Cal Football: Thoughts On The Quarterbacks & Tevin Carter's Departure

by Avinash Kunnath on Apr 7, 2011 7:37 PM PDT in California Golden Bears Football

So our first bits of significant news of the spring emerged from Ted Miller of ESPN with the departure of one of our promising frosh and our first official quarterback depth chart of the spring. Let's talk about the interesting before we move to the exasperating.

We have our three suspected contestants ready to go at signal-caller. We have the experienced Brock Mansion, the young up-comer Allan Bridgford, and the intriguing transfer Zach Maynard. Poor Beau Sweeney is listed fifth; he will likely never see a significant snap at Cal. Austin Hinder is fourth, so the kid has got some growing to do before he challenges for the spot.

I've been hearing complaints that Jeff Tedford seems to be favoring Mansion over the other two unknown commodities. My response: What do you expect? Bridgford has missed nearly a year due to shoulder surgery and Maynard has only been practicing with the Bears for a few months. Mansion might not have performed well on the field, but he's been here for years and is definitely familiar with performing in practice. And the light may very well turn on for him in his senior campaign as he now knows he has a solid shot at winning the job (unlike previous years, where Kevin Riley was leaps and bounds ahead of everyone).

Bridgford and Maynard might not be quite polished in practice, but let's not get too antsy about their lack of production this early on. They're only at the start of their journey as Golden Bears and have a lot of catching up to do on the fundamentals of being a college quarterback. With Mansion probably refocused and doing his best to win the spot, they'll all be challenging each other and growing and developing as a group under Tedford's tutelage. That would be the ideal situation for the staff, the players, and the fans, and could very well be the end result of this competition.

So basically, if you're desiring a quick resolution to "Who's the starter?", might as well take a long vacation from following the Bears and come back in August. I'd take up golf.

After the jump, we talk about Carter.

Losing Tevin Carter hurts. He had a legitimate chance to start next season, particularly based on the lackluster receiving production of our current starters. While Eric Kiesau should be able to get more out of his players than Kevin Daft did, you'd like to have more guys who can make plays out there, particularly with such uncertainty at quarterback and running back.

With Marvin Jones, Michael Calvin, and Coleman Edmond graduating after this season, it'll also mean Cal will need another receiver to look for this year in addition to the two or three they were planning to recruit. And it leaves the Bears with only four scholarship receivers (Keenan Allen, Kaelin Clay, Terrance Montgomery and Maurice Harris) that won't be frosh in 2012. It's a situation that won't hurt us this year as much as it'll bother us in our return to Memorial.

While I'm far from believing this is the start of a trend, this news should remind us how much of college football is dependent on the choices of young adults who are still developing and maturing as individuals. You never know what might come up. Particularly when it comes to being a Cal grad, where talented athletes have to adjust to one of the toughest academic environments in the country and deal with adversity in a way they never dealt with in high school. Not all will handle it properly, and hopefully Carter will not regret his decision.

We wish Tevin the best.

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If the level of play is even close, I hope Tedford chooses a player that gives the future team (next year) a better chance to win games. I know that isn’t the usual coaches mantra (win games NOW). But I think we will still give Tedford another year even after the upcoming debacle year…oops, I mean rebuilding year. It’s the year after that’s make or break – Mansion just doesn’t figure in to those plans.

by YleeXOtee on Apr 7, 2011 7:47 PM PDT reply actions

I think winning games this year would help just as much. It’s not like the leash only grows shorter, it can tilt in the other direction too.

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by Avinash Kunnath on Apr 7, 2011 7:57 PM PDT up reply actions

Hope 1st open practice isn't indicative of fall performance

- Mansion, Maynard, Bridgford better improve rapidly or else we might have serious issues.

- Sucks to have Tevin Carter leave. I wish him well. Kaelin Clay stood out in practice tho and may earn even more playing time.

- Probably looking at 4-5 WRs in 2012. Bryce Treggs, Malik Gilmore, & Darius Powe all sounded pretty happy after their Junior day visit. One of the $C verbals Jordan Payton or Jaydon Mickens may very well end up at Cal. I’m gonna look into the JC ranks.

- Wondering if Stefan McClure has a realistic shot at playing WR/CB.

- Jackson Bouza anyone?

#Dominate

by solarise on Apr 7, 2011 8:30 PM PDT reply actions

I'm not worried about QB right now

The defense is always way ahead of the offense in the Spring and early in the Fall camps. So it’s not surprising that all the QBs looked bad while they’re figuring out timing and in two of the three cases, taking live snaps for Cal for the first time.

If they’re still looking bad by the end of Spring and in the fall, then I’ll start worrying.

I think you’re dead on re: a Juco received this year. It would also help with class balance, because the 2013 graduating class is really small right now.

Hector Sanchez: Suck it Russell Nathan Coltrane Jeanson Martin.

by tedfordfan on Apr 8, 2011 6:56 AM PDT up reply actions

McClure has really good hands, was a great WR in high school. He seems to be a lock at DB though.

What about Joel Willis? Willis is a burner, with 4.37 40-speed. He caught a lot of passes in high school. Coaches suggested he could make a great special teams player his freshman year.

Drinking the Kool-Aid. Pumping the sunshine. Livin' the dream. Go Bears!

by dballisloose on Apr 8, 2011 10:05 AM PDT up reply actions

SWEENEY TO BOUZA, ALL DAY LONG.

Then, I’ll make a big ruckus, because I am a hypocritical asshole.

-TwistNHook

by turkey on Apr 8, 2011 10:15 AM PDT up reply actions

Daniel Lasco or Ervin?

Wasn’t there speculation that one may end up as a slot WR? If Below stays healthy and is as good as advertised one may end up at WR. Remember where Isi played first.

by MV Bear on Apr 7, 2011 8:43 PM PDT via mobile reply actions

I thought Lasco was TB?

In other words, Go Bears!

by royrules22 on Apr 8, 2011 10:17 AM PDT up reply actions

but he’s tall, therefore must be a WR, similar to Yarnway being large, therefore must be a FB.

Then, I’ll make a big ruckus, because I am a hypocritical asshole.

-TwistNHook

by turkey on Apr 8, 2011 10:30 AM PDT up reply actions

Some recruitniks thought that Lasco might be a better fit @ WR because of his height & speed. Pretty certain that Lasco is coming in as RB.

#Dominate

by solarise on Apr 8, 2011 4:05 PM PDT up reply actions

And it leaves the Bears with only four scholarship receivers (Keenan Allen, Kaelin Clay, Terrance Montgomery and Maurice Harris) that won’t be frosh in 2012.

I think this past year too, we only had 4 scholarship receivers in Ross, Jones, Loggy, and Calvin other than freshmen. Thank goodness KA21 came to Cal. Would have been a nightmare if he didnt, especially with Loggy not producing at all.

I think in 2012, as long as we have three stud guys in KA, Clay, and Harris, we should be OK. Next two classes should provide some unexpected depth there.

by JustBear on Apr 7, 2011 9:53 PM PDT reply actions

Probably will also try and look for transfers or JC players, given we have a couple extra scholarships to give….guys who could come into the system this year, but sit till 2012 and have a couple years of eligibility.

Drinking the Kool-Aid. Pumping the sunshine. Livin' the dream. Go Bears!

by dballisloose on Apr 8, 2011 10:11 AM PDT up reply actions

With the right side of the oline unknown, a small, underwhelming (to date) tailback as the current leader, no true NT above the age of 19, 2 new LB’s, a secondary with no experience behind the starting 4, and Tavecchio as the kicker, all I ask is that there’s a QB who can hit a receiver in stride while under a pass rush. I don’t care if that means he has some young mistakes (doesn’t audible, delay of game penalties). Let the talented man play and get his lumps while we figure out what to do with the other gaping holes.

I already feel like it will be Mansion, even if a guy like Bridgford is more accurate. Then we’ll watch him throw over, under, and jump throw all season long while asking each other, “this is the best we got?” Tedford thinks that, while a Bridgford would give Cal a better 2012 season than a Mansion would, Cal might win 6 games and get to a bowl and maybe his seat won’t be as hot.

"We lose to Stanford in many sports, but if you want to make a Cal team quit, bring a weapon."
--Coach Clark

by carp on Apr 7, 2011 11:11 PM PDT reply actions

I already feel like it will be Mansion, even if a guy like Bridgford is more accurate.

Even if there is no precedent at all for Tedford doing that.

"Let me tell you a story. I was a political prisoner for two years. The instant I was released I ran to McDonald's. I had a Big Mac and a Coke.

It was fantastic."
-Toyama Koichi, US Presidential candidate from Japan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGZqOkeYbB0

by AERose on Apr 8, 2011 12:23 AM PDT up reply actions

Tedford favoring Mansion?

I remember when people were upset that Mansion wasn’t above Sweeney on the depth chart at the beginning of last year and were saying how Tedford was favoring Sweeney over Mansion because of the Tedford/Sweeney history. I think the fact that Sweeney ended up 5th on the QB depth chart pretty much kills that theory, along with the fact that, you know, Mansion beat out Sweeney last year too… oops. Wonder where those conspiracy theorists are now? #whatsomepeoplewillbelieve #smh #facepalm

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by HydroTech on Apr 8, 2011 12:11 AM PDT reply actions

Deja Vu all over again?

Didn’t we have to sit through this debate when it was Longshore and Riley competing for the starting job? After Riley’s masterpiece in the Air Force game, there was plenty of whining about how Tedford was stuck in his ways and would never give Riley a fair chance because of his supposed man-crush on Nate….. we all know how that turned out….. (spoiler alert)… with Riley as the starter. Tedford will choose the guy who gives the team the best chance to win….. let him do his job – then we can whine when the guy doesn’t meet our expectations in the fall

by SierraBear on Apr 8, 2011 8:07 AM PDT up reply actions

What, let the guy with the most knowledge and is closest to the situation make the call? That’s ridiculous. Create a poll and let us decide!

by cal85 on Apr 8, 2011 8:35 AM PDT up reply actions

I’ve never played competitive, organized football before, but I’ll be damned if I believe a guy who’s directly helped a large number of QB’s make the NFL and watching these guys play on a daily basis over my own, obviously infallible, opinion!

by Missing Barry on Apr 8, 2011 8:48 AM PDT up reply actions

I can do that! I HAVE THE POWER!

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by TwistNHook on Apr 8, 2011 9:11 AM PDT up reply actions

Some might say, and rightfully so, that flip-flopping Longshore and Riley in 2008 (often mid-game) shot Riley’s confidence/swagger to all hell and, perhaps, even Longshore’s. Nate felt he deserved to start in 2008 after a terrific 2006 and pre-injury 2007, but he just wasn’t the same player.

I contend Riley hasn’t been the same QB since 2007 or maybe Michigan St 2008.

It’s fair to say we entered 2008 with a hot potential NFL prospect in Longshore and an exciting young QB in Riley who threw very accurately. Looking back in 2011, it’s so sad that it didn’t work out for either of them.

"We lose to Stanford in many sports, but if you want to make a Cal team quit, bring a weapon."
--Coach Clark

by carp on Apr 8, 2011 9:33 AM PDT up reply actions

Sure, some might say it. You can find someone willing to say just about anything, though. The question is whether the evidence backs it up or not. Riley had one solid game against Oregon State (bad initially, but then very good afterwards, until the last play), and one excellent game against an Air Force team whose defense probably wasn’t very good. I mean, we’re looking at an exteremely small and questionable sample here. You might say he was good and then his confidence was shattered never to come back again, which could be true, but doesn’t really have strong evidence. You also might say….well, he just wasn’t that good to begin with. Regression towards the mean is a real thing. Quite a bit of evidence has stacked up over the last couple seasons to support that notion….

by Missing Barry on Apr 8, 2011 9:50 AM PDT up reply actions

perhaps he regressed from the mean, not towards it. Let’s not forget about the over-hyped high school credentials, etc.

Your general point is a good one – we have no idea. I like to think promising freshman QB’s should get better as they age. You may not. We have no idea who’s right. It would be nice if a reporter ever asked Riley his feelings on the matter…

"We lose to Stanford in many sports, but if you want to make a Cal team quit, bring a weapon."
--Coach Clark

by carp on Apr 8, 2011 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions

I think what we can agree on is we’ve both been diasppointed in the QB position pretty much since Longshore’s one good, full season.

by Missing Barry on Apr 8, 2011 10:59 AM PDT up reply actions

Well, and those first five games before he was injured, he was really good in those.

Am I known as Cugel the Clever for nothing?

by Cugel on Apr 8, 2011 6:24 PM PDT up reply actions

The case of Sweeney is different. Since he, apparently, is so bad the “veteran qualities” are negated.

What we may end up with is 3 guys who, more or less, won’t be really all that great and it will come down to “I like Player A because he snaps the ball in time, even though Player B is more accurate (albeit inexperienced) and Player C is a good scrambler but doesn’t throw very hard.”

"We lose to Stanford in many sports, but if you want to make a Cal team quit, bring a weapon."
--Coach Clark

by carp on Apr 8, 2011 9:28 AM PDT up reply actions

Maurice Harris

Will become even more relevant this season. Coach Thompson was really excited about Harris during the SCal roadshow event, and suggested that Harris is a WR who will likely play ‘immediately’. His specific comments were:

Maurice Harris is another guy who will play immediately, because he’s big, fast, has great hands, and is already up to speed on the playbook. Coach Thompson is really looking forward to seeing him develop, because he’s got potential to be really special, and fills the need of a big possession receiver. Given his potential role as a possession receiver, he probably isn’t an immediate big-play threat for us, but could be over time as he learns the playbook and develops.

Now that Carter has left, Harris may play a bigger role. Although Carter is slightly bigger (Carter 6’3, 209; Harris 6’2, 194), coach suggests that Harris will be a possession-type receiver, which is what I envisioned Carter becomming. So will Harris back up Calvin at the slot?

Drinking the Kool-Aid. Pumping the sunshine. Livin' the dream. Go Bears!

by dballisloose on Apr 8, 2011 9:35 AM PDT reply actions

that’s what I was thinking as well. Harris doesn’t have Carter’s speed but really, I’m content with someone that can get open and catch the ball. Big play ability is just icing on the cake.

Then, I’ll make a big ruckus, because I am a hypocritical asshole.

-TwistNHook

by turkey on Apr 8, 2011 10:31 AM PDT up reply actions

Yeah I think we’re looking at:

Jones, Allen, Calvin, Edmonds, Clay, and Harris as the top 5 WRs.

What’s happening with the development of Terrance Montgomery and Spencer Hagan?

Drinking the Kool-Aid. Pumping the sunshine. Livin' the dream. Go Bears!

by dballisloose on Apr 8, 2011 11:00 AM PDT up reply actions

I guess I should add Bouza in with Montgomery and Hagan as guestion marks to be answered during spring ball.

Drinking the Kool-Aid. Pumping the sunshine. Livin' the dream. Go Bears!

by dballisloose on Apr 8, 2011 11:07 AM PDT up reply actions

Hagan is practicing with the TE’s right now as an h-back.

Then, I’ll make a big ruckus, because I am a hypocritical asshole.

-TwistNHook

by turkey on Apr 8, 2011 3:00 PM PDT up reply actions

Can you be a halfback & TE at the same time?

#Dominate

by solarise on Apr 8, 2011 4:11 PM PDT up reply actions

sort of the same thing.

Then, I’ll make a big ruckus, because I am a hypocritical asshole.

-TwistNHook

by turkey on Apr 8, 2011 4:25 PM PDT up reply actions

Aren’t halfbacks = tailbacks = running backs + fullbacks? How are they similar to TEs?

#Dominate

by solarise on Apr 8, 2011 4:27 PM PDT up reply actions

I remember Ladner last year was often lined up in the backfield and moving around

by JustBear on Apr 8, 2011 4:38 PM PDT up reply actions

H-back is not the same thing as a halfback. H-back is more like a hybrid fullback/TE, often used in motion instead of lining up on the line of scrimmage.

Old Toothwrangler

by Kodiak on Apr 8, 2011 6:23 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah isn’t H-back basically a FB/TE that doens’t play on the LOS? So if you have a two TE set and one of them is off the line, that would be the H-back, or anytime you have a guy in the backfield in a kind of weird location (as a blocker), that’s the H-back, or a TE put into motion is basically an H-back – they’re generally smaller and quicker than a TE on the line, and are better pass catchers. A guy like Dallas Clark would generally be thought of as more of an H-back than a TE>

by Missing Barry on Apr 9, 2011 10:35 AM PDT up reply actions

I haven’t seen enough of Terrance Montgomery to make an insightful comment. Really hoping that he develops into a Wes Welker type of slot guy.

#Dominate

by solarise on Apr 8, 2011 4:12 PM PDT up reply actions

During the last two years, getting open and catching the ball Were the big plays.

by cal85 on Apr 8, 2011 11:30 AM PDT up reply actions

I wonder what the other Cal receivers think about carter, Seems like Allen clay carter were always hanging out off the field as well.

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by 4Ever Golden on Apr 8, 2011 11:55 AM PDT reply actions

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