Wilcox’s game plan calls for big changes
Tre Watson glided out of Memorial Stadium, using his helmet to cradle a variety of energy drinks, granola bars and fruit cups.
“We’re upgrading,” the senior running back said, almost singing.
Cal opened spring practice Wednesday, and new head coach Justin Wilcox plans to upgrade more than just the post-practice refreshments. He wants to change a culture in which the Bears went 34-52 with just two bowl appearances in the past seven seasons.
“I think it’s just about building our team from the inside out and around our players,” he said. “There are intangible things that it takes to be successful, and that’s how you operate daily: your actions, your behaviors, how we work out, how we go to school, how we treat people on campus, how we live.
“We just want to challenge ourselves every day and raise the bar.”
Wilcox said there’s “going to be a ton to clean up.” Most noticeably, both the offense and defense will have to learn new systems and the techniques and fundamentals that it takes to succeed in those schemes. The offense is expected to run more and possibly use tight ends and a fullback more often, and the defense is expected to play out of a 3-4 base front with edge-rushing outside linebackers.
All of those changes will mean learning a vernacular, but Wilcox also talked to the team about defining some words that have nothing to do with play calls.
“They gave us definitions of passion and energy, saying passion is more of a slow burn and energy is something that can kind of fade away and is here and there,” senior linebacker Raymond Davison said. “I can definitely feel the passion from the defensive side of the ball, for sure. …
“We want to change the paradigm, changing everybody’s mind-set on Cal football. We’re here to make sure that we do that by being a good defense.”
Cal spent the majority of the 2½-hour session on fundamentals in individual position groups. The past three seasons, the Bears spent similar amounts of time running plays as an entire offense.
“They’re stricter on different things,” Watson said. “They don’t let the little things go. We’re trying to win, and that’s their main focus. They want everyone to buy in and be as one.
“Once you build that, you’re a team. Teams win games.”
To win games, Cal will have to find a quarterback to replace Davis Webb.
Wilcox said it’s too early even to discuss a timeline for naming a starter. For now, the coach said the five quarterbacks in camp will share an equal load of the practice snaps.
They might share an equal load of the post-practice snacks, too.