At yesterday's Bay Area Media Day, Tedford definitively declared Kevin Riley as the starter for the upcoming season. Tedford goes on to discuss the change on offensive/special teams coordinators, dealing with fan expectations (and trying to minimize the effect of those expectations), Keenan Allen's impressive progress, and the breath of fresh air that is Clancy Pendergast.
"Kevin is the starter. Kevin's the starter, unless he gets beat out. Kevin is the starter, you can write that down," Tedford said. "I didn't say 'until,' I said 'unless.' The top three will get, in the beginning (of camp), very equal reps. And then, as camp moves on, it will be whittled down where the ones will get more."
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"Beau has an escape dimension, he's very competitive and he's very smart," Tedford said. "He has arm-strength and can make all the throws on the field. He's very solid. But, what he doesn't have is the experience."
Riley has put in more work this offseason than he ever has in his tenure at Cal, and Tedford continually touched on the fact that Riley is the conference's active leader in starts, wins and touchdown passes, building up quite a mountain for Sweeney or junior Brock Mansion to climb in order to seize the starting role.
"I think you're going to see a confident Kevin come out and play, I think he feels like it's his team, and he's ready for that," Tedford said. "This is his senior year. Kevin's not stupid. He sees what's been out there, so, even though I'm sure he feels like he has a lot to prove, I don't want him thinking that he has a lot to prove. I want him just to play his game and do his best and have a little bit of fun with it and not put so much pressure on himself.
After the jump Tedford sheds more light on the Chris Martin situation, Alualu signs with Jacksonville, Ted Miller rates the D-line, Wilner wonders of Stanford has surpassed Cal, and more.
Football
- Tedford provides some more insight into why Chris Martin ends up transferring. His distractions made it clear that he wasn't as dedicated to classes or football as the rest of his peers.
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Tyson Alualu has signed his contract with the Jaguars. He earns a guaranteed $17.5 million and about $28 million over the life of the contract.
- Daily Cal covers the Bay Area Media Day. Referring to the morning of the first day of training camp, Harbaugh said his "soul soars" and that "it's how angels feel."
- JO wonders if Cal will find a reliable, consistent set of receivers. The talent is there, but injuries and inexperience have held the unit back.
- Though tough to evaluate because Cal runs a 3-4, the defensive tackle position is in "good shape" according to Ted Miller. He calls Kendrick Payne and Derrick Hill an "outstanding tandem."
- Cal is also in "good shape" at defensive end. Cameron Jordan has the chance to go from good to great and the Bears have some good depth at the position.
- Ted Miller tallies up returning starters. Cal is tied for fifth with 16.
- Daily Cal looks at whether Cal should play an LA school each year under the new division alignment.
- Wilner wonders whether Stanford has surpassed Cal. He concedes that Stanford hasn't passed Cal, but he anticipates it soon he compares Stanford's rise to Tedford's rise to prominence during the 2004 and 2006 seasons.