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Cal Football

Spring Practice Day 7 -- Bears Put On the Pads

March 6, 2021
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Day seven of Cal’s spring football practice on Saturday was a busy one. The Bears introduced new defensive backfield coach Tre Watson to the media. Prior to that, they had a full-padded workout that included simulated game situations in varying formats. 

“We did a number of scripted plays and then we did a number of true, live ‘play the game’ plays,” quarterback Chase Garbers said in a Zoom meeting afterward. “There was live tackling to the ground. It was good for both sides. Ball-carriers getting hit, defenders trying to make tackles.

“Overall it went really well. Both sides played with a lot of swag and enthusiasm. We each can build on that for the next two weeks.”

Garbers said he was particularly impressed with some of the younger receivers.

Tommy Christakos had a couple of good catches on deep balls, he played really well today,” Garbers said. “Jeremiah Hunter’s getting off good, he played really well. Justin Baker had a great touchdown at the end, a fade in the corner (from QB Robby Rowell), a little toe tap. It’s great to see these young guys step up.”

Garbers completed 7 of his 17 passes for 35 yards. Zach Johnson threw for 4 TDs and Rowell three.

Damien Moore was the leading rusher with 55 yards on eight carries. Christopher Brown had 52 yards on seven tries.

On the defensive side, outside linebacker Orin Patu made a pest of himself, being credited with two unofficial “sacks”. Tackling the quarterback is a no-no. He certainly seems to have stepped up his game.

“I definitely think I am (different from a year ago),” Patu said. “The hard work that me and my teammates are putting in since last season, during the offseason, trusting that the coaches know what they are doing and guiding us the right way.”

It was the first full day on the job for Watson, the first time he saw his troops on the field. “It’s been exciting to get my feet wet, really get going today,” he said. “It’s a veteran group, they are very competitive.”

Although Watson had not supervised any of the Cal DBs prior to Friday, he knew a number of them, mainly through his recruiting the last three years. “Football is a small world,” he said. 

After two years as a grad assistant at Oregon, Watson became a full-fledged assistant last year when he ran the secondary at UNLV. It was a learning-on-the-job experience.

“The biggest thing for me learning was managing the personalities in the room,” “Watson said. “Being a GA for the two years prior, you’re always kind of the assistant to learning things. Controlling that whole room, teaching the guys in different ways is what is new,  Whether the guy’s a visual learner, whether the guy needs an extra walk-through on the field, managing the personalities of how they go.”

Cal Football Training Camp Scrimmage

March 6, 2021 – California Memorial Stadium (Berkeley, CA)

Weather: 58 degrees, sunny

Scoring Plays

Zach Johnson 11 TD pass to Gavin Reinwald … red zone period
Zach Johnson 10 TD pass to Kekoa Crawford … red zone periodZach Johnson 6 TD run … red zone period

Robby Rowell 9 TD pass to Tommy Christakos … red zone period

Robby Rowell 3 TD pass to Aidan Lee … red zone period

Ashton Stredick 6 TD run … red zone period

Zach Johnson 22 TD pass to Nick Alftin … fastball period

Zach Johnson 45 TD pass to Jeremiah Hunter … play the game period

Robby Rowell 4 TD pass to Justin Richard Baker … play the game period

Team Statistics

Rushing (Att-Yards, TD)

51-211, 2 TD

Passing (Comp-Att-Int-Yds, TD)

27-44-1-290, 7 TD

Penalties (No-Yds)

Offense (5-30)

Defense (4-25)

Total (9-55)

Individual Statistics

Rushing (Att-Yds, TD) ... 10 different players ran the ball

Damien Moore (8-55)

Christopher Brown Jr. (7-52)

Ashton Stredick (5-26, 1TD)

Passing (Comp-Att-Int-Yds, TD)

Zach Johnson (13-15-0-145, 4 TD)

Robby Rowell (6-9-0-81, 3 TD)

Chase Garbers (7-17-1-35)

Spencer Brasch (1-3-0-29)

Receiving (Rec-Yds, TD) ... 14 different players had receptions

Tommy Christakos (3-65, 1 TD)

Trevon Clark (3-23)

Kekoa Crawford (3-18, 1 TD)

Damien Moore (3-17)

Jeremiah Hunter (2-51, 1 TD)

Nick Alftin (2-28, 1 TD)

Gavin Reinwald (2-16, 1 TD)

Tackles

Raymond Woodie III 5

Trey Paster 4

Other Defensive (team totals - 5.0 sacks, 1 INT)

Orin Patu 3 (2.0 TFL, -8 yards; 2.0 sacks, -8 yards, 1 PBU)

Jaedon Roberts 3 (2.0 TFL, 1.0 sack)

Ricky Correia 3 (1.0 TFL)

Patrick Hisatake 3 (1.0 TFL)

Collin Gamble 3 (1 PBU)

Blake Antzoulatos 3 (1 PBU)

Erick Nisich 2 (1.0 TFL, 1.0 sack)

Chigozie Anusiem 2 (1 INT)

Ryan Puskas 1 (1.0 TFL, 1.0 sack, 1 PBU)

Tyson McWilliams 1 (1 PBU)

Isaiah Young (1 PBU)

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Discussion from...

Spring Practice Day 7 -- Bears Put On the Pads

6,656 Views | 10 Replies | Last: 3 yr ago by heartofthebear
concernedparent
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What's up with Brasch getting so few reps?
Big C
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concernedparent said:

What's up with Brasch getting so few reps?
He's 3rd string right now. Oh, I see he threw fewer passes than Rowell, too... Maybe they just happened to be working on the run game when he was in there. Musgrave has singled him out as having the strongest arm and also being the fastest. Hang in there, Spencer!
heartofthebear
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Big C said:

concernedparent said:

What's up with Brasch getting so few reps?
He's 3rd string right now. Oh, I see he threw fewer passes than Rowell, too... Maybe they just happened to be working on the run game when he was in there. Musgrave has singled him out as having the strongest arm and also being the fastest. Hang in there, Spencer!
Johnson's ahead of him?
Goobear
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heartofthebear said:

Big C said:

concernedparent said:

What's up with Brasch getting so few reps?
He's 3rd string right now. Oh, I see he threw fewer passes than Rowell, too... Maybe they just happened to be working on the run game when he was in there. Musgrave has singled him out as having the strongest arm and also being the fastest. Hang in there, Spencer!
Johnson's ahead of him?
Based on the number of throws I say yes...
Rushinbear
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heartofthebear said:

Big C said:

concernedparent said:

What's up with Brasch getting so few reps?
He's 3rd string right now. Oh, I see he threw fewer passes than Rowell, too... Maybe they just happened to be working on the run game when he was in there. Musgrave has singled him out as having the strongest arm and also being the fastest. Hang in there, Spencer!
Johnson's ahead of him?
spring practice - all kinds of mix and match - see how they respond, how they compete, what they take for granted. Coaches sending a message. Maybe, being outplayed. Can't conclude much.
Big C
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Zach Johnson has opened eyes since they first started playing together again last fall. When he first committed, it seemed like he was our "Plan c" for that recruiting cycle (Casey had verballed to Fresno St(?) before changing his mind, IIRC.). But he has a strong and accurate arm.

Speculation on my part is that that's why Casey has entered the portal... he was behind Johnson (dunno if he was behind Brasch too).

The staff hasn't named a two-deep, but ZJ would probably be considered our unofficial number two and Garbers had better be on his toes. Assuming Chase is gone after this season, I think ZJ would now be presumed to be the co-heir apparent in 2022, with touted freshman Kai Milner (coming in this fall).

Not sure where this leaves Brasch, but I hope he stays and works hard, because things can change quickly. Were he to leave too (no indication of that), we would be pretty thin at QB this fall.

Anyway, good job the staff did, identifying Johnson, who seems to be something of a diamond in the rough.
heartofthebear
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Big C said:

Zach Johnson has opened eyes since they first started playing together again last fall. When he first committed, it seemed like he was our "Plan c" for that recruiting cycle (Casey had verballed to Fresno St(?) before changing his mind, IIRC.). But he has a strong and accurate arm.

Speculation on my part is that that's why Casey has entered the portal... he was behind Johnson (dunno if he was behind Brasch too).

The staff hasn't named a two-deep, but ZJ would probably be considered our unofficial number two and Garbers had better be on his toes. Assuming Chase is gone after this season, I think ZJ would now be presumed to be the co-heir apparent in 2022, with touted freshman Kai Milner (coming in this fall).

Not sure where this leaves Brasch, but I hope he stays and works hard, because things can change quickly. Were he to leave too (no indication of that), we would be pretty thin at QB this fall.

Anyway, good job the staff did, identifying Johnson, who seems to be something of a diamond in the rough.
This makes a lot of sense and my sense is that Johnson is a pleasant surprise rather than the others being disappointments. I believe Johnson was a 2 star when he first committed...not that stars matter.
71Bear
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heartofthebear said:

Big C said:

Zach Johnson has opened eyes since they first started playing together again last fall. When he first committed, it seemed like he was our "Plan c" for that recruiting cycle (Casey had verballed to Fresno St(?) before changing his mind, IIRC.). But he has a strong and accurate arm.

Speculation on my part is that that's why Casey has entered the portal... he was behind Johnson (dunno if he was behind Brasch too).

The staff hasn't named a two-deep, but ZJ would probably be considered our unofficial number two and Garbers had better be on his toes. Assuming Chase is gone after this season, I think ZJ would now be presumed to be the co-heir apparent in 2022, with touted freshman Kai Milner (coming in this fall).

Not sure where this leaves Brasch, but I hope he stays and works hard, because things can change quickly. Were he to leave too (no indication of that), we would be pretty thin at QB this fall.

Anyway, good job the staff did, identifying Johnson, who seems to be something of a diamond in the rough.
This makes a lot of sense and my sense is that Johnson is a pleasant surprise rather than the others being disappointments. I believe Johnson was a 2 star when he first committed...not that stars matter.
Hard to believe a two-time major champion was only a 2 star at one point in his HS career.

Oh, not that Zach Johnson? Geez, with Tre Watson and Zach Johnson, I think Cal leads the league in name doubles.....
Big C
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heartofthebear said:

Big C said:

Zach Johnson has opened eyes since they first started playing together again last fall. When he first committed, it seemed like he was our "Plan c" for that recruiting cycle (Casey had verballed to Fresno St(?) before changing his mind, IIRC.). But he has a strong and accurate arm.

Speculation on my part is that that's why Casey has entered the portal... he was behind Johnson (dunno if he was behind Brasch too).

The staff hasn't named a two-deep, but ZJ would probably be considered our unofficial number two and Garbers had better be on his toes. Assuming Chase is gone after this season, I think ZJ would now be presumed to be the co-heir apparent in 2022, with touted freshman Kai Milner (coming in this fall).

Not sure where this leaves Brasch, but I hope he stays and works hard, because things can change quickly. Were he to leave too (no indication of that), we would be pretty thin at QB this fall.

Anyway, good job the staff did, identifying Johnson, who seems to be something of a diamond in the rough.
This makes a lot of sense and my sense is that Johnson is a pleasant surprise rather than the others being disappointments. I believe Johnson was a 2 star when he first committed...not that stars matter.

According to the BI info on recruiting that I just looked at (cool that you can make it go back in time), Zach Johnson was a 3-star (83.0 rating) with offers from Boise St, Fresno St and William and Mary. He went to Hart HS, same as Joe Kapp and Kyle Boller.

Jaden Casey was a "high 3-star" (89.0 rating) who had offers from ASU, WSU, Fresno St and... Alabama (I have to wonder if that last one was an "actionable" offer.).
heartofthebear
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Big C said:

heartofthebear said:

Big C said:

Zach Johnson has opened eyes since they first started playing together again last fall. When he first committed, it seemed like he was our "Plan c" for that recruiting cycle (Casey had verballed to Fresno St(?) before changing his mind, IIRC.). But he has a strong and accurate arm.

Speculation on my part is that that's why Casey has entered the portal... he was behind Johnson (dunno if he was behind Brasch too).

The staff hasn't named a two-deep, but ZJ would probably be considered our unofficial number two and Garbers had better be on his toes. Assuming Chase is gone after this season, I think ZJ would now be presumed to be the co-heir apparent in 2022, with touted freshman Kai Milner (coming in this fall).

Not sure where this leaves Brasch, but I hope he stays and works hard, because things can change quickly. Were he to leave too (no indication of that), we would be pretty thin at QB this fall.

Anyway, good job the staff did, identifying Johnson, who seems to be something of a diamond in the rough.
This makes a lot of sense and my sense is that Johnson is a pleasant surprise rather than the others being disappointments. I believe Johnson was a 2 star when he first committed...not that stars matter.

According to the BI info on recruiting that I just looked at (cool that you can make it go back in time), Zach Johnson was a 3-star (83.0 rating) with offers from Boise St, Fresno St and William and Mary. He went to Hart HS, same as Joe Kapp and Kyle Boller.

Jaden Casey was a "high 3-star" (89.0 rating) who had offers from ASU, WSU, Fresno St and... Alabama (I have to wonder if that last one was an "actionable" offer.).
Was he a 3 star initially? I thought he became a 3 star by LOI day but was either a NR (not rated) or 2 star at first. It doesn't really matter. He's playing well now.
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