Cal returned to the field at CMS Monday to open the third week of spring practice. Day 8 marked the return of a key defensive player and again presented the team with an opportunity to compete as they look ahead to a scrimmage this weekend. Saturday's practice, the first in full pads, left the offense feeling like it left a lot on the table. That group had difficulty putting the ball in the end zone, and both Fernando Mendoza and Chandler Rogers felt they could have performed better at the quarterback position.
Monday, both quarterbacks looked more focused and the offense was more productive as a result.
– I'll start with an important personnel note. Middle linebacker Cade Uluave returned to the field for the first time Monday. The rising sophomore has been dealing with a lower body injury this spring but has slowly worked his way back. Today was the first day he was able to get in some work on the field with the linebacker group, but he still was not involved with the team side of things just yet. He is moving well and getting him on the field with seven practices remaining should mean he can be a full go some time before the end of the spring.
– As for the offense and the quarterbacks, there were still some errant throws but both Mendoza and Rogers played with a bit more confidence during Monday's practice. Both did throw interceptions with Colin Gamble getting the better of Mendoza during a period with the skill players while Miles Williams was able to snag an pass away from Rogers early in the first team period that he then took back for a touchdown.
The quarterbacks cleaned it up the rest of the practice though, and eventually both closed things out on a positive note. Rogers had some big throws down the field including a 25-yard pass to Mikey Matthews late in the 7-on-7 period. He also did some positive work with his feet throughout the practice. Mendoza was able to get the offense in the end zone on the final play with a 19-yard completion to Tobias Merriweather on a third-and-4 situation to end practice. He also had several big throws to tight end Jack Endries throughout the practice that ranged from 12 to 17 yards by my count.
– Endries was one of the stars of Monday's practice. He didn't get in the end zone but he was the safety net for both quarterbacks and continues to play with a ton of confidence right now. He bailed out Mendoza and Rogers on more than one occasion on plays in the middle of the field. Matthews also had an impressive effort throughout the day with his ability to make plays from sideline to sideline. The Utah transfer is going to be a big part of the offense this year and it's continuing to look like he will be used in a variety of ways under Bloesch. Merriweather also shined in a big way Monday with some nice catches down the field. He has become one of the best deep threats on the team this spring, and he has continually made plays on deep routes.
– Bloesch said he thought Monday's practice was the best for Byron Cardwell, and the former Oregon transfer running back has looked better each day this spring. He has not been hindered much by a big brace on his leg and has not shied away from contact either. On Day 8, the veteran running back had the biggest play of the day offensively with a 20-yard rushing score that ended with him in the end zone late in the first team period. It was a physical run but also showcased his burst, which seems to not have taken much of a hit despite his season-ending injury last year.
Kadarius Calloway had the other big rushing score for the offense as he took a handoff 20 yards for a touchdown in the second team period.
– There was a lot of mixing and matching with the first and second units Monday, including Rogers getting an opportunity to see some time with the first offense, but Jeffery Johnson was another player who stood out in many regards. He has been working his way up the depth chart this spring, and he was able to get some work with the second unit on Day 8. He was particularly impressive in the blitz pickup drills with wins over Xavier Carlton and David Reese.
– Bloesch is continuing to try some things out with the offensive line, and that included making a move among the first unit Monday. Matthew Wykoff has mostly been at left guard this spring but he was moved inside to center on Day 8. That moved Bastian Swinney out to left guard giving the group a little different work. Bloesch says he likes Wykoff's size at the position, and playing center is also not new to him since he did it at Texas A&M. Wykoff looked good in his new role, so we'll see if it sticks beyond just Monday's practice.
– Defensively, it was another solid day for Peter Sirmon's group. The two interceptions were the highlight plays but Carlton came up with a sack of Mendoza, and the defensive front was plenty disruptive once again. Stanley Saole-McKenzie had a huge stop in the second team period halting Kadarius Calloway in his tracks on a run attempt.
In the secondary, Marcus Harris continued to make plays Monday and he ame up with a pass breakup against Trond Grizzell on a pass from Mendoza during the first team period. Safety Ja'ir Smith also made a nice play to tip a pass on a blitz against Mendoza in the second team period on a play that ended with an incompletion.
Post-practice interviews and practice clips
