OT: shout out to Cal freshmen Mykolas Alekna, discuss thrower, who shattered an 18 year NCAA record this weekend at the Big Meet with a throw of 222 feet!!
Best stat coming out of spring camp ~ no significant injuries!!
I concur, of the 3 practices I attended, this was Millner's weakest performance albeit it wasn't that bad. Also, Millner's #2 offense goes against Cal's #1 defense. These are good reps for Millner and he has gotten a lot better during this camp. Plummer is likely the presumptive starter at this point.
Hard to accept that the OL, in year 6, remains the biggest question mark. For those that stated the loss of Craig & Mettauer is "manageable", I'll have whatever it is you are smoking. The latter appears to have moved up onto the 1's at Oklahoma. Interesting side not: Mettauer said that while he liked his time at Cal he is looking forward to playing for a coaching staff that will not "reprimand" him for his "aggressiveness".
The only other unit that appears to be thin are the cornerbacks. We have talent but perhaps not even a 2 deep at both corners.
Normally I don't participate in pre-season predictions, but I will this year and right now. Cal will go 9 - 3 this season. I'm putting a lot of early faith in OL but I think we have 2 very good QB's that may shelter a weak OL should that turn out to be the case. Cal will have a top 3 in-conference D and top 20 D in the nation (sans any injuries). The ST's will be much improved.
The team is young but is by far the biggest, fastest, strongest of Wilcox's era. A lot of really good & smart players on this team.
Early picks for breakout year: Mavin Anderson, Fatu Iosefa (NB), Saunders, Swinney, Big Myles Williams (aka BMW), Patu. List will likely expand after fall camp. Young (DB) probably should be listed as well.
Surprise of camp: hands down R. Correia. Losing weight has created a completely different player. He could still lose about 20 - 25lbs or convert it to good weight. If he can do that we will have two versatile NG (McKenzie). When was the last time Cal had that? btw ~ shout out to McKenzie for sporting a lavalava at the Spring Showcase.
edit: I did have a chance to watch the PAC12 replay of the Showcase. Nice to hear DJ talk up Cal and spend 2 days with the Bears!! That said it is better to attend if one wants to focus on the players, then later watch the broadcast, which I thought was quite entertaining.
Plummer definitely looked sharper than Milner, though the practice was geared towards pocket passing so maybe slants to him?
I had a really fun time bringing my kids to this, but I think that may have as much to do with my post-lockdown euphoria re just being able to do stuff as it does with the setup there. I thought they could have tried a little harder to make it a fun day - there was only one small concession stand that basically only sold hot dogs and candy, and other than that there were like two random bouncy houses and a couple cornhole games set up outside (so basically they put about as much effort into this as they would a six year old’s birthday party at a random park). Do a little more next time, Cal marketing! Like maybe get some college kid to put the Oski suit on? He was notably absent.
I miss the fanfests in August of yesteryear. I think you either do that or do a real spring game. This showcase thing is like the worst of both worlds.
This is a nice write up and I agree with the summary. Very little football, but still fun to watch. I liked the interviews. Many of our best players, didn't play. Sirmon, Femi, Terry for example. Ok, if it worked for recruiting, then great.
Seems to me the defense could be top shelf, again. Seems to me the offense may be a bit better at QB if they have a minimum time to throw, and better at the skill positions. A long summer ahead before real football!
Good write-up and I concur with your sentiments. I haven't been to a Spring "game" since the last season of Sonny. They seem to be turning into glorified practices and an opportunity for old Bears to show up and talk on the camera. I get the imperative to limit hard contact since injuries can occur - and they can be especially damaging at the end of Spring practice because guys can end up rehabbing all the way to Fall (not good). With a skeleton crew at OL (Seemingly our lot in life as C3PO would say) we are already shorthanded.
The biggest impression that was made on me was the lack of "food trucks" AND the delicious tacos we ate after the showcase in Richmond.
OT: shout out to Cal freshmen Mykolas Alekna, discuss thrower, who shattered an 18 year NCAA record this weekend at the Big Meet with a throw of 222 feet!!
Go Bears!!
Best stat coming out of spring camp ~ no significant injuries!!
I concur, of the 3 practices I attended, this was Millner's weakest performance albeit it wasn't that bad. Also, Millner's #2 offense goes against Cal's #1 defense. These are good reps for Millner and he has gotten a lot better during this camp. Plummer is likely the presumptive starter at this point.
Hard to accept that the OL, in year 6, remains the biggest question mark. For those that stated the loss of Craig & Mettauer is "manageable", I'll have whatever it is you are smoking. The latter appears to have moved up onto the 1's at Oklahoma. Interesting side not: Mettauer said that while he liked his time at Cal he is looking forward to playing for a coaching staff that will not "reprimand" him for his "aggressiveness".
The only other unit that appears to be thin are the cornerbacks. We have talent but perhaps not even a 2 deep at both corners.
Normally I don't participate in pre-season predictions, but I will this year and right now. Cal will go 9 - 3 this season. I'm putting a lot of early faith in OL but I think we have 2 very good QB's that may shelter a weak OL should that turn out to be the case. Cal will have a top 3 in-conference D and top 20 D in the nation (sans any injuries). The ST's will be much improved.
The team is young but is by far the biggest, fastest, strongest of Wilcox's era. A lot of really good & smart players on this team.
Early picks for breakout year: Mavin Anderson, Fatu Iosefa (NB), Saunders, Swinney, Big Myles Williams (aka BMW), Patu. List will likely expand after fall camp. Young (DB) probably should be listed as well.
Surprise of camp: hands down R. Correia. Losing weight has created a completely different player. He could still lose about 20 - 25lbs or convert it to good weight. If he can do that we will have two versatile NG (McKenzie). When was the last time Cal had that? btw ~ shout out to McKenzie for sporting a lavalava at the Spring Showcase.
edit: I did have a chance to watch the PAC12 replay of the Showcase. Nice to hear DJ talk up Cal and spend 2 days with the Bears!! That said it is better to attend if one wants to focus on the players, then later watch the broadcast, which I thought was quite entertaining.
Plummer definitely looked sharper than Milner, though the practice was geared towards pocket passing so maybe slants to him?
I had a really fun time bringing my kids to this, but I think that may have as much to do with my post-lockdown euphoria re just being able to do stuff as it does with the setup there. I thought they could have tried a little harder to make it a fun day - there was only one small concession stand that basically only sold hot dogs and candy, and other than that there were like two random bouncy houses and a couple cornhole games set up outside (so basically they put about as much effort into this as they would a six year old’s birthday party at a random park). Do a little more next time, Cal marketing! Like maybe get some college kid to put the Oski suit on? He was notably absent.
I miss the fanfests in August of yesteryear. I think you either do that or do a real spring game. This showcase thing is like the worst of both worlds.
Go Bears!
This is a nice write up and I agree with the summary. Very little football, but still fun to watch. I liked the interviews. Many of our best players, didn't play. Sirmon, Femi, Terry for example. Ok, if it worked for recruiting, then great.
Seems to me the defense could be top shelf, again. Seems to me the offense may be a bit better at QB if they have a minimum time to throw, and better at the skill positions. A long summer ahead before real football!
Good write-up and I concur with your sentiments. I haven't been to a Spring "game" since the last season of Sonny. They seem to be turning into glorified practices and an opportunity for old Bears to show up and talk on the camera. I get the imperative to limit hard contact since injuries can occur - and they can be especially damaging at the end of Spring practice because guys can end up rehabbing all the way to Fall (not good). With a skeleton crew at OL (Seemingly our lot in life as C3PO would say) we are already shorthanded.
Thanks Nick!
GO BEARS!!