Cal football spring practice #2: Sonny Dykes & Rob Likens chat, plus video highlights

With closed practice on Wednesday, there isn't much to report on outside the post-practice press conference quotes. Thankfully, we get some Hard Knocks footage with Sonny Dykes Mic'd Up.

Onto press conferences! Let's start with Sonny.

Dykes's opening comments seemed to indicate he was more pleased with how things went on Day 2 of practice rather than Day 1. As you would expect, Dykes was very complimentary of the wide receivers, who complimented their depth and versatility.

“Today was a little better. I thought we were a little sluggish Monday, but I thought we moved around faster and crisper today particularly early. I thought we lost our concentration a little bit in the second half of practice and didn’t finish the way you want to, but I thought overall it was good. There are a lot of things we’ve got to get worked out. We’re a major work in progress. There are a lot of things we have to improve on. But our attitude has been good. The guys have been working and they’re doing what we ask them to do. I think we’ve come a long way in terms of learning how we have to practice to do what it takes to be successful. We’ve just got to make sure we get that effort every day and we come out here and concentrate for the two hours that we’re out here and we keep getting better.”

“First two days I’ve been impressed with the wide receivers. We’ve got some depth; we’ve got some guys that can make plays. They’re all different and unique in what they can do. That part of it is fun, just to see them emerge and continue to get better and better.

Dykes also mentioned that the receiving corps should definitely be the strength of their team. When asked about new transfer Trevor Davis, Dykes sounded very pleased with his progress and has had two solid days of practices.

Dykes was also asked about what he knew this year compared to last year about his team, and the circumstances of last season that forced so many unfortunate changes. Check out his answers!

Dykes says the team will practice in shoulder pads on Friday before scrimmaging in full pads on Saturday. It won't be a traditional scrimmage, instead it'll be a live team workout. The Friday pads workout will "be a physical day", but there will be no tackling to the ground.

Dykes plans on "more live plays" this spring by spreading things out through practices instead of having a few scrimmages where everything gets condensed.

Wide receiver coach Rob Likens was also interviewed.

There's some good stuff here, particularly on how Likens and Mark Tommerdahl interact as outside receivers and inside receivers coach to provide the optimal teaching experience. They get together and make sure everyone's on the same page to ensure players aren't hearing two different things from their coaches.

Likens did make an interesting comment on the importance of the receivers. "If they play bad, we lose."

Who are the leaders on the receiving corps? Likens singled out Bryce Treggs, Stephen Anderson, Kenny Lawler and Trevor Davis. Interestingly, that could be the starting four in spring camp. Davis will be an X receiver, lining outside left. Treggs will be going to the inside this season and Likens would like to keep him there, although he will occasionally do some outside stuff too.

Chris Harper is recovering from shoulder surgery and is involved in non-contact drills, so right now he's behind Lawler at outside receiver in the depth chart.

If Cal can avoid injuries, Likens would like to play plenty of receivers this season like last year, with at least eight guys rotating and maybe up to ten players going at it.

Finally, here's an interview with Daniel Lasco.