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Football: Training camp issues — will the receivers improve?
By Jonathan Okanes
Tuesday, August 4th, 2009 at 2:30 pm in off-season stuff.
The lack of a passing game last season was the fault of many — inconsistent quarterback play, injuries along the offensive line and lack of playmaking ability from the receivers. Perhaps the biggest issue facing Cal this fall is whether it can find at least one go-to receiver that can be counted on to produce.
Nyan Boateng and Verran Tucker each flashed samples of their potential last season, but neither was a consistent threat. Both players, like almost all of their receivers, were playing a full season of Division I football for the first time. Having one year of experience will undoubtedly help, but it remains to be seen if they have the talent to emerge as big-time receivers.
At this time last year, the general consensus was that Michael Calvin would emerge as a big-play receiver. He came to Cal with big expectations and had a great year on scout team. But a toe injury, followed by a torn ACL, prevented him from ever getting going. Calvin is fully healthy now but may take awhile to return to his old form, both physically and mentally.
Many eyes will be on Marvin Jones this fall. Jones was the Bears’ top receiver in the spring and may have more potential than any receiver on the roster. If he continues his rate of improvement from the spring, he could be ready for a breakout season.
Alex Lagemann also was a revelation during the spring and is definitely in the mix for a starting role. A sprained toe limited his offseason work, but quarterback Kevin Riley told me that he was playing as well as he did in the spring before suffering the injury.
Jeremy Ross, who reportedly is emerging as a team leader, is also very much still in the plans. Like Boateng and Tucker, the Bears hope his one year of experience will translate into more on-field production.
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August 4th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
JO, one thing I’m curious about: is there anyone in the receiving corp that has the ability to really separate and stretch the field? Notwithstanding the dropped balls, mis-run routes, and general inexperience, the one thing in particular that seemed lacking last year was a genuine deep threat. Is Marvin Jones perhaps that guy? I can only imagine how much this would benefit Jahvid, if there’s even one receiver whose deep threat capability would prevent teams from stuffing the box all the time.
August 4th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
JO:
Thanks always for your updates. Hopefully we get Robert Woods next year.
August 4th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Thanks for the very informative updates, JO! You make the countdown to Maryland a little easier! Sounds like our receivers are determined to do a complete 180 from last year.
August 4th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
I like the receivers, and can’t understand the lack of production. The problem with the 07 group is that none of them were tall over the middle guys that could stand up to the big db’s. In 08 only Morrah did that consistently. I think thats why the recruiting focus has been on the body type of these guys: all tall. We need a guy who can outreach the tall dbs and lbs of the elite teams and is not afraid to catch the short post over the middle: ie Lyman and Mckonnen. Hawkins did that role but missed a few key catches. I think Lageman and Boateng will end up being the 3rd and 7-12 go to guys.
August 4th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
Ross can do it as well. He was very good all around last year.
August 4th, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Cov, are you kidding me? Boatang a good 3rd down converter? I have faith in that he can improve, but the man had butter fingers last year. I’d put an unknown quantity like Calvin before him, since we haven’t seen a history of dropped passes.
Also, Ross was great at blocking like Boatang, but he rarely earned a “very good” rating in a game.
My money is with Lageman, Calvin, Tucker and Jones as a four man rotation. The others will provide depth.
Go BEARS!
August 4th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
I have faith in what i saw that they will improve. was it them or the qbs? Boateng dropped 2 in key situations against msu last year, but did well after that. this group is big and fast. A good qb will excel with them.
August 5th, 2009 at 6:29 am
It doesn’t matter how good Burqalee receivers will get. As long as the Beers have a lousy QB, good WR talent will continue to get wasted
August 5th, 2009 at 8:44 am
Our WRs will be solid this year baby!
August 5th, 2009 at 9:45 am
Okanes,
Can you ask Tedford or comment yourself why BURQAlee only has 1 commit in ESPN150 coming at whopping 146th place, all while U$C, pucla, Oregon and even Stanfurd with commits ranked way higher than any of BURQAlee’s players?
August 5th, 2009 at 10:26 am
Bring Back Geoff
August 5th, 2009 at 11:10 am
Tony, I think that’s one of the most important question facing the offense. Certainly, nobody exhibited that ability last season. I have a feeling the team is hoping that Jones emerges as that guy.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:18 am
Any possibility they’ll run more two-tailback sets? Two of the fastest guys on the team are Best and Vereen. That gives them another option at receiver.
August 5th, 2009 at 3:52 pm
JO,
Another thing I’m curious about — why on Earth does the CC Times still allow iamalcindor (purportedly Amy under this and various other names) to continue to troll this board? It is offensive on 3 levels in this case: (a) this quote (for obvious reasons): “It doesn’t matter how good Burqalee receivers will get. As long as the Beers have a lousy QB, good WR talent will continue to get wasted”; (b) the troll’s constant misspelling of Berkeley; and (c) the obvious racial connotations associated therewith.
August 5th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
Rivals.com recruiting rankings:
11 Stanford
12 USC
16 Cal
26 Washington
30 UCLA
41 Oregon
None of the above teams have a 5-star recruit
USC has 7 4-star recruits
Cal has 6
Stanford 4
Washington 3
UCLA 3
Oregon 2
Cal has an average 3.67 stars per recruit
This is tied for third in the nation behind Texas & Florida.
Tedford has brought in quality recruits, so far, NOW,
the Bears need to come up with a BIG offensive year to attract the quality offensive players.The 9 recruits
represent a good nucleus, need more to come
August 5th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Regarding rankings;
First – decide what opinion/bias you want to justify
second – go review sports-related sites and select the ranking/data that has the appropriate info to prove your opinion/bias. There’s a site out there for any point you want to expound.
August 5th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
these recruiting rankings are relevant to talent that may make a difference in 3-4 years. Many five stars are busts. Many two stars are studs. Right now, who cares about that with the season so close except those only intent on making trouble?
August 5th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
the subject is on this years receivers. someone makes a negative comment on our progress with recruits who have not committed and will not for six months nor likely contribute for three years. a Ayoob was a five star, Constanza a four star. Mohammed and Arrington two stars. Oregon State beats us with a roster of 2-3 star recruits. you call me a fool.
August 6th, 2009 at 7:28 am
The star ratings are worthless in many cases.
However, there are many recruits that can contribute
in only 1-2 years
The subject IS on this year’s receivers. What receivers were recruited from 2009 and the current 2010 class?
August 6th, 2009 at 7:50 am
More info
http://cal.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=972226
August 6th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
I’ve stopped reading this blog on a regular basis because they continue to let a troll dominate the comments with false information.
August 7th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
CalBandGreat Says:
August 6th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
I’ve stopped reading this blog on a regular basis because they continue to let a troll dominate the comments with false information.
It’s not false information. It’s an opinion, and you don’t like it because it is different from yours. Say what you will, but MOST of MoreNC’s comments are football related, which is more than I can say for Cal fans, including several from this blog. It’s not his fault that Cal’s on the field performance has proved him right again and again.
Want to see some REAL unsolicited, non football related attacks and sweeping generalizations? Check out the ESPN blog, wait for an article on USC to show up, and enjoy the show.
August 7th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
Speedy Stockon WR makes his decision
http://cal.rivals.com/
August 7th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
Cal just got 2 commits today at WR so that makes 3 coming in next year…we’ll be fine
August 7th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
I guess I can stop whining about 2009/2010 receivers.
August 7th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
So you have 3 WRs now that we didn’t want. They are not elite receivers. Why can’t BURQAlee recruit elite WRs with the exception of MeSean. It is because your QBs have been mediocre to busts and no receiver wants to spend his college career going over the middle getting de helmetted by Taylor Mays and Keith Ellison.