Notebook: Tedford ready to unleash spread offense at Cal

BERKELEY, Calif. -- Jeff Tedford is making points -- points about "mesh points" and "launch points."

Get the point?

No. Your head is already spinning when the California coach commands you to break down into a center's stance. In a flash, one of the nation's best offensive minds is playing nose guard against a helpless sportswriter.

"Now I line up on your snapping arm," Tedford says, "You're snapping and I'm on your hand."

The implication being that Tedford -- the quarterback guru and former CFL quarterback -- could blow past you into the offensive backfield, which right now is represented by a nice leather chair in his office.

Yes, Jeff Tedford is serious about installing the spread offense.

You would assume that Cal's fifth-year coach, who has developed six first-round NFL quarterbacks, was well-versed in the spread. True, if you consider his six years as a pro quarterback in Canada.

"In the CFL, that's all we did," he said.

Not so true as a college coach. Almost everyone is using the spread, or at least elements of it. That's nothing new. Tedford not being part of the trend is the surprise.

He never has been a shotgun guy in college. Too risky, Tedford said. Who could argue? Tedford's offenses have always been productive.

Productive is good, lethal is better. Tedford moved quickly in the offseason, hiring Northwestern's Mike Dunbar as his offensive coordinator. Dunbar is fresh from running the second offense in Big Ten history to average 500 yards per game for a season.

"This is all totally new to all of them," said Dunbar, who arrived here after five years in Evanston.

Combining Tedford with Dunbar is like throwing gasoline onto a fire. Dunbar's offense was one of the sole reasons Northwestern had been competitive recently. His scheme is more of a basketball-on-grass philosophy, run by quarterback Brett Basanez.

"I used to kid him he's like the point guard of a basketball team," Dunbar said. "He can control tempo."

The offense won't change that radically at Cal, a school used to radicals wanting change. But the teaching begins right now. Tedford has to find out which of his quarterbacks can run.

First, he has to find a quarterback. Nate Longshore is listed as the starter. Longshore broke his leg early last season and was lost for the rest of 2005. Junior Steve Levy is the backup. Juco transfer Joseph Ayoob took over after Longshore was injured but lost the job to Levy because of ineffectiveness.

Elsewhere, the centers have to be taught a completely different snap. Grounders won't be tolerated. There are different blocking angles.

We're talking empty backfields, which should make tailback Marshawn Lynch more dangerous. Expect to see him split wide.

Somewhere in there are Tedford's magic mesh points and launch points.

You know why this is happening, don't you? The Rose Bowl. The nation watched Vince Young run one of the most lethal spread offenses in college history.

Tedford and others in the Pac-10 have had to react to Southern California. While the Trojans figure to be slightly diminished this year, they're still a top 10 team. Meanwhile, Cal has averaged slightly more than eight victories in Tedford's four seasons.

Until Texas did it in the Rose Bowl, Tedford's Bears were the last team to beat USC. But they've never gotten over that BCS hump.

"Everybody is strong, but we have as much potential as anyone to compete in this conference," Tedford said. "I thought SC had a leg up on everybody last year because they had a championship team and everybody coming back.

"We had to make a change."

Staff members left last week for visits to West Virginia and Florida. Mountaineers coach Rich Rodriguez and Gators coach Urban Meyer are noted veteran spread practitioners.

The idea is to find a system that produces balance. Think of Texas last year, with Young holding the trigger of the shotgun. The Longhorns averaged 237 yards passing and 275 rushing. They were one of only 11 teams to average 200 yards per game in both categories.

It's noon after the last practice before spring break. Tedford is notified by his blocking dummy/sportswriter that players could be seen practicing snaps and blocking schemes on the Memorial Stadium turf.

"Oh, they're getting extra work in because they practiced at 6:30 this morning. Now they're on spring break," he said. "They're very eager to get it all figured out."

USC's meet market

Approximately 100 coaches, scouts and executives witnessed USC's pro day Sunday. Even for those experienced, jaded evaluators of talent, it might have been a historic day.

They were not disappointed with the group of all-stars headed for the NFL later this year. Matt Leinart made all the basic throws, saying later a big weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Offensive lineman Winston Justice might have clinched a spot in the upper half of the first round.

Tailback Reggie Bush ran a 4.33 40, proclaiming he should be the No. 1 pick in the draft. Much of the testing was done across the street from the practice field, in USC's track stadium, where approximately 1,000 spectators watched.

The one surprise was running back LenDale White's refusal to run the 40. White said he tweaked a hamstring at the combine. One report said he bench pressed 225 pounds 15 times. That was only one more than punter Tom Malone.

With so much interest and so much pro influence hanging around, coach Pete Carroll issued a warning to the congregation -- aimed mostly at agents in attendance -- to stay away from his underclassmen.

ACC love

Some interesting read-between-the-lines stuff here from Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer. He was asked on a pre-spring conference call to evaluate the ACC. The Hokies won the league in their initial year (2004) and lost last year's ACC title game to Florida State.

"Every week it is tough," Beamer said. "For us to have won 11 ballgames last year -- you go back and look at some of those games -- it's hard to do.

"For years Florida State was what you were kind of measured by -- and still are. They're still up there talent-wise. Miami has tremendous talent. We got people to shoot for, and I think everybody is shooting."

What about those Florida programs, might they be in a state of flux?

"From a talent standpoint I don't think they are," he said. "It shows how good this league is that you would say they are in flux. You look at Florida State, I can remember top 10 recruiting classes, top five recruiting classes. When they run on the field they take your breath. Miami, too.

"It probably says a lot about our league ... that those two teams have not totally dominated this league."

A refresher: Virginia Tech is a combined 21-5 in its first two years in the ACC, including 1-2 against the Florida schools. Miami is 18-6, Florida State 17-8.

Remembering Pat Tillman

Arizona State recently opened a memorial to Pat Tillman inside its athletic offices at Sun Devil Stadium. A great player, great patriot and ... a great student.

While cleaning out an office one day, a facilities assistant happened to drop a file. It was Tillman's transcript.

The decision was made to frame the transcript and put it with the memorial.

"You look at his transcript it was just, 'Wow!'" said sports information staffer Doug Tammaro. "This guy wasn't screwing around. 3.87."

Tillman actually took grad course classes while he was with the Arizona Cardinals. He was known for going to a nearby Irish pub, having a Guinness and cracking open either a playbook or textbook.

The recently established Pat's Run in Phoenix has inspired others. A Phoenix teacher was moved to lose 100 pounds to get in shape for the race and now runs marathons. Pat's Run ends at the 42-yard line in Sun Devil Stadium.

Tillman's No. 42 at Arizona State has been retired, but players will wear it on a tiny patch on their uniforms. Staffers still can't explain a number that appears on the back of the old Victory Bell that sits near a stadium parking lot.

They didn't notice it until Tillman died tragically in Afghanistan -- 42.