Could Keenan Allen and Marvin Jones become the Pac-12′s best receiving duo?
“I think he and I can definitely be one of the top tandems in the nation,” Jones said Sunday.
It’s easy to make these sorts of predictions after the second day of fall training camp at Witter Rugby Field. Every team is undefeated, and hope springs eternal — even for a Cal team that many don’t expect to have an explosive offense.
Wide receiver is one of the Bears’ stronger areas, but outside of their starting duo, they have no proven commodities. Freshman Kaelin Clay, reputed to be the fastest player on the team, was on crutches after injuring his knee on Saturday; he will undergo an MRI on Monday.
“We got two other guys in Coleman Edmond and Michael Calvin who maybe underachieved a little bit these last couple of years,” wide receivers coach Eric Kiesau said. “I gotta get more out of them. I gotta get more production, somehow, some way.”
Calvin and Edmond both have potential, but neither has produced. The former has struggled with injuries throughout his career, but has the prototypical frame of a No. 1 wideout, while the latter is a former track runner who has a 42-inch vertical. Both seniors were listed as backups to Allen and Jones on the post-spring two-deep, but projections that early are placeholders more than anything.
“I told my guys, ‘We have 13 receivers here. I’m looking for the best six,” Kiesau said. “Right now, I’m not really at a point where I can judge on a depth chart.”
Kiesau Returns
After spending the last five years in Colorado, Kiesau has returned for a second go-round as Cal’s wide receivers coach.
“It feels like I never left,” he said. “I can step right in and get back to work.”
It helps that he’ll be working with head coach Jeff Tedford and offensive line coach/offensive coordinator Jim Michalczik, both of whom were around for his original stint from 2002-05. In 2003, his receivers snagged a school-record 278 receptions, with Geoff McArthur as the country’s second-leading pass catcher. Kiesau now also serves as the passing game coordinator, but what that exactly means isn’t clearly defined.
“Titles are always tricky,” he said, adding that Tedford has not yet delineated playcalling duties for the fall. “We’ve got five guys on the offensive staff … We all kind of intertwine and work together.”
Quick Hits
—Senior Ryan Davis was listed as a starting outside linebacker after spring practices. The former JUCO transfer, who has recorded four tackles last season and played mostly on special teams, is trying to fend off freshman Cecil Whiteside for the weakside spot. Redshirt freshman David Wilkerson is expected to start on the opposite side.
—Left tackle Mitchell Schwartz sat out practice for the second straight day with an injured hamstring. He appears to be day-to-day.
“He’s a veteran,” Tedford said of Schwartz, who has started all 38 possible games during his career. “He kind of knows when he’s ready.”
—Senior Giorgio Tavecchio looks like he’ll be taking field goals and kickoffs again this season. Tedford emphasized Sunday that the Tavecchio had the starting placekicker job, but said that kickoffs had not yet been decided.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZA7qFpk09A?rel=0&w=560&h=349]
Comment Policy
Comments should remain on topic, concerning the article or blog post to which they are connected. Brevity is encouraged. Posting under a pseudonym is discouraged, but permitted. The Daily Cal encourages readers to voice their opinions respectfully in regard to the readers, writers and contributors of The Daily Californian. Comments are not pre-moderated, but may be removed if deemed to be in violation of this policy. Click here to read the full comment policy.
At least Kiesau has the right mindset. Seems like lately there has been a big drop off in talent from 1st stringers to 2nd stringers, both Edmond and Calvin have potential, all I can say about Calvin is that lets hope he has a better pair of gloves to go over those hands because this guy either lacks concentration or coordination when it comes to catching a ball, lets hope he practices both or he will be sitting on the bench all season. Lets hope Kaelin Clays injury is not serious and that Schwartz will get the proper rehab for his hamstring.
I’m sorry to have to say you are wrong on your comments on Michael Calvin. You should go back and view all of Cal 2010 football season games. You can clearly see that Calvin caught every ball thrown his way, including uncatchable passes from brock Mansion. He didn’t catch that one ball in the endzone because it way knocked out by a defender. I rewatched every game of 2010 to find out the two top wide receivers dropped alot of catchable balls thrown there way all season long. They need to get Calvin the ball more often and give Coleman Edmonds his chance also to shine……………. GO BEARS!
First of all ask yourself why they are second string, I don’t think either one has started a game. Then ask yourself why the reporter says they haven’t lived up to potential. Yes I have watched every game Cal has played for the last decade+. I’m not saying he can’t get better if he applies himself and believe me I’d love to see all 4 WR’s catch over 20 balls, heck I’d like to see a 4 receiver set once and a while, Calvin only had 13 receptions last year 0 TD’s, the passing game will have to be the backbone of the team this year in order for them to succeed, Edmonds and Calvin will have to show that they will fight for every ball. This is their last year to prove that they might be considered for the pro’s.
I know both of these guys and they are fighting for a chance to get the ball. We have to try harder to move the ball around to other wide receivers than just Allen all the time. Even when Allen was clearly not open we still tried to force it to him anyways with bad results. We all watched the games a everyone could predicted who was going to get the ball on the next play. Give Calvin and Edmonds the ball sometimes to help us win as a team. TEAM FIRST!
A new QB will finally make the difference in how we move the ball……….GO BEARS!