Combined feed (RSS)Cal football: Spring practice No. 3
By Jonathan Okanes
Tuesday, March 17th, 2009 at 10:35 pm in off-season stuff.
The things that struck me the most about Tuesday’s practice were the same things that struck me about Sunday’s practice — Kevin Riley was once again sharp, and Giorgio Tavecchio continues to boom the ball.
Riley did make one mistake when it appeared he threw to the wrong area on a route by Jeremy Ross, but otherwise he was very good. He made a terrific throw over the middle and through traffic to tight end Anthony Miller, which prompted an animated reaction and pat on the rear from Jeff Tedford. Then he lofted a perfect long pass down the middle on a play action play, right in stride and softly into the hands of Nyan Boateng. That got some hoots and hollers out of running backs coach Ron Gould.
Tavecchio, meanwhile, consistently nailed 42-yard field goals. During another special teams session when the kickers work on their own kicking off a tee perpindicular to the field, Tavecchio blasted one from the Cal sideline into the opposite stands.
Tavecchio has been working hard in the weight room since the end of the season, and it shows.
“His work in the weight room is really evident,” Tedford said. “The ball is really jumping off his foot. He looks very good.”
You can tell Tedford is taking a very keen interest in the team’s kicking situation because he spent the entire field goal session of practice tailing Tavecchio as he attempted different kicks from different parts of the field.
“I’ve been lifting like crazy,” Tavecchio said. “I’ve been getting a lot stronger, just working on followint through the ball, making good contact.”
Some practice notes:
–Cornerback Darian Hagan and wide receiver Verran Tucker missed practice to concentrate on academics. Tedford said both players will periodically miss some spring sessions to hit the books.
–The team got a bit of a scare when wide receiver Alex Lagemann crumbled to the turf clutching his knee. It ended up looking a lot worse than it was. Lagemann had to stop and plant to reverse field to try to catch a pass thrown behind him by Brock Mansion, and it looked pretty bad. But after being helped off the field and getting a little attention from the training staff, Lagemann was able to return to practice.
–Tight end Tad Smith made a terrific catch for a touchdown, jumping in traffic to haul down a pass thrown by Riley.
–Chris Conte got the first team reps at corner in place of Hagan.
–After practicing in just helmets the first two days, the Bears added shoulder pads today. Thursday will be the first practice in full pads. After Thursday’s practice, the team will part ways for spring break and return on March 31.
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March 17th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
thanks JO, keep it coming, i’ve been waiting for this report all day. btw do u know where i could get info on the bears schedule for spring practice, dates and times?
March 17th, 2009 at 11:20 pm
Great work JO,
Question: is Boateng fully recovered from his leg injury?
March 18th, 2009 at 8:41 am
deboskie update for the rabid cal fans?
any further news on slocum?
ted miller reports from Wulf that Montgomery is doing well at Washington State. Hopefully he does well against everyone except a certain 3-4 defense.
GO BEARS!
March 18th, 2009 at 9:46 am
Thanks J.O. Any news on who is looking good along the O-Line?
March 18th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
It’s good to hear about Tavecchio and the extra distance he’s getting on FG’s. Hopefully this also translates into longer kick-offs and maybe some TB’s.
March 18th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
Great Reports!!
Keep them coming!
March 18th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
http://www.buffalobills.com/media-lounge/videos/marshawn-lynch-meets-the-media/5c047168-8a4d-4805-921e-14e000beaf1f
Yada, yada, yada. Until the next time that is….
March 18th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Abe, practices are closed to the public, but here is the schedule: http://www.ibabuzz.com/beartalk/2009/03/05/cal-football-spring-practice-schedule/
Awesome, Boateng appears to be fully recovered to me. He doesn’t seem to be laboring at all when he runs.
Cal, DeBoskie has looked good so far. Nothing new on Slocum.
Robert, I’d say Guarnero looks pretty solid at center and Tepper appears to be in good shape.
March 18th, 2009 at 8:19 pm
Thanks for the article. I know the guys just started practicing in pads but how is the linebacker situation looking? Which guys are getting the first-team reps?
March 19th, 2009 at 12:14 am
“MoreNCsarecoming Says:
March 18th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Yada, yada, yada. Until the next time that is….”
Patty Cakes, why are you here? Shouldn’t you be posting on the SC forum? Or is it because you don’t know anything about SC. No matter, the yard is looking pretty spotty, get back to work.
PC
March 20th, 2009 at 7:21 am
Pete Carroll,
After a tough first-round basketball loss, the troll posted four different taunts in the “Basketball: Maryland game thread” of the Cal Talk website. No one there rose to the bait and responded to him.
Without someone responding, the posts make him look like a mean-spirited, frustrated, and desperate individual who isn’t worthy of a response. Responding to him would have elevated him by turning it into an exchange between individuals. I think the ignore option is far more effective at frustrating and thwarting him, as the four unanswered taunts suggests.
A lot of people are tired of his post here. I think a lot of people are also tired of those who keep responding to him–in any form–and continuing the cycle.
Something to think about…
March 20th, 2009 at 10:48 am
Top Dog -
Well said.