Spring Practice Begins

The Bears started their spring practice on Saturday in some pretty dreary weather. Given that practices are closed to the public, and that I fall into the category, I can only really provide highlights based on what the media is reporting. Perhaps I can sneak in pretending to be Andrew Kim from the Daily Cal. I doubt they’d really notice the difference.

Anyway, Jonathan Okanes went into pretty good detail highlight some of the past weekend’s performances. The Bear Insider also has a few tidbits.

Here are some of the highlights with my thoughts.

Perhaps the biggest question on everyone’s mind is how the QB battle between Riley/Mansion/Sweeney has been going. Riley was mysteriously absent from Saturday’s practice, until it was revealed that he was simply attending his brother’s wedding, before returning to participate in Sunday’s practice. I’m guessing it was pretty popular weekend for weddings, as I attended one myself. BTW, congrats Jon and Jen!

As for each QB’s performances, Riley was reportedly pretty sharp on Sunday, showing good zip and accuracy on his passes. I’ve heard conflicting things about Mansion and Sweeney, both making both good and poor passes. Again, that’s very much to be expected this early on in Spring practice. All three QBs have a lot of time to move up or down the coach’s mental depth chart. Expect Riley to still get the bulk of the first team snaps though.

Jahvid Best appears to be feeling a lot better in his rehab and says he’ll be lobbying to get back to practice by the end of spring ball. Uh huh. Right.

Just going to say this now, ain’t no way in hell Tedford’s letting that happen. Tedford would rather let Recruiting Assistant Kevin Parker take snaps at tailback before letting that happen.

You know, the guy with rope who goes more ballistic than any player any time a crazy play is made. Watch for him at 0:18 mark after Vereen’s catch last year.




The depth chart is shaping up the way I imagined it to. Keep in mind that this doesn’t include starters and potential starters (RB Jahvid Best, NT Derrick Hill, WR Michael Calvin) who are being held out of Spring ball due to injury.

1st Team Offense
QB: Kevin Riley (1st)
HB: Shane Vereen (1st)
FB: Brian Holley
WR: Nyan Boateng, Jeremy Ross, Verran Tucker, Marvin Jones, Alex Lagemann, Charles Satchell
LT: Mike Tepper
LG: Mark Boskovich
C: Chris Guarnero
RG: Richard Fischer
RT: Mitchell Schwartz
TE: Tad Smith

1st Team Defense
RE: Tyson Alualu
LE: Cameron Jordan
NT: Kendrick Payne
WOLB: Mychal Kendricks
ILB: Mike Mohammed
ILB: Devin Bishop
SOLB: Eddie young
SS: Marcus Ezeff
FS: Brent Johnson
CB: Syd’Quan Thompson
CB: Darian Hagan

Keep in mind that there was a lot of rotation going on, particularly at the guard spots as well as with the wide receivers. Again, while a few positions appear to be locks, don’t be too surprised if this depth chart looks different from how it will be, come Cal’s open scrimmage.

I must say though it is a bit reassuring to see so many familiar names, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. Other than the departing senior linebackers, all the defensive starters return which is really exciting if you think about it.

After all the talk about Josh Hill and Marc Antony challenging Hagan for the other CB spot, I’m surprised it wasn’t noted they got second team reps. It appears Conte and Nnabuife split those reps evenly.

Michael Calvin has apparently cut his hair, which will even further make it difficult for some fans to differentiate the receivers without the names on the back of the jerseys. The long hair looks to be on its way out with Follett, Mohammed all having taken on cleaner looks in recent years. Mitchell Schwartz, you’re next.

(Shave those sideburns Mattingly!)

Speaking of receivers, both Alex Lagemann and Marvin Jones caught some nice long bombs from Mansion on Saturday. That’s good to hear, considering both players’ injuries which sidelined them last year. It’d be interesting to see what both are really capable of when healthy.


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Highlights from the Spring Press Conference and Other Team Notes

Riley at Spring Scrimmage Last Year.

Jeff Tedford had his Pre-Spring Practice Press Conference yesterday which you can read here.

Here are some the highlights:

Slocum Removed from Team
Tedford confirmed that Tracy Slocum was released from the team for violating team rules. Tedford did not go into further details (who actually thought he would), but at least we know now that Slocum did not ask for a transfer, and this is not a James Montgomery type of scenario as some have presumed. I believe Slocum will or transfer to another school to play for one year, but I will need to get further details on that.

Tackle Questions
I, like many Cal fans, had been wondering how 6th year left tackle Mike Tepper would fit back into the line after being out a year due to a torn pectoral muscle. While he had the talent and experience to fit right back into the left tackle spot, freshman Mitchell Schwartz earned Freshman All-American honors last year and could just as easily hold on to the spot.

Well it appears we have our answer. Tepper will man the left side of the line, and Schwartz will make the move to the right. Donovan Edwards, Matt Summers-Gavin, Chet Teofilo, and Justin Cheadle have all gotten pretty significant playing time last year during the Bears’ rash of offensive line injuries and will provide quality depth.

One player in particular to pay attention to is Donovan Edwards. Edwards was forced into playing time last year, and was abused during the Oregon State game before finishing the season really solidly. Tedford noted that Edwards was thrown into the mix before he was physically ready, and should be a lot bigger after his offseason workouts are through. You may not hear too much about Edwards this year, but I think he has a real good shot at competing for the right tackle spot next year in his senior season.


Rounding out the offensive line
Chris Guarnero will make the move back to the center position. Guarnero had started at guard last year because he was too good not to have on the line, but not quite Alex Mack good. Mark Boskovich who took over for Guarnero at the left guard spot after Guarnero’s season ending injury, will likely compete for the starting spot there, leaving the biggest question at who will start right guard. Richard Fisher, who played backup center last year, will move to his more natural position at guard, so he seems like a strong candidate there.

A dark horse candidate is Dominic Galas who practiced significantly at center with the offense last year, while not burning his red shirt. Galas should see a fair amount of playing time this year.

Secondary
One of the more surprising bits in recent days is that Darian Hagan may not be as much of a lock to man the opposite side of the field as I initially thought. Defensive Coordinator Bob Gregory has recognized Hagan’s great progress last season, but has also touted the talent with young corners Marc Anthony and Josh Hill, and stated that they might push Hagan for playing time. I think it’s unlikely that Hagan gets pushed out of his starting role considering he posted similar numbers to Thompson last year, but Gregory obviously expects great things from Hagan, and may have no qualms about getting Anthony or Hill more reps.

QB Battle
Surprise, surprise, puppy surprise. It's unlikely that a starting QB will be named until the Fall. My take: It's Riley's job to lose, but Mansion could certainly win it if Riley continues to struggle with consistency and Mansion impresses. Sweeney is a likely backup, but hell, Steve Levy started by the end of 2005.

Running Back U
Here’s the skinny: Best, recovering from surgery will sit out. Vereen will play, but will be limited. There’s no need for him to get banged up too much, and the dude is also running track, which Tedford says is fine by him. Redshirt freshman Covaughn Deboskie should get the bulk of the carries in Spring ball, with Peter Geurts also getting some reps.

New Coaches
New OC Andy Ludwig and O-Line Coach appear to be fitting right in. Obviously, there’s a bit of urgency considering how close Spring Ball is, but there doesn’t appear to be any time wasted on teaching the basics, as Ludwig is familiar with most of the offensive terminology. Getting familiar with the personnel and agreeing on offensive philosophy seem to be the biggest priorities.

Rotating the Wide Receivers
There should be a lot of equal playing time for the receivers, as some of the Bears’ most promising ones were lost to injury last year, namely Michael Calvin, Marvin Jones, and Alex Lagemann. Obviously, Nyan Boateng, Verran Tucker, and Jeremy Ross provide the most experience, and are penciled in as starters, but no one has really set themselves apart from being untouchable at the spot. Tedford has maintained that the rotation will likely go 7-8 deep with Charles Satchel likely to get involved as well. While he wasn’t mentioned during the press conference, I’d keep an eye out for JC Recruit Markish Jones in the fall as well. He could sneak up on a few folks.

Tedford did share an interesting nugget while speaking about Verran Tucker, mentioning how he had denied Tucker’s request to redshirt after Tucker arrived to fall camp late due to needing to fulfill all of his academic transfer requirements. Tucker had been out of shape, and struggled to grasp the offense early on, but was told that he would continue to compete. And that he did, becoming the Bears most explosive receiver in the second half of the season.

Who Will Kickoff?
As for kicking duties, your guess might be as good as Tedford’s. Okay, maybe not, but it is wide open. Seawright has to get completely healthy before we can see what he does. Tavecchio was thrown into the fire, and performed admirably, but we have yet to see how his upside compares. Cal’s new recruit Vince D’Amato may have the biggest leg, but will he be ready to jump in right away?

There’s another Tedford on the Team
Quinn Tedford, head coach Jeff Tedford’s second son will join the team as a walk-on wide receiver. Considering Coach Tedford’s multi-million dollar contract, it comes as little surprise that Quinn won’t be given a scholarship. At a 158 pounds, I doubt Tedford would see much playing time, but I mean—he is the coach’s son.

Quinn will wear number 7, formerly worn by now NFL receiver Lavelle Hawkins.

Other Roster Changes
Matt Russi and Eric Stevens (yes Craig Stevens’ younger brother) have made the switch from linebacker to fullback to help provide some depth at the critical position.

It was already reported a while ago that Jared Sparks has made the switch from WR to TE. The kid was getting pretty big.

Mysteriously absent are Cody Jones, Matt Laird, and Todd Huber. All have struggled with injuries throughout their careers, so my guess is that they may have hung it up in terms of football.

You can see the updated roster here.

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RB Tracy Slocum Off the Team

There hasn’t been anything official, and I’m not sure there will, but reports indicate that Cal RB Tracy Slocum has left the team.

It’s unknown whether Slocum has chosen to transfer or whether it was even his choice to leave the team. Slocum had a few off the field conduct issues last season. More details will probably emerge soon.


Again, this is purely speculation, but it very well possible Slocum left the team as a result of a lack of playing time. It wouldn’t really surprise me either. Slocum was a highly touted 4-star running back in the 2006 class, and was considered one of the top players at his position by numerous recruiting sites. Slocum has also shined in his limited playing time in mop-up duties, but may have seen the writing on the wall with Cal’s crowded backfield. 3rd on the depth chart behind Jahvid Best, Shane Vereen, and with Covaughn Deboskie vying for playing time this year, it’s possible that Slocum knew his chances to get significant playing time lied elsewhere.

I’ll get an official update out as soon I get any.

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Marshawn Lynch Pleads Guilty to Misdemeanor Gun Charges

For the record, I did not think I would be typing a post about Lynch pleading guilty to a charge twice in a year.

“Mama’s Boy” Marshawn pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor gun charge today and was sentenced to 80 hours of community service and will serve a 3-year probation.

Lynch said in a statement, “I am embarrassed by my recent arrest and conviction. I deeply regret that I placed myself in this situation. I have made mistakes in the past. Although I have learned many lessons over recent years, I obviously had not learned enough.”

Lynch was arrested earlier in the month after a police search revealed a 9 mm semiautomatic handgun inside a backpack in the trunk that was later identified as Lynch’s.

No charges were filed after police found four marijuana cigarettes (blunts).


Again, Lynch has dodged a bit of a bullet, at least legally, as he could have faced up to a year in jail. However, the verdict is still out as to how NFL Commissioner and the Buffalo Bills will handle Lynch’s second run-in with the law in less than a year. A suspension could cost Lynch pretty significantly financially.

We’ll see how things shake out. Long story short, Marshawn ain’t going to jail, but he’s hardly clear out of the water.

For the record, a couple of people have asked what I think about the whole ordeal, given that I’ve been a big Lynch fan over the years. Did he mess up? Absolutely. Was it a ridiculously foolish situation to be in, given both his history with the law and the NFL’s heightened paranoia about their athletes and guns after Plaxico Burress decided to bust a cap in his own leg? Most def. Do I think Marshawn is a thug or a bad person? Hell naw.

Look, Lynch messed up. As in a head-shaking, groan-inducing messup. But it is what it is. A messup. He’s pretty much exhausted most of his messup meter for athletes at a frighteningly quick pace (although not quite Pacman Jones level), but if Lynch can learn from his gaffe and keep it clean from here on out, then he’ll be remembered as a terrific player and good person who made some bad choices early on in his career.

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2009 Recruiting Class Individual Profiles - Offensive Line

Thought I forgot about this series, didn't ya? Well, I did. Kinda.

But the point is, I'm back. This time, we'll look at Cal's great offensive line class, one of Tedford's best in fact. The addition of Hasiak would have made it of the best in the nation, but it's a still a pretty enviable class in terms of talent. Let's take a look.

Charles Ragland – Offensive Tackle (Denver, CO)
Ratings: 2 stars (Rivals.com) 3 Stars (Scout.com), 77 (ESPN)
Position Ranking: NA (Rivals.com) #65 (Scout.com) #33 (ESPN)

Holy Crap, Ragland is one big dude. And by big I mean 6’8, 285 pound big. For reference, Ragland would be the tallest O-Lineman by an inch (over Mike Tepper and Mitchell Schwartz). Keep in mind that Ragland needs to grow into his body a bit more though, needing to put on about 20 pounds or so to play the tackle position at the collegiate level.

With that said, Ragland has got potential running out of his ears. He’s very athletic for his size and has the chance to be a star for the Bears in future years. Ragland has flown under the radar a bit, having only played football for two years, and tackle for one. He’s stated that he only really played football after constant prodding for his peers, and to honor his father, a former football player. Can you imagine him playing any other sport? Basketball would probably the only other possibility. He and Glen “Big Baby” Davis could become best buds.

Things to Be Excited About
Again, Ragland’s size does jump out at you. Add on his athleticism and his strength, and it’s hard not to see why the Bears were excited about Ragland. Despite his inexperience, Ragland shows good footwork while zone blocking, and also has strong technique in blocking upfield. Ragland also has a huge wing span and quick feet to become really effective in pass protection in the future.

Areas of Concern
Ragland is going to be a work in progress. A bit thin for the line, Ragland will need to undergo a year or two of weight and strength training before he’s ready to compete for a starting spot. Also, given his inexperience playing the tackle position, there are a number of skills and techniques he’ll need to improve. He’ll need to effectively play a bit lower while maintaining leverage, while also being careful not jump early before kicking back off the line.

Outlook
Given Cal’s depth at the offensive tackle position (Mitchell Schwartz being only a sophomore, Mike Tepper granted a 6th year, and Chet Teofilo, Donovan Edwards available as backups), and Ragland needing a bit more time in Cal’s training regimen, I would expect Ragland to be on the scout team for the 2009 season. While it may take some time, Ragland has the size and all of the physical tools to eventually become a dominant tackle, most likely manning the right side of the line.


Charles Siddoway – Offensive Tackle (Eugene, OR)
Ratings: 3 stars (Rivals.com and Scout.com), 76 (ESPN)
Position Ranking: #43 (Rivals.com) #30 (Scout.com) #59 (ESPN)


The “other Charles” tackle commitment was actually much more highly regarded before scouting media cooled on him a bit in recent months. Siddoway, a former 4 star prospect, was once considered the 18th best tackle prospect in the nation. Don’t really know why that has leveled off, but it goes to show how fickle all these rating systems can be.

As one of the top prospects out of Oregon, Siddoway spurned offers from Oregon and Alabama to come to Cal. He’s got the size at 6’6, 300 lbs to really excel at the offensive tackle position. His trademark appears to be an aggressive and overpowering type of play that has helped dominate at the high school level.

Things to Be Excited About
He displays a lot of strength, particularly in his upper body. The guy could probably 1000 hand bitch smack E. Honda. He shows a good wingspan and particularly plays well on outside rushers in pass protection. In the run game, he shows great strength once he gets a hold of a tackler either runs ‘em over and carries them along for a few yards before dropping them.

Areas of Concern
Like Ragland, Siddoway needs to work on playing at a lower level and creating a wider base at the point of contact in pass protection. He reportedly has struggled a bit in letting rushers up on inside slants. He’ll also need to refine his footwork a bit to stay control of his blocking assignments as he turns upfield, especially in Cal’s zone blocking scheme, as he currently lumber a little bit or will lose balance.

Outlook
Again, I’d be very surprised if Siddoway were to play right away. There’s too much depth at tackle and Siddoway has a bit of refining to do in his technique, particularly his footwork, before he’s ready to play. Then again, if Cal were to go through another rash of injuries similar to last year (I hope not), he’s someone I think has the physical tools to provide some depth sooner than later.


Brian Schwenke – Offensive Guard (Oceanside, CA)
Ratings: 3 stars (Rivals.com and Scout.com), 80 (ESPN)
Position Ranking: #32 (Rivals.com) #44 (Scout.com) #9 (ESPN)

The Bears are pretty high on Brian Schwenke. The guard from Oceanside committed pretty early on last summer after developing a strong relationship with Coach Thompson and Michalczik. I had some concerns that Schwenke might reconsider his commitment after Coach M’s departure, but I’m really glad the kid is sticking around. ESPN has him ranked as one of the top offensive guards in the nation.

“Scrappy” and “getting the job done” is a word I’ve seen tossed around a number of times in describing Schwenke’s play at the OG position. A bit undersized at the guard position at 6’3 and 255 pounds, Schwenke plays a lot bigger than he really is, getting low in his stance and showing good drive in his legs. A model student with a near 4.0 GPA, Schwenke chose Cal over Stanford among others, with academics being a key factor in his decision.

Things to Be Excited About
This is one athletic guard. He reportedly runs a sub 5.0 forty, which is pretty impressive offensive for an o-line man. He’s got the mobility to maintain his blocks down the field, and overall, is really solid in both his pass protection and run blocking game. He can shuffle his feet pretty quickly and is quick to control his space and meet defenders on.

Areas of Concern
Schwenke’s size at the guard position does raise a few eyebrows, when the average guard usually tops out around 300 pounds. While he does have good leg control, can still improve his stance a little bit after initial contact. His overagressiveness also makes him a bit prone to biting on double moves by pass rushers, so he’ll have to learn to hone in his scrappiness to a good patient balance.

Outlook
Again, you just don’t see too many 255 pound guards. Then again, I realize the kid is fresh out of high school. He’s going to need to put on a substantial amount of bulk without sacrificing his athleticism. But I love the mentality, athleticism, and intelligence that he brings to the game. Coach M had an eye for o-linemen, and I have no doubt that Schwenke can become a playmaker. It just may take a lot of hard work and time.


Mark Brazinski – Center (Somerville, NJ)
Ratings: 4 stars (Rivals.com and Scout.com), 80 (ESPN)
Position Ranking: #6 (Rivals.com) #2 (Scout.com) #3 (ESPN)


Anyone who has followed the blog for the past few months, knows I’m very high on Mark Brazinski. In fact, I think it’s fair to say I’ve establish a bit of a man crush on the kid. And I’m very well aware that statements like that just might get me arrested.

Maybe it’s the fact that the kid has a sense of humor. Or that he can do the worm. Or that kid is one of the highest touted center recruits of Jeff Tedford era. But I’m excited about what the New Jersey native is going to bring to the table for Bears.

Brazinski is an All-American recruit, and is widely regarded as one of the top high school centers in the nation. The kid has got the intelligence, size, and athleticism to be the rock of the offensive line in future years.

Things to be excited about
Brazinski reminds me a bit of Alex Mack in his ability to get a good pad level, and maintain his blocks without giving in or giving up all the way downfield. He shows good body control and positioning, and can often be seen springing blocks downfield. He shows a great first punch, and shows good hands in pass protection, and rarely appears to shuffle his feet or get tangled up there. Shows an ideal build and athleticism to play center.

Areas of Concern
The one knock on Brazinski appears to be that he sometimes stands a bit to upright, straightening his legs a bit in the process which results in him overextending himself, leaving himself susceptible to being powered over. He also may need to add a bit more bulk to maintain the power necessary to play center at the collegiate level.

Outlook
While Brazinski has the tools to play right away, I doubt that will be the case. The vacant center position left by Alex Mack will most likely be filled by Chris Guarnero, who made the switch last year to guard. Guarnero is the leading candidate to assume centering duties, with Dominic Galas pegged in as a backup. Given injuries to the line, it’s possible Brazinski may be forced into early action, but a redshirt to begin the season seems more likely, before Brazinski becomes Cal’s mainstay at the center position starting from the 2011 season.

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