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Spring Game 2017: Takeaways and Recap

First thing's first, it shouldn't have been called a spring game.

What ended up being televised on the Pac-12 Network was more of a glorified practice to those watching at home or the estimated 1400 in attendance at Memorial Stadium, but with the Nike uniforms the Bears wore for the final time (before the Under Armour deal kicks in at the beginning of July) and after 105 plays of 11 on 11 work, they finished out their spring slate of 15 practices.

"Every rep we get, every individual period we get is so important for us moving forward," head coach Justin Wilcox said, "It was very productive, there's a lot to teach off of, which we will, but (I'm) really enthused by their effort throughout the spring and again today."

The effort was there from an offense still looking for a QB to a defense who may have found a couple of breakout players from the spring.

Breakout Names

On offense, the two breakouts came at the receiver position in Kanawai Noa and Jordan Duncan. Noa led the receivers in catches and yards, with 8 for 112. Noa showed his jumping ability, route running on intermediate routes, and catch radius. He's the smoothest route runner on the roster, and he's rounded back into form. In an interview with GoldenBearReport.com, Noa noted that he was excited to be done rehabbing and getting back to playing football, which showed.

Duncan had four receptions for 31 yards, but two excellent touchdown receptions, the first coming on a one handed fade route from Ross Bowers, shown below.

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Duncan made a second TD grab at the shoestrings from Forrest later, and his body control has been excellent. Despite a number of players being out at the receiver spot today (Stovall, Singleton, and Robertson the main ones), Duncan's excelled as much as anyone this spring.

Defensively, there were four main standouts, but that has to start with Elijah Hicks, who had a monster spring game performance. The early enrollee corner had three pass breakups along with an interception off Chase Forrest. DC Tim DeRuyter noted that he's come in and played like a veteran, and he should push for playing time at the spot in the fall.

Zeandae Johnson and Russell Ude stood out the most on the line, with Johnson continuing the high-level of play he's shown this spring, busting through the line and solidifying the interior. Ude's adjusted to rushing off the edge, and he produced a sack and a forced fumble in his pass rush.

Lastly, Marloshawn Franklin upped his game, breaking up a couple Bowers passes and making a goal line tackle after Billy McCrary made an excellent cutback. Franklin's technique has improved, which you can credit to DBs coach Gerald Alexander.

Notable Absences

In addition to the missing receivers, Tre Watson sat this one out. Wilcox noted that they wanted to give a few of the other backs an opportunity to show out.

Luc Bequette and Evan Weaver dressed but did not play.

Trey Turner and Evan Rambo were also out, as were Daniel Juarez and Gentle Williams.

QB Competition, Not Over

Final Unofficial Stats for the QBs

Forrest 15-29 189, 1 TD, 2 INT

Bowers 18-29 162, 3 TD

(Note that these included spikes in the two minute drill, so you can knock an incompletion off for each)

Both had their moments, as Bowers rocketed in a TD to Ray Hudson on the second to last drive and Forrest floated one perfectly to Wharton for a 30 yard gain. Bowers has the better numbers, but the eye test indicated that it could go either way. The decision making has improved from the second open practice, but both QB's still need to make their decisions sooner.

Notes:

- Cal's breaking in a new long snapper one way or another, and Grant Gluhaich and Garrett Frum still have work to do

- Quentin Tartabull's interception at the end of practice put him at the top of the Pick board below for the spring. According to Tartabull, the DBs have a wrestling belt, and he plans to wear it wherever he goes.

- A little wrinkle that the offense showed was a 3 TE set, with Justin Norbeck playing the H-Back/FB role that Malik McMorris will likely fit right into. Norbeck caught a TD on a nice little bit of sleight of hand by Ross Bowers, who faked run on the rollout and dropped it right off to Norbeck

- There was a little prevent defense at the end, with DeRuyter noting that he wanted it on film and they might not use it again.

- The Cal defense moved between nickel and base 3-4 looks throughout the afternoon, tinkering with what worked and what didn't

All in all, a spring finale where someone didn't get hurt, which is a good sign (though Duncan did get dinged up about halfway through). As is Beau Baldwin's favorite phrase, the Bears are not finished products, but in an afternoon where the offense and defense had their moments, the team made strides away from the all-offense label they've been tattooed with over the past four years.

Unofficial Stats

Passing

Forrest 15-29 189, 1 TD, 2 INT

Bowers 18-29 162, 3 TD

Gilliam 2-4 10, TD

Rushing

Echols 4-3

Enwere 8-32, 1 TD

Clark 5-26

McCrary 4-11

Laird 4-8, TD

Bowers 3-10

Hale 1-0

Forrest 6-(- 21)

Receiving

Noa 8-112

Wharton 4-40

Veasy 4-38

Duncan 4-31, 2 TD

Ashton 1-8

Echols 1-(- 2)

Rocket 3-41

McCrary 2-13

Hudson 3-35, 1 TD

Kobayashi 1-4

Norbeck 1-8, 1TD

Laird 1-2

Netherda 1-6, 1TD

Gamble 1-25

Defense

Bynum 6, PBU

Johnson 2

Davison 2

Tartabull 3, INT

Saffle 2, Sack

DBrown 2

Anoa'i 3

Cherry 2

Kunaszyk 3, sack

Psalms 1

Hicks 3 PBU, INT

Downs 1

Mekari 1

Funches 1

Paul 2

GBrown 2, hurry

Hawkins 1

Palmer 2

Goode 1, PBU, Sack

Albert 1, hurry

Franklin 2, 2 PBU

Ude sack, forced fumble

Tongilava sack

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