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Football: Wednesday night update
By Jonathan Okanes
Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008 at 9:35 pm in Mid-week.
Another game, another week of practice watching the quarterbacks take equal reps and wondering who will start.
This marks the third straight week coach Jeff Tedford has kept the quarterback competition open during the week. He’s gone with Nate Longshore each of the last two games, and it’s hard to get a gauge on the end result will be this time. Each week, neither quarterback has really separated himself, although there was one practice last week where Longshore did appear to have the upper hand on Kevin Riley.
Last week, Tedford announced Longshore would start on Thursday night after practice. The first time, he didn’t make any announcement and we all found out when Longshore took the field with the first team offense. This time, it looks as though Tedford might wait again until the last minute. He was asked tonight if he would wait until Saturday to choose the starter, and he said he probably would. But if it becomes more clear tomorrow, he might make it public after practice. Stay tuned.
After sitting out practice Tuesday, tailback Jahvid Best returned to do individual drills tonight. Tedford said after practice that Best is fine and on pace to play. I would guess he’ll do even more at practice Thursday.
Tedford said defensive lineman Ernest Owusu was available last Saturday against Arizona but didn’t get into the game. Owusu had been in a moped accident earlier in the week, but Tedford said he still could have played. Instead, the Bears burned the redshirt year of freshman Trevor Guyton. Guyton said he knew it was coming. He had talked to defensive line coach Tosh Lupoi after Rulon Davis went down with his leg injury, and they discussed playing this season. Guyton said Lupoi left the decision up to him, and Guyton wanted to play. He should continue to see playing time the rest of the season.
Speaking of Davis, he’s been at practice doing some stuff off to the side, and Tedford said he will cleared to do some jogging soon. Davis suffered a leg injury against Colorado State on Sept. 27. The initial diagnosis was that he would be out at least six weeks, so he still has some time to go to get back on the field. But his return would be a welcome sight for Lupoi, whose group has been hit hard by injuries to Davis, Kendrick Payne, Tyson Alualu and Owusu.
Tedford also said that defensive lineman Cody Jones could return near the end of the season. Jones has an ankle injury that will likely require surgery after the season. But he should be able to get healthy enough to contribute, and Tedford said he could come back in a couple of weeks.
One final note tonight: Tedford said wide receiver Michael Calvin, who tore his right ACL last week and is out for the season, will undergo surgery soon.
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October 23rd, 2008 at 12:37 am
Teddy, please don’t announce the QB. Why give UCLA info that they can work with? Just have them guessing.
October 23rd, 2008 at 3:33 am
If we need the element of surprise to beat the Bruins at home, things really are in the dumper…again.
October 23rd, 2008 at 7:47 am
Hey folks — if Tedford cannot decide maybe that means we have two equally “talented” QBs that are each prone to errors in execution/judgment and that is why we keep recruiting more and more Elite 11 players each year.
October 23rd, 2008 at 8:36 am
JO,
Can you please shed some light on why Owusu missed the game in AZ? That DL looked pretty deep but has grown very thin. Is he hurt? Will he be back for UCLA? Any chance Davis ever sees the field for Cal again? How about Cody Jones, is he done for the year?
Getting shredded by a true frosh hurt, we need the depth back.
October 23rd, 2008 at 10:10 am
DL, as I said in the post, Owusu was involved in a moped accident. Tedford said he was available, but I’m sure they were only going to use him if they absolutely needed to. His hands were bandaged up pretty good. He should be back this week. Davis is on his way back and should return in a few weeks. Same for Jones.
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Hey Tedford, pick a QB!
I would prefer Riley, but why all the split time?
Are you hoping to see something new from Nate? Is he moving in the pocket better or making better decisions? You’ve been with the guy for years.
Nate is Nate. I you like him, let him prepare all week with the inexperienced receivers.
2 million a year for this QB drama.
October 23rd, 2008 at 5:33 pm
There’s a list of overpaid/underpaid coaches somewheres, based on winning percentage, amount of ticket sales revenue brought in, ect. and Tedford, even at 2 mil, and Tedford aint on it, and we’re still 4-2, so be patient…when we’re 2-10, then I’ll complain about the coach.
October 23rd, 2008 at 9:18 pm
ESPN’s Ted Miller had this response to the griping about Tedford. I think he’s spot on:
“Ted Miller: Gahhhhhh!
Who stole Berkeley and made it into Clemson?
I just don’t get this stuff. “Hot seat” for Tedford? “Never lives up to its potential?” Tedford as “detrimental?”
If you guys keep writing this stuff, I’m going to climb a tree outside your window and refuse to leave. And I’ll play sitar music. Endlessly.
Hey, Washington fans, are you listening? Looks like a program wants to commit hari kari — any interest in this lousy coach Jeff Tedford?
Has Cal had some bad moments with Tedford over the past few years? Yes. Have there been moments when he’s opened himself up to fair criticism? Sure. Is his handling of the QB situation debatable? Without a doubt.
He’s not perfect. But he’s perfect for Cal.
Go to the bathroom. Flush the toilet.
That’s my sound effect for the Bears if you run Tedford off.”
October 23rd, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Billy Bear hit it on the nose. While Nate has the big arm, he normally starts out good, however he’s always a debacle waiting to happen. Also, seriously we need to use our 2 best offensive weapons, Best and Vereen, more often. Our receivers can’t hold on to anything, so why not just let the backs use their skills and find ways to get them the ball in open space? Riley is the more consistent performer. More mobile, doesn’t throw off his back foot like Nate.
October 23rd, 2008 at 10:38 pm
I agree, Tedford is not perfect, but he’s perfect for Cal. He recruits top level D1 talent, fills the stadium, wins games, his teams go toe to toe with SC and Oregon. But they also underachieve against some others, and melt down at times. Let’s not ever forget that this is Berkeley, and let’s just say Berkeley has a unique culture and history that has buried many a football coach.
That said, I have noticed that Tedford has had some problems identifying his starting QB’s (does anyone remember Joe Ayoob, and Reggie Robertson?) Come on Jeff, it’s week 7, or so.
Also, Cal football has lacked leadership the last 2 years. This is a key problem. I again ask who were/are the leaders of this team both in 2006 and 2007!!!!!
I think we have rotating Captains. Are you kidding me, “this week’s Captains”? Somebody please step up.
October 23rd, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Who are the leaders? Where have you been, Marin? Getting too much sun on Stinson beach? Mack, Follett, Will T and Thompson are standouts at their positions.
On the QB situation, could it be that both QBs are equal on ability, while bringing different positives to the field? Clearly, you didn’t read the BearInsider article and stats about this, because it showed zero separation between these 2 QBs. I’m in the Riley camp, but he hasn’t earned it in practice or game-time. Read up before you whine. Go Bears! Beat those, baby bears!
October 24th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Jan K
If Nate and Riley are equal, why not play Riley?
Once again, this team is not going to the Rose Bowl.
Let’s let Riley develop.
October 24th, 2008 at 9:53 am
You’re preaching to the choir, Billy. If I had any say in it, Riley would get the start, but we all know I’m not Tedford… Go Bears!