Saturday's training camp practice was what you would expect the day before a scrimmage. The Bears held a shorter practice today and were only wearing helmets as they prepare for tomorrow's first camp scrimmage. It is expected to be a lengthy one that gives us our best look at the team so far in camp.
There were a couple team periods today, however, and there was at least some more to see with the various groups. The team is still working through some injuries meaning there have been increased opportunities for other players to gain reps and solidify spots. Here are just a few quick notes from today's practice, and I will have a much more detailed assessment of things later on ahead of tomorrow's scrimmage.
Practice takeaways
- Sam Jackson V did not get time with the first unit during the two team periods, but he did receive the most amount of reps by my count Saturday. The TCU transfer, who still looks like the favorite to eventually earn the starting job (albeit just barely right now), guided the lone passing touchdown drive of the day. He hit Mason Mangum on a play in the flat in which the Cal receiver made an impressive grab with one hand to make the play and score late in the second and final team period.
Fernando Mendoza was the first quarterback to earn reps with the first team Saturday, and he had a more balanced practice today than he has had in recent ones. He was able to move the offense down the field, but like Ben Finley, Mendoza wasn't able to get the Bears offense into the end zone through the air. He did a good job of connecting on a couple intermediate passes, however, including a 28-yard connection with Monroe Young early in practice and a 20-yard completion to Kenden Robinson, Jr.
Finley had a bit of a rough go of it Saturday. He earned the first-team reps to open the second team period, which was a full "good on good" period meaning no mixing and matching of the various units. It gave him an opportunity to work with the expected starting group and full expected starting defense, which is something none of the quarterbacks have had in camp. The Bears used the ground game quite a bit during the early portion in the period, and Finley eventually came back to finish it out. That is when things became a little more unraveled. He fumbled on a rushing attempt before recovering the ball himself, but on the last play of the period he threw into double coverage and was intercepted by cornerback Nohl Williams, who continues to have a stellar camp.
Finley continues to showcase his ability to run making him an intriguing piece of the quarterback room, and he also had a nice 15-yard pass to Mavin Anderson on a side-arm throw to beat a defender in the first team period.
- Brett Johnson is still limited, so that has given Nate Burrell and Ricky Correia some more opportunities for reps in camp. Burrell came up with a sack in practice, and he is a player who seems to be getting more comfortable as camp moves along. Defensive backs Isaiah Young and Matthew Littlejohn both had pass breakups during the team periods while freshman Sal Vadrawale came up with a PBU during the 7v7 portion of practice.
- Inside linebacker Sergio Allen continues to be restricted to working on the sideline as of now. However, tight end J.T. Byrne was able to get back on the field Saturday after missing a few days. Myles Williams also returned to the field today after missing several days of practice. I know there have been some questions about Derek Wilkins and Akili Calhoun, and like magic both players were able to earn some more reps Saturday working with the second unit together. Wilkins, in particular, did some good things for the defense and both players looked solid in their work Saturday.
Transfer DB Patrick McMorris and freshman OLB Ryan McCulloch both had opportunities to run with the first unit again Saturday at the start of the first team period. McMorris missed some time in camp, but he can certainly end up making a move in the next couple weeks to push for a starting role. McCulloch likely won't be a starter with Xavier Carlton and David Reese in position to lock up those roles as of now, but it is clear he will have some kind of role this season based on how much he has been used with the first group in camp.
Video interviews
Practice 9 clips
There were a couple team periods today, however, and there was at least some more to see with the various groups. The team is still working through some injuries meaning there have been increased opportunities for other players to gain reps and solidify spots. Here are just a few quick notes from today's practice, and I will have a much more detailed assessment of things later on ahead of tomorrow's scrimmage.
Practice takeaways
- Sam Jackson V did not get time with the first unit during the two team periods, but he did receive the most amount of reps by my count Saturday. The TCU transfer, who still looks like the favorite to eventually earn the starting job (albeit just barely right now), guided the lone passing touchdown drive of the day. He hit Mason Mangum on a play in the flat in which the Cal receiver made an impressive grab with one hand to make the play and score late in the second and final team period.
Fernando Mendoza was the first quarterback to earn reps with the first team Saturday, and he had a more balanced practice today than he has had in recent ones. He was able to move the offense down the field, but like Ben Finley, Mendoza wasn't able to get the Bears offense into the end zone through the air. He did a good job of connecting on a couple intermediate passes, however, including a 28-yard connection with Monroe Young early in practice and a 20-yard completion to Kenden Robinson, Jr.
Finley had a bit of a rough go of it Saturday. He earned the first-team reps to open the second team period, which was a full "good on good" period meaning no mixing and matching of the various units. It gave him an opportunity to work with the expected starting group and full expected starting defense, which is something none of the quarterbacks have had in camp. The Bears used the ground game quite a bit during the early portion in the period, and Finley eventually came back to finish it out. That is when things became a little more unraveled. He fumbled on a rushing attempt before recovering the ball himself, but on the last play of the period he threw into double coverage and was intercepted by cornerback Nohl Williams, who continues to have a stellar camp.
Finley continues to showcase his ability to run making him an intriguing piece of the quarterback room, and he also had a nice 15-yard pass to Mavin Anderson on a side-arm throw to beat a defender in the first team period.
- Brett Johnson is still limited, so that has given Nate Burrell and Ricky Correia some more opportunities for reps in camp. Burrell came up with a sack in practice, and he is a player who seems to be getting more comfortable as camp moves along. Defensive backs Isaiah Young and Matthew Littlejohn both had pass breakups during the team periods while freshman Sal Vadrawale came up with a PBU during the 7v7 portion of practice.
- Inside linebacker Sergio Allen continues to be restricted to working on the sideline as of now. However, tight end J.T. Byrne was able to get back on the field Saturday after missing a few days. Myles Williams also returned to the field today after missing several days of practice. I know there have been some questions about Derek Wilkins and Akili Calhoun, and like magic both players were able to earn some more reps Saturday working with the second unit together. Wilkins, in particular, did some good things for the defense and both players looked solid in their work Saturday.
Transfer DB Patrick McMorris and freshman OLB Ryan McCulloch both had opportunities to run with the first unit again Saturday at the start of the first team period. McMorris missed some time in camp, but he can certainly end up making a move in the next couple weeks to push for a starting role. McCulloch likely won't be a starter with Xavier Carlton and David Reese in position to lock up those roles as of now, but it is clear he will have some kind of role this season based on how much he has been used with the first group in camp.
Video interviews
Practice 9 clips
