Pre-spring Q&A with Tedford

There’s a nice Q&A with Coach Jeff Tedford up at the official Calbears.com site to kick off the upcoming spring training. He talks mostly about personnel in various positions and how they are shaping up for next season. Take a look here.

Michalczik named Offensive Coordinator

Jim Michalczik, Cal’s offensive line coach of the previous five seasons, has been promoted to the role of offensive coordinator left open by the recent departure of Mike Dunbar for Minnesota. He shall also retain his duties as offensive line coach. With Michalczik as the offensive coordinator, Cal next season will most likely remain more geared towards a pro-style offense, centered upon the run game. Cal has produced a 1,000 yard rusher in each of Michalczik’s five seasons as offensive line coach, and look towards continuing the streak with Justin Forsett in the backfield. Kevin Daft, a graduate assistant, was also promoted to take over as the quarterbacks coach.

Storer breaks arm during practice

During practice earlier this week, fullback Byron Storer broke his arm and is expected to miss the Holiday Bowl. This is a tough loss for the team, as he has been pretty solid during the season as Marshawn Lynch‘s lead blocker. During a press conference, Jeff Tedford had this to say about Storer:

He’s been a great player for us on special teams and offense. He’s been very reliable. One of the guys that makes this team tick is him. His passion for the game and his passion for Cal football is one of the best that we have. He’s really dedicated. It’s disappointing not to have him on the offense and the special teams, but more than anything for him, not to be able to play in one final game because it does mean so much to him.

Pac-10 Review and Forecast

Next year looks to be an outstanding year for the Pac-10. While the Pac-10 looked rather mediocre this season and failed to meet the preseason hype of projected national rankings, the outlook for next season seems to point towards one of the most competitive for the Pac-10 in recent history. Some listed points to consider:

• Seven teams welcome back their starting quarterback (not Oregon State, Washington and Stanford). Experience at quarterback is critical for any team, but particularly in the pass-happy Pac-10.

• The top 15 rushers are all scheduled to return (though Cal junior Marshawn Lynch figures to enter the NFL draft).

• Only three of the top 10 receivers are seniors (though USC junior Dwayne Jarrett figures to enter the NFL draft).

• USC, California, Oregon and UCLA should be ranked in the 2007 preseason poll. Arizona, Arizona State and Oregon State will receive votes.

• If Lynch and Jarrett don’t return, USC quarterback John David Booty, Oregon tailback Jonathan Stewart, Cal quarterback Nate Longshore and Cal receiver wide receiver DeSean Jackson will be leading Heisman Trophy candidates.

In his analysis of the current season, Ted Miller also gave his MVP award to Marshawn Lynch, and Newcomer of the Year award to DeSean Jackson:

Most Valuable Player

	Lynch

Running back Marshawn Lynch, Cal

Lynch didn’t become the Heisman Trophy candidate he was touted as during the preseason, but he led the conference in rushing (1,245 yards) and all-purpose yards (1,657). He scored 13 touchdowns (nine rushing) and averaged 6.1 yards per carry. He piled up those numbers while battling a pair of sprained ankles, so his toughness deserves a tip of the cap as much as his talent.

And it was hilarious when he drove that golf cart onto the field after the Bears nipped Washington.

Newcomer of the Year

DeSean Jackson, Cal

Jackson, who led the Bears in receiving last season as a true freshman, has spectacular speed and athleticism — comparisons to Reggie Bush don’t evoke sarcastic snickers — making him the conference’s most dangerous player during his sophomore campaign.

He led the nation in punt returns, averaging 18.2 yards per return with four touchdowns. He also caught 54 passes for 979 yards and nine touchdowns.

With two or possibly three Heisman Trophy candidates, a competitive Pac-10, and an opening home game against Tennessee, next season should be quite exciting for the Bears.

Jackson in the media

Wide receiver/punt returner DeSean Jackson is getting some heavy media attention this week. While his huge numbers on the field are drawing much of this attention, his confidence and story about committing to Cal over USC are as well. As TBIOOTF writes, Jackson may be the “cockiest Cal player ever.” But is he overconfident? I don’t think so… just watch the highlights on Saturday. Regardless, Jackson is a hot topic for pundits, bulletin boards and blogs this week.

Jackson doesn’t shy away from comparing himself to last year’s Heisman-winner, and puts a target on his back for Saturday’s match-up.

LA Times: “Breakaway Threat”
Long Beach Poly’s DeSean Jackson almost stayed home to play for USC, but Trojans lost him because he felt coaches betrayed a confidence. Now he stars for rival Cal. …
Jackson welcomes comparisons to Bush. “It’s just too bad I’m not playing for SC because if I was playing for SC then it probably would be a different thing,” he said. “I’m the closest thing to Reggie Bush. But I kind of don’t like to follow after too many people. I just try to be myself.” …
“There was too much cockiness over there for me. They were SC. They’re national champions. They’re just guaranteed they could have whoever they want. I kind of felt like I was a more special player than that and they shouldn’t have taken it for granted like that.”

His commitment to that Cal class was also a great indication of the program’s emergence and success in California recruiting.

San Jose Mercury News: “Jackson’s escape from L.A. keeps paying dividends for Cal”
When Cal and USC collide Saturday, the top playmaker on the field will be a sophomore who grew up near the Los Angeles Coliseum, followed the Trojans as a kid, attended their summer camp, watched their practices, knew their players, toured their campus, heard their recruiting pitch — and chose Cal.

How often do the Trojans lose L.A. kids? About as often as they lose games.

“That’s the reason, right there,” Cal receiver DeSean Jackson said. “I didn’t want to follow everybody else. I’m not a follower.”

USC will be focusing on an attempt to shut down Jackson in punt-return game. Don’t be surprised to see many punts go out of bounds.

Orange County Register: “Jackson a danger on special teams”
The extra minutes USC coach Pete Carroll spent working on special teams last week could pay off hugely this week against Cal’s DeSean Jackson. Jackson, a punt return specialist and receiver, leads the nation with four punt-return touchdowns, his latest – and fifth overall – coming against Arizona on Saturday when he raced 95 yards for a first-quarter score.

Coach Pete Carroll and USC know about Jackson’s talent and will be preparing for it. Will they be ready?

Sacramento Bee: “Jackson a haymaker of a player”
Amazingly, Jackson has just 23 career punt returns, scoring on 21.7 percent of his attempts. It’s never a surprise when he breaks a big play. Cal coach Jeff Tedford and his staff have been the beneficiaries of Jackson’s desire to leave Southern California and bypass the strong overtures of the Trojans.

…

“He had spots (last season) when he made some plays, but he’s really torn it up this year,” USC coach Pete Carroll told the Los Angeles Times. “Gosh, they’ve thrown to him deep so many times, and the punt returns alone are awesome.”

Both Longshore, Jackson named Pac-10 Players of the Week

Both Nate Longshore (offense) and DeSean Jackson (special teams) have been honored with the Pac-10 Player of the Week award for their performances against UCLA. It’s very rare to see two players from the same team get honored in the same week so this is special, despite it being Longshore’s third such award of the season.

Longshore, a sophomore from Canyon Country, Calif., completed 20-of-24 passes (.833) for 266 yards and three touchdowns of 10, 24 and 44 yards with no interceptions. he added two rushes for 17 yards to compile 283 yards total offense. It marks the third time this year Longshore has been named Pac-10 offensive player of the week, having previously been honored after wins against Minnesota and Arizona State.

Jackson, a sophomore from Long Beach, Calif., returned a punt 72 yards for a touchdown against the Bruins. It was Jackson’s third punt return for a touchdown this season and fourth of his career, tying Pac-10 records in both categories.

SI: Longshore #7 Top College QB

Sports Illustrated has honored Nate Longshore with the nod for the #7 spot in their list of the Top 15 College Quarterbacks. They write:

The beginning of Longshore’s career was far from easy. First, he broke his leg in Cal’s 2005 opener, ending his season. Then he managed just 85 yards passing with an interception before being pulled from Cal’s 2006 opener, a blowout loss to Tennessee. But since the embarrassment in Knoxville, Longshore has compiled 1,501 yards and 17 touchdowns in six straight Cal wins.

They all still have to bring up Tennessee over and over again, sadly. Nevertheless, this is great recognition for Nate.

Nate Longshore now in Heisman Watch

With his injury this past weekend, it appears that Marshawn Lynch has been dropped from the public Heisman voting. However, due to outstanding performances the past five weeks and the blowout of #11 Oregon, Nate Longshore has found his way into the spotlight. He has been added into this week’s final slot for Heisman voting, so go here to cast your vote.

Longshore is USA Today Player of the Week

QB Nate Longshore has been awarded the USA Today Player of the Week honor, as two members of the media overrode the public vote.

A prolific passing day carried California quarterback Nate Longshore to this week’s USA TODAY’s Player of the Week honor. The sophomore threw for four touchdowns and 270 yards as the Golden Bears scored 42 first-half points in a 49-21 defeat of No. 18 Arizona State. Longshore won the award with the votes of Gannett News Service columnist Mike Lopresti and college football editor Erick Smith. Fan voting sided with Notre Dame defensive back Terrail Lambert.

It’s nice to see Longshore’s efforts recognized by national media.

Longshore Pac-10 Player of the Week – again

QB Nate Longshore has been named Pac-10 offensive player of the week for the second time this season.

Longshore, a sophomore from Canyon Country, Calif., directed California’s offense in the Golden Bears’ 49-21 win against No. 18-ranked Arizona State. Longshore completed 18 of 26 passes (.692) for 270 yards and four touchdowns covering 9, 31, 23 and 8 yards with just one interception. All four touchdown passes came in the first half as California built a 42-14 halftime lead. It marks the second time this season Longshore has been named Pac-10 offensive player of the week having also been so honored after his performance in Cal’s win against Minnesota.

DB Daymeion Hughes and WR/PR DeSean Jackson were also nominated for defensive PotW and special teams PotW, respectively.