Fall Camp Day 3: Young and Bishop hold strong
Football is an emotional game and the player leading the charge in that department for the Cal football team is senior linebacker Devin Bishop.
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Before every practice, the Bears choose a teammate to lead the squad in pre- and post-practice chants during stretches. So far during Fall Camp, Kevin Riley, Brian Holley and Marcus Ezeff have all earned that honor.
But, there is one player who is chosen everyday to lead a chant. In fact, he has led a chant everyday in practice for the last two seasons. That player is none other than Bishop. The 6-foot-1, 239 pound 'backer is outgoing in everything he participates in, from cheering on teammates, making plays, running sprints and yes, leading cheers.
Bishop not only possesses athletic prowess but also a howling voice. The chants he's led the last two seasons is one where Bishop yells out "Cal Bears!" and teammates respond with a version of "Ahwoo." So far this Fall Camp, Bishop has added another chant.
Bishop: "Pac-10 champs!"
Teammates: "Ahwoo!"
Everything Bishop does is with high energy and high emotion. That includes playing linebacker.
The younger brother of former Cal great Desmond Bishop, Devin Bishop has began Fall Camp holding onto a highly coveted position of Cal's 3-4 defense that was left behind by the super-productive Zack Follett.
Follett (87 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, 5 forced fumbles) recorded one of the best defensive seasons in recent memory for a Cal defender. Bishop - who was one of the first reserves off the bench last season - knows he has big shoes to fill, but it's nothing he isn't used to.
"Well," Bishop said. "Trying to replace someone's shoes is something I felt I've always had to do because of my brother. I just don't think about it."
Like his older brother, Bishop came to Cal from City College of San Francisco, joining Jahvid Best and other teammates in the '07 recruiting class. To help him adjust to Division-I ball, Bishop decided to redshirt that year and in the long run Bishop feels it was a big benefit for himself personally.
"It helped me a lot," Bishop said. "Coming in and learning a defense is a new thing. Sitting out was my opportunity to get mental reps and I took advantage of that. Out here on the field I feel like I have a complete grasp of the defense."
Bishop's roommate in camp is fellow senior Eddie Young, who is in a heated battle himself for a starting role. Currently, Bishop and Young make up Cal's starting outside linebackers. While that can change later on down the line, the two athletes feed off each other's strong personalities.
"That's my boy," said Young. "I played with his brother and I knew him through mutual friends (before that) when he was at City. He's a funny dude. We crack jokes with each other. He does poetry so I make fun of him about that."
So far in camp, Bishop has played like a player that doesn't want to give up that coveted starting role. Bishop's position is the hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker role that is a featured spot of this particular 3-4 defensive scheme. Bishop tallied 13 tackles last season and if he earns the starting role after Fall Camp is done in last August, Bishop's overall production and numbers should explode.
"I've been waiting on my opportunity," he said. "There's a time to wait and a time to shine. Now is my time to shine. I'm not worried about stepping into anyone's shoes. I'm worried about my own."
"Now it's simply about being a football player."
HOMETOWN BLOOD
In many ways, Eddie Young was born to be a Golden Bear.
The personable athlete was born and raised in Berkeley and starred at nearby Berkeley High. Young's older brother Sean Young also played at Cal so if there was ever an athlete who bled Blue & Gold, he would probably fit that distinction.
"I was a Cal basketball fan back when Jason Kidd was here," Young said. "I followed football a little bit but I was a (basketball player) back then though."
As his senior season was winding down in high school, Young - who had long switched from the hard court to the gridiron - had a handful of options when it came to choosing a college. With several offers on the table, four of which from Pac-10 schools, the then Rivals.com three-star linebacker went back-and-forth as to where he wanted to attend.
"Honestly, I wanted to go to UCLA first but they didn't offer me early enough," Young added. "Cal jumped in early. And with my brother here, the school being close to home, it made the decision easy. Very easy. Cal wanted me so I wanted to be here and play in front of my family and friends."
Five years later, Young is one of the true veterans of an experienced, deep and talented defensive unit. Young himself paces a linebacking corps that needs to replace three quality starters from last season, including the aforementioned Zack Follett. Even though he was considered a Division-I athlete coming out of Berkeley High, the 6-foot, 239-pound Young has made tremendous improvements since he first arrived on campus.
In fact, Follett - who came into Cal with Young in the famed '05 recruiting class that also featured DeSean Jackson - admitted Young wasn't exactly the player he thought he would be.
"Truthfully, when I first saw him I didn't think he was going to see the field much during his career," Follett admitted last year. "But Eddie is one of the most improved players. He's one of the most physical guys on the team. He'll hit you, he always plays with a high motor."
Young, who racked up 40 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss last season, is expecting to do a whole lot more this upcoming season. Young is entrenched as the strongside linebacker and is in a battle against teammates such as Charles Johnson, Ryan Davis and Jerome Meadows.
"I'm really working on things that I had trouble with last year," Young said. "Fine tuning stuff I wasn't great at like my pass drops, pass rush, just getting better at all that stuff."
While Young has made big-time improvements since the beginning of his collegiate career, even the cagiest of veterans could use Fall Camp as a way to get better. During Sunday's practice for example, Young received a "talking" from position coach Kenwick Thompson after running back Shane Vereen blew right by Young in the 11-on-11 session.
"My feet were just off a little bit," Young said. "I had the stack and I was outside and he was inside. He ran right where I was supposed to be. It was just a little alignment adjustment that needs to be made."
While Young is focused on earning a starting job, the jovial athlete is always having fun out there on the field. One of his biggest compatriots is fellow senior Devin Bishop, who lines up just feet away from Young on every snap.
Young and Bishop make up quite a talented duo.
"Right now we are roommates in camp," Bishop explained. "We talk about a lot of things and go over a lot of things. We have a lot of camaraderie so when we out on the field we make eye contact."
"(Sometimes) it's kind of hard to see him with his visor on though. I tell him to take it off but anyway," Bishop joked as he put his hands up. "But we get the hand movements, we make eye contact, we know what's going on. We have a real good relationship on the edges."
One thing Young vows to do before his career is over is take an interception into the end zone. Young has two career interceptions and both came just short of the end zone.
The first happened during Young's freshman season, when he picked off a pass late in Cal's Holiday Bowl win over Texas A&M and ran it down the sideline and almost into the end zone.
"That was funny man," Cal safety and good friend Jesse Brooks said back then. "Eddie had a clear path to the end zone and he just tripped on his own. We tease him all the time about it. We'll see the next time he gets a pick whether it'll be a different result."
The next time came last season, when Young picked off a pass against Stanford.
"I got one in the Big Game last year and I should've scored on that," Young claimed. "But I didn't have the field vision. I didn't touch the rock all season so I'm working on my hands and when I get one I'm going to take it all the way this time."
NOTHING SMALL ABOUT LITTLE
Since the first time BearTerritory saw athlete Chris Little in action was during his freshman season at Castlemont High in East Oakland, it was clear he had the potential to be a big-time player on the next level.
Little possessed formidable athletic skills that included good size and good speed. But, the thing about Little that stood out more than anything else was his willingness to lay his shoulder into any and all opponents that tried to take him on.
Even as a young high schooler, Little was never afraid of contact.
Fast forward to the present and Little is still trying to dip his shoulder in everything that crosses his path, albeit this time as a Division-I athlete. After coming to Cal in the '08 class as a safety, Little - who excelled at wide receiver and linebacker in high school - was moved to linebacker during the middle part of Spring Ball and hasn't looked back since.
Little explained exactly how and when the switch took place.
"One day we had a lot of linebackers go down in practice and I had to go in," he said. "I went in and I did my thing so it was like 'light bulb!, we can move him down because we need depth anyway.' I came down and did what I had to do."
Standing 6-foot-2, 224 pounds, Little had the foot speed to be a strong safety despite his bulky size. However, Little admits he loves being at linebacker.
"That is my natural position so I was already used to it," he explained. "I tried to hint at (moving to linebacker) since I got here because I knew the coaches knew I had the ability to play linebacker."
"For me it's hard not being able to hit," Little added. "I like to be in the action. Playing safety was a little bit too far away."
Little excelled right away at the weak-outside linebacker spot - or "Liz" - in the Spring and has performed well so far in Fall Camp. Little is consistently running with the second team and has put his hat in on a handful of plays so far.
There's no doubt though that Little still has some learning to do at his position. There has been more than one occasion this camp that Little has been pulled aside by position coach Kenwick Thompson to receive further instruction on what he is doing on the field.
Little has also received help from his older teammates Devin Bishop and Eddie Young.
"They have helped me a lot ever since I've been up here," said Little. "They give me a lot of help and that is a big reason why I'm starting to pick everything up. They are real open and every time I ask a question they help me to make sure I know everything."
Is Little happy now that he's playing his preferred position?
"Oh yeah," Little responded. "It's good to be able to rush because I get to hit the quarterback."
NOTABLE TIDBITS LEADING OFF
TEDFORD speaks …
Quarterback Notes
Riley:
7-on-7's: 2-for-6
11-on-11: 2-for-3 (first session), 3-for-5 (second session), 1-for-3 (third session), 2-for-4 (red zone): 8-for-15 (total)
Mansion:
7-on-7's: 1-for-5
11-on-11: 3-for-4 (first session), 4-for-4 (second session), 1-for-3 (third session), 4-for-5 (red zone): 12-for-16 (total)
Sweeney:
7-on-7's: 2-for-2
11-on-11: 2-for-3 (second session), 2-for-4 (third session), 4-for-4 (red zone): 8-for-11 (total)
Bridgford:
7-on-7's: 2-for-3
11-on-11: 1-for-1 (third session), 0-for-1 (red zone): 1-for-2 (total)
Wertenberger:
7-on-7's: 2-for-2
11-on-11: 1-for-1 (second session), 1-for-2 (red zone): 2-for-3 (total)
Running Back Notes
>Michigan State in the season opener and a week later against Washington State, both of which went for touchdowns.
Wide Receivers Notes
Offensive Line Notes
The first lineman to run a lap because of a false start this camp? Mitchell Schwartz, who flinched forward when Riley got up under center to call an audible. Schwartz got right up and after the play was over ran a lap around the field.
Defensive Line Notes
Linebackers Notes
Secondary Notes
Special Teams Notes
Tavecchio: 6-of-8 (good from 26, good from 26, good from 26, missed from 33 off the post, good from 33, good from 33, good from 40, missed from 40 off the post )
Seawright: 18-of-19 (good from 26, good from 26, good from 26, missed from 26 blocked, good from 26, good from 26, good from 26, good from 26, good from 33, good from 33, good from 33, good from 33, good from 33, good from 40, good from 40, good from 40, good from 40, good from 40, good from 40)
D'Amato: 8-of-11 (good from 26, good from 26, good from 26, good from 26, good from 33, good from 33, good from 33, good from 40, good from 40, good from 40, good from 40)
PITCH & CATCH (NO DEFENDERS)
Here is how each route broke down by completion rate during the pitch and catch session (no defenders, all three QBs throwing passes);
1-ON-1's (skill positions)
The PLAY-BY-PLAY
- Alex Lagemann short reception in front of Marcus Ezeff
- Tyre Ellison does a good job to knock pass away from Mike Calvin
- Charles Satchell gets a step on Charles Amadi for nice catch
- Pass too high for Marvin Jones working against Josh Hill
- Pass too deep for Jeremy Ross with Syd'Quan Thompson covering
- Steve Williams recovers to tip ball away from Verran Tucker at last moment
- Ross Bostock with short catch in front of D.J. Campbell
- Quinn Tedford hauls in a ball working against Chris Moncrease
- Incomplete intended for Isi Sofele
- Incomplete intended for Jackson Bouza working against Alex Logan
- Spencer Hagan comes back to catch pass in front of Charles Amadi
- Alex Lagemann with a great route to beat Darian Hagan for deep catch
- Mike Calvin beats Chris Conte deep down field for highlight catch
- Incomplete intended for Charles Satchell working against Vachel Samuels
- Marvin Jones goes short to nab catch against Syd'Quan Thompson
- Jeremy Ross shakes off bump to get open and make catch against Josh Hill
- Verran Tucker with spectacular diving one-handed catch of the day down the right sideline against Sean Cattouse
- Ross Bostock reception against Tyre Ellison
- D.J. Campbell sticks out his hand to knock pass away from Quinn Tedford
- Incomplete intended for Isi Sofele with Steve Williams covering
- Jackson Bouza beats Alex Logan deep for catch
- Spencer Hagan gets inside on Chris Moncrease for catch
- Chris Conte textbook coverage to breakup pass intended for Alex Lagemann
- Too deep intended for Mike Calvin who got a step on Jesse Brooks
- Charles Satchell gets inside on Brett Johnson for reception
- Marvin Jones gets step on Vachel Samuels and hauls in deep pass
- Jeremy Ross with a nice double move on Marc Anthony for catch
- Incomplete intended for Verran Tucker defended by Josh Hill
- Isi Sofele with nice shoe-string catch working against Chris Conte
1-ON-1's (big boys)
The HIGHLIGHTS
- Cameron Jordan opened the session by performing a textbook swim move to get around Mitchell Schwartz
- Justin Cheadle was able to use his leverage against Ernest Owusu
- Chris Guarnero bashed hats with Kendrick Payne and got the best on one specific snap
- Derrick Hill threw down Matt Summers-Gavin to get to the quarterback
- Mike Tepper used his feet nicely to keep Tyson Alualu in front of him
- Ryan Davis knocked over Justin Prueitt. On the next snap, Davis got the best of Prueitt again.
- Mark Boskovich used his hands nicely to ward off Aaron Tipoti
- Donovan Edwards moved his feet to keep the quick Keith Browner at bay
- On the next snap, Browner returns the favor by beating Edwards to the edge
- Sam DeMartinis did a good job on Trevor Guyton
- Keni Kaufusi tried his best to bull-rush Brian Schwenke right into the quarterback
- Justin Gates and Ernest Owusu went after each other in one of the more physical battles of the day
- Tyler Rigsbee withstood a strong bull-rush attempt by Deandre Coleman
- Next snap, Rigsbee used good footwork to throw Coleman to the ground
- Charles Siddoway was able to hold his ground against Mike Costanzo
- Ernie Owusu was able to get around Mitchell Schwartz
- Charles Siddoway got the best of Keith Browner
- Tyson Alualu with vintage hand placement to get angle on Mitchell Schwartz
- Justin Cheadle held his own against Derrick Hill
- Trevor Guyton putting all 300 pounds into a bull-rush attempt against Justin Cheadle
- Matt Summers-Gavin used his strength to stop Keith Browner in his tracks
- Cameron Jordan sped around Mike Tepper
- Next snap, Tepper stands Jordan up straight
- Trevor Guyton was able to get past Justin Prueitt
- Richard Fisher got the best of Ernie Owusu, who tried to spin to no avail
- Dominic Galas was able to get underneath an on-coming Keni Kaufusi
- Mark Boskovich got the better of Aaron Tipoti twice in a row
- Mitchell Schwartz stuffed Tyson Alualu from getting to the edge
7-ON-7's (NO LINEMEN)
The PLAY-BY-PLAY
Kevin Riley under center
- Riley is sacked
- Anthony Miller with a great catch down the field working against D.J. Holt
- Incomplete intended for Spencer Ladner
- Pass too high for Alex Lagemann
- Sean Cattouse knocks away pass intended for Spencer Ladner
- Sean Cattouse comes back the next snap to knock away pass from Anthony Miller
- Riley finds Spencer Ladner for short gain
Brock Mansion under center
- Marcus Ezeff PICKS OFF a pass intended for Jeremy Ross
- Incomplete deep intended for Charles Satchell, who was covered nicely by Syd'Quan Thompson
- Incomplete intended for Verran Tucker who dropped ball
- Mansion hits Skylar Curran for short gain
- Mansion throws to Tad Smith short who dropped ball
Beau Sweeney under center
- Sweeney hits Garry Graffort for short gain
- Complete to Langston Jackson for short gain
Allan Bridgford under center
- Bridgford dumps it off to Garry Graffort for short gain
- Josh Hill with great coverage and almost picks off pass intended for Jarrett Sparks
- Bridgford complete to Jarrett Sparks for short gain
Ryan Wertenberger under center
- Spencer Hagan gets free of Vachel Samuels for short catch
- Wertenberger finds Savai'i Eselu over the middle for decent gain
11-ON-11 (FULL TEAM, first session)
The PLAY-BY-PLAY
Kevin Riley under center
- Jahvid Best with a 5-yard gain running behind Chet Teofilo
- Riley pass is almost picked off by Syd'Quan Thompson who jumped Alex Lagemann route
- With all day to throw, Riley can't find anyone open and dumps it off to Jahvid Best for short gain
- Shane Vereen stuffed by Mike Mohamed behind the line
- Shane Vereen racks up 4 yards before tackled by Tyson Alualu
- Riley hits Alex Lagemann sprinting down sideline for 10 yards
Brock Mansion under center
- Verran Tucker with a nice 10-yard grab working against Josh Hill
- Peter Geurts rushes up the middle for no gain as Keith Browner and Jarred Price combine on tackle
- Pete Geurts gains five yards off right tackle
- Jarred Price forces bad throw which lands short and incomplete intended for Charles Satchell
- Mansion hits Charles Satchell for 7-yard gain
- Mansion fires bullet to Charles Satchell who streaks into the end zone for a 20-yard TOUCHDOWN
11-ON-11 (FULL TEAM, second session)
The PLAY-BY-PLAY
Kevin Riley under center
- Jahvid Best rushes for 1 yard before behind corralled by Cameron Jordan
- Alex Lagemann finds a soft spot and is rewarded with a 15-yard catch
- Devin Bishop sacks Riley
- Incomplete deep intended for Jeremy Ross with Syd'Quan Thompson covering
- Shane Vereen with a big run over right tackle
- Jahvid Best finds a hole behind the right side for nice gain
- With all day to throw, Riley lofts a deep pass to Marvin Jones which falls incomplete with Darian Hagan covering
- Riley hits Marvin Jones for 10-yard gain
- Shane Vereen right up the middle for big gain with big thanks to Chris Guarnero who sealed his man
- Riley hits Mike Calvin short
Brock Mansion under center
- Covaughn DeBoskie up the middle for 3 yards before stopped by Cameron Jordan
- D.J. Holt blows up Peter Geurts in the backfield
- With all day to throw, Mansion finds a streaking Skylar Curran deep for a nice gain
- Covaughn DeBoskie is slammed in the backfield by Trevor Guyton
- With all day to throw, Mansion hits Marvin Jones down field for 30-yard gain
- Mansion hits Marvin Jones for 5 yards
- Covaughn DeBoskie gets outside to pick up 15 yards on rush
- Peter Geurts rushes for 4 yards before getting tackled by Keith Browner
- Mansion goes short to Skylar Curran
- Peter Geurts is crushed by Brett Johnson in the backfield
Beau Sweeney under center
- Kevin Lewis is stopped behind the line of scrimmage by Robert Mullins
- Langston Jackson 1 yard gain up middle stopped by Robert Mullins and Aaron Tipoti
- Time to throw, Sweeney goes deep to Jarrett Sparks to no avail with good coverage by Robert Mullins
- Kevin Lewis is stuffed behind the line of scrimmage by Deandre Coleman
- Kevin Lewis takes carry and slips Steven Fanua and Robert Mullins for 4-yard gain
- Langston Jackson gets free for 15-yard reception down sideline
- Trevor Guyton trips up Jackson behind line of scrimmage
- Sweeney avoids rush of Mike Costanzo and dumps ball off short to Charles Satchell
Allan Bridgford under center
- Dasarte Yarnway with a very nice rush after getting tremendous lead block from Will Kapp
- Dasarte Yarnway cut down right away by Keni Kaufusi
- Dasarte Yarnway losses 2 yards after getting smothered by Deandre Coleman
- Bridgford is sacked by Keni Kaufusi
- Dasarte Yarnway gets only 1 yard before getting tackled by Jarred Price
Ryan Wertenberger under center
- Complete deep to Garry Graffort
11-ON-11 (FULL TEAM, third session)
The PLAY-BY-PLAY
Kevin Riley under center
- Jahvid Best runs over right tackle for five yards
- Shane Vereen runs right past defenders over left tackle for big gain
- Riley scrambles and finds Jeremy Ross coming back to the ball for big 20-yard reception
- Incomplete intended for Shane Vereen
- Incomplete intended for Jeremy Ross after getting a bump by D.J. Holt
Brock Mansion under center
- Covaughn DeBoskie gains 3 yards behind right guard
- Mansion throws short to Spencer Ladner with Chris Conte covering
- Mansion scrambles and tries to hit Jeremy Ross to no avail
- Mansion is PICKED OFF by Mychal Kendricks
Beau Sweeney under center
- Sweeney looks for Garry Graffort who does a nice job to pull in catch
- Incomplete intended for Jarrett Sparks with Jesse Brooks covering
- Incomplete intended for Garry Graffort
- Verran Tucker with a beautiful catch down the middle of the field
Allan Bridgford under center
- Dasarte Yarnway runs around left tackle for 15 yards and runs over Vachel Samuels in the process
- Chris Moncrease comes up to lay a textbook tackle on Yarnway for a short gain
- Bridgford hits Kevin Lewis short
11-ON-11 (FULL TEAM, red zone)
The PLAY-BY-PLAY
Kevin Riley under center
- (from the 25) Riley looks for Tad Smith but pass is knocked away by Sean Cattouse at the 5-yard line
- (from the 20) Jahvid Best rushes up the middle for 6 yards
- (from the 20) Riley fires a perfect pass to Anthony Miller for a TOUCHDOWN
- (from the 15) Riley lofts a touch pass to Jeremy Ross for a TOUCHDOWN
- (from the 10) Jeremy Ross drops Riley pass at 2-yard line
Brock Mansion under center
- (from the 25) Mansion wastes no time, hitting Skylar Curran who makes a stellar catch in traffic for a TOUCHDOWN
- (from the 20) Mansion hits Covaughn DeBoskie for 6 yards
- (from the 20) Mansion finds Marvin Jones for short 5-yard gain
- (from the 15) Mansion fires ball into hands of Jeremy Ross for 5 yards
- (from the 10) Pass is too high for Spencer Ladner
Beau Sweeney under center
- (from the 25) Sweeney hits Jarrett Sparks for 15-yard gain
- (from the 20) Sweeney looks for Garry Graffort who tips ball in air and corrals as he falls for a TOUCHDOWN
- (from the 15) Sweeney goes short for Ross Bostock
- (from the 10) Sweeney finds a streaking Charles Satchell for a TOUCHDOWN
Allan Bridgford under center
- Fumbled snap
- Bridgford pass to Spencer Ladner incomplete
Ryan Wertenberger under center
- Pass to Jarrett Sparks at goal-line knocked away by Chris Moncrease
- Wertenberger hits Savai'i Eselu for short gain
Extra Points
Chris Nguon is the lead football writer for BearTerritory. He's well known for his recruiting and game coverage in the star-studded Oakland Athletic League, plus his numerous contributions with The Daily Californian, UC Berkeley's only independent, student-run newspaper. Nguon is also a correspondent with the Oakland Tribune, and will cover Cal football and men's and women's basketball in 2009.
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