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Cal football: Training camp preview
Posted by
Jon Wilner on August 4th, 2008 at 7:55 am | Categorized as
Cal,
Jeff Tedford,
Pac-10 football
I caught up with all three head coaches last Monday at Bay Area media day. True to their personalities, Stanford’s Jim Harbaugh and SJSU’s Dick Tomey were visibly excited about the season. You could see it in their eyes and hear it in their voice.
Cal’s Jeff Tedford was not as outwardly stoked, in keeping with his lower-key nature. But you have to think he’s been counting the seconds until the Bears take the field and begin trying to erase the bad taste of what happened in ‘07.
Today’s the day. Cal opens camp at Memorial Stadium (a closed practice, as usual) with a bevy of questions to answer before the season opener Aug. 30 vs. Michigan State.
Here’s my to-do list for the Bears, and I’m NOT including the quarterback competition between Nate Longshore and Kevin Riley — not including it because I don’t think there’s any chance it will be resolved in camp.
My sense is that both QBs will play in the opener and possibly in every game thereafter. Tedford might go ahead and rotate them throughout the season based on situations and matchups.
So here are the non-QB items for Cal’s camp:
*** Learn the 3-4 defense.
Bob Gregory began installing the 3-4 alignment in spring ball, so it’s not entirely new. And it certainly suits the personnel, which is heavy on experience linebackers and light on above-average defensive linemen (everyone in the Pac-10 is always light on above-average defensive linemen, except maybe USC).
But a new system takes time to install: the coaches must figure out how to best use their personnel, while the players must learn their assignments to the point that they don’t need to think — they can just react.
That’s Cal’s goal: no thinking on Aug. 30, just reacting.
*** Make sure Tedford and Cignetti are on the same page
Tedford hired Frank Cignetti, the former 49ers qurterbacks coach, as his playcaller. They have similar philosophies, according to Tedford, and have had eight months to talk through the playbook and personnel.
Tedford plans to chime in but will leave the majority of the playcalling duties to Cignetti. But now is the time to make sure everything’s copacetic.
*** Find a power back
Based on Tedford’s comments, Jahvid Best is healthy and ready to be the starting tailback. He’s a gamebreker, for sure, with that awesome speed.
But the ability to break one from anywhere on the field is not enough. To compete for the conference title, the Bears must convert short-yardage situations by running between the tackles.
They must have a power running game.
Is the 193-pound Best capable of picking up power yards against USC or Oregon State on the road in November, when there are six minutes left and the Bears need a first down?
Or will that role fall to Tracy Slocum, or Shane Vereen, or maybe Will Ta’ufo’ou, the 250-something-pound fullback.
*** Get LB Worrell Williams in the right frame of mind
I think Williams is the key to the defense, and that would be the case whether Cal was playing a 4-3 or 3-4.
Williams moved inside in ‘07 and, in my opinion, played poorly down the stretch — as did so many of his teammates. When he wasn’t out of position, he was simply not making plays.
This season, as an inside LB in the 3-4, as a senior, as one of the most experienced and talented players on the defense, Williams must take and maintain a leadership role. He must set an example on the field and in the lockerroom.
That process started during winter conditioning and continued through spring ball (Gregory spoke very highly of Williams after the final April practice) and the summer workouts. But the next four weeks are critical for Williams, and for the defense.
*** Secure the offensive line
The Bears are set at center, obviously, with Alex Mack, and they should be fine at right guard (Noris Malele). But there are questions about the other three spots:
Is Mike Tepper ready for the demands of left tackle, which is more important than right tackle (his position last season) because of the QB’s blind side.
The new right tackle, Chet Teofilo, has one career start, and the projected starter at left guard, Mark Boskovich, was primarily a special teams player in ‘07.
The Bears have talented underclassmen at each spot, and they might need them.
*** Identify a primary receiver
I wouldn’t call this a crucial issue for training camp, but it’s important.
It’s important because of the huge void at the position — Robert Jordan, Lavelle Hawkins and DeSean Jackson combined for 184 receptions last season — and because having a go-to wideout helps everyone.
It helps the quarterback feel more secure, and it forces the defense to focus on one player, thus creating opportunities elsewhere.
The top-four receivers on the summer depth chart had a combined four catches last season, and all were by LaReylle Cunningham.
There’s no shortage of size, which should help the Bears in short-yardage situations — not only passing situations but running, because big WRs can block the perimeter and create outside lanes for the tailbacks.
But when it’s third-and-five against Michigan State, where is Longshore/Riley going with the ball?
