Position battles

Brandon Hampton is leading in the battle for starting cornerback (replacing Daymeion Hughes to the Colts) alongside Syd’Quan Thompson over redshirt freshmen Brandon Jones, Charles Amadi, and Darian Hagan due to his on-field experience as a rover.

Worrell Williams is securing the starting spot at middle linebacker (replacing Desmond Bishop to the Packers) over Greg Van Hoesen.

Kevin Riley and Kyle Reed are still fighting for the #2 quarterback spot. Apparently, the primary backup will be named after Thursday’s scrimmage.

Early fall camp injury reports

According to the CCTimes’ Jon Okanes:

• “Redshirt freshman running back James Montgomery sat out [Saturday-Sunday] practice after sustaining a concussion late in practice Friday.” … “Tedford said backup running back James Montgomery should return to practice in the next couple of days.”
• “Starting free safety Thomas DeCoud practiced in only limited fashion as he nurses a twinge in his hamstring.”
• “Defensive tackle Derrick Hill continues to miss time because of back spasms.” … “There still is no word on when defensive lineman Derrick Hill will be ready. He hasn’t practiced yet because of back spasms.”
• “Offensive lineman Mike Gibson has missed the past few days because of a hamstring injury.”

I’m hoping that DeCoud’s injury is minor, since he is an integral part of the defense at safety. Also, we need Hill to get on the field to show his stuff for the upcoming season with the loss of Brandon Mebane.

Meanwhile, Tennessee running back LaMarcus Coker was suspended indefinitely last week for violating the team’s substance abuse policy. He was competing for the starting spot with Arian Foster.

Players in the news

QB Nate Longshore has been added to the Manning Award (college football’s top quarterback including bowl performance) watch list. The last three winners of the award were JaMarcus Russell, Vince Young, and Matt Leinart.

WR Robert Jordan has switched his jersey to #2. This was his number in high school and also the number of cousin/housemate JaMarcus Russell (Raiders, #1 draft pick) at LSU.

DeSean featured on the cover of S&S (thanks Bret M)

WR/PR DeSean Jackson was featured yesterday on ESPN’s College Football Live program:

Intro: “He is already one of the most electrifying players in college football. Coming up on College Football Live we’re going to tell you why Cal’s DeSean Jackson might be about to get even more dangerous. Rules changes going Cal’s way on College Football Live…”

Referring to the change moving the kickoff to 30 yard line: “One of the thing about the kickoff return is you often hear coaches say ‘I don’t know if I want to use my star on the kickoff returns. I don’t want to get him hurt.’ Cal… because DeSean Jackson is such an electricifying punt returner, and in theory he’s going to have more opportunity to return and not have balls driven into the end zone, it looks as if DeSean Jackson is going to get a little time as kickoff returner as well, making that already explosive Bear offense even more dangerous.” – Reese Davis [/JY]

Cal #12 in preseason Coaches Poll

Cal has been voted #12 in the 2007 preseason USA Today’s Coaches Poll, which was released this morning:

Note that USC is at #1, Tennessee is at #15, and UCLA is at #17. Here’s the “breakdown” blurb on Cal:

12. California (10-3)

Points: 763. Previous ranking: 14. Outlook: With QB Nate Longshore throwing to standout WR DeSean Jackson, and LB Zack Follett patrolling defense, the Bears could be primed for a BCS breakthrough. A reworked defensive front could be key. Cal gets Tennessee and Southern California at home and travels to UCLA. Opens: Sept. 1 vs. No. 15 Tennessee (ABC, 8 ET).

Forsett and more

Justin Forsett, this year’s featured back, is getting primed for a spectacular season. The Chronicle reports:

Between the end of spring camp April 14 and reporting day for training camp Sunday, Cal’s new starting tailback Justin Forsett has taken off only three days, and the benefits of his work ethic were obvious . . . The 5-foot-8 senior has added 10 pounds of muscle to jump above the 200-pound mark. Meanwhile, he’s managed to maintain his 4.4-seconds speed in the 40-yard dash and added flexibility with Pilates classes.

The article also speaks briefly of senior safety Thomas Decoud receiving attention from the East-West Shrine Game and NFL scouts, Zack Follett getting tiger stripe highlights, and Alex Mack moving back to center (he was shifted around the offensive line in the off-season).

NFL alumni blurbs

Marshawn Lynch (ironically pictured here with fellow rookie Trent Edwards of Stanford) is shining out in Buffalo, making a lot of buzz about his upcoming season in the news. In addition to the following blurbs, here is a training camp report with some Marshawn action from yesterday.

SI.com’s Monday Morning QB:

7. I think Marshawn Lynch impressed me off the field the other day, after showing terrific moves on the field. . . . One other thing about Lynch. I asked him about his goals for the season and how good he thought he could be as a rookie. “I haven’t even put on the pads yet,” he said. “We can’t know about that yet. I’m just getting comfortable here. Guys have been doing this for years and I just got here.” Impressive kid, at least at first glance.

AP (Sporting News): “Top pick Lynch arrives at Bills camp”

Once practice began, it was difficult to hold Lynch back. . . . Lynch made his training camp debut in suburban Rochester after signing a five-year contract worth nearly $19 million. He was so eager that the native of Oakland, Calif., was already in the state waiting for the deal to be completed. . . .

He was drafted 12th overall out of Cal to replace Willis McGahee, the inconsistent and often brooding player who was traded to Baltimore in March. . . . His versatility as a receiver gives the Bills an added dimension in coordinator Steve Fairchild’s multi-threat offense, something McGahee struggled with last year. . . . Losman also praised Lynch’s attention to detail. “You watch him closely, he’s always paying attention,” Losman said. “You never see him messing around back there. And that’s what you want to see from your running back.”

Jason Y reports that today’s “ESPN First Take” included the following from Aaron Schatz (Writer of “Pro Football Prospectus 2007”):

“The running back with biggest opportunity in his rookie year is Marshawn Lynch because Buffalo really has a big hole open in that running back position.” Schatz goes onto say that ultimately Adrian Peterson will be slower out of the gates because he has other running backs to compete with and that Adrian will probably gain superstar status eventually, but this season Lynch will be the rookie that shines.

Meanwhile, Aaron Rodgers is looking good (but needs a haircut) at quarterback, taking reps with Green Bay’s first-team offense in training camp. However, he’s stuck indefinitely behind Brett Favre on the depth chart.

Green Bay Press-Gazette: “Rodgers looks sharp with first team”

Rodgers completed 13 of his last 16 passes in competitive periods Sunday morning — two of the misses were drops by Holiday and Brandon Miree — and was 15-for-21 overall, including 6-for-7 in the challenging blitz period. The performance was on par with Rodgers’ play in most offseason practices that were open to the media this summer, showing off his improved arm strength and increasing comfort in the Packers’ offense. . . .

Rodgers needed 5½ months to recover from a broken foot sustained Nov. 19 against New England, the game in which he saw his most extensive action last season. His arm, however, has overshadowed any lingering concerns about his health since minicamp.

He’ll lead the starters the next two days while Favre continues to deal with the death of his wife’s stepfather, and potentially more later in training camp if Favre sits out some mornings during two-a-day practices. However, there’s no telling when Favre will step away for good. Rodgers is in the third of the five-year, $7.655 million contract the Packers gave him as the 24th overall draft pick in 2005, and his best chance to become a starter might come elsewhere.

Wisconsin State Journal: “Packers: Rodgers’ actions speak clearly”

“Aaron is at the point in his career where he just needs reps. You don’t really get (enough) opportunity being the No. 2 and 3 guy,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said . . . He (has) total command of the huddle. I think his arm has gotten stronger. I think his maturity — physically and mentally — has progressed a lot since he’s been here. He just needs the opportunity to play.”

And therein lies the problem for Rodgers. He’s said mostly the right things as he’s bided his time behind Favre, but part of him was excited when his name was linked to the Oakland Raiders in the offseason Randy Moss trade rumors. Those rumors proved to be unfounded, though, so he’s back for Year 3 of learning behind a legend.

Here’s a short bit on JJ Arrington with the Arizona Cardinals:

Coach Ken Whisenhunt has been encouraged by the play of J.J. Arrington in camp, but that didn’t stop Whisenhunt from chewing out the running back when he didn’t finish a play in the afternoon session. Whisenhunt complimented Arrington after he carried the ball a few plays later. Not only is Arrington getting work at fullback in some sets, he’s also flanking out as a receiver on some plays . . .

And, a brief on Kyle Boller in Baltimore:

After three up-and-down seasons as Baltimore’s starting signal-caller, Boller was replaced by former league Most Valuable Player Steve McNair.

Boller played well when opportunities presented themselves in 2006, completing a career-best 60 percent of his passes for 486 yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions. He’s unlikely to challenge McNair for playing time, though, as he enters the final year of his contract and will receive competition for the backup role from rookie quarterback Troy Smith, the 2006 Heisman Trophy winner out of Ohio State. . . . Boller will be a free agent after the 2007 season.

EDIT 8/1: Here is a blurb on Marcus O’Keith (Kansas City):

In the early days of camp, Michael Bennett and Kolby Smith have received most of the first-team snaps, but the Chiefs also have been impressed with rookie Marcus O’Keith, and he could conceivably earn some playing time with a strong preseason if Johnson’s holdout is prolonged.

O’Keith ripped off a couple of long runs toward the end of Tuesday afternoon’s practice.

And here’s Adimchinobe Echemandu of the Raiders (notice his “Joe” nickname):

That left Justin Fargas and Adimchinobe ” Joe” Echemandu sharing first-team snaps during the afternoon practice in Napa. . . . So far, Echemandu has been a pleasant surprise with several long runs. With Rhodes and Jordan out, the former Cal running back will get a chance to make a strong impression on the coaching staff.

“What we’re about is giving guys open competition, give them a look,” Kiffin said when asked about Echemandu earlier this week. “Right now, Joe will be getting his shot.”

College quarterbacks

Interesting article on espn.com talking about college quarterbacks and what it requires to be one. There are also some good quotes from Tedford talking about what he looks for in a quarterback recruit.

“But it takes a special breed to be a great quarterback, with a unique mix of attributes. This is Tedford’s five-part recruiting checklist when shopping for a QB:

1. Mental and physical toughness. “Obviously, physically, you’re going to take a pounding, and you’ve got to get up and have your team follow you. You have to be mentally tough because if you throw a couple picks, you’ve got to be tough enough to come back.” 2. Intelligence. “You’ve got to be able to understand and control the offense.” 3. Competitiveness. “We look for a guy who wants the ball in his hands with the game on the line.” 4. Escape dimension. “Not everything happens the way it’s drawn up. We want a guy who can elude the rush and make something happen when a play breaks down.” 5. Natural throwing motion. “He’s got to be able to get the ball around the field.”

Click here for the full article.

Jackson to return kickoffs

From an Pac-10 media day article:

News for Jackson: Because of a new NCAA rule, Cal wide receiver and All-American punt returner DeSean Jackson probably will return kickoffs as well as punts this season, although that’s news to Jackson.

“We haven’t told him yet,” Tedford said Thursday.

Jackson had said he did not expect or want to return kickoffs, because, at 170 pounds, his body may be vulnerable to the high-speed collisions that occur on kickoffs. Moments later, though, Tedford said the rule change that requires teams to kick off from their 30-yard line instead of the 35 creates more chances for big plays on kickoff returns. That seems to have convinced Tedford to have Jackson return kickoffs, too.

It will be very exciting to see Jackson take kickoffs as well. The additional touches, yards, and potential touchdown returns will help his Heisman campaign as well.

Cal #2 in Pac-10 media poll

For the fourth consecutive season, Cal has been picked to finish second in the conference in the Pac-10 media poll. Here are the results:

1. USC, 390
2. Cal, 323
3. UCLA, 305
4. Arizona State, 242
5. Oregon State, 237
6. Oregon, 226
7. Arizona, 162
8. Washington State, 115
9. Washington, 98
10. Stanford, 47

It’s the fifth consecutive time that USC has been picked to finish first in the Pac-10. However, this time all 39 ballots have USC in the top spot. In contrast, last year Cal received 7 out of 29 first place votes.

Pac-10, Bowls, and CFB Live

The Pac-10 has added two games to the butt end of our bowl tie-ins: the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl in Honolulu (#6 Pac-10 vs. WAC) and the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego (#7 Pac-10 vs. MWC). The #6 and #7 Pac-10 spot will alternate in the following year.

While this may barely register as a boost to an already putrid program of runner-up bowls, this is good news. It’s two great bowl locations that will be used in the upcoming seasons. Yesterday, Kirk Herbstreit made the following prediction on ESPN’s inaugural College Football Live show:

Every year it’s the SEC [that] is the best conference in football. I think this year you will see the Pac-10 close the gap on the SEC. I think there may be 7 teams in this conference that will hover right around that top 25, some around up in the the 10 obviously. That is a deep conference this year and they’re going to close the gap on the SEC. [/JY]

This should be an exciting season coming up with a bunch of strong teams in the conference and the championship up in the air.