs with 16 touchdowns in his first two years, and has been a devastating punt returner, averaging 18.2 yards per try last season with four touchdowns.

Best Defensive Player: Junior LB Zack Follett. A reserve most of last year, Follett still earned All-Pac-10 honors with 62 tackles, 5.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss. He's a hard hitter who's solid in pass coverage. Now he'll have to become a leader, given all of the big losses on defense.

Key player to a successful season: Sophomore CB Syd'Quan Thompson. With All-American Daymeion Hughes gone, it'll be up to Thompson to take on the role as the number one corner right off the bat. While he's not nearly as big as Hughes, the 5-foot-10, 178-pound sophomore is a bit faster and proved he could handle himself after being thrown into the fire as a freshman.

The season will be a success if ... the Bears win the Pac-10 title outright. It's time. This is a loaded team with as much all-around talent, skill and athleticism as anyone in the Pac-10 outside of USC, which has to come to Berkeley. One loss to a UCLA or Oregon will be acceptable, but anything less than a spot in the BCS for the first time, preferably in the Rose Bowl, will be seen as a major disappointment.

Key game: Sept. 1 vs. Tennessee. Of course the USC game is the most important, and of course there are several other key conference battles. However, for the Bears to finally be recognized as more than just a good Pac-10 program (at least by those who haven't been paying attention or didn't watch the 2006 Holiday Bowl), they need to beat Tennessee. A win would set the tone for the season and put them in the thick of the national title race from the start.

2006 Fun Stats:

Sacks: Cal 26 for 136 yards — Opponents 13 for 89 yards

Punt return average: Cal 17.3 — Opponents 6.9

Red zone scoring: Cal 38 of 42 chances (90%) — Opponents 26 of 36 chances (72%)

SF Chronicle: Freshman cornerback making an impression

Rusty Simmons

When true freshman cornerback Chris Conte arrived Aug. 6 for his first official day as a Cal football player, he had a gold stripe dyed down the middle of his dark hair.  "I knew camp was going to be tough, and I wanted to come in with a mind-set to be kind of crazy and up for anything," he said. "I wanted to do something that would show that I was ready to be crazy. I wanted to make a statement."  Mission accomplished.  Conte, a 6-foot-3, 190-pounder from Loyola High-Los Angeles, started Thursday's scrimmage, subbing for Syd'Quan Thompson, who has a slight tweak in his ankle. With the opportunity, all Conte did was tie for the team lead in tackles with five, show solid coverage skills and even pressured the quarterback on a blitz.  "Conte has played very well, and he is not intimidated or in awe of the whole deal," defensive coordinator Bob Gregory said. "He's been very impressive so far. He plays very, very calm and makes plays. He's a good football player."

So good, that coaches say he has pulled even with redshirt freshman Darian Hagan for the third corner spot. Thompson, who could have played according to coach Jeff Tedford but didn't risk it, and senior Brandon Hampton are currently slated as the starters.  "(Conte) is a big, tall, physical corner who can run and has nice cover skills," Tedford said. "He is really making a move to be a guy who will contribute very strongly for us." That was Conte's plan.  "I knew it would be hard, coming in as a freshman," Conte said. "But I was preparing myself to play or at least working as hard as I could to play right away." As for the hair? "Maybe it took a little courage, but I haven't gotten too hard a time," he said. "But some of the coaches call me 'Skunkhead.' " Who's No. 2? Tedford said he will probably announce the No. 2 quarterback, a competition between sophomore Kyle Reed and redshirt freshman Kevin Riley, by the middle of next week. Reed completed 7 of 12 passes for 55 yards, and Riley was 4-for-13 for 47 yards and a 23-yard touchdown to receiver Sean Young. Tedford said the duo is essentially neck and neck.

Lining up: The defensive line, which lost three starters, is starting to take shape. Sophomore defensive end Tad Smith has been impossible to miss the last week of practice, and senior Rulon Davis consistently pestered quarterbacks during the scrimmage. "The one guy we really wanted to see do some things was Rulon Davis, and he did some good things," Gregory said. "Without seeing film yet, he is really the guy who jumped out at me." Gregory said Smith, Davis and Cody Jones are in a competition for the starting end spots, and it could be decided as early as today. Either Mika Kane or Tyson Alualu will start inside with Matt Malele, who missed the scrimmage with a sore knee according to Tedford.

Tailback stable: On the day Emmanuel Moody announced that he will transfer, leaving USC with nine standout tailbacks, Cal proved it has a remarkable group, too.  Starter Justin Forsett ran four times for 24 yards, including a nifty 13-yard touchdown scamper, redshirt freshmen James Montgomery and Tracy Slocum combined for 88 yards on 12 carries and true freshmen Jahvid Best and Shane Vereen proved they are ready to play right away.  Best returned a kick 86 yards for a touchdown and zig-zagged about 55 yards to gain 6 on a busted screen play. Vereen, who ran nine times for a team-leading 52 yards, was forced from the game after a brain-busting hit from Robert Peele, but he returned a play later to push in a 1-yard score.  "The young kids are everything that's been advertised," Tedford said. "They are great talents and great kids. We'll need to utilize those guys this year."

Briefly: Fullback Will Ta'ufo'ou took a vicious hit to his left knee and is scheduled for an MRI. ... In its only series, the first-team offense needed eight plays to march 70 yards for a touchdown. ... Tom Schneider and Andrew Larson each booted kickoffs into the end zone. ... Hampton had a 94-yard kick return for a score, and Brett Johnson blocked a punt.

 

LA Times: DeSean Jackson: I'd Rather Beat USC Than Win the Heisman

Here’s the link.

California receiver DeSean Jackson, a Heisman Trophy candidate, called out USC cornerback Terrell Thomas in the new issue of ESPN The Magazine.  Thomas and Jackson verbally sparred last season after the Trojans' 23-9 victory over Cal at the Coliseum, a game in which Jackson caught two passes. Thomas had said that he shut Jackson down and the former Long Beach Poly star responded by yelling that USC had triple-teamed him with a cornerback, linebacker and a safety.

Asked about the Thomas incident, Jackson told writer Bruce Feldman, "That dude was just talkin' to be talkin'. If Pete Carroll told his 10 other players to focus on everything else and it was just me and Terrell Thomas, oh man, I'd expose that dude. But being the best player, you gotta deal with that stuff. It just makes you better."  Apprised of Jackson's comments on Wednesday, Thomas said, "He had two catches and we won -- that's all I care about. He can take it as an individual matchup. I enjoy the competition, but we play a team game. . . . It wasn't just me. It was the whole defense." Jackson also said he would rather defeat the Trojans than win the Heisman. "Honestly I don't need to win it if we beat SC," he said.

 

SF Chronicle: Bears getting a head start on scrimmage with big hits

Rusty Simmons, Chronicle Staff Writer

Cal is scheduled to have its first intrasquad scrimmage today, but, in some respects, the Bears got it started during Wednesday's morning practice.  In a red-zone drill, safety Thomas DeCoud smacked tight end Cameron Morrah and released just in time to give way to Bernard Hicks, who started about 20 yards away from the play but raced to get in a second jarring hit.  During 7-on-7 drills, coaches whistled a play dead after quarterback Nate Longshore scrambled for about 7 yards, but that didn't stop middle linebacker Worrell Williams, who tried to strangle the ball out of Longshore's grasp. The quarterback playfully responded by tossing the ball at Williams and prancing the other direction.

"The defense has been pestered the whole camp about keeping the offensive players off the ground, so we're ready to go full speed and take some guys down," outside linebacker Zack Follett said. "We're going to try to put on a display and hit somebody in the scrimmage. We want to see what we're made of."

The offense's response? "We've been pumped up all camp, but it will be different (today)," tight end Craig Stevens said. "We finally get to release a little more." With Tennessee projected to offer a brute opponent in Week 1, setting a physical tone in the scrimmage is important, but there are other questions that could be answered as well. The defense still needs to identify its first-team linemen among a group that lost three starters, and live action also could go a long way toward solidifying or halting Brandon Hampton as the front-runner for the starting cornerback job.  "The defense is really coming along," Follett said. "I know I'm not going to see a tight end better than Craig Stevens all year, and our defensive backs aren't going to see a better receiver than DeSean Jackson, so the talent we practice against may eventually make games seem easy."

With coach Jeff Tedford saying the open offensive-line positions have been pretty much won by guard Brian De La Puente and tackle Mike Tepper, the only uncertainties are among the backups. The No. 2 quarterback and tailback spots could become a lot clearer after the scrimmage. "This is a great situation to be in," Stevens said. "Last year, at this time, we didn't even know who was going to be the starting quarterback. This year, we're getting asked questions about who is going to be No. 2."

Briefly: Receiver Michael Calvin, a true freshman from San Lorenzo High, continues to sparkle during camp. He made back-to-back highlight-reel catches during team drills and was greeted after a diving catch along the sideline by Jackson, who sprinted from an on-looking group stationed about 30 yards from the play.

 

Contra Costa Times: Cal's Longshore expects big year

BERKELEY -- There's something decidedly different about Cal quarterback Nate Longshore this year.  No, I'm not talking about his hair, which has gone from short to long and from blond to blue then blue to black with gold highlights. Or his engagement to Rachel Gibson -- they plan to get married next summer. I'm talking about the way Longshore looks on the practice field as he directs the Bears offense during training camp drills. Longshore's passes seem sharper and crisper than a year ago. His body appears stronger and quicker. He seems more poised, confident and comfortable. And his football IQ, compared to a year ago, appears to have spiked as sharply as the price of Google stock after it went public.

"Until you have that experience, that comfort level really isn't there," Longshore said Wednesday after practice. "I'm excited because I played a little bit. My receivers played with me a little bit. "So we're pretty comfortable with each other and have the experience together. So we're on the same page and things are just smoother." The old Nate Longshore wasn't half bad, despite a season-opening nightmare against Tennessee last season. As a sophomore, Longshore became Cal's second member of the 3,000-yard, single-season passing club, joining Pat Barnes. He threw 24 touchdown passes, had three four-touchdown games and was named Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Week three times. The new Nate Longshore, with a complete season of starting experience in the bank and the return of his top three receivers -- DeSean Jackson, Robert Jordan and Lavelle Hawkins -- should blow those numbers away. Don't take my word for it. Take it from Jordan. "Nate's going to have a real good year," Jordan said Wednesday. "No doubt about it. He's understanding the offense better, the concepts and everything. "We've got chemistry as a receiving group. Everything's like clockwork now." Take it from Jackson.

"He has some experience under his belt now," Jackson said. "That year was huge for him. He knows this offense inside and out. "I think this year is going to be big for him just because of all the hard work he's put in and the dedication he has for this football team." Take it from running back Justin Forsett. "I anticipate a big season from this guy. The kind of things he needed to work on during the offseason, he went out and did it. "And we fed off that. He led by example. I expect big things from him."

Entering last season, Longshore had exactly one career start, the 2005 opener against Sacramento State. His 2005 season ended when he suffered a broken ankle in the second quarter. Longshore was still hampered a bit by that injury last year when he outdueled Joe Ayoob in training camp for the starting job. What's more, Longshore and his teammates on offense were adjusting to a new offensive coordinator, Mike Dunbar, and trying to learn elements of the spread offense. This year, Dunbar is gone, and coach Jeff Tedford has reclaimed the play-calling duties. Longshore and the Bears have that spread package down pat. As he prepares for a Sept. 1 rematch with Tennessee, Longshore is reviewing plays instead of learning new schemes. "We still have it in the playbook," Longshore said of the spread package. "We still have our old stuff in the playbook. We just want to be able to take advantage of whatever the defense is giving us." After last season, Tedford told Longshore to lose a few pounds from his 6-foot-5, 233-pound frame. Longshore obliged, then he put those pounds back on as muscle. Longshore did more than pump iron, count calories and throw passes during his summer "vacation." He added Pilates to his workout regimen. He wanted to become more flexible, strengthen his core muscles and prevent a return of the back soreness that plagued him throughout much of last season. "I found it easier to throw the ball," Longshore said. "I just felt looser and fresher on a daily basis. "I haven't been this healthy since before I broke my ankle. As active and as healthy as I am right now, I feel great. I'm out here being able to focus on football and not the pain." For Longshore, change is definitely good.

 

 

Fox Sports: Predictions for 2007

Here is the link.

Excerpts:

Predicting a USC loss at Nebraska on September 15th is too obvious. The same goes for the November 10th showdown at Cal. It's going to happen, but it's going to be when everyone is assuming a Trojan win, like at Oregon the week after the trip to Notre Dame, or at Arizona State before the showdown against UCLA ... or in the BCS Championship.

***

USC will win the Pac-10 in a walk. Although Cal and UCLA are quality programs, the gap between No. 1 and No. 2 is nowhere more pronounced than it is in this conference. And while the Trojans have retooled for another monster run toward a national championship, the other nine programs are packed so tightly that they'll cannibalize one another every Saturday

***

By the first week of December, Cal's Jeff Tedford will be on the short list of at least one NFL GM that's looking to fill a head coaching opening. These days, you can set your calendar by the interest in the Papa Bear.

***

Cal WR/PR DeSean Jackson will assume the unofficial title of "college football's most electrifying player." Whether he's fielding punts or running routes, no player in the country is more dangerous or more fun to watch.

Contra Costa Times: Can Cal D-line do its part?

Inexperience up front figures to be the biggest concern on Bears' defense

By Jonathan Okanes

Here is the link.

BERKELEY -- The linebackers figure to be the strength of Cal's defense this season, with Zack Follett, Worrell Williams and Anthony Felder making plays and Greg Van Hoesen and Justin Moye providing depth. The secondary also could be strong, with all four projected starters having started games last year.

The defensive line? Check back on Sept. 1.  The Bears' front four is the great unknown of Cal's defense, having lost three starters, two to the NFL. Defensive line coach Ken Delgado is lining up players who have yet to make an impact in college football, and he is asking them to do just that. "I have a core of guys that have been with us for a couple of years," Delgado said. "They're well indoctrinated with the system, but what they lack is a lot of game experience. We're going to be inexperienced until after that Tennessee game. Then we'll no longer be inexperienced." When the Bears host the Volunteers to open the season on Sept. 1, there only is one certainty: Senior Matt Malele will line up at defensive tackle. The rest still is up in the air, as Delgado sorts through his personnel to determine who is most ready to play the most snaps.

Malele is a two-year starter, but the rest of Cal's defensive linemen have a combined two career starts. Defensive tackle Tyson Alualu and defensive end Cody Jones each started once last season, and both are running with the first unit during camp. "I'm confident we'll be able to field a defensive line to the standard, and potentially even better," Delgado said. "Once these guys get experience, we have a really good group of players. I feel confident we'll be able to do our part." Defensive end Tad Smith has provided some eye-opening moments this fall. Smith has been at Cal for two years but has yet to play in a game. He took a redshirt season in 2005 and missed all of last season because of a knee injury. Smith has played his way onto the first team and has been a disturbance for Cal's offensive linemen during 11-on-11s. "He's all over the place," Cal coach Jeff Tedford said. "He's really running well. He's a force chasing guys down sideline-to-sideline."

Mika Kane and Rulon Jones are running with the second team at this point, but Delgado said he expects both to make a major contribution. He also said the freshman class of defensive linemen is the best he's had in his six seasons at Cal. Alualu was a regular part of the playing rotation last season as a true freshman, and Delgado said he expects at least one of this year's freshmen to provide the same production. Cameron Jordan, a 6-foot-4, 260-pound freshman defensive end from Chandler, Ariz., has an otherworldly combination of size and speed. Other freshmen vying for immediate playing time are Scott Smith, Ernest Owusu and Solomona Aigamaua, although Aigamaua has been hampered recently by a hamstring injury. "(The freshmen) have come in and really given us a spark with their athletic ability and their size," Delgado said. "They're going through some aches and pains of trying to learn the system. One of those freshmen is going to plug in somewhere to help us."

The Bears were hoping to get major contributions from Derrick Hill, a redshirt freshman who missed most of last season with a knee injury. Hill had a strong spring but has missed all of fall camp so far with back spasms. "Derrick would be in that mix, but he's out of that because he hasn't been able to practice," Delgado said. "It's frustrating because he had such a good spring. Coming off spring, he was going to be challenging for one of those inside spots. But when we get him back, we'll be that much stronger. At some point in the season, he'll be a vital cog for us." Malele was overshadowed last season by Brandon Mebane and Nu'u Tafisi -- both are in the Seattle Seahawks' training camp this fall. Now he is being counted on to anchor a line that will enter the season with a measure of uncertainty. "I know there's a lack of experience, but I'm confident we'll be able to get things done," Malele said. "The guys we have running with the (first unit), they didn't start last year, but they got some playing time. We're making progress physically and with our technique. Every day we're getting a little better."

 

AP: QBs Take Center Stage in Pass Happy Pac-10

Here is the link.

Excerpts:

California junior Nate Longshore is “another coach on our field,” Bears coach Jeff Tedford said. “Nate is a student of the game.”  Tedford knows quarterbacks. In 15 years as a college assistant and head coach, he is credited with developing six quarterbacks who were first-round NFL draft picks, including Cal products Aaron Rodgers and Kyle Boller.

***

CALIFORNIA—All-American DeSean Jackson has returned five punts for TDs in his career. TB Justin Forsett, who ran for 626 yards as Marshawn Lynch’s backup last season, becomes the starter. Pass defense ranked 103rd in the nation last season and must replace CB Daymeion Hughes.

Atlanta Journal Constitution: Five Games You Have to Watch

Here is the link.

4. Southern Cal at California, Nov. 10: If the No. 1 Trojans are going to stumble anywhere this season, this trip to Berkeley just might be it. The Bears of Jeff Tedford have played Southern Cal tough over the years and return eight starters from the Pac-10s best offense from a year ago. It will be the Trojans’ third road game in four weeks.

SF Chronicle: Bears give thumbs up to blockbuster movie

Rusty Simmons

"Rush Hour 3" probably isn't going to win any Academy Awards, but it could get some votes from the Cal football players, who appeared re-energized Tuesday, a day after seeing the movie.  "The guys have been playing physical and fast, so I felt like they needed to get recovered a little bit," said coach Jeff Tedford, who rewarded his players with the trip to the movies Monday instead of making them sweat through the second of two scheduled practices. "There's a certain point in camp in which you get kind of run down, and I wanted to get them a little fresher." It worked wonders. Hits by Zack Follett and Bernard Hicks echoed through Memorial Stadium, and the offensive and defensive linemen mauled one another throughout the drill and team portions of practice. "The energy was great," Tedford said. "We had a good, hard day of hitting."

Pain, pain, stay away: At this point in camp last season, the field and sidelines were filled with yellow and red jerseys, which indicate levels of injuries, but the colored jerseys are few and far between this year. "That's a tribute to the condition in which the guys came into camp," Tedford said. "Knock on wood, we don't have any major injuries yet. There's the normal minor stuff, but we've been very fortunate." In the days before camp opened, tailback Justin Forsett raved about the team's offseason program and the players' dedication to it. "There are some guys who are lifting weights I've never seen before," he said. "This is the fastest and strongest I've ever seen a team before."  Linebacker Anthony Felder and tailback Jahvid Best can be added to the nicks-and-bruises category. Felder got a stinger midway through practice, but returned to the field in full pads, and Best was held out of about half of the contact drills with lower back spasms, according to Tedford. "(Best) has been taking a lot of reps and practicing very hard," Tedford said. "He's fine, but we didn't want to risk it."

Tailback James Montgomery, who has missed a handful of practices with a concussion, was back at practice Tuesday, but he didn't compete in contact drills. "We're anxious to see him back in a white jersey," Tedford said. "We want to see him get some contact." Planned audibles: Tedford repeatedly has referred to Nate Longshore as "another coach on the field," and, apparently, the quarterback also has become a coach off the field. "He's at the point now in which he's in there drawing up plays before meetings," Tedford said. "He's really into it, and that's refreshing." Asked if he would ever use one of Longshore's plays, Tedford said: "We may. He's got a lot of good ideas."

Briefly: Receiver DeSean Jackson was named an ESPN preseason All-American on Tuesday. The team was selected by senior writer Ivan Maisel.

 

San Jose Mercury News: Cal works on a backup plan

Reed, Riley compete for No. 2 QB berth

By Jonathan Okanes

Right now the race between Kyle Reed and Kevin Riley is too close to call, but Coach Jeff Tedford said he will name a No. 2 quarterback after Cal's scrimmage Thursday.  Reed and Riley are locked in a competitive battle to back up incumbent starter Nate Longshore. They were listed as co-No. 2s on the depth chart after spring practice. "It's still very competitive," Tedford said. "Physically, they both do a very nice job. It really comes down to which guy is going to be able to run the show the best and handle the things that we're asking them to do." Reed is a redshirt sophomore and Riley a redshirt freshman. The winner of the backup job will be in position to become the heir apparent to Longshore, a junior. "Whoever takes this job should be the future of the program," Reed said. "I think it's a close race. Kevin is a great quarterback, and I also feel confident in my abilities. I understand that we're competing. I understand that I have to work hard to get the job."

Last season, Cal had three experienced quarterbacks - Longshore, Joe Ayoob and Steve Levy. Now, if the Bears need to call on a replacement for Longshore, it will be someone who never has appeared in a college game. "Through the spring, I learned the offense and then I studied during summer as well," Riley said. "I feel like I have a real good grasp of the offense." The scrimmage will be the first chance for the two backups to play under simulated game conditions. "Competing is part of football," Riley said. "If you're not competitive, you're never going to be a winner. It's fun going out here every day knowing you have to do better than the other guy."

There's probably more at stake for Reed. If Riley wins the job and stays ahead of him on the depth chart, opportunities for Reed might be slim because he is a year older.

"That's tough to think about, but I'm not even thinking about that right now," Reed said. "I'm focused on one thing, and that's trying to be the best quarterback I can be and trying to get that No. 2 spot."  Redshirt freshman Derrick Hill still hasn't practiced because of back spasms, and it's costing him an opportunity to make an impact on the defensive line. Big things were expected from Hill after he demonstrated he was recovered from a knee injury with a strong showing during spring practice. The Bears have a starting spot open at defensive tackle, but it looks as if that will go to someone else for now. "It's frustrating because I knew I had an opportunity to continue the good spring I had," Hill said. "It's disappointing that I'm not on the field every day with everyone else."

Tedford said last week that Hill's injury was a product of not being in shape, and Hill conceded that might be the case. "I'm probably not in the best shape I could be in," he said. "I thought I was, but I guess I should have worked even harder. I can use it as motivation to push forward." Offensive lineman Chet Teofilo underwent surgery on his dislocated thumb Monday and is expected to miss a few days of practice. Defensive tackle Matt Malele sat out practice to rest a sore knee but is expected back today. Backup offensive lineman Kevin Bemoll has been suspended for the fall because of a team violation, Tedford said. Linebacker Alex Cook, a transfer from Blinn Community College in Texas who was expected to be on the roster this season, won't join the team until the spring, Tedford said.

 

Cal is Currently a 4 to 5 1/2 Point Favorite Over Tennessee

Here are some links:

VegasInsider (Cal is a 4 point favorite)

Vegas.com (Cal by 5 ½)

BetED and BetUS: (Cal by 5 ½)

 

ESPN: Don't Miss These Conference Games in 2007

Here’s the link.

 

USC at Cal (Nov. 10)

Can the Bears figure out a way to unleash gamebreaker DeSean Jackson against the Trojans? Can USC clear the toughest of three conference road hurdles?

Oakland Tribune: Longshore can't wait to face Tennessee again

Column by Carl Steward

BERKELEY — Wait until Tennessee gets a load of Nate Longshore now. The Volunteers won't recognize him as the same quarterback.   For one thing, there's the hair. Longshore's familiar buzz cut is gone, replaced by a longer black-and-gold coiffure that can only be described as part Las Vegas lounge comedian, part "Addams Family" goth. But here's the weird part — it works for Nate.   The end result wasn't really planned, but here's what happened. Longshore thought it would be a cool idea to show up for the first day of Cal football camp last week with his hair dyed blue. It was a hit, too, a symbolic gesture of his dedication toward a great 2007 season.

Unfortunately, it didn't work for the team photo shoot, and Nate was informed by coach Jeff Tedford he had to do something about the blue or go with last year's photos, in which he looks like a Marines recruiting ad.  So, short story long, Longshore's dome is now mostly black, with wisps of his natural blond, and, as Nate noted, if you turn a certain way to the sun, you can still see a little blue tint. The 'do was done by his fiancee, Rachel, and honestly, despite that earlier harsh description, she performed an admirable rescue.  But for all that trouble, why not just shave it again?  "No chance," Longshore said. "I worked too long and hard to grow this hair out to just go and cut it like that. But it'll be pretty awkward for a while."

Longshore has no interest in going back to his old look in a lot of ways, and when the Volunteers visit Memorial Stadium on Sept.1, they're going to see the player part, too. Bravado has been replaced by real confidence. The inexperienced, erratic novice who was knocked for a loop in Knoxville at the outset of last season has morphed into a smart, savvy and frequently spectacular quarterback.   What's more, there is absolutely no question he's the starter now. If you remember last year's camp, Tedford didn't make the call on his No. 1 between Longshore and Joe Ayoob until the last few days leading up to the Tennessee opener.  Tedford admits now that putting Longshore in that situation was almost unfair, but at the time, he was still the best option.   "That was a difficult first opportunity with the new (spread) offense, with the shotgun, with the crowd like that," the coach said. "It was about as difficult a task as you could have, plus the speed of Tennessee — everything was moving pretty fast. It was definitely a rough one to start with."

But instead of the experience destroying his morale, it served to inspire both him and his teammates.  "Looking back on it, I kind of appreciate that game more than any other game we had last year," Longshore said. "I felt like that game set our tone in practice for the rest of the season, set our mentality going into the games. It's unfortunate what happened — you obviously don't want to go out there and embarrass yourself the first weekend of the season — but I felt like it was something we needed to help our focus."

Longshore's sophomore season turned out to be a sensational campaign. He was named Pac-10 offensive player of the week three times. He became only the second Cal quarterback to throw for more than 3,000 yards, and he was co-MVP of the Bears' climactic Holiday Bowl romp over Texas A&M. Beyond the numbers and accomplishments, he became an accomplished leader.   At the controls of such a high-powered, intricate offense, everyone knows the quarterback must be the consummate facilitator, the guy who makes it go. Longshore estimates that his teammates gained total faith in him three or four games after the Tennessee debacle.

"I can remember one play, we had a play-action on or something, and I said, 'If you guys block this, it's a touchdown,'" he said. "Sure enough, we blocked it, and it was a touchdown. I think that was a turning point on the field.  "At the quarterback position, there's only so much you can do in practice. To really gain your teammate's respect, it really comes down to how you work when the coaches aren't around, how you act when the coaches aren't around, and obviously, your performance in games. It's tough to lead when your performance isn't helping you any."  Longshore admitted he'd love to go back to Tennessee and play last year's opener all over again, but he has the next-best opportunity when the Vols visit Berkeley in a few weeks. Tedford assessed the dramatically different QB the Vols will be seeing this time around.

"He's way more advanced because he understands the speed of the game, he's like another coach on the field," the coach said. "Not to mention that there was a new part of the offense that was being put in last year that he was unsure about. I think he's very comfortable with the offense that we're running now, and he just understands the whole thing with regard to timing and all. He's just a great field general."  Quite a compliment, but it makes you wonder: Did Patton ever have hair issues?

 

 

Calbears.com: Cal Practices for 23 Periods on Monday Morning

Bears decide not to hold afternoon session

After practicing for 23 periods in shells on Monday morning, the California football coaching staff rewarded the team by not holding an afternoon practice.  Cal continued to sharpen its offensive and defensive repetitions in the early session, conducting 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills. Some of the offensive highlights saw quarterback Nate Longshore hook up with wide receiver Robert Jordan for a long gain, and freshman running back Jahvid Best darting thru holes for good yardage. Defensively, linebacker Justin Moye almost came up with an interception on a nice coverage read, while defensive end Tad Smith showed a lot of explosion off the snap to disrupt the quarterback.   The Bears also addressed special teams drills such as punt formations and coverage and field goal blocking schemes.   Cal resumes practice tomorrow with an afternoon session in Memorial Stadium.

WVLT: Vols Practice Early to Eliminate Saturday's Flaws (Link to Video)

Here’s the link to the video.

 

Tennessee's first morning workout of the 2007 preseason camp turned into a lengthy affair, lasting nearly three hours as the Vols worked through various corrections from Saturday's scrimmage.  "It was a good day," head coach Phillip Fulmer said. "We had a little bit of full-speed work with 9-on-8, then went back and had another five-minute period of board drills primarily with the young guys." Fulmer said Sunday's video review of the team's first full scrimmage was about what he expected. "I thought the offensive front did a good job in the scrimmage, the first team. Receivers, the first group kind of did OK, the ones who have been around. The running backs ran hard, although we've got to get Montario (Hardesty) more work. We've also got to find out from those young ones what they really know about pass protection."

Tennessee's first-team running game clicked from the opening bell, turning in a 15-play, 68-yard touchdown drive that garnered everyone's attention. "The defensive front I think got shocked and then it got better from there," Fulmer said. "They certainly will get better if we continue to challenge them. The secondary, they honestly weren't challenged a whole bunch in the scrimmage although they did get their hands on three balls (for interceptions). And we got a good look at a lot of kicking situations so we will see where we go with that." Tuesday's practice schedule marks the first two-a-day slate, with an early-morning workout in addition to the regular afternoon time slot. The Vols also have two practices scheduled for Thursday, with morning workouts on Wednesday and Friday to beat the heat now that the summer semester has ended. "The attitude's good and it's all about attitude," Fulmer said. "They are tired and beat up right now." "There is a group of guys who have played and played well, or have practiced a whole bunch here and they showed up pretty good (Saturday). There is another level of guys who are really talented and certainly capable of helping or even making significant contributions that just need time and the right attitude to push themselves either into a starting role or certainly into a two-deep role."

"Then you've got a small group of guys who just flat don't get it. They don't understand what the tempo of playing in this league is about. That group is small but I would like to push those guys toward helping some way or another."

The Times-Picayune: Top 25 Review

Here’s the link.

 

NO. 12 CALIFORNIA

Last season: 10-3. Defeated Texas A&M 45-10 in the Holiday Bowl. Final AP ranking: No. 14.

Returning starters: offense 8, defense 5, kickers 0.

Key player: Cornerback Syd'Quan Thompson. Thompson was burned by Tennessee's receivers, particularly Robert Meachem, in last season's 35-18 opening loss to the Volunteers. But he improved markedly as the season went on and should be well prepared when the Bears open at home against Tennessee.

Headed for Bourbon Street if: Quarterback Nate Longshore and the Pacific-10's top playmaker (including anyone from USC) DeSean Jackson hook up enough to pile up points to make up for a rebuilding defense. That defense must continue to be effective in the red zone.

Predicted finish: 10-2. Ties UCLA for second place in the Pacific-10 and plays Missouri in Holiday Bowl.

Walker County Messenger: Countdown to Number One

Here is the link.

 

11. California – The entire hopes of the Golden Bears may be riding on the 6-foot-5 frame of quarterback Nate Longshore, a talented signal-caller who needs more consistency to be mentioned among the nation’s best. Justin Forsett will also be a key player as he tries to fill the shoes of first round NFL draft pick Marshawn Lynch.  Junior DeSean Jackson (59 rec., 1,060 yards, 9 touchdowns) might be the fastest receiver in the country while Robert Jordan and Lavelle Hawkins also have tremendous speed. The biggest concern on the line is whether Mike Gibson is completely recovered from offseason shoulder surgery.  Junior end Rulon Davis has the size (6-5, 275) to be a disruptive force while sophomore Tyson Alualu is a rising star. Zack Follett, Anthony Felder and Worrell Williams give Cal a solid group at linebacker, but the secondary will have to replace Lott Trophy winner Daymeion Hughes meaning the corners will be young and inexperienced.

Green Bay Press Gazette: Rodgers shows signs of improvement

 

By Pete Dougherty

The Green Bay Packers have to feel better about Aaron Rodgers' future as Brett Favre's successor after watching by far his best game-setting performance Saturday night at Pittsburgh.  Rodgers, the 2005 first-round draft choice, is serving the kind of long apprenticeship that quarterbacks often had in the NFL in the days before free agency. His steady growth the past two-plus years took an important step Saturday night with his impressive performance against Pittsburgh's No. 2 defense in the Packers' 13-9 win.

The Packers' coaches and front office have been saying publicly for a couple of years they've seen much to like about Rodgers on the practice field, but until Saturday night, they'd never seen him in a game consistently move the team and make some plays on his own by breaking outside the pocket and finding receivers downfield. He's in his third season with the team, and his growth in that time never was more evident than Saturday night.  “I don't know when that day (replacing Favre) is going to come," General Manager Ted Thompson said on Sunday, "but I've always felt good about having Aaron on our team ever since Day 1. I'm sure this (waiting) has been an excruciating experience for him, but it's also been a good one for him."  Rodgers played about two quarters Saturday night and finished with a strong passer rating of 95.9 points. He completed 66.7 percent of his passes (18-for-27), threw for 168 yards, had one touchdown pass, another called back by penalty and threw no interceptions.

Most importantly, he led the Packers to 10 points and 15 first downs. On several plays, he scrambled outside the pocket and made accurate throws on the run. Perhaps his most impressive play, when he scrambled and threw back across the field to receiver Ruvell Martin for an apparent 15-yard touchdown, was called back because Martin was an ineligible receiver after stepping out of the back of the end zone while running his route.  But Rodgers also had a 20-yard run for a first down, a 17-yard scramble and throw to Martin to convert a third down, and a 21-yard pass to rookie James Jones to convert another third down.  "The Aaron I saw out there last night was the Aaron I see day in and day out," Martin said.   Some scouts questioned Rodgers' overall athletic ability coming out of college, even though he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.68 seconds at the NFL scouting combine, the same time run by quarterback Alex Smith, who was the top pick overall in that draft. However, Rodgers played in California coach Jeff Tedford's quarterback-friendly offense that emphasized getting throws out quickly and included many quick, short passes and check downs.

"He didn't (scramble) all the time," Thompson said, "but you watched tape (and) you could see he would buy time and run if he needed to. And the way he ran at the combine confirmed his athletic ability."  After the game Saturday, Rodgers acknowledged the importance of playing well in a game setting as a way to measure his growth. He struggled in the exhibition season as a rookie, then last year was better though not nearly as impressive as his passer rating of 101.1 points in the exhibition season suggested. He also was only 4-for-12 passing in a blowout loss to New England in the regular season, a game in which he finished playing on a broken foot that sidelined him for the rest of the year.

Saturday night, though, he made plays, moved the team, including leading it to a field goal in a 2-minute drill at the end of the first half, and avoided the big mistake.  "(A game) is what counts," Rodgers said Saturday night. "I can have a great camp and a poor performance in the games and that's all people are going to see. So, it's important to perform when the lights are on, when it's live, when I can get hit, when I have to make plays outside the pocket, plays they might blow dead in practice."  Rodgers' experience as a backup the last two-plus years showed up on several plays, including a 19-yard pass to Shaun Bodiford on the touchdown drive in the second half. He said on that play, he wanted to hit receiver Chris Francies on a quick slant to his right because no one had lined up over him. But Francies ran a route in the flat, and Rodgers didn't throw it.

"So, I took something I kind of learned from Brett," he said. "I rolled to the right a little bit and kind of stared down the flat knowing my slant (to Bodiford) was coming behind him and was able to look him off and hit Bod behind him."  There still are tougher tests ahead for Rodgers, including moving the team against a starting defense. The Steelers, for instance, blitzed heavily against Favre and the starters from their 3-4 scheme and held the Packers' No. 1 offense without a first down in four series. Rodgers and the backups didn't face that kind of disruptive onslaught.   "To be honest, I thought they might pressure a little bit more," Rodgers said. "They pressured the first team just about every snap, with us it was more four-man, five-man pressure where, I hate to say more exotic, but they were pressuring with secondary guys and dropping linebacker types underneath and still playing coverage. We were able to pick it up and make the right calls."

 

 

San Jose Mercury News: Cal has hole to fill at corner

HAMPTON, A ROVER LAST SEASON, IS LEADING CANDIDATE TO START

By Jonathan Okanes

When Cal opens the season Sept. 1 against Tennessee, it will do so with a new starting cornerback. That sounds familiar. When the Bears traveled to Knoxville to open the 2006 season, Syd'Quan Thompson made his first career start. Tennessee's All-America wide receiver Robert Meachem torched Thompson for two long touchdown catches as the Volunteers raced to a 35-0 lead and cruised to a 35-18 victory. Yes, Cal gets Tennessee at home this time around. And yes, Meachem is gone to the NFL. But the uncertainty that comes with lining up an unproven cornerback is heightened against a team such as Tennessee. Thompson, who recovered from his first-game torching and had a solid season, is back at one corner. At the other corner, somebody will need to step in for Daymeion Hughes, the Pacific-10 Conference player of the year on defense and a third-round draft choice of the Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts last April.

There are several candidates, but only one has played in a college football game. That makes Brandon Hampton, a senior, the leading candidate. "He knows the deal," Cal defensive coordinator Bob Gregory said. "He's going to be on the field somewhere." Hampton started every game last season at rover and was a reserve defensive back in 2005. With Thomas DeCoud and Bernard Hicks manning the safety spots, Hampton is in position to help Cal at cornerback. "I want to start," Hampton said. "Corner is where I'm headed right now. I like the move because as I look to my future, that versatility will make my stock rise higher. If I need to go somewhere else, I can go effectively and play."  Gregory allowed that Hampton is the leading candidate, but he said "no one has emerged as the guy yet." Redshirt freshmen Brandon Jones and Charles Amadi are pushing Hampton hardest. Gregory said Darian Hagan, another redshirt freshman, is behind the top three.

Some believe Hagan has the potential to be a star, but Gregory said he has a lot of work to do. "I think he needs to use all of his potential," Gregory said. "He needs to work on his work habits. He needs to become a better worker. If he does that, there's no question he's a good football player." Of all the candidates, Hagan came to Cal as the best prospect, highly regarded out of Crenshaw High in Los Angeles. "There's a lot of competition," Hagan said. "There are different guys who bring different things to the table. The one thing Coach (Gregory) wants me to do is be more competitive and hustle more. I'm pretty sure I'm in the mix. I have to do whatever I can to make it happen." Hampton is the best story. He began his Cal career as the team's equipment manager, then walked on as a running back. He switched to defense before the 2005 season.

In acknowledging Hampton as the front-runner, Gregory cited his experience. But even though Coach Jeff Tedford said last season that inexperience may have been a reason for Thompson's woes at Knoxville, Gregory took part of the blame. "I probably didn't put Syd in as good a position as he could have been in," Gregory said. "It's not like Syd was way out of position. He made a great break on the ball and wrapped the guy up, but he just kind of spun off of him. It's not like he got beat deep. He was right there."

Gregory said he would like to be in a position where more than one player is qualified to start. He said Thompson and Hughes may have gotten worn down at times last season.

"I feel good about the group," Gregory said. "We'd like to have four or five corners we feel good about. That would be great to get."

 

Daily Cal: Position Battles Highlight Bears Opening Week of Camp

Cal Looks for Backups At Tailback With Jobs Open at Cornerback And Defensive Line

BY Jon Doss and Gerald Nicdao

The Cal football team has just wrapped up its first full week of fall camp and coach Jeff Tedford had nothing but praise for his squad.  “We’re making a lot of progress with our guys as we try to figure out our depth,” Tedford said. “I feel good about the way they’ve been practicing and the way they have been focusing.”  Of course the focus for most of the first week is to re-familiarize the team to the speed of the collegiate game.  “It’s about kind of getting back into the flow of practice,” Tedford said. “The main thing is to try to teach tempo and let our young guys what practice is all about.”  

Cal's secondary is one of the positions in need of major renovations after the departure of cornerback Daymeion Hughes, the 2006 Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year.  Hughes’ eight interceptions last season were three more than the rest of the secondary combined, leaving a void that the Bears have to fill for its opening contest against Tennessee on Sept. 1.  “We keep an eye on everything, but there are a few positions that are absolutely open and very competitive,” Tedford said. “The corners are wide open.”  Thompson should be the front runner for one of two cornerback spots after starting opposite of Hughes for most of last season, with senior Brandon Hampton and redshirt freshmen Darian Hagan and Charles Amadi battling for the vacancy.  

While Longshore seems to be a lock to get the starting nod on opening day, the contest for the backup position is still a tight one.  Neither redshirt sophomore Kyle Reed nor redshirt freshman Kevin Riley have seen in-game action in their young careers, but both have looked capable of performing in relief.  “That’s a good battle. Both those guys are competing hard and having their moments,” Tedford said. “They’re two talented and gifted guys. It’s all about the mental game on who is going to run the offense the best.”

Tedford said that the team will make a decision about who takes more reps with the second unit after this week's scrimmage.

Tedford is also trying to find a backup for senior tailback Justin Forsett.  Forsett is the only running back in camp with any game experience. James Montgomery and Tracy Slocum both redshirted last year and Jahvid Best and Shane Vereen are in their first years with the program.  Other than Montgomery, who has missed the last few days of camp with a concussion, all have looked very impressive in their first week of camp.  “There’s no question that coming into camp, it was to see what our running back depth was,” Tedford said. Sophomore Bryan Schutte, who would have also competed for that No. 2 spot, left the team in the middle of the week, thus opening up the competition to the freshmen.  “He lost the passion to play football, so that moves everyone up,” Tedford said. “He was here the first couple of days of camp and then just gave it up.”

Defensive lineman Derrick Hill has missed the entire first week of practice due to back spasms and this hasn’t pleased Tedford.  The redshirt freshman was to compete for a starting job on the defensive line this fall.  “He came into camp out of shape and his back spasmed up,” Tedford said. “He’s missing valuable reps. If you can’t play in camp, you’re not going to play in games.”

Defensive end Phillip Mbakogu will sit out his second straight season with knee problems. An injured knee kept Mbakogu out of the lineup for the 2006 season.  

Linebacker Zack Follett and Longshore entered camp sporting unusual hairdos. Longshore has grown out his hair and dyed it blue. Follett has a tiger stripes dyed into his hair.

This is just away for the players to have a little fun, especially during all the workout sessions that the players have to go through leading up to their first game of the year.

“Camp gets long and tedious,” Longshore said. “We’re here for 20 days, so we like to be a little different and enjoy our time that we have out here.”  Follett has embraced his new look, as teammates have started calling him “Ziger”—a cross between his first name, Zack, and tiger.  While Follett said he’ll be keeping his streaks throughout the season, Longshore said the blue hair will be coming off when the Bears open against Tennessee.  “You don’t go out in public with this,” he said.

 

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.

 

Washington Post: Jackson Goes for Big Catch

Heisman Win Would Put WR in Rare Co.

By Eric Prisbell

DeSean Jackson was only 4 years old on Nov. 23, 1991, but the California wide receiver has since seen replays of a certain 13-second sequence from that day so many times he can visualize the dramatic events with clarity.  A man in maize and blue caught a punt, stutter-stepped right, then dashed down the left sideline in a blur for a touchdown that a famous broadcaster aptly stamped "Hello, Heisman!" After the 93-yard return, Jackson recalls, Michigan's Desmond Howard struck the Heisman Trophy pose in the end zone, a fitting punctuation to his trophy-winning campaign. "I never made the pose, but it has always been something on my mind," Jackson said in a telephone interview. "He is very inspirational to me. I try to do everything like him and hopefully win a Heisman like him." Jackson, a junior, hopes to become the first wide receiver since Howard to win the Heisman, a trophy long monopolized by quarterbacks and running backs. Only two wide receivers in the modern era -- Howard and Notre Dame's Tim Brown in 1987 -- have won the award. One of the nation's most dynamic players, Jackson blends speed and athleticism to become a scoring threat almost every time he touches the ball. Elite playmakers on the West Coast have recently starred at Southern California, but this season Jackson commands the spotlight. His university-produced Heisman promotional Web site bears the appropriate addre ss http://www.the1towatch.com.

"It is tougher for a receiver" to win the Heisman, Dan Ferrigno, California's wide receivers coach, said in a telephone interview. "He has to have a great year. We have to have a great year. And he has to improve on what he did a year ago. If there is not a great quarterback or tailback out there, he might have a chance." As a sophomore, Jackson caught 59 passes for 1,060 yards and nine touchdowns. But defenses often attempted to eliminate him from plays by summoning two defenders his way or by positioning an oversize linebacker opposite him to outmuscle Jackson. In those instances, Coach Jeff Tedford had choices: either get the ball to Jackson by creative means, such as a reverse or screen pass, or go in a different direction. As a result, two other California receivers caught 46 passes last season. Unlike a running back or quarterback, Jackson must rely on someone else throwing him the ball to put him in position to make a game-breaking play. But like Howard and Brown before him, Jackson is a dangerous return man who can distinguish himself on special teams. Jackson, who led the nation with a punt return average of 18.2 yards, set a Pacific-10 Conference record last season with four punt returns for touchdowns and has five in his career. Now that teams this season will kick off from the 30-yard line, instead of the 35, because of an NCAA rule change, Jackson knows he could be particularly dangerous on kickoff returns if Tedford opts to use him in that capacity.

Because of the position he plays, Jackson understands he is a Heisman dark horse, which means his trophy fate will also hinge on his team's fate. Winning the Pacific-10 title will, as always, depend on whether the Golden Bears can topple USC, which manhandled Cal, 23-9, last season, holding Jackson to two receptions. While the Nov. 10 game against the Trojans is critical for BCS hopes, the importance of the season opener against Tennessee cannot be overstated. Cal players have universally eyed the Sept. 1 rematch after the humbling 17-point defeat last year in Knoxville, Tenn., that spoiled a season that began with lofty ambitions. This year's game at California Memorial Stadium, which is going to be televised nationally by ABC in prime time, provides Jackson an opportunity for greatness. "We have got to get revenge to get them back," Jackson said. "It is going to be a big stage in my career."

To that end, Jackson has long emulated Howard because of his ability to thrive when the stage was largest, be it with his "Hello, Heisman!" punt return against Ohio State in 1991 or his 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown that earned him Super Bowl XXXI MVP honors as a member of the Green Bay Packers. But Jackson also gravitated toward Howard because neither player is particularly large in stature: Jackson is 6-foot, 172 pounds; Howard was 5-9, 176 pounds at Michigan. Jackson said he first met Howard during an awards ceremony last year in Florida. This year, he knows the formula to follow in his gilded footsteps. "I just have to be exceptional on kickoffs and punt returns," Jackson said. "And make big plays."

 

Information re: Campaign to Stop the Stadium Lawsuit

The following is the text of an email that has been circulating from concerned alums:

In an attempt to convince the Berkeley City Council to vote to stop the lawsuit at its Sept. 11 meeting, here's the latest thing that Berkeleyans for Cal Athletics can do NOW:

There is a local, independent citizen group site that explores and polls local issues called KitchenDemocracy.org.  The Student-Athlete Center has just been selected as one of the issues to vote on. The final tally will be (as it has been in the past) presented to the City Council, who have historically put significant weight on the results when casting their own votes.  Although the voting has just begun and currently shows our position in the majority, opponents of the project and their organizations are also

responding.   It is up to you to vote and encourage others to do so. We

are asking members of Berkeleyans for Cal Athletics to:

SIGN ON TO KITCHEN DEMOCRACY (www.kitchendemocracy.org)  IF YOU ARE NOT NOW A MEMBER, REGISTER TO BE A MEMBER.

VOTE AND ADD YOUR COMMENTS.

CONTACT FRIENDS IN YOUR ADDRESS BOOK AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO THE SAME.

This should be done ASAP!  The end result is trying to impress the City Council to withdraw their lawsuit at their September 11 meeting. Some council members are beginning to hear our message and are leaning toward that possibility, but we need numbers!  Thanks.

Video of Vols' First Scrimmage

Here is the link.

AP: Tennessee starts rough in first fall scrimmage

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Erik Ainge said Tennessee will have to learn more from their mistakes than achievements in the team's first fall scrimmage.  "Lot of mistakes, lot of good plays on both sides of the ball," the quarterback said. "First scrimmages are always rough on both sides. Defense makes mistakes, offense makes mistakes. Practice Monday through Friday and how we come out in the second scrimmage will tell us where we're at."  Tennessee went with a no huddle offense in all the sets, giving the upper hand to the offense in a fair majority of the scrimmage.  "I think the benefits of the no huddle showed today," Ainge said. "Getting on the ball and on the right running plays allows coach (David) Cutcliffe to see what they're doing on defense."  Tailback Arian Foster ran for 47 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries with the first team, and Montario Hardesty, who had 14 yards on five attempts, ran a few plays with the first and second rotations.

Freshmen Lennon Creer and Daryl Vereen split most of the snaps throughout the day, giving the coaches a glimpse at who might be able to fill in for the suspended LaMarcus Coker.  "I thought both the running backs hit it really hard," coach Phillip Fulmer said. "That's what we wanted to see. Both of them had some nice runs and showed that they have speed."  Creer tallied 84 yards on 11 carries, while Vereen totaled 41 yards on 13 rushes.  While there were no injuries in the scrimmage, Fulmer said senior tight end David Holbert, who was carted off at the end of practice Friday, suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and will be out for the season.  Holbert was behind senior tight ends Chris Brown and Brad Cottam on the depth chart and was mentioned as a possibility in the backfield.   Holbert has a red shirt year left -- an option the coaching staff toyed with before the injury because of the trio of seniors -- and Fulmer said Holbert should, with hard work, be beneficial for the team next year.

SF Chronicle: Hampton has lead in starting corner battle

Jake Curtis, Chronicle Staff Writer

Brandon Hampton is still listed as a safety on Cal's roster, but when the Bears host Tennessee in their season-opener Sept. 1, there's a good chance he'll be a starting cornerback.  Hampton is playing as the first-team cornerback on the side opposite returning starter Syd'Quan Thompson, and despite competition with a few others at the position, Hampton states confidently he will remain on top of the depth chart for the rest of preseason camp.  Hampton started every game last season at strong safety, but in the spring, he was asked to move to corner because the Bears needed a replacement for departed Daymeion Hughes, the 2006 Pac-10 defensive player of the year.

"I don't feel like I'm replacing Hughes," Hampton said. "It's just a standard I need to live up to. But I definitely feel I have some shoes to fill."  Thomas DeCoud and Bernard Hicks shared the free safety spot last year, and Hicks was moved to strong safety in the offseason and is the starter there this year. DeCoud's activity has been limited this week because of a slight hamstring problem, but his job is not believed to be in jeopardy.  Hampton is used to making changes. He arrived at Cal as a walk-on running back before being moved to defense and says the change from safety to corner was not a difficult adjustment. Padded landing: Friday was Cal's first preseason practice in full pads, which meant the team did some serious hitting for the first time.  "It means it's a little bit more like football," coach Jeff Tedford said.

The staff took an extended look at the incoming freshmen to get an early idea of who might be able to help this season. Either Jahvid Best or Shane Vereen is expected to get playing time as a true freshman at running back, and it's possible both will play.  Tedford described Best, a 2007 state champion in the 100 meters at Salesian High-Richmond, as "unbelievably fast." Best and Vereen got even more work Friday because redshirt freshman James Montgomery, the backup to starter Justin Forsett, sustained a concussion Friday and may miss another practice or two. Also, walk-on tailback Bryan Schutte, who played in eight games last season, decided this week to quit football and concentrate on his academics.

Briefly: Nyan Boateng, a transfer wide receiver from Florida, is not practicing because he has been suspended. He was arrested last month in Florida on charges of burglary and assault. He would have had to sit out games as a transfer but he could have practiced. ... Freshman offensive lineman Matt Summers-Gavin, who attended St. Ignatius High-San Francisco, has not practiced yet because he sustained a concussion from an off-the-field fall.

 

San Jose Mercury News: If Forsett is No. 1; who's No. 2?

James Montgomery is the front-runner to be the top backup runner for Bears

By Jonathan Okanes

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 that Coach Jeff Tedford doesn't like relying on just one tailback to carry the load, and now the Bears need someone to fill the No. 2 role.  "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 drop-off 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 came to Berkeley from Rancho Cordova. "Right now, we're all just working hard. We're not really thinking about that," Montgomery said. "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. The Bears also have highly regarded freshmen Jahvid Best and Shane Vereen.  "My focus now is trying to find a No. 2 and No. 3 guy to try to take some of the load off (Forsett)," running-backs coach Ron Gould said. "You want guys who can come in and maybe improve when they get in there." Best continued his impressive camp Friday. "He's very, very fast - unbelievably fast," Tedford said. "He's picking things up well. He's doing a good job." One of the big questions at Cal is whether opposing teams will punt to Heisman Trophy candidate DeSean Jackson. There is no doubt, however, that the Bears will throw to him.

Jackson is a consensus All-American at wide receiver, and he also has a strong supporting cast. Robert Jordan caught 43 passes for 511 yards and four touchdowns last season and has caught a pass in 30 consecutive 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. "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. "Anything less than excellence is a disappointment to us," he said. "We hold ourselves to that." The Bears practiced in full pads for the first time Friday, and will do so again for the next three days. Today, Cal will hold its first double 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." Walk-on tailback Bryan Schutte has quit the team because he lost the passion for football, Tedford said. Highly touted freshman offensive lineman Matt Summers-Gavin is recovering from a concussion after falling the day before camp opened. Montgomery suffered a concussion late in practice, and starting free safety Thomas DeCoud sustained a twinge in his hamstring.

 

SF Chronicle: Longshore on list for Manning Award

Cal Notebook

Rusty Simmons

On the heels of another sharp day of practice, it was announced that Nate Longshore has been selected to the watch list for the Manning Award, which goes to college football's top quarterback. Longshore completed 60.2 percent of his passes last year for 3,021 yards and 24 touchdowns.  As has been the case throughout the first week of training camp, Longshore and his receivers were on the same page Thursday. It's a stark contrast to last season's camp, when there were two practices in which the three quarterbacks vying for the starting job went through 7-on-7 drills without completing a pass. The Manning Award was created in honor of the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton, and Eli Manning, and will be presented to the winner following the bowl season. It is the only quarterback award that takes into consideration the candidates' bowl performances.

A special unit: The Bears' special teams were listed as No. 1 in the nation by College Football News, which released its annual unit-by-unit rankings Thursday. Cal also received top-10 rankings with its receiving corps (No. 6), offense (No. 6) and offensive line (No. 9).  "With DeSean Jackson electrifying on punt returns, and Andrew Larson and Tom Schneider handling the kicking game, the Cal special teams unit will have few peers in the country in 2007," read the CFN clip. "The Bears return all of the key pieces of a top-tier special teams unit ... (and are) set at punt returner with Jackson, a human dynamo that took four back for scores to set a Pac-10 single-season record."

CBS Sportsline: Games of the Year

Here is the link.

 

Tennessee at Cal

Dennis Dodd:We'll see if Tennessee has Les Miles' back. The Great Defense of Our Glorious Southern Pride begins in Berkeley. LSU's coach says the Pac-10 stinks. Cal got embarrassed at Tennessee last season. The Pac-10 and SEC have basically monopolized the national championship since 2003. These teams are playing for something more significant than themselves.

 

USC at California:

Dodd: If Cal is as tough as the tree huggers trying to protect the pines outside Memorial Stadium, then we've got ourselves a game. The teams that shared the 2006 Pac-10 title are determined not to this season.

WVLT Sports: Saturday's First Scrimmage is an Opportunity for The Young Vols

Here is the link of the news story from a Knoxville television station.

The biggest news out of practice Friday ... Offensive Lilneman Cody Pope might be switching sides ... The Tennessee Freshman practiced with the Defense at Tackle ... He'll be watched closely tomorrow at the scrimmage for his positioning. Meantime, the Tennessee football team wrapped up its first full week of practice on Friday afternoon with a two hour workout in shells on Robert M. Lindsay Field at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. The Vols will next take the field Saturday afternoon at Neyland Stadium for their first scrimmage of the preseason. For much of the practice, the Vols worked on special teams and in position groups fine-tuning techniques and assignments. After position work, the Vols worked briefly in 11-on-11 drills. "Today, everything was geared towards tomorrow," head coach Philip Fulmer said. "We're getting different looks on offense and defense. We're putting them in situations that they'll see tomorrow. It's a big day for us to test some of the young guys." Saturday's live action will provide an opportunity for many players to prove they belong in the playing rotation. Tennessee has three weeks to fill several holes on both sides of the ball, having lost 10 starters from a season ago including both starting wideouts and three quarters of the defensive secondary.

"We're going to go at it pretty good," Fulmer said. "It will be great for those young defensive backs and receivers to see how they handle it." The Vols have made it through the first week of practice nearly injury free. The only holdout for the Saturday scrimmage will be linebacker Ellix Wilson with a minor knee injury. Tennessee will run approximately 100 plays in the closed scrimmage. Afterwards, the players will have Sunday off from practice before returning in full pads on Monday morning. The Vols open the 2007 season Sept. 1 at California. Kick-off is set for 8:00p edt on ABC.

1,000 TICKETS FOR UT-CALIFORNIA PLACED ON SALE:

Tennessee fans in the mood for a last-minute trip to the West Coast are in luck, at least regarding tickets to a Tennessee football game. California has placed 1,000 tickets on sale for the Sept. 1 season opener between the Vols and Golden Bears at Berkeley's Memorial Stadium. Seating capacity at the historic campus facility is 72,516 and the UT already is looking to have a sizeable contingent in the stands.