Cal is nearing the end of its third week of spring practice and Friday the team prepared for what will be an active Saturday as the Bears get into some game-like situations to close out Week 3. There was a good atmosphere about the team Friday and it led to some competitive work during Practice 10.
The team closed out the day with some 2-minute drill work, and it allowed the Bears to get into a game situation for a few drives.
– Kicker Ryan Coe was the highlight of practice Friday as he connected on three long field goals to end the day including a pair of 56-yarders during that final 2-minute segment. Coe has not been in that setting yet this spring, and he delivered in his opportunity to showcase his skills. The UNC transfer had no issue with any of the three kicks and looked like he could have gone back even a few yards farther and still been on the money. His first make of the segment came on a 44-yard kick that he nailed.
– The first and second units each had two opportunities to score in the 2-minute drill, and the team came away with points in three of those instances. The second drive for the first unit was the one that came up empty, and it was the result of another impressive play by cornerback Marcus Harris. The Idaho transfer has been on fire intercepting passes this spring, and he added to his total Friday when he jumped in front of a pass intended for Trond Grizzell from Fernando Mendoza on a third down play.
– It was one of several impressive plays for the defense throughout the day. That group performed well early in practice as there were numerous stops from the group in the opening team period. Nickel Matthew Littlejohn started the day with a nice stop on running back Jaivian Thomas, and that was followed up with by cornerback Nohl Williams working against a bigger player, tight end Jack Endries, who was on the receiving end of a screen pass in the flat from Mendoza.
Isaiah Crosby highlighted the early defensive success with a pass breakup working against receiver Tobias Merriweather. The Notre Dame transfer looked like he made a great catch along the sideline only to have the ball knocked loose by the junior college transfer.
- Offensively, outside of the late interception, Mendoza had a strong showing on Day 10. He has been able to get himself dialed back in after a rough few practices where he didn't look as sharp as he did early on this spring. He has returned to form as of late, and he guided a touchdown drive late in the first team period that was capped with an impressive throw to receiver Mikey Matthews for an 11-yard score. Earlier in the sequence, Mendoza found Endries for an 8-yard completion on fourth down to help keep the drive alive. The third-year quarterback also had a couple 7-on-7 touchdown throws as he connected with Merriweather on a difficult pass from 10 yards out and a 15-yard connection with tight end Nate Rutchena.
Post-practice interviews and clips
