Cal is nearing the end of spring practice with just one day left for the Bears. Friday's practice ended up being much closer to a normal day than a walk-though giving us one more opportunity to see the team in action before Saturday's spring showcase. There was actually quite a bit of action throughout the work day Friday allowing for some continued evaluations for the staff.
Here's a rundown of what stood out during Friday's practice on Day 14.
– The quarterbacks have mostly been clean in recent practices, and the turnovers numbers had been down. That changed Friday, as the defense was able to come up with four interceptions on the day. Defensive back Miles Williams (pictured above) came away with two of the takeaways for the defense during Friday's practice. He first was able to step in front of a pass from Fernando Mendoza, who looking downfield for receiver Mikey Matthews. It's a throw Mendoza would like back though Williams made a nice play to haul in the pass.
Williams' second interception came during the "rush skelly" period that gave the defense ample opportunities to make plays. The veteran defensive back delivered when he was able to snag a pass from Chandler Rogers for his second interception.
Linebacker Cade Uluave followed with an interception shortly after as he also was able to take one away from Rogers during the sequence.
Marcus Scott II came away with the final interception of the day as he closed out the second team period with an interception working against Rogers late in practice.
– It was another impressive day for the defense all around with several impressive plays on that side. Xavier Carlton has quietly put together an impressive spring, and he came up with a sack of Mendoza midway through the first team period. Taht was later followed by a sack for defensive lineman Ricky Correia on Mendoza in a third-down situation.
Uluave continues to look better each day since his full return to the field this spring. Friday's practice was arguably his most impactful with plays all over the field. In addition to his interception, he also came up with a tackle for loss against Mendoza during the final team period on a third-down play plus he pressured Mendoza early in that same period forcing an incompletion. The second-year linebacker also had a big hit on Jaydn Ott at the end of a 10-yard run during the skelly period.
Elsewhere defensively, defensive back Isaiah Crosby came up with a pass breakup working against Matthews. Safety Craig Woodson also had a nice pass breakup working against tight end Jack Endries on a challenging play. During the DEVO period that allowed some of the younger/new players an opportunity to get on the field, Ja'ir Smith and freshman Dayday Aupiu both came up with pass breakups as well as they worked against reserve quarterbacks Brady Weingart and Belay Brummel.
– As much as the defense was again able to stand out, the offense also had some impressive plays on its side. Mike Bloesch and the offensive staff continue to work the receivers into the running game, and there are a number of options at the position to get those players the ball on end-around plays and handoffs. Marquez Dortch and Josiah Martin have been to two players most used in those scenarios this spring, and Dortch had a nice 10-yard run in that situation early in the team period.
The first touchdown of the day came on a running play, however, with Jaivian Thomas taking the ball 23 yards into the end zone to close out the first team period.
The second touchdown of the day came during that DEVO period with Weingart finding receiver Isaac Torres for 13-yard score late in the day.
The top offensive play of the day, outside of Thomas' run, was a nice connection between Rogers and Martin. The Cal quarterback found Martin over the middle and he ended up escaping defenders for a nice run after the catch resulting in a 33-yard gain during the first team period.
Mendoza also had a nice connection with Trond Grizzell on an 11-yard play early in the second team period. Grizzell had to climb the ladder and he hauled in the fourth-down pass to move the chains.
– The Bears are a little banged up right now, especially along the defensive line, so there should be opportunities for some players to have a chance to shin Saturday. One of the defensive linemen who has been talked about quite a bit recently is Akili Calhoun, who was working with the first unit alongside Correia a bit during Friday's practice.
As a reminder, the spring showcase begins at 2:30 p.m. and should be the best opportunity to see game-like action for the Bears this spring.
Post-practice interviews and practice clips
