Tedford pledged to be more relaxed heading into the 2010 season and players have already noticed the new attitude. Riley provides some insight into how this may keep the team from making mistakes.
Jeff Tedford doesn't exactly have a reputation for being relaxed and carefree, but it's become something of a mission for the ninth-year head coach to lighten up in practice this season.
And, two days into fall camp, it already seems to be working.
"I think at times (the team was) tightening up," quarterback Kevin Riley. "If they messed up, they were going to get yelled at, get chewed out, and they'd be down the rest of practice.
"Now if you mess up, it's like, 'Hey, don't do that. Learn from it. Go on to the next play and learn from it later.'"
According to Riley, when the Bears fell behind in games last season, they tended to force plays and press too hard. This time around, they're working on a team culture of hard work tempered with a larger-than-years-past dose of fun.
"We've got a great group of kids who have worked hard all summer, all spring, and you don't want to push them to where they're not having fun playing football," he said. "(The coaches) learned that from previous experience just by looking at people's faces."
After the jump Mark Brazinski takes the award for best (or is it worst?) head shot, Ted Miller posts more preseason power rankings, several players earn spots on award watch lists, and the press provides some updates from the second and third practices of fall camp.
Football
- Mark Brazinski's official 2010 headshot is...interesting.
- Mike Costanzo, Covaugn Deboskie-Johnson, Austin Hinder, and others talk about preparing for photo day.
- Vachel Samuels will be out for the season after breaking his foot during the first practice.
- Daily Cal reports from practice #2. Tedford's more relaxed demeanor appears to benefit the team, as they used to get yelled at/chewed out and be down the rest of practice. Now they're made aware of their mistakes in a more positive light. Riley says mistakes in years past caused the team to tighten up and force unwise decisions. JO gives some information from practice. He spoke to Keenan Allen, who has been very impressive so far. CalSportsDigest catches up with Anthony Miller after practice. Tedford talks about what stood out to him during the second practice.
- The big news out of practice #3 is that Matt Summers-Gavin will only be out two weeks after sustaining a bone bruise in his knee. The rest of the O-line is falling into place as positions are starting to get locked down. Until he is completely up to speed on the offense, Keenan Allen will not see any reps on defense. Tedford appears very pleased with Allen's progress. BearTerritory.net reports on some of the drills run in practice (among several other topics in what is--by far--the most comprehensive coverage of practice #3). Fanua excelled in protect-the-quarterback drills as he tore through Isi Sofele en route to the QB. Some freshman were impressive including Steve Williams, Gabe King, Keenan Allen, and Kaelin Clay. Jeff Tedford is quite impressed with Steve Williams. Mychal Kendricks, Spencer Ladner, and Austin Clark all sustained minor injuries and will likely continue to participate in fall camp.
- The Cal-Arizona game has been picked up by Comcast Sports Net Plus. No word on what that means for non-Comcast subscribers.
- Cal is 7th in Ted Miller's most recent set of preseason power rankings. Daily Cal's Pac-10 predictions have Cal in 6th.
- Cal is in good shape at safety according to Ted Miller.
- Wilner reveals his AP ballot.
- Marvin Jones is one of six Pac-10 receivers on the Biletnikoff Award watch list. Mike Mohamed is on the Bednarik Award watch list and Shane Vereen is on the Maxwell Award watch list.