Receivers are ‘the motor of this offense’

As Cal approaches what is expected to be a transitional season, it’s lacking for talent at a number of positions, but that’s certainly not the case at receiver.

The wide-receiver group has offered most of the highlights during spring drills and figures to be key in the new coaching staff ’s turnaround plans.

“One of the first things (receivers) coach (Nicholas) Edwards told us was that we’re the motor of this offense,” senior receiver Jordan Veasy said. “We have had a lot of accountability put on us. We’ve got to lead this team. We take it very seriously, because we know we’re a big part of this team.”

Even with Chad Hansen opting to forgo his senior season to enter the NFL draft, Cal returns players who compiled 224 catches, 2,457 receiving yards and 23 touchdown receptions from last year’s 5-7 team.

The returning group consists of seven players who had at least 15 catches, including tailback Tre Watson and Raymond Hudson, who is transitioning to tight end. There are eight returners who caught at least one touchdown and 12 returners who caught at least one first-down pass.

“They’re versatile,” head coach Justin Wilcox said. “You’ve got some big guys with some size who can make some catches when people are on them. You’ve got some guys who can stretch the field, and you’ve got some guys who can work the middle of the field. “It’s a really good group.” Wilcox is relying on Edwards and offensive coordinator Beau Baldwin to bring out the best in the receivers. Edwards, 27, was part of Baldwin’s staff at Eastern Washington, which won the Big Sky Conference three of the past four years.

Baldwin, 44, has a 95-35 record as a head coach, including the 2010 FCS national title at Eastern Washington. His offenses are known for having effective running games that complement explosive passing attacks.

“I believe they can take us from being an average team to a championship team,” junior receiver Vic Wharton III said. “There’s no telling how talented we can be if we continue to grow and do the little things right. We’re not close to where we need to be right now, but the coaches know what it takes to get us to that point.”

Baldwin and Edwards have spent the first half of spring practices teaching fundamentals and installing the new offense and its vernacular. They’re also demanding that the receivers learn both the inside and outside positions, something that could help them take advantage of mismatches during the regular season.

Wharton was the standout of Saturday’s 11-on-11 drills, dashing 40 yards on a catch off a quick slant, making a tough catch in the middle on another series to get Cal inside the red zone and finishing another drive with a short touchdown reception.

“The coaches are detailoriented,” Wharton said. “The idea is that if you know your assignments and go all-out, they can teach you everything else.

“We’ve got the talent to do that.”

Saturday’s production came while Demetris Robertson was running in the Big Meet at Stanford and Melquise Stovall was standing on the sideline in a protective walking boot.

Even without Robertson, who had 50 catches for 767 yards and seven scores during his freshman All-America season, and Stovall, who added 42 catches for 415 yards and three touchdowns, the Cal receiver group was loaded.

“Everybody is contributing,” Veasy said. “We’re so deep.

“If you’re on the field the whole time that means you’re really making plays and really helping others make plays.”