A hurry-up process for Cal’s Spavital

In College Station, Texas, temperatures topped 102 degrees this week as Texas A&M football players took the practice field.

[...] in Berkeley, first-year Cal offensive coordinator Jake Spavital, an A&M export, isn’t sure whether to wear shorts or a fleece to training camp.

The offensive coordinator had the advantage of coming from an A&M offensive scheme and coaching philosophy that is similar to Sonny Dykes’ Cal program.

The abbreviated time frame for Spavital and Dykes to choose a quarterback was helpful in limiting distractions and allowing Spavital to start building continuity early, he said.

Both newcomers entered Memorial Stadium with a head start because their previous programs ran a spread offense.

Cal prides itself on its “Bear Raid” system, which ranked third in FBS last year with 376.3 passing yards per game.

While the similarity eased the stress of a new job, Spavital and Webb now step into high-profile positions leading an offense that will need to offset Cal’s expected defensive shortcomings this season.

Spavital boasts a strong resume accumulated in an impressive nine years that include two seasons leading Texas A&M’s offense.

Spavital started out as a graduate assistant at Oklahoma State and helped coach Brandon Weeden, who was older than Spavital at the time.

Weeden became a first-round draft pick.

Spavital was most recently A&M’s offensive coordinator and coached Johnny Manziel until the troubled quarterback was selected 22nd overall in 2014.

Spavital has at times drawn criticism for being too predictable with his play-calling while helping the Aggies to a 17-10 record during his tenure.

Stanford fans can get their first look of training camp at the quarterback competition when the Cardinal hold an open practice from 8:50 to 11 a.m. Saturday.

Redshirt junior Ryan Burns and redshirt sophomore Keller Chryst are in the running to replace four-year starter Kevin Hogan, now with the Kansas City Chiefs.