| Jackson still looking for big action as a receiver
No one can quite put their finger on why Cal receiver/returner DeSean Jackson, a Heisman Trophy candidate and future first-round draft choice, has had such a rollercoaster season.
DeSean Jackson has been kept out of the end zone as a receiver in eight of the last nine games, dating back to last year, and his production this season has varied from an 11-catch, 161-yard, two-touchdown performance against Oregon on Sept. 29 to a four-reception, five-yard disappearing act in last week's loss to Oregon State.
"It's just kind of how it works out," coach Jeff Tedford said.
"It's because of a number of things," receivers coach Dan Ferrigno said.
"I just think that he's going to have those games," receiver Lavelle Hawkins said.
"You never know what he's going to do in a game," quarterback Kevin Riley said.
"No, I can't explain it," cornerback Brandon Hampton said.
There are a number of theories as to why DeSean Jackson's production is so topsy-turvy. Opponents often double-team him and punt away from him, he's been bothered by a sprained thumb and Cal has a number of other offensive options who want and deserve the ball.
"Sometimes it's the structure of the defense that has taken DeSean away, and sometimes we may be missing a throw or not getting to the right spot on a route," Ferrigno said. "We're trying to be creative each week in finding ways to line him up and get him the ball, but as long as the offense is running smooth, he's not going to complain.
"It's stupid to beat your head against the wall when there are other ways to be effective."
DeSean Jackson has had only nine chances on punts, averaging 11.9 yards a return with a 77-yard touchdown against Tennessee. Tedford has gotten DeSean Jackson involved by giving him at least one rushing attempt, including a 73-yard touchdown against Colorado State, in all but one game this season, and by using quick wide receiver screens.
The problem lies in the downfield passing game. DeSean Jackson had 28 plays that went for 20-plus yards last season, and he has 10 - with only six coming on receptions - this year.
His longest reception of the season is a 31-yard touchdown against Oregon that had more to do with his speed after the catch than his ability to go deep. Four Cal players have longer plays via the passing game than DeSean Jackson, including tailback Justin Forsett and tight end Cameron Morrah.
After catching 59 passes for 1,060 yards and nine touchdowns last season, DeSean Jackson has 32 receptions for 317 yards and two scores this year. Through six games, DeSean Jackson has dropped more passes than he did all of last season, but he says his thumb is healed.
"The opportunities I've had this year have been a little limited," DeSean Jackson said. "I'm not complaining. Whenever my time comes, I will do whatever I can do to make a play."
Opponents have been making that tough. All but Oregon double-teamed DeSean Jackson for the majority of the game. Teams are pressing him at the line of scrimmage and leaving safety help over the top.
"It's really not my decision how I beat (the press)," DeSean Jackson said. "It's the coaches' decision, the position they put me in to make plays. I definitely don't have any control over that.
"The play is called and I do what I have to do."
Could that be right? There are times when coaches don't want DeSean Jackson to get open?
"Our passing game calls for the reads to go to certain places, and that's where the quarterback goes," Tedford said. "If our sole purpose was to beat the press, DeSean could beat it, but it has to be within the scope of what we're doing offensively. If the other guys are the ones who are open, I think the offense is still very productive."
Hawkins has been the main beneficiary of this idea. The senior, who moved from a potential fifth-round selection into the top two rounds on ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr.'s most recent board, leads the team with 36 catches, 534 yards and four touchdowns.
"We have three wideouts who want the ball, so there are going to be games in which someone kind of gets left out," Hawkins said.
"Teams are really bracketing him quite a bit," Riley said. 'Teams seem to want to concentrate more on him, and that opens the field up for other players."
Better to receive
Except for his breakout game against Oregon, DeSean Jackson's 2007 receiving stats have been lackluster.
Opponent Rec Yds TD
Tennessee 4 45 0
Colorado St. 5 39 0
La. Tech 5 28 0
Arizona 3 43 0
Oregon 11 161 2
Oregon St. 4 5 0
Note: Through six games, DeSean Jackson has returned nine punts for 107 yards and one TD.
Today's game
Who: Cal (5-1, 2-1) vs. UCLA Bruins (4-2, 3-0)
Where: Rose Bowl
When: 12:30 p.m.
TV/Radio: Channel: 7 Channel: 10 /810
Story line: This is a game between an angry, injured team (Cal) and a rested, injured team (UCLA). The Bears are reeling from last week's 31-28 loss to Oregon State, and the Bruins had a bye after an embarrassing loss to Notre Dame. Both have their share of injuries.
Cal quarterback Nate Longshore made remarkable improvements on his sprained right ankle from Wednesday to Thursday, and he may start after it looked all but certain that Kevin Riley would get his second chance. Patrick Cowan, who threw a career-high 329 yards against Cal last season, appears healthy enough to return from a knee injury to give UCLA some consistency at quarterback, a position at which the Bruins had three starters and included a receiver in the competition this week.
There are also health question marks at receiver for Cal, which expects Robert Jordan and Cameron Morrah to play despite shoulder injuries. UCLA could be without starting tailback Chris Markey (turf toe) and as many as three defensive linemen with various injuries.
The Bears are second in the conference in scoring offense and rushing, but neither is expected to come easy against the Bruins, who have two talented safeties (Chris Horton and Dennis Keyes) and maybe the premier pass rusher in the nation (Bruce Davis).
UCLA's offense has scored at least 40 points in all three of its conference games, but it scored only six points a game in noncoference losses to Utah and Notre Dame. If Markey can't play, Marin Catholic grad Khalil Bell, who averages 97.7 yards a game, will get the bulk of the carries against a Cal defense that is promising improvement.
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