Cal football team gears up defense for new season

BERKELEY, Calif. “”mdash; After developing five quarterbacks into
first-round draft choices, Jeff Tedford is legitimately known as an
offensive genius.

But this year, the Cal team is hoping that some of
Tedford’s magic will land on the defensive side of the
ball.

Returning only two starters from the end of last year and only a
handful of players who have ever started, the Bears defense has
been forced into an overhaul.

Many pundits have picked Cal to finish in the bottom half of the
overall Pac-10 standings, believing that the potentially porous
defense marks a rebuilding year for the program.

But Tedford doesn’t agree.

“It’s not rebuilding at all.” Tedford said.
“We have good people and good players at all positions, and
so we are not rebuilding. It will just be new people in the
different areas, I don’t see us starting over by any
means.”

Vital to the success of this year’s defensive unit will be
the backfield, which can often make or break a team in the
pass-happy Pac-10.

The secondary defense is a different story, with two returning
players, who have made significant impacts in their Cal
careers.

The loss of second-team all-conference cornerback Jemeel Powell,
first round NFL draft pick Nnamdi Asomugha and safety Bert Watts
means the defense will have its share of holes to fill.

But cornerback James Bethea, the only senior member of the
coverage team, and Donnie McCleskey will do their part to fill in
the gaps.

Bethea, a native of Hawaii, has started 15 games in his Cal
career, including seven last season. Bethea made his mark last
season by nabbing four interceptions, including two in the
Bears’ nationally televised 46-22 trouncing of then No. 15
Michigan State.

Joining him will be sophomore rover McCleskey, who was fifth on
the team in tackles his freshman year, despite starting only the
final seven games of the season. McCleskey earned All-Pac-10
freshmen team honors for his performance.

The rest of the unit will be composed mainly of inexperienced
players. Junior Ryan Guttierez will likely start at free safety,
while special teams standout Mike McGrath, will likely earn
significant playing time. Redshirt freshman Tim Mixon will likely
get a baptism by fire as the starting cornerback opposite
Bethea.

The linebacking corps finds themselves without Matt Nixon,
Marcus Daniels, John Klotsche and Paul Ugenti, meaning the most
experienced member of the squad is now junior Wendell Hunter.

The bulk of Hunter’s experience came in the four games he
started last year in place of the injured Nixon. The former L.A.
City Player of the Year finished his year sixth on the team with 43
tackles.

The remaining two starting spots are still very much up for
grabs.

Kevin Morsony writes for the Daily Californian.