Cal Football Spring Notebook: Justin Wilcox Cites Individual Standouts But Critical of Scrimmage Performance

`Not near as clean as we’d like it to be. Situational football wasn’t great. That was the thing that jumped out.'

Cal avoided the rain during its second-to-last Saturday spring practice, but on a cool and gloomy day coach Justin Wilcox saw a mixed bag of performances. 

The Bears scrimmaged for much of their two-hour workout, including a number of situational plays.

“Not near as clean as we’d like it to be,” Wilcox said. “You see the individual plays. Overall, the situational football wasn’t great. We’ll get better at those. That was the thing that jumped out, that we’ve got to get better at those.”

The Bears have four more spring workouts — Monday, Wednesday and Friday before their Spring Showcase scrimmage next Saturday.

The quarterback duel between incumbent starter Fernando Mendoza and North Texas transfer Chandler Rogers continues, although Mendoza appeared to have the stronger day.

“Ultimately, a quarterback’s judged by moving the ball down the field and putting it into the end zone,” Wilcox said. “I think they both had some good moments today. 

“I thought Fernando had some really nice throws and Chandler did some good things. We’ll keep evaluating them off tape and keep coaching them. We want all or our players to keep improving.”

Mendoza threw three touchdown passes, two to Trond Grizzell and one to New Mexico State transfer Jonathan Brady. Rogers threw a TD to Colorado transfer Cole Boscia.

Star junior running back Jaydn Ott was effectively held out of the scrimmage as the coaches sought to get more feedback from others in the position group. 

Sophomore Jaivian Thomas had a 63-yard touchdown run and redshirt freshman Dean-Taylor Chapman produced TDs on consecutive plays in red-zone situations.

The Bears believe they have a deeper running back room, also feature Od Dominion transfer Kadarius Calloway, and second-year Bears Justin Williams-Thomas and Byron Cardwell.

Wilcox singled out Thomas and Chapman, but also said of the running back picture, “There’s a lot to be determined yet. We’ve seen Jaydn play at this level in games and produce. We’re going to count on him to produce consistently. For him, I know that’s what he wants — to play at a high level week in and week out. 

“The other guys, there’s some uncertainty there. We like the talent in there. They’ve still got to prove they can do it week in and week out at this level when we’re playing for real.”

Others who Wilcox cited as having good performances Saturday included freshman wide receiver Josiah Martin, Notre Dame transfer defensive lineman Aidan Keanaaina, linebackers Eze Osundu and Hunter Barth and defensive backs Dayday Aupiu, Isaiah Crosby and Cam Sidney.

RB THOMAS BIGGER AND STRONGER: Jaivian Thomas, whose freshman season last fall was marred by a scary neck injury at Oregon late in the season, has put on 15 pounds of muscle to reach 190 this spring.

“The Jet,” as the Oakland native is called, believes the injury he sustained against the Ducks was partly the result of him not being as strong as he needs to be.

“I have a different mindset this year, believing if I got bigger I can do a lot of good things,” he said.

The incident on Nov. 4 at Oregon left him unconscious for about 2 minutes and motionless on the field for close to 15 before being strapped to a board and taken to the Eugene area hospital. Thomas returned home the next day but did not carry the ball in the Bears’ final four games.

“It was (scary) but I overcame it,” Thomas said. “I’m glad it happened. It feels great from last season and not being able to participate at the end.”

Asked where he fits in a crowded running back room, Thomas said all of the backs offer something different. “We’ve got J-Ott — of course, he’s the one. But we’ve got a lot of guys that can bring more things. I can bring a lot of things, most importantly my speed.”

TAKING A BIG HIT: Grizzell was sandwiched by two defensive backs who delivered a big hit on the junior wide receiver as he hauled in a pass in the end zone for his second TD of the day.

Grizzell paused to get on his feet afterward but officials working the practice did not throw a flag.

Wilcox offered a neutral reaction to the play.

“We don’t want to take blind shots. We also have to learn how to protect ourselves. It’s a fine line,” he said. “We can’t get 15-yard penalties for targeting defenseless players, whether it’s crack backs or over the middle. 

“We have to learn to play with our pads down and absorb tackles and get the ball into the end zone.” 

Grizzell, one of the team’s most pleasant surprises last season, expressed no complaints about the play. You’ve just got to be ready for contact — I’ve got to lower my pads there,” he said. 

Asked how the coaches define what’s OK during a scrimmage, Grizzell said, “They just say it’s live — defense got to make tackles, offense got to make ‘em miss. Treat it like a game.”

PORTAL MADNESS SET TO RESUME: The spring football transfer portal opens Monday with players able to declare themselves eligible to be recruited through April 30.

More than 2,000 players entered the portal during the winter period, and no one expects things to be any less robust come Monday.

“It’ll be fast and furious and we’ll be very active in it. We’re going to evaluate anyone who can help us win and engage with once that portal opens.”