Cal QB Chandler Rogers talks about how to improve before fall practice

Rogers is going hard to win the Cal starting quarterback job from Fernando Mendoza and has a lot of learning to do to get there..

Chandler Rogers spoke with the media after the conclusion of spring practice on Saturday. Here are his thoughts.

On trying to reduce interceptions going into next season.

Those situations, it could be based off of protection , tipped passes, receivers come off the hands. At the end of the day it is an interception

Ball placement, accuracy stuff. It’s part of learning in a new system, growing and knowing the receivers. Ball placement for accuracy purposes from the quarterback.

So it's just going to you know summary, going through fall camp. So I'm not worried about it.

What do you think things stand in position as you head to, fall camp?

Right now I'm waiting to hear what [Quarterbacks] Coach [Sterlin] Gilbert says. We both made great improvements learning the system, being leaders. So should be interesting to see where we stack up in the fall.

You're going to be here this fall is regardless of what happens?

I plan to be here.

On Sterlin Gilbert

He's really about your mindset.

I mean, even before here we came out. and watched this Trevor Lawrence clip, needing to come back winning in his first playoff season, when they were down 27-0, when he threw four interceptions. Then in the second half, a whole different story, he just dropped 23-29.

So your mindset, being a quarterback, having the confidence that you’re that guy was very important. That’s definitely something I picked up from Coach Gilbert.

What do you feel like you maybe showcased about your own skill set over the course of these last 15 practices?

My ability as being a passer as well as being a runner. So that was great to do. And just operating the offense at a high level, being a well-oiled machine.

As well as being a great person around my teammates, something I’ve really grown to do.

Who’s a player

Great question. So many names that I could think of.

Anybody in the running back room, from Byron [Cardwell] to [Kadarius] Calloway to J-Will [Justin Williams-Thomas] to Jet [Jaivian Thomas]. Anyone of those guys can pop out.

We have really great receivers. Tobias [Merriweather]. J-Brady [Jonathan Brady]. MoJo [Marquez Dortch].

We have really great freshman that I feel like. Josiah [Martin] can really make an impact for us as a true freshman.

On Josiah Martin

He really wasn't fazed by the speed of the game. That was the biggest thing, for a lot of freshmen, they have to get used to playing faster, things happening faster, To him he was already fast. I know his high school is strong and they produce really great talent in Guyer.

On Josiah reading defense, yards after catch.

He reminds me of like a Tyler Lockett, but he's more physical style. He's fast. He really runs great routes, sails the route. You think he’s running a vertical, he’ll shut it down and have a lot of separation. He’s really a great guy to go to.

On getting better before fall

Timing, is just trying to operate at a high level. Getting used to the headsets, which I really like, better than signals, process information faster and playing faster.