As Randy Moss might put it, something “fishy” is going on in the Warriors’ front office, specifically with the relationship between executive vice president Chris Mullin and his bosses, team president Robert Rowell and owner Chris Cohan.
Mullin is in the final year of his contract. He’s a lame duck. But there have been no discussions about a contract extension and no talks have been scheduled.
Fishy? Yeah, I think smell some bad salmon.
When Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury asked Rowell if Mullin had done a good job, he said: “I think he’s done a lot of things for us over the last several years that have helped the organization, yeah.”
Boy, that’s a ringing endorsement. Praise of the highest order.
Get a whiff of that rotting carp.
That alone is enough to make you think Mullin is on his way out after this season. But there’s also this red flag: Cohan and Rowell reportedly vetoed a tentative three-year, $39 contract extension that Mullin had reached with point guard Baron Davis.
Davis would have been locked up with the Warriors though the 2011-12 season. Instead, he opted out of his contract and signed with the Los Angeles Clippers. No big deal, you say? I guess not if you think it’s no big deal for the Warriors to lose their best player, someone that coach Don Nelson and captain Stephen Jackson said is “impossible” to replace.
Not only is Mullin a lame duck. But now higher ups in the organization with zero NBA player-personnel knowledge are questioning his judgment and nixing his plans.
Week-old tuna, anyone?
Want more? OK, how about the whole Monta Ellis moped-gate affair. Rowell and Cohan suspended Ellis 30 games for violating his contract by riding a moped when he suffered a serious ankle injury. Ellis will lose about $3 million.
Here’s the rub. During a news conference, Rowell ripped Mullin for not taking Ellis’ transgressions seriously enough.
Rowell said that “Chris Mullin made it perfectly clear to both Mr. Cohan and myself that he didn’t think this was a big deal at the beginning. And we happen to think it’s a very big deal.
“We happen to think that it’s a big deal for our fans, it’s a big deal for our season ticket-holders, it’s a big deal for our business partners, it’s a big deal for the Warriors organization.”
Ouch. That had to hurt. Of course neither Rowell nor Cohan have Mullin’s perspective as a former player who made mistakes but used them as the catalyst to become a star. Mullin credits Nelson, his former coach, with saving his life by making him get help for an alcohol problem.
No doubt Mullin felt Ellis had suffered plenty with his injury, surgery and public humiliation. He no doubt figured Ellis had learned his lesson without a $3 million hit and that the best course of action for the organization would be to support him and encourage him to become more serious about his profession and the way he takes care of his body. That’s exactly what Mullin did after going through rehab.
So yeah, there appears to be a serious disconnect between Mullin and his bosses. When it comes to the way the Warriors have dealt with Baron and Monta, I think they should have listened to Mullin.
Very fishy, indeed.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Saturday, October 11, 2008
This crystal ball sees four wins in Cable's future
A few days ago, I posted a poll asking readers to predict the number of regular-season games interim Raiders coach Tom Cable would win this season. The choices are 0 to 2, 3 to 5, 6 to 8 and 9 to 12.
I don’t vote in the polls I post, but here’s my prediction: Cable will go 4-8. Some will call me overly optimistic. Others will call me a Raiders hater. We'll see.
Now for the game-by-game breakdown:
Oct. 12, at New Orleans: The Raiders don’t have enough offensive firepower to keep up with Saints QB Drew Brees, especially on the road. This would be a tough assignment for Tom Landry, let alone Tom Cable. Prediction: Saints 27, Raiders 14
Oct. 19, vs. N.Y. Jets: Remember that Monday night game a few years ago when Brett Favre, then playing the Packers, torched the Raiders at the Coliseum just a day or so after the death of his father? If you saw that performance, you’d be nuts to pick against Favre this time, even if he is playing for a new team. Cornerback DeAngelo Hall could be in for a long day. Prediction: Jets 24, Raiders 21
Oct. 26, at Baltimore: Oakland’s defense can’t wait for this game. The Raiders should have their way with Ravens rookie quarterback Joe Flacco and get Cable his first NFL victory. Prediction: Raiders 20, Ravens 14
Nov. 2, vs. Atlanta: Another week, another rookie quarterback on the other side, this time Atlanta’s Matt Ryan. Cable should win back-to-back games for the first time. Prediction: Raiders 24, Falcons 21
Nov. 9, vs. Carolina: Panthers coach John Fox, a former Raiders defensive coordinator, has his team playing well on both sides of the ball. Panthers QB Jake Delhomme and WR Steve Smith could have a big day. Prediction: Panthers 24, Raiders 20
Nov. 16, at Miami: Last year the Raiders steamrolled the Dolphins 35-17 in Miami, rolling up huge running numbers. These aren’t you’re 2007 Dolphins. New executive VP Bill Parcells and coach Tony Sparano have quickly built a tougher, better team. Prediction: Dolphins 23, Raiders 20
Nov. 23, at Denver: Broncos coach Mike Shanahan keeps making Al Davis pay for canning him in 1989. Prediction: Broncos 28, Raiders 21
Nov. 30, vs. Kansas City: The Raiders already beat the Chiefs in Kansas City. They’ll double their fun against one of the NFL’s worst teams. Prediction: Raiders 30, Chiefs 17
Dec. 4, at San Diego: The Raiders have lost 10 straight times to San Diego, including a 28-18 setback earlier this season at the Coliseum to former coach Norv Turner. This streak has to end sometime, just not this year. Predictions: Chargers 30, Raiders 20
Dec. 21, vs. Houston: The Texans beat the Raiders last year in Oakland, 24-17. This time the Raiders will even the score against this underachieving bunch. Prediction: Raiders 24, Texans 17
Dec. 28, at Tampa Bay: The Raiders will face yet another former coach, this time Jon Gruden. Gruden is 1-1 against the Raiders, but that one win was huge, a 48-21 victory in Super Bowl XXXVII. Winning so far from home at the end of another lost season will be a nearly impossible task for Cable’s team. Prediction: Bucs 20, Raiders 14
I don’t vote in the polls I post, but here’s my prediction: Cable will go 4-8. Some will call me overly optimistic. Others will call me a Raiders hater. We'll see.
Now for the game-by-game breakdown:
Oct. 12, at New Orleans: The Raiders don’t have enough offensive firepower to keep up with Saints QB Drew Brees, especially on the road. This would be a tough assignment for Tom Landry, let alone Tom Cable. Prediction: Saints 27, Raiders 14
Oct. 19, vs. N.Y. Jets: Remember that Monday night game a few years ago when Brett Favre, then playing the Packers, torched the Raiders at the Coliseum just a day or so after the death of his father? If you saw that performance, you’d be nuts to pick against Favre this time, even if he is playing for a new team. Cornerback DeAngelo Hall could be in for a long day. Prediction: Jets 24, Raiders 21
Oct. 26, at Baltimore: Oakland’s defense can’t wait for this game. The Raiders should have their way with Ravens rookie quarterback Joe Flacco and get Cable his first NFL victory. Prediction: Raiders 20, Ravens 14
Nov. 2, vs. Atlanta: Another week, another rookie quarterback on the other side, this time Atlanta’s Matt Ryan. Cable should win back-to-back games for the first time. Prediction: Raiders 24, Falcons 21
Nov. 9, vs. Carolina: Panthers coach John Fox, a former Raiders defensive coordinator, has his team playing well on both sides of the ball. Panthers QB Jake Delhomme and WR Steve Smith could have a big day. Prediction: Panthers 24, Raiders 20
Nov. 16, at Miami: Last year the Raiders steamrolled the Dolphins 35-17 in Miami, rolling up huge running numbers. These aren’t you’re 2007 Dolphins. New executive VP Bill Parcells and coach Tony Sparano have quickly built a tougher, better team. Prediction: Dolphins 23, Raiders 20
Nov. 23, at Denver: Broncos coach Mike Shanahan keeps making Al Davis pay for canning him in 1989. Prediction: Broncos 28, Raiders 21
Nov. 30, vs. Kansas City: The Raiders already beat the Chiefs in Kansas City. They’ll double their fun against one of the NFL’s worst teams. Prediction: Raiders 30, Chiefs 17
Dec. 4, at San Diego: The Raiders have lost 10 straight times to San Diego, including a 28-18 setback earlier this season at the Coliseum to former coach Norv Turner. This streak has to end sometime, just not this year. Predictions: Chargers 30, Raiders 20
Dec. 21, vs. Houston: The Texans beat the Raiders last year in Oakland, 24-17. This time the Raiders will even the score against this underachieving bunch. Prediction: Raiders 24, Texans 17
Dec. 28, at Tampa Bay: The Raiders will face yet another former coach, this time Jon Gruden. Gruden is 1-1 against the Raiders, but that one win was huge, a 48-21 victory in Super Bowl XXXVII. Winning so far from home at the end of another lost season will be a nearly impossible task for Cable’s team. Prediction: Bucs 20, Raiders 14
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Leaving a comment just got easier
If you've visited this site before and tried to leave a comment, you know it was a pain in the back side. There were far too many hoops to jump though. Well, I tweaked the comments section, and now you can leave a comment without having to register, lose your anonymity or jump through a single hoop.
I hope this helps.
E.G.
I hope this helps.
E.G.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Sure-handed Cunningham grabs a big role in Cal's offfense
(I've posted my article about Cal wide receiver LaReylle Cunningham that appeared in the Bears' football program for Saturday's game against Arizona State. Cunningham used his sure hands Saturday to catch three passes for 42 yards, including a sweet 19-yard score where he had to go low to grab Nate Longshore's toss. He now has 14 catches for a team-high 223 yards. He ranks first among receivers in catches and is tied for third overall, one behind tight end Cameron Morrah and running back Shane Vereen, the co-leaders.)
Former Cal quarterback Troy Taylor’s eyes are naturally drawn to any wide receiver who catches passes as if his hands were covered with Stickum.
Taylor said he spotted LaReylle Cunningham’s sure hands the first time he watched him during a training camp practice in 2005.
“I saw him catch the ball and was like, ‘Who’s that guy?’ ” said Taylor, Cal’s football radio analyst.
That guy, Taylor found out, was a walk-on from Fairfield’s Vanden High School. He came to Cal with no guarantee of ever seeing the field in a game. But those good hands helped Cunningham grab a spot on the team, earn a football scholarship last spring and win a starting job this fall as a redshirt senior.
“I’ve always had the ability to catch the ball wherever it’s thrown,” said Cunningham. “I guess it was just natural.”
Cunningham had a breakout game against Maryland three weeks ago, catching seven passes for 138 yards, both career highs. But for most of Cunningham’s career at Cal, he’s been relegated to putting on pass-catching clinics in practice. He red-shirted in 2004 then was stuck behind the talented DeSean Jackson, Lavelle Hawkins and Robert Jordan for most of the past three seasons.
The one exception came on Oct. 22, 2005, when injuries struck Cal’s receiver corps and Cunningham took center stage as an emergency starter. Cunningham caught five passes for 112 yards in a 42-38 victory over Washington State that night at Memorial Stadium. His 57-yard touchdown catch keyed Cal’s comeback win.
The next week against Oregon, however, Cunningham was back on the bench.
“If anything, it made me hungrier,” Cunningham said of his first career start.
“It made me more motivated to keep working hard, (knowing) that my number can be called at any time, and when it is, I’ll be there to make plays and do what I came to do. If my role is a backup, then I’ll just do the best I can being a backup.”
Cunningham said he had no “set in stone” football scholarship offers from any college coming out of high school. That made his decision to walk on at Cal easy.
“I just kind of had my mind set on Cal,” Cunningham said. “My mother (Adrienne Cunningham) really wanted me to come here to Cal because it’s a great university. I was able to get in through academics. It all worked out good.
“I was taught well. Always, school (came) first. Thanks to my mother. She sent me on the right path.”
Now he’s taking the final class he needs to graduate with a degree in sociology.
On the football field, Cunningham caught just 10 nine passes for 155 yards and one touchdown during his first three seasons after red-shirting.
Even so, Cal coach Jeff Tedford thought so much of Cunningham that he awarded him a scholarship last spring. With Jackson, Hawkins and Jordan no longer blocking his path, Cunningham moved up the depth chart by catching everything that came his way in spring practice and training camp.
“They’re ridiculous,” Cal linebacker Worrell Williams said of Cunningham’s hands. “If it’s in his vicinity, he’s going to catch it.”
Best hands on the team?
“Oh yeah,” Williams said. “Hands down.”
Cunningham isn’t a speed “burner,” Taylor said, but he has tremendous hand-eye coordination, body control and timing.
“He has obviously had one of the better pairs of hands on the team since he’s gotten here,” Taylor said. “Just real consistent, real smooth.”
Cunningham said he also has a knack for getting open.
“I’m good at getting my body in position to catch the ball,” Cunningham said. "I’m good at getting separation, enough needed to get the ball caught. I’m really good at body position. My routes are decent, too.”
When he played for the Bears, Hawkins liked to work over the middle, while Jackson was most dangerous on deep routes. What’s Cunningham’s preference?
“I like to work the middle, side, top, bottom,” he said. “Anywhere. Wherever the ball is, I like to work it.”
Cunningham said his favorite route is the “fade” in the end zone, where he’s able to “go up top and get it.”
“Or the post (route),” he added. “Anything, really. I just like the ball.”
As you can sense, spending the previous four years without consistently getting his hands on the football has been tough for Cunningham. But he’s persisted and persevered.
“I’ve been here a long time,” Cunningham said. “I’ve definitely been through a lot. It’s been a grind, mentally and physically. Everything’s fine. Everything turned out the way it should be. So I’m happy. I’m fortunate and blessed.”
Former Cal quarterback Troy Taylor’s eyes are naturally drawn to any wide receiver who catches passes as if his hands were covered with Stickum.
Taylor said he spotted LaReylle Cunningham’s sure hands the first time he watched him during a training camp practice in 2005.
“I saw him catch the ball and was like, ‘Who’s that guy?’ ” said Taylor, Cal’s football radio analyst.
That guy, Taylor found out, was a walk-on from Fairfield’s Vanden High School. He came to Cal with no guarantee of ever seeing the field in a game. But those good hands helped Cunningham grab a spot on the team, earn a football scholarship last spring and win a starting job this fall as a redshirt senior.
“I’ve always had the ability to catch the ball wherever it’s thrown,” said Cunningham. “I guess it was just natural.”
Cunningham had a breakout game against Maryland three weeks ago, catching seven passes for 138 yards, both career highs. But for most of Cunningham’s career at Cal, he’s been relegated to putting on pass-catching clinics in practice. He red-shirted in 2004 then was stuck behind the talented DeSean Jackson, Lavelle Hawkins and Robert Jordan for most of the past three seasons.
The one exception came on Oct. 22, 2005, when injuries struck Cal’s receiver corps and Cunningham took center stage as an emergency starter. Cunningham caught five passes for 112 yards in a 42-38 victory over Washington State that night at Memorial Stadium. His 57-yard touchdown catch keyed Cal’s comeback win.
The next week against Oregon, however, Cunningham was back on the bench.
“If anything, it made me hungrier,” Cunningham said of his first career start.
“It made me more motivated to keep working hard, (knowing) that my number can be called at any time, and when it is, I’ll be there to make plays and do what I came to do. If my role is a backup, then I’ll just do the best I can being a backup.”
Cunningham said he had no “set in stone” football scholarship offers from any college coming out of high school. That made his decision to walk on at Cal easy.
“I just kind of had my mind set on Cal,” Cunningham said. “My mother (Adrienne Cunningham) really wanted me to come here to Cal because it’s a great university. I was able to get in through academics. It all worked out good.
“I was taught well. Always, school (came) first. Thanks to my mother. She sent me on the right path.”
Now he’s taking the final class he needs to graduate with a degree in sociology.
On the football field, Cunningham caught just 10 nine passes for 155 yards and one touchdown during his first three seasons after red-shirting.
Even so, Cal coach Jeff Tedford thought so much of Cunningham that he awarded him a scholarship last spring. With Jackson, Hawkins and Jordan no longer blocking his path, Cunningham moved up the depth chart by catching everything that came his way in spring practice and training camp.
“They’re ridiculous,” Cal linebacker Worrell Williams said of Cunningham’s hands. “If it’s in his vicinity, he’s going to catch it.”
Best hands on the team?
“Oh yeah,” Williams said. “Hands down.”
Cunningham isn’t a speed “burner,” Taylor said, but he has tremendous hand-eye coordination, body control and timing.
“He has obviously had one of the better pairs of hands on the team since he’s gotten here,” Taylor said. “Just real consistent, real smooth.”
Cunningham said he also has a knack for getting open.
“I’m good at getting my body in position to catch the ball,” Cunningham said. "I’m good at getting separation, enough needed to get the ball caught. I’m really good at body position. My routes are decent, too.”
When he played for the Bears, Hawkins liked to work over the middle, while Jackson was most dangerous on deep routes. What’s Cunningham’s preference?
“I like to work the middle, side, top, bottom,” he said. “Anywhere. Wherever the ball is, I like to work it.”
Cunningham said his favorite route is the “fade” in the end zone, where he’s able to “go up top and get it.”
“Or the post (route),” he added. “Anything, really. I just like the ball.”
As you can sense, spending the previous four years without consistently getting his hands on the football has been tough for Cunningham. But he’s persisted and persevered.
“I’ve been here a long time,” Cunningham said. “I’ve definitely been through a lot. It’s been a grind, mentally and physically. Everything’s fine. Everything turned out the way it should be. So I’m happy. I’m fortunate and blessed.”
Sunday, October 5, 2008
A peak inside Patriots Nation
I spent Sunday at Candlestick Park covering a winning NFL team. Of course I was doing a freelance job for the Boston Herald and writing a sidebar about New England Patriots running back Kevin Faulk -- not the 49ers.
Faulk hadn't run for a touchdown since 2006, but he rushed for two against the 49ers. It was that kind of day for the home team. Faulk seemed like a class act, a team-first type of player. He caught the 49ers napping when he took a direct snap and scored a crucial touchdown in the third quarter on a 2-yard run.
After spending decades sitting in football press boxes where I was surrounded by beat writers and columnists from the Bay Area, it seemed odd being smack in the middle of Patriots Writers Nation. It kind of reminded me of the 49ers' press corps near the end of the team's dynasty. Let's just say the standards are extremely high after so many Super Bowl seasons. Understandably so.
Here's the link to my story in the Herald.http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/football/patriots/view/2008_10_06_Kevin_Faulk_just_rushes_to_judgment/srvc=pats&position=3
The Patriots are going to practice most of this week at San Jose State before heading to San Diego for a game against the Chargers. No wonder they rallied to beat the 49ers 30-21. The fear of losing back-to-back games then being stuck in the same hotel for a week with Bill Belichick, their warm and fuzzy coach, was more than enough motivation.
Faulk hadn't run for a touchdown since 2006, but he rushed for two against the 49ers. It was that kind of day for the home team. Faulk seemed like a class act, a team-first type of player. He caught the 49ers napping when he took a direct snap and scored a crucial touchdown in the third quarter on a 2-yard run.
After spending decades sitting in football press boxes where I was surrounded by beat writers and columnists from the Bay Area, it seemed odd being smack in the middle of Patriots Writers Nation. It kind of reminded me of the 49ers' press corps near the end of the team's dynasty. Let's just say the standards are extremely high after so many Super Bowl seasons. Understandably so.
Here's the link to my story in the Herald.http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/football/patriots/view/2008_10_06_Kevin_Faulk_just_rushes_to_judgment/srvc=pats&position=3
The Patriots are going to practice most of this week at San Jose State before heading to San Diego for a game against the Chargers. No wonder they rallied to beat the 49ers 30-21. The fear of losing back-to-back games then being stuck in the same hotel for a week with Bill Belichick, their warm and fuzzy coach, was more than enough motivation.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Defense a big hit in Cal's victory over Arizona State
That sound you heard Saturday afternoon from Memorial Stadium was Cal linebacker Zack Follett hitting Arizona State quarterback Rudy Carpenter at 100 mph midway through the fourth quarter, separating him from the ball and, most likely, his senses.
It was a huge hit. A violent hit. It was a great defensive play on a day in which Cal’s defense made big plays seem commonplace. And if you’re looking for a signature moment in Cal’s 24-14 victory, Follett’s payback sack has my vote.
Follett had been waiting nearly a year for another shot at Carpenter after last October’s 31-20 loss to ASU in Tempe.
“That felt good, man,” Follett said. “That was a long hit coming since last year. Last year he kind of got in my ear a little bit, talking a little trash. A long hit coming. A year of frustration was let out on that play.”
Cal defensive end Cameron Jordan saw the play unfold just a few feet yards in front of him.
“I had an (offensive) tackle, and I had him stood up, ready to pull him,” Jordan said. “I saw Zack make contact, and I literally might have stopped playing and watched. I told the offensive lineman, ‘Your quarterback just died.’ ”
No, not literally. But Carpenter did leave the locker room on crutches and with a foot in a boot after the game. Follett’s sack and forced fumble forced the Sun Devils to punt and helped kill their comeback bid.
Quarterback Nate Longshore, starting for the first time this season after losing his job to Kevin Riley, deserves some credit for Saturday’s win. He completed 17 of 28 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.
Running back Shane Vereen, starting for the injured Jahvid Best, did his part, rushing for 98 hard-fought yards and catching five passes for 51 yards. LaReylle Cunningham, Cameron Morrah and Nyan Boateng each caught a touchdown pass.
But if you want to pass out game balls, you might want to hand a dozen or so to the defense. The Bears held ASU to 71 net yards rushing and 2.2 yards per carry. They sacked Carpenter three times, Jordan notching two. They picked him off twice -- Chris Conte got one and red-shirt freshman Sean Cattouse the other – and broke up countless other passes. Cornerback Syd’Quan Thompson, as usual, played out of his mind.
Carpenter completed 20 of 35 passes for just 165 yards. Of course it’s hard to complete passes when you’re running for your life, trying to escape, Follett, Jordan, Tyson Alualu and a cast of thousands.
“Our biggest goal going into the game was stopping the run,” Follett said. “Even though they have a great passing attack, they came off their bye week saying how they were going to be more physical, they were going to run the ball. That was our first priority, and at home we usually take care of the run. So we came out of there fired up.
“As far as taking care of the pass, I’ve got to give credit to the ‘D’ line and to the pressure (defensive coordinator Bob) Gregory called. That’s what I think took care of the pass. Then after getting pressure on them, the (defensive backs) made plays. It was great defensive play all around.”
The longer the season goes, the better handle Cal’s defense seems to get on its new 3-4 base scheme, which allows the Bears to keep four linebackers – a team strength – on the field. Last year their base defense was the 4-3.
“The 3-4 did amazing,” Jordan said. “It gives us one less ‘D’ lineman, but it seems to put more pressure on than last year.”
Cal’s defense had four sacks and three interceptions, returning one for a touchdown, in a 42-7 victory over Colorado State two weeks ago. So Saturday’s game makes it back-to-back dominant defensive performances by the Bears.
“People are telling us this is the best they’ve seen the defense play so far,” Follett said. “The defense is going to get better as it gets more comfortable in it and starts knowing our strengths and what we can do and gets a little more experience. Because we’re still a little young.”
Cal needed its defense to step up, especially in the second half. That’s when the Bears’ offense scored just seven points and repeatedly stalled, giving ASU chance after chance to get back into the game. Longshore was 14 of 22 for 159 yards and two scores in the first half. In the second, he completed 3 of just 6 passes for 39 yards and one touchdown. Vereen had 111 of his 149 combined yards rushing and receiving in the first half.
“As an offense, we need to do better,” Longshore said. “It’s always nice to win. But in order for us to continue to have success, I have to do better.”
“The defense played hard all day for us,” Vereen said. “They’re a big reason why we were able to win this game. They picked us up.”
Longshore was right. Cal’s offense will need to play better, especially in back-to-back-to-back games against Oregon (Nov. 1) at home then USC (Nov. 8) and Oregon State (Nov. 15) on the road.
Arizona State was picked to finish second in the Pac-10. But the Sun Devils, who have now lost three straight games to UNLV, Georgia and Cal, were clearly overrated entering the season. And Colorado State offered little opposition to the Bears. Tougher tests are coming, and Cal will need more help from its offense.
Longshore played well enough to keep the starting job for at least another week. Cal coach Jeff Tedford said Longshore would “probably” start against Arizona on Oct. 18 after Cal’s this coming week’s bye. “We’ll talk about it.”
Tedford bristled when asked whether he may have created a quarterback controversy by benching Riley, who went 3-1 as a starter, for Longshore, who struggled last year down the stretch when Cal’s season imploded.
“You guys create the controversy,” Tedford said. “I don’t create the controversy. We just put in who we think is going to give us the best chance to win. I’m not saying it can’t be Kevin. I’m saying there are certain things we watch and evaluate, and we’ll make decisions. We’ll evaluate this game and we’ll look to see what Nate could have done better and what Kevin would have done differently.
“I’ve said it many times. It may take both those guys to get where we need to go. … Both those guys support each other. They’re completely fine. … There is no lock on the quarterback position. We may play both of them.”
Tedford said he made the quarterback switch Saturday in an effort to get a faster start.
“I felt we’d been starting a little bit slow, so I wanted to switch roles a little bit and let Nate have an opportunity to start the game. For all of our games, we haven’t started real fast offensively. We’ve had big runs, but we’ve missed some plays in the passing game. So I wanted to change it up a little bit and see if we could create a spark.”
Longshore certainly helped Cal get off to a faster start Saturday. But it was Cal’s defense that played the role of closer.
“To tell you the truth, I like that,” Follett said. “I hate to see the offense stall, but that’s more opportunity for us on the field. The day we were having today, that was nothing but fun. We were having a lot of fun. I was like, ‘If we go three and out, oh well, we’ll go back out and get a sack or an interception.’ That’s how the day was for us. It was a fun game.”
A day filled with big hits and big plays by Cal’s defense.
It was a huge hit. A violent hit. It was a great defensive play on a day in which Cal’s defense made big plays seem commonplace. And if you’re looking for a signature moment in Cal’s 24-14 victory, Follett’s payback sack has my vote.
Follett had been waiting nearly a year for another shot at Carpenter after last October’s 31-20 loss to ASU in Tempe.
“That felt good, man,” Follett said. “That was a long hit coming since last year. Last year he kind of got in my ear a little bit, talking a little trash. A long hit coming. A year of frustration was let out on that play.”
Cal defensive end Cameron Jordan saw the play unfold just a few feet yards in front of him.
“I had an (offensive) tackle, and I had him stood up, ready to pull him,” Jordan said. “I saw Zack make contact, and I literally might have stopped playing and watched. I told the offensive lineman, ‘Your quarterback just died.’ ”
No, not literally. But Carpenter did leave the locker room on crutches and with a foot in a boot after the game. Follett’s sack and forced fumble forced the Sun Devils to punt and helped kill their comeback bid.
Quarterback Nate Longshore, starting for the first time this season after losing his job to Kevin Riley, deserves some credit for Saturday’s win. He completed 17 of 28 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.
Running back Shane Vereen, starting for the injured Jahvid Best, did his part, rushing for 98 hard-fought yards and catching five passes for 51 yards. LaReylle Cunningham, Cameron Morrah and Nyan Boateng each caught a touchdown pass.
But if you want to pass out game balls, you might want to hand a dozen or so to the defense. The Bears held ASU to 71 net yards rushing and 2.2 yards per carry. They sacked Carpenter three times, Jordan notching two. They picked him off twice -- Chris Conte got one and red-shirt freshman Sean Cattouse the other – and broke up countless other passes. Cornerback Syd’Quan Thompson, as usual, played out of his mind.
Carpenter completed 20 of 35 passes for just 165 yards. Of course it’s hard to complete passes when you’re running for your life, trying to escape, Follett, Jordan, Tyson Alualu and a cast of thousands.
“Our biggest goal going into the game was stopping the run,” Follett said. “Even though they have a great passing attack, they came off their bye week saying how they were going to be more physical, they were going to run the ball. That was our first priority, and at home we usually take care of the run. So we came out of there fired up.
“As far as taking care of the pass, I’ve got to give credit to the ‘D’ line and to the pressure (defensive coordinator Bob) Gregory called. That’s what I think took care of the pass. Then after getting pressure on them, the (defensive backs) made plays. It was great defensive play all around.”
The longer the season goes, the better handle Cal’s defense seems to get on its new 3-4 base scheme, which allows the Bears to keep four linebackers – a team strength – on the field. Last year their base defense was the 4-3.
“The 3-4 did amazing,” Jordan said. “It gives us one less ‘D’ lineman, but it seems to put more pressure on than last year.”
Cal’s defense had four sacks and three interceptions, returning one for a touchdown, in a 42-7 victory over Colorado State two weeks ago. So Saturday’s game makes it back-to-back dominant defensive performances by the Bears.
“People are telling us this is the best they’ve seen the defense play so far,” Follett said. “The defense is going to get better as it gets more comfortable in it and starts knowing our strengths and what we can do and gets a little more experience. Because we’re still a little young.”
Cal needed its defense to step up, especially in the second half. That’s when the Bears’ offense scored just seven points and repeatedly stalled, giving ASU chance after chance to get back into the game. Longshore was 14 of 22 for 159 yards and two scores in the first half. In the second, he completed 3 of just 6 passes for 39 yards and one touchdown. Vereen had 111 of his 149 combined yards rushing and receiving in the first half.
“As an offense, we need to do better,” Longshore said. “It’s always nice to win. But in order for us to continue to have success, I have to do better.”
“The defense played hard all day for us,” Vereen said. “They’re a big reason why we were able to win this game. They picked us up.”
Longshore was right. Cal’s offense will need to play better, especially in back-to-back-to-back games against Oregon (Nov. 1) at home then USC (Nov. 8) and Oregon State (Nov. 15) on the road.
Arizona State was picked to finish second in the Pac-10. But the Sun Devils, who have now lost three straight games to UNLV, Georgia and Cal, were clearly overrated entering the season. And Colorado State offered little opposition to the Bears. Tougher tests are coming, and Cal will need more help from its offense.
Longshore played well enough to keep the starting job for at least another week. Cal coach Jeff Tedford said Longshore would “probably” start against Arizona on Oct. 18 after Cal’s this coming week’s bye. “We’ll talk about it.”
Tedford bristled when asked whether he may have created a quarterback controversy by benching Riley, who went 3-1 as a starter, for Longshore, who struggled last year down the stretch when Cal’s season imploded.
“You guys create the controversy,” Tedford said. “I don’t create the controversy. We just put in who we think is going to give us the best chance to win. I’m not saying it can’t be Kevin. I’m saying there are certain things we watch and evaluate, and we’ll make decisions. We’ll evaluate this game and we’ll look to see what Nate could have done better and what Kevin would have done differently.
“I’ve said it many times. It may take both those guys to get where we need to go. … Both those guys support each other. They’re completely fine. … There is no lock on the quarterback position. We may play both of them.”
Tedford said he made the quarterback switch Saturday in an effort to get a faster start.
“I felt we’d been starting a little bit slow, so I wanted to switch roles a little bit and let Nate have an opportunity to start the game. For all of our games, we haven’t started real fast offensively. We’ve had big runs, but we’ve missed some plays in the passing game. So I wanted to change it up a little bit and see if we could create a spark.”
Longshore certainly helped Cal get off to a faster start Saturday. But it was Cal’s defense that played the role of closer.
“To tell you the truth, I like that,” Follett said. “I hate to see the offense stall, but that’s more opportunity for us on the field. The day we were having today, that was nothing but fun. We were having a lot of fun. I was like, ‘If we go three and out, oh well, we’ll go back out and get a sack or an interception.’ That’s how the day was for us. It was a fun game.”
A day filled with big hits and big plays by Cal’s defense.
Friday, October 3, 2008
For Cal wide receiver Sean Young, it's better late than never
(I’ve posted my story below about Cal wide receiver Sean Young that ran in the Bears’ game-day program last week when they played Colorado State. After a fast start, Young’s numbers have dropped quite a bit, but his story is still compelling. You’ve got to admire someone who didn’t give up after five frustrating seasons and two major surgeries. So in case you didn't go to the game or didn't buy a program, here's the story.)
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You couldn’t have blamed Cal wide receiver Sean Young if he had walked away from football after the 2007 season and moved on with his life, far away from the frustration, disappointment and pain of his career.
In five years at Cal, Young had undergone two major surgeries – one on each of his big toes – and caught just three passes. He had spent countless hours in rehab or on the bench and only a few minutes on the field.
So when he had to decide whether to petition the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility – a solid proposition considering his medical history – Young had serious reservations.
“I knew coming back in I was going to be at the bottom of the depth chart, where I’d been the whole time,” Young said. “I was still recovering from an injury.”
Young said he was leaning heavily against petitioning the NCAA. Then some advice from his father, Henry Young, hit home.
“I think he was just really discouraged,” Henry Young said. “I said, ‘You never want to walk away from something and say I wish I would have.’ ”
Young not only came back for his sixth year at Cal, but he also won a starting job. And in his first career start he caught four passes for 81 yards in the Bears’ 38-31 win against Michigan State.
“The whole week, I couldn’t think of anything but this game,” said Young, whose brother, Eddie, is a starting outside linebacker for Cal. “I was having dreams and waking up in the middle of the night, thinking about making plays.
“I was nervous the first portion I got in, and I just started easing up and everything just felt like practice. I was able to make plays. It felt great. It felt awesome.”
So did catching his first career touchdown pass in a victory over Washington State, a 14-yarder from Kevin Riley. For the season he has eight catches for 112 yards.
If you ever doubted that good things come to those that wait, Young might convince you otherwise. He’s been at Cal for so long that his teammates call him “Grandpa.”
“I know one comment a lot of guys make to me is, ‘Sean, you know, I was in middle school when you were in college,’ ” said Young, who turns 24 in December. “Everyone teases me, but it’s nice being the older one. A lot of people look up to me, and I can kind of mentor guys.”
When Young came to Cal in 2003, he was a highly touted receiver from Berkeley High School. But in his first training camp he was tackled from behind, ripping the ligaments in his right big toe and breaking a small bone.
“I must have seen about 10 different foot specialists,” Young said. “Over half of them said they couldn’t perform the surgery. They said if I did get the surgery there was the possibility I would never be able to play football again or run.”
Young finally found a doctor who performed successful surgery in January of 2004. But he missed spring practice and faced a long, arduous rehab program. What’s more, by 2005 he was looking up on the depth chart at DeSean Jackson, Lavelle Hawkins and Robert Jordan, among others.
When the 2007 season began, Young was still buried on the depth chart, but at least his body was healthy. That is until Cal’s third game when he caught a 19-yard pass against Louisiana Tech, was tackled from behind and suffered the same injury on his other big toe.
More surgery. More rehab. More pain.
After all that Young had been through, Cal coach Jeff Tedford said he was surprised to learn he wanted to come back.
“Because he’s really had some pretty poor luck here,” Tedford said. “He’s been injured ever since he’s been here. I think he saw or he recognized at least there would be an opportunity for him to be a strong contributor.”
With Jackson, Hawkins and Jordan no longer blocking his path and with his body healthy again, Young moved up the depth chart.
“I’m so happy to see Sean Young go out there and finally get his chance,” Cal linebacker Zack Follett said.
Henry Young said that when he watches Sean play now, he can tell that for the first time since coming to Cal his son is “in that zone” again where he believes he can catch everything.
“It felt great to see him there, see him experience that feeling again,” Henry Young said. “That in itself will be a lifetime memory for him.”
---
You couldn’t have blamed Cal wide receiver Sean Young if he had walked away from football after the 2007 season and moved on with his life, far away from the frustration, disappointment and pain of his career.
In five years at Cal, Young had undergone two major surgeries – one on each of his big toes – and caught just three passes. He had spent countless hours in rehab or on the bench and only a few minutes on the field.
So when he had to decide whether to petition the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility – a solid proposition considering his medical history – Young had serious reservations.
“I knew coming back in I was going to be at the bottom of the depth chart, where I’d been the whole time,” Young said. “I was still recovering from an injury.”
Young said he was leaning heavily against petitioning the NCAA. Then some advice from his father, Henry Young, hit home.
“I think he was just really discouraged,” Henry Young said. “I said, ‘You never want to walk away from something and say I wish I would have.’ ”
Young not only came back for his sixth year at Cal, but he also won a starting job. And in his first career start he caught four passes for 81 yards in the Bears’ 38-31 win against Michigan State.
“The whole week, I couldn’t think of anything but this game,” said Young, whose brother, Eddie, is a starting outside linebacker for Cal. “I was having dreams and waking up in the middle of the night, thinking about making plays.
“I was nervous the first portion I got in, and I just started easing up and everything just felt like practice. I was able to make plays. It felt great. It felt awesome.”
So did catching his first career touchdown pass in a victory over Washington State, a 14-yarder from Kevin Riley. For the season he has eight catches for 112 yards.
If you ever doubted that good things come to those that wait, Young might convince you otherwise. He’s been at Cal for so long that his teammates call him “Grandpa.”
“I know one comment a lot of guys make to me is, ‘Sean, you know, I was in middle school when you were in college,’ ” said Young, who turns 24 in December. “Everyone teases me, but it’s nice being the older one. A lot of people look up to me, and I can kind of mentor guys.”
When Young came to Cal in 2003, he was a highly touted receiver from Berkeley High School. But in his first training camp he was tackled from behind, ripping the ligaments in his right big toe and breaking a small bone.
“I must have seen about 10 different foot specialists,” Young said. “Over half of them said they couldn’t perform the surgery. They said if I did get the surgery there was the possibility I would never be able to play football again or run.”
Young finally found a doctor who performed successful surgery in January of 2004. But he missed spring practice and faced a long, arduous rehab program. What’s more, by 2005 he was looking up on the depth chart at DeSean Jackson, Lavelle Hawkins and Robert Jordan, among others.
When the 2007 season began, Young was still buried on the depth chart, but at least his body was healthy. That is until Cal’s third game when he caught a 19-yard pass against Louisiana Tech, was tackled from behind and suffered the same injury on his other big toe.
More surgery. More rehab. More pain.
After all that Young had been through, Cal coach Jeff Tedford said he was surprised to learn he wanted to come back.
“Because he’s really had some pretty poor luck here,” Tedford said. “He’s been injured ever since he’s been here. I think he saw or he recognized at least there would be an opportunity for him to be a strong contributor.”
With Jackson, Hawkins and Jordan no longer blocking his path and with his body healthy again, Young moved up the depth chart.
“I’m so happy to see Sean Young go out there and finally get his chance,” Cal linebacker Zack Follett said.
Henry Young said that when he watches Sean play now, he can tell that for the first time since coming to Cal his son is “in that zone” again where he believes he can catch everything.
“It felt great to see him there, see him experience that feeling again,” Henry Young said. “That in itself will be a lifetime memory for him.”
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