Monday Report: Bears Begin Big Game Preparations -- Again

In a departure from the normal schedule, Justin Wilcox and some players (Moe Ways and Ashtyn Davisin this case), met with the media in the early afternoon, before practice.

With some coaches on the recruiting trips that were obviously scheduled before the Big Game was postoned until Dec. 1, the practice was going to be a little different from normal. Still, Wilcox appreciated the opportunity for extra practices, both this week and for the upcomong bowl.

Justin Wilcox

• He was particularly pleased that on both the early interceptions returned for a trouchdown, the Bears blocked properly for Elijah Hicks and Davis. “That was the difference in the game, those two plays,” he said. “Great plays by Elijah and Ashtyn. You’ve got to be smart in the return game, making good decisions on plays like that. Stay in front, don’t block behind the ball. The worst thing you can do is have a penalty on the return which we did on the last one. Those are teachable moments and we’ll show  those.”
• The game plan for Stanford might change a little from what it was two weeks ago. “We watched the UCLA film and saw what wrinkles showed up there . We’ll work on the game plan, things we already prepared, but we’ll have some wrinkles for the nuances they showed in that game. It’s a little bit like a bowl game. You get a week of practice and another week to refine it. We’ll be real smart about how we prepare. We’ll be real physical because it will be a physical game, but you want the guys fresh. That’s a line you’re always trying to walk.”
• Many Big Game traditions will carry over this week, and the coach approves. ’’’The rally, we have the rally for sure. They’re great for all the people involved. That’s what college football is  all about. The pageantry. The rivalry games. It will be a great environment here. I want everybody to enjoy that. But it’s about how well we prepare.”
• He feels the exrtra practices can be important, for now and the future  “And how you use those practices. We are going to practice this week to play at our best on Saturday Once we get into the bowl season, depending on the timing of the bowl, we’ll lay out a plan. Those extra  practices are really important for the guys you are really looking to develop. Maybe guys that are playing right now and not getting as many reps. Or maybe guys that are redshirting. The more you get reps in practice the better you are going to be. It’s about structuring your practices in a way where you can get good work against each other and help those guys develop, however many it is, depending on when your bowl game is,”
• The Bears were terrible on third down against Colorado, and there was no common thread. “We went back and watched it, I watched it a couple of times now. I wish it was one thing. Usually when you have that type of performance where we didn’t convert on. It was 1-for-17 or whatever it was, ... It’s a block, or a run, or a throw or a catch, or a decision. We’ve got to be real clean. You notice it in the game and we couldn’t get drives going. You go back in the tape and maybe if we do one little thing a little bit better. But we have a totally different feeling, Two or three or four things were different, We just have to keep working with them giving them answers as coaches. Giving them the best opportunity  But then we’ve got to execute, block and run, and throw and catch. All those things you know. Now we’ve just got out and do it.”
• Brandon McIlwain had one play, as a receiver, on Stiurday, and it fizzled. Wilcox said they might use him more, and admired his attitude since he lost the quarterback job.. “He’s loving it. He’s adjusting. He’s had some tough moments this year as we all know,  and he’s grown a lot. He’s still a young football player, and so Brandon can help our team. We are trying to find ways to utilize the guys on the roster, whether it’s him receiving a snap, going in motion and catching the ball, or running down the field. We are going to exercise all those. He’s been great. His attitude has been exceptional. I am really proud of him, how he’s tried to work through this. He’ll continue to help us. ….He’s a competitive guy. He really wants to help our team.”

Wide receiver Moe Ways

• Wilcox praised him for how well he adapted to a new team after transferring from Michigan. “I think it’s pretty unique when a guy can come in as a grad transfer, join the team in the summer and fit in that quickly. And kind of  embrace what we’re all about, the type of person that he is, he loves it. He and Ian (Bunting) both, the speed that he took to our team and our team took to them was pretty impressive. It speaks to their character. I’m happy for Moe, it was a really good throw and catch.and that contested ball in the corner of the end zone, made a great play on it. Another corner route. I’m happy for him. It says a lot about him that our team has embraced him and Ian both in that short of time frame.
• In his postgame press conference Ways rattled off the names of all ten players who were on the field, thanking them for contributing to his touchdown catch in the fourth quarter. “When I first got here i made it my business to learn everybody’s name. I was the new guy, I was the odd man out. I had to be friendly and introduce myself.”
• He said he had to learn about the Cal traditions, like the Big Game. “I wasn’t too aware, honestly. I knew of Cal and had watched a couple of Cal games. But I wasn’t aware of the rivalry games or things like that”  He thinks it is important to learn some of the Cal history. “It gives you a better understanding and respect for the game that we are playing. The USC game how they hadn’t won in x-amount of years, and it’s a big deal to the alumni base and the fans here. So we made our bid go change things, and get a W. Same thing Saturday in the BIg Game.”
• Because it was Senior Day, his parents were able to see in person his first career touchdown. “My mom cried. My dad almost went over the grandstand. It was really good. My family knows of the journey I’ve been on.”
• He has been impressed with Chase Garbers growth as a quarterback. “I think about two weeks ago it hit me Chase is a 19-year-old, a redshirt freshman and his first year starting. He’s had an impressive year. He’s had a lot of growing pains. He’s had a lot of learning lessons. But he’s 19 years old and a redshirt freshman. He’s done a great job. He has grown every week. His confidence has grown. He has ice in his veins. When the game is on the line and we need a big play he wants the ball in his hands, He doesn’t shy away from the moment. He doesn’t defer to somebody else. He wants to be the guy that helps Cal get the W. 

Safety Ashtyn Davis, who was conference defensive Player of the Week.

• “I was tagged in a post on Instagram is how I found out.”
• A star high hurdler., He said he feels he has shed the label of a track gu.y playing football. “I felt like most of the time before I was a track guy playing football, I wanted to get away from that and be a football guy when I’m in football and a track guy when I’m at track.. And I felt like since I’ve been able to make plays I have been able to adopt the identity as a football player when I’m up here.”
• He has one theory that helps explaing the upgrade in the defense the last two yearsl “Scheme-wise I couldn’t tell you. I was playing scout team and playing corner. I was just trying to stop the guy in front of me from catching the ball. And I did what I was told. But now I feel every guy in the defense, you are going to know the defense and where they fit. That has made us so much better in every aspect of the game. I think that  is biggest thing, everybody understanding not just their assignment, but where the help is and where everybody is in the defense doing their part.”