Keys to the Game

As Brent Musburger would say, "Oh baby!" We're one day away from Cal's opener at Michigan State. Despite Stanford and Oregon State's "exciting" game to kick off the season Thursday night, it still hasn't quite hit me yet that we are finally here at the beginning of the 2008-2009 College Football season.

When will it hit me? Not sure. Perhaps it will when I make the trek up to Memorial Stadium with thousands of other Cal fans for tomorrow’s opener. Or maybe when the team takes the field as Cal’s fight song kicks off in the stadium. Or on Jahvid Best’s first huge run. We shall see. But I await it nonetheless.

We’ve talked about the offense. We’ve talked about the defense. Now let’s talk about the keys to the game (in my mind) if we plan on being victorious against what is supposed to be a very evenly matched game with the Michigan State Spartans.

3 Keys to the Game:

1) Keep Javon Ringer under 100 yards.
In my mind, this is the granddaddy of ‘em all. When people ask me if I think we’re going to win tomorrow, I respond with, “Depends on how we do with Ringer.” Javon Ringer, a 5’9 Senior, is considered one of the premier backs in the nation, and will be the focal point of the Spartans offense this season. Tomorrow’s matchup will provide the truest test for how Cal’s new 3-4 defense will fair against a power, up-your-gut, smash mouth run offense. I don’t think we’ll be able to completely shut down Ringer (MSU’s experienced and huge offensive line and Ringer’s talent will see to that), but if we can contain him for minimal yardage, wrap up well, fill in the gaps, and prevent him from breaking off huge runs, especially after initial contact, I think Cal stands a very good chance of winning this one.

This will especially prove to be true in the second half of the game as the initial enthusiasm and energy begins to wear off. How will Cal’s D perform in the trenches late in the 3rd quarter and early in the 4th? That will be the question.

(None of this, please.)

2) Limit Turnovers
I know this is incredibly cliché, as any joe-schmo like yours truly can rattle a statement off like this in pre-game analysis. But this statement remains even truer for Cal’s young offense. Cal will be sending out a QB with only one career start, a whole new crop of wide receivers, and a tandem of running backs with only one running back having any actual in-game carries. Given the youth and inexperience at nearly ever skill position, Cal will need to overcome any early season jitters and focus on executing the offensive game plan, avoiding turnovers, and finishing drives (whether it be field goals or touchdowns). A few early long drives will instill some confidence in this young offense, and hopefully the home crowd will prevent them from too many costly mental errors. An early interception or a few fumbles may make it difficult for Cal to get back into the game if they find themselves behind early.

3) The Big Play
As effective as Cal has been running the ball, Tedford’s most successful teams have never been known for being “work the clock” or “grind the ball” kind of teams. They’ve been known for being explosive. Cal will need that one particular explosive play to fire up the home crowd, and energize the team. It happened last year in the Tennessee game with Follet’s hit and subsequent Worrell Williams recovery run for a touchdown. While Tennessee came right back and responded with a nice drive of their own, it put Cal in the driver’s seat for the rest of the game.

It might come in a punt return, or a forced fumble or an interception, or perhaps a long run by one of our speedy backs, but I believe it will be incredibly important for some type of spark to ignite the entire Cal team tomorrow.

Keep in mind, it can go the other way as well. Busted coverage leading to a long TD pass, a poor tackle allowing Ringer to run 64 yards for a TD, or an early pick six may challenge a lot of the good feelings and team chemistry that the team worked so hard to build in the offseason. Cal will have to work efficiently to prevent Michigan State from making any big plays.

In conclusion:
There are so many other issues that I could have brought up. For Riley to establish a solid timing with his new receivers. For Cal’s D-line to get some pressure on QB Brian Hoyer. Solid tackling. Avoiding stupid penalties. For the Cal fans to make some freaking noise.

The list could go on. But none appear to be as important as the three keys outlined above (at least in my mind). Leave a comment if you think I’m off or am forgetting something else. Other than that, I’ll just be happy to be back at Memorial Stadium, and enjoying a beautiful Saturday evening with the new old Cal faithful. Go Bears!

Read the rest of the post and comments here >>

Depth Chart Resolutions? (Defense)

We finish (and I say finish even though I didn't have a chance to get to the Special Teams portion. Check out Okanes' blog for some of the most recent developments on that.) our look at the Depth Chart going into Saturday's game and who we can expect to step out onto the field first.

Linebackers
Starters: Zack Follet, Worrell Williams, Anthony Felder, Eddie Young
Backups: Devin Bishop, DJ Holt, Mike Mohammed, Mychal Kendricks, Charles Johnson

Follett, Williams, and Felder come as a surprise to no one. The only question was who would fill into the 4th spot after the switch to the 3-4. Mike Mohammed was favored until Eddie Young solidified his position towards the beginning of Fall camp. While we’re somewhat sure of what to expect with the starters (a lot of pain), the backups, provide both depth and questions.

However, the fact that true freshman linebacker Mychal Kendricks is slated to see playing time this year may be very telling. The kid is only 17 years old. Do you know what I was doing when I was 17? I wasn’t planning on taking on linemen, that’s for sure. It would be a different story if Cal had severe questions at the linebacker position, and were calling upon its younger players to contribute because of a lack of talent or depth. When your linebacking corps. is considered the strongest unit of your defense, and you still feel confident with a true freshman playing right away, that speaks volumes about the depth that Cal has at that position.

Now how all the reserves will perform throughout the season remains to be seen. The only backup linebacker with significant playing time is redshirt sophomore Mike Mohammed. In addition to Kendricks, Devin Bishop and touted recruit DJ Holt are coming off redshirt years, and will be seeing their first real collegiate playing time.


Defensive Tackle
Starter: Derrick Hill
Backup: Mika Kane

Earlier I had predicted that Mika Kane would step onto the field before Derrick Hill mainly due to experience, but Kane’s injury during Spring Ball scratched that idea. Even then, Hill has shown dramatic improvement this offseason and appears ready to plug some gaps and engage some double teams on Saturday. Kane should hopefully still get some playing time in.

Defensive Ends
Starters: Rulon Davis, Tyson Alualu
Backups: Ernest Owusu, Keith Browner, Kendrick Payne, Cameron Jordan (suspended)

The DE position has seen a lot of movement in the past week for a few reasons. While Rulon Davis was a near lock on one end, there was a bit of a camp battle between Alualu and Jordan for the other spots. Alualu came in with more experience, and reports spoke of his fantastic camps, but Jordan was too physically gifted to ignore. In the end, Alualu got the nod at the starting spot, with Jordan sure to see as much playing time in the season opener.

And then Cameron Jordan got drunk. And then he decided to drive. And then he got arrested. And then…*TADA! * suspended for the season opener.

The loss of Jordan certainly hurts, as he can be a potential game changer when focused. Jordan’s suspension weakens a bit of the depth at the DE position, with more of reliance now than ever on Ernest Owusu and Keith Browner to step up their game and fill in. Kendrick Payne, a true freshman who impressed everyone at camp with his work ethic and athleticism, has been moved into his more natural at end, so that should help alleviate a few of the worries in regards to the depth at the position.

Safety
Starter: Marcus Ezeff
Backups: Sean Cattouse and Jesse Brooks

Free Safety
Starter: Bernard Hicks
Backup: Brett Johnson

Marcus Ezeff and Bernard Hicks spent much of last year competing for the strong safety position. Ezeff, who is probably best known for making the game saving tackle of Oregon wide receiver Cameron Colvin to force the fumble into the endzone last year has fought through injury this camp, but should be ready to go for Saturday. Redshirt freshman Sean Cattouse and junior Jesse Brooks will take turns filling in for Ezeff.

Bernard Hicks, provides good experience at the free safety position, and if consistent, can be a strong leader for the defense this season. Brett Johnson, who filled in for Thomas DeCoud in the first quarter of last year’s Armed Forces Bowl, backs him up at that position.

[Update: As per Okanes, Brett Johnson reportedly took most of the first team reps today at the free safety spot. Bob Gregory has stated that the position is still being evaluated, but this would be somewhat surprising. Hicks has seemingly been in starting competitions since he started at Cal, and this would only further that trend. We'll see what unfolds.]

The darkhorse could be newly transferred Bryant Nnabuife, who can play both the cornerback and safety position, and should see some playing time at both.

Cornerback
Starter: Syd’Quan Thompson and Darian Hagan
Backups: Chris Conte, Charles Amadi
Syd’Quan Thompson has developed into one of the better corners in the conference and is expected to lock down his side of the field. A separated shoulder has kept him out of practice the last few weeks however, and Squid is just now slowly getting back into practice. Defensive Coordinator Bob Gregory maintains that he should be ready to go for Saturday, but the question is how healthy he’ll be and how he’ll be able to perform.

Darian Hagan has edged out sophomore Chris Conte for the other cornerback spot, but is sure to get his share of playing time, as the battle has been pretty close all camp, and even more so with SQT’s injury. Could this be the year that Hagan, a touted recruit, finally breaks out and lives up to much of the hyper that surrounded his arrival at Cal? We shall see soon enough.

Charles Amadi will back up both corners as well.

That about wraps it up, but I'll try and give some updates to any changes that may pop up before game time. Read the rest of the post and comments here >>

College Football Season Starts Today!

After more than seven painful months, it’s finally here: The start of College Football Season.

Of course, in my mind, the season doesn’t officially start until Saturday at 5PM, but you’ve got one pumped up Bear Blogger nonetheless.

To Kick it Off We’ve Got…Oregon State vs. Stanford?


Man…that’ll be like watching two kids with speech impediments slug it out in a Spelling Bee…
“T-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-T…uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-O”
Whatever. I’m still going to watch it. Go Beavers!

THAT WAS AWESOME! Who was that again?
Here’s a really cool tool to help Cal fans memorize numbers in time for their game on Saturday: Online Flash Cards for Players’ Numbers. Remember, Coach Tedford has announced that the jerseys aren’t going to have any names this year, so this is your chance to brush up before the game.


An Alternative to Gold Out?
Without the backing of the University, a Gold Out for Memorial Stadium seems unlikely, although that doesn’t mean one shouldn’t try. How about this shirt?

New Cal Marketing Video
Cal’s got a new promo video up. Not as cleanly edited for as Red Bull chugging as their previous Every Game Counts video, but still miles ahead of their previous efforts. Check it out on the main page. Read the rest of the post and comments here >>

Preseason Top 25: 1-5

We wrap up our look at my preseason Top 25 with the final 5. The best candidates for a BCS bowl, and National Championship contenders. But first, let's do a quick recap of #6-25.

(Click on the images for my writeups)

#5 Oklahoma - As much as Coach Bob Stoops has shown a propensity to choke in big BCS games the past few seasons (losing the last 4, in either gut-wrenching or blowout fashion), the guy knows how to coach. Oklahoma has been in the running for the Big 12 title nearly every year since Stoops took over the program and this year looks to continue the trend. The Sooners benefit from playing most of their toughest Big12 foes at home (Cincinnati, Kansas, Texas Tech) and not having to play other conference favorite Missouri. Despite losing Malcom Kelly, the Sooners return a bunch of talent with the offensive side of the ball. If Sam Bradford can avoid a sophomore slump and Demarco Murray can stay healthy, Oklahoma will be up there with TTU and Missouri in terms of offensive firepower. While Oklahoma will be dominant in stopping the run with their defensive line, there are questions at linebacker, and the Sooners will be fresh at the cornerback position. And Oklahoma wasn’t ever all that great in pass defense any way. Even so, the questions on the defensive side of the ball aren’t enough for me to believe that the Sooners will again be playing in a BCS Bowl this year. The question is whether or not they’ll win in it.
(Predicted Regular Season Finish: 11-1)

#4 Ohio State – I would rather let each hippie tree-sitter in Berkeley fart in my mouth than see Ohio State in another National Championship game. I’m just fed up with seeing the Buckeyes float through cupcake schedules and blow through a subpar conference only to bend over for a SEC teams in the National Title game. With that said, I think this is actually better than the last two championship contenders. The Buckeyes return a ridiculous 18 starters (and a kicker and punter to boot) and features one of the best defenses position by position. Heisman front runner Beanie Wells will put up big numbers and the force of Sweater Vest will be working its mojo all season. Only an early game with the USC Trojans provides a wrinkle in a potential perfect season. If the Buckeyes escape USC with a win, then you can pretty much sharpie them in for a third consecutive national championship bowl appearance.

(Predicted Regular Season Finish: 11-1)

#3 USC – I’m not going to do it. I’m not pegging USC to go undefeated this year. And it’s not because I hate USC (which I do—a lot). And it’s also not because of Ohio State. In fact, I think USC that despite their questions on offense, I think USC manages to take down Ohio State this year. It’s because I think somewhere in the season, the Trojans drop a game to a Pac-10 conference team. Call it a gut feeling, or perhaps wishful thinking, but I sincerely believe that with all the mystery and questions surrounding Pac-10 teams this year, someone will rise up and knock off the Trojans, perhaps even at home. USC’s toughest games over the past few years have all been against Pac-10 squads (with the exception of the memorable 2005 Rose Bowl), and I don’t expect this year to be too different. Pete Carroll’s squad will still a very good bet to take a seventh consecutive league title and may end up in the National Title game, but not without faltering somewhere down the line.

(Predicted Regular Season Finish: 11-1)

#2 Florida – It’s not out of the question to imagine a number of other SEC teams pegged in at this spot (Auburn, Georgia come to mind), but in the land of the SEC, schedule DOES make that much of a difference. Most of Florida’s conference schedule consists of teams they should be favored against, with the exception of a few key games: @ Tennessee, hosting LSU, and against Georgia in Jacksonville. That last game could very well determine the national championship picture.

Oh and offense? The Gators are going to be scary good. With starters returning from an offense that averaged 42.5 ppg last year, they’ve got all the makings of an even better scoring juggernaut (Tebow, Harvin, more talent at the tailback position, and a very solid offensive line). The biggest question for the Gators’ success this season involves their defense, arguably the main reason why Florida wasn’t in the hunt to repeat as National Champions last year. I have good reason to believe that Florida’s young defense will be much improved from last year. The secondary, which started freshman corners last year, return with a year of experience. The entire starting linebacking corps. is back. If the defensive line can grow up quickly, Florida should be one of the top contenders for the national title game.

(Predicted Regular Season Finish: 11-1)

(This? This don't phase me.)

#1 Missouri – Yes Missouri. I’m not declaring Missouri the best team in the country just yet. But the Tigers have the talent (15 returning starters) including a leading Heisman candidate in Chase Daniels and the coaching (you have to be impressed with what Gary Pinkel has done there) to make a serious threat for the top spot this year. But what really separates Mizzou from the other NC contenders is their favorable schedule. The Tigers start the season with a formidable opponent in Illinois, but their only other tests this year will be games against Nebraska and Kansas, two teams I don’t even have finishing the season in my Top 25. They don’t face either Oklahoma (the only team to beat them last year, twice in fact) or Texas Tech, unless it will be the Big 12 Championship game. The biggest question is how a team will handle the unfamiliar pressures of being the hunted throughout the course of the entire season. The only thing stopping Missouri from a spot in the National Championship game may be Missouri themselves.

(Predicted Regular Season Finish: 12-0)

Read the rest of the post and comments here >>

A few quick site updates...

BearswithFangs wants nothing but the best for you. That's right. You.

So I'm constantly tweaking the site here and there to try and optimize the site as much as possible from a blogger standpoint, and for the reader. There are a few issues that still remain, and I ask everyone to be as patient as possible while I hammer out some of the last kinks. I may go with a complete site revamp some time in the near future, but time will tell how quickly I can get around to this as the demands of the college football season are quite fierce at this time of the year.

A few new updates:

1) BearswithFangs is proud to announce Barry's Tickets as its official Ticket Vendor Sponsor. They specialize in providing tickets when all hope appears lost. Definitely check 'em out. I just may have to hit them up for the Cal USC game that already appears to be sold out. Dang son.

2) Changed to the three column format so that readers don't have to scroll down for two yards to get to my Bear Blogger blog roll. Boom Tho.

3) Resolved Internet Explorer Display Issues. It came to my attention that my site wasn't displaying properly in IE, so I believe I've resolved all those issues. I'm now having issues with my expandable post summaries, so again, please be a bit more patient as I look to resolve that. At least it might force ya'll to read my full posts? Yeah? No? Alright...

4) Added a new poll to get a sense of which of the wide receivers we're most excited about. I've got a feeling that a few casual Cal fans might be looking at it like this: @_@

A recent conversation with one of my friends:

Friend: ive never heard of any of our wr's

lol

except that one florida trasnfer guy

Aites yo. Keep coming back for as we gots a lot more coming. And again, thanks for reading. Read the rest of the post and comments here >>

Depth Chart Resolutions? (Offense)

It’s Game Week. O. M. G. I can’t hide my excitement enough. Can't you tell? As we buckle down for Cal’s opening game against Michigan State this Saturday, it’s time to look at all things Cal while we wrap our minds around what we might expect out of the team for Saturday’s kickoff. We begin by looking at the depth chart.

The depth chart appears to be finalized—at least for this Saturday’s game. While starters have been named, many critical positions will continue to be evaluated as the season moves on, and more players are expected to get more playing time regardless. In other words, a backup may end up playing just as much as a starter throughout the course of the season.

Today we’ll start with the offensive side of the ball and get to the defense later in the week.

Quarterback

Starter: Kevin Riley Backup: Nate Longshore

Yawn. Pff. Old news. Much has already been said. Bottom line: Tedford and staff knew what they had with Longshore. A player with a good grasp of the offense who could manage that side of the ball. Riley, however, has the potential to be something special. And they have to see him in more real game time situations to be sure that he is the guy of the future. With Longshore and Riley playing nearly evenly in camp, Tedford felt it was the right time to take that risk and see how Riley would prepare and perform as the starter.

Running Back

Starter: Jahvid Best Backup: Shane Vereen

Tedford appears to be set on his 1-2 punch for this year. Continuing a tradition of utilizing 2 backs (with the near exception of last year), Best will be the main tailback, with Vereen coming in to give Jahvid a breather after he rips off a 60 yarder. Expect Tracey Slocum to be used much like Marcus O’Keith was used during the Marshawn Lynch/Justin Forsett years as a 3^rd down back, and later in the game as a potential bruiser for tough yards. As for Covaughn Deboskie? I haven’t heard any official words just yet, but you got to redshirt the guy. As much as I like him, I’d rather have him contribute more in a year than in a crowded backfield now.

(We need lots and lots of this.)

(credit: Getty Images)

Fullback

Starter: Will Tau’fou’ou Backup: Brian Holley

We’ll be in good shape here. Both have had their share of playing time the last few years, and both have shown to be very capable fullbacks, and Holley even had a number of reps in as a running back in spring ball. Who else wants to see more naked bootlegs to Tau’fou’ou this year? Show of hands? I agree.

Offensive Line

Left Tackle: Chet Teofilo Backup: Donovan Edwards

Left Guard: Chris Guarnero Backup: Mark Boskovich

Center: Alex Mack Backup: Richard Fisher

Right Guard: Noris Malele Backup: Justin Cheadle

Right Tackle: Michael Schwartz Backup: Matt Laird

There be a lot of names that most Cal fans probably aren’t too familiar with. It was never a question as to who would anchor the line at center, with Big Mack captaining not just the offensive line, but the whole team. With Mike Tepper most likely missing the first game due to his torn pectoral muscle, Chet Teofilo who also had reps with the first team towards the end of last season at right tackle, will have the all important task of protecting the QB’s blind side. This is one of the areas that I’m least sure about, as I’m not sure how deep we are.

Tight End

Starter: Cameron Morrah Backup: Tad Smith

No real surprises here. Cameron Morrah will be a strong receiving threat this year, and should have more balls going his way. The question will be whether he can come close to replicating the level of blocking Craig Stevens demonstrated as a starter. Tad Smith, a converted defensive end, opened eyes during Spring Ball with ridiculous catches, and should also fill in well on the other side in 2 TE sets. Also look for true freshman Anthony Miller to get some reps in this year.

Wide Receiver

Starters: Michael Calvin, Sean Young, LaReylle Cunningham

Backups: Marvin Jones, Jeremy Ross, Nyan Boateng, Verran Tucker, among others.

I could start a Vegas pool right now in trying to determine which receiver will have the most productive season. I just might actually… No one really knows for sure what to expect out of the brand new receiving corps. At this point in the preseason, the coaching staff had to go with the receivers that they had the most trust in and/or had the most consistent camps. Those spots go to seniors Cunningham and Young, as well as redshirt freshman Michael Calvin, who won offensive Scout Player of the Year last year. But don’t expect the spots to be as locked down as it was with last year’s crew. Tedford has stated that as many as 6 or 7 receivers will be rotating in and out in the games this year, which could mean our receivers are that good, or that inconsistent. I’m hoping it’s the former.

Read the rest of the post and comments here >>

Preseason Top 25: 6-10

We keep chugging along with our Preseason Top 25. As a reminder, our list looks at what the rankings should look like at the end of the regular season. Not where I think they'll be to start it. Here's a quick recap of #'s 11-15, so you know not to expect them in the Holy Top 10.

# 10 Virginia Tech – It’s strange, I really don’t feel that confident about the Hokies this year. There are so many questions with the team on both sides of the ball. How improved with the O-line be after struggling with inconsistency and battling injuries for much of last season? Who will step up at running back after incumbent starter Brandon Ore was dismissed from the team? How will the offense run without any returning receivers who have caught at least 10 passes? How will the defense perform with only 4 returning starters? Yet, despite that, I expect Virginia Tech to again with the ACC Coastal Division, almost by default. Well, I wouldn’t go quite that far, but needless to say, I think the Hokies will be coached well enough and have a decent enough schedule (toughest tests being away games at FSU and Miami) without having to face ACC preseason favorites Clemson until the conference championship game.

(Predicted regular season finish: 10-2)

#9 Auburn – There are lot of questions regarding the Auburn Tigers’ offense this year. The new spread offense under new offensive coordinator Tony Franklin, the task of having to replace 3 year starter Brandon Cox, and a veteran offensive line appear to be the necessary ingredients for an interesting season. Fortunately, the Tigers again return a solid defense that will keep them in most of their games, regardless of the offense’s inconsistency. While the losses of Quentin Groves and Pat Sims will hurt, Auburn has a lot of talent waiting in the wings to continue the ways of a unit that was 6^th in both scoring and total defense in the entire country. Auburn’s biggest games will be against LSU which could be crucial in determining the SEC West Champions, and a non-conference game against West Virginia late in October. I’m thinking Auburn drops 3 games this year, but their win over LSU is enough to keep them in the Top 10 this year. (Predicted regular season finish: 9-3)

#8 West Virginia – Pat White will finish a brilliant career at West Virginias as one of the, if not THE best dual threat quarterbacks ever to play the game at the collegiate level—before turning into a wide receiver in the pros. Sophomore running back Noel Devine may end up being better than Steve Slaton sooner rather than later, and a standout offensive line will ensure that happens. I’m still not completely sold on Bill Simmons who practically fell into the head coaching position (he doesn’t really care mind you), and am interested to see how he handles the premier Big East program in his first head coaching gig since botched run at VMI. Things get really interesting however, starting Oct.23 as they face a tough test with Auburn, and begin the Big East “gauntlet” of UConn, Cincy, Louisville, Pitt, and USF—any of which I think are capable of knocking the Moutaineers out of the NC Title picture again late in the season. I still believe that WVU will be the Big East Champions come December, and will provide a heck of a game in the Fiesta Bowl.

(Predicted regular season finish: 10-2)

(Absolutely out of control.)

#7 Clemson – Much like Texas Tech, Clemson enters the season with their most talented team yet and high BCS hopes. And there are a lot of reasons to be excite. Clemson returns most of the skill players from one of the best offenses in school history. Both their QB Cullen Harper, running backs CJ Spiller and James Davis, and wide receiver Aaron Kelly are expected to lead the ACC in every category. The youth of the offensive line however will cause a bit of concern however, as they will be expected to grow up quickly in an away game against Alabama to start the season. The Tigers’ defense plays very well as a whole, with 7 starters returning from a defense that was in the nation’s top 10 in both total and scoring defense. All in all, Clemson has all the pieces in place to be the conference’s best on both sides of the ball. However, Clemson has had plenty of talent in the past. The question has always been whether Tommy Bowden would be able to win the big games, and finally get the Tigers in the illustrious BCS Game. I feel this is going to be the year. If not this year, then it might not ever come in the Bowden era. I expect Clemson to drop no more than 2 games before beating Virginia Tech in the ACC Championship game to beg the Orange Bowl bid.

(Predicted regular season finish: 10-2)

#6 Georgia – Georgia will most likely enter the season as Top 3 team, but I don’t think they’ll finish it that way. Don’t get me wrong, the Bulldogs will without a doubt one of the best teams in the nation. You have to like 8 returning starters on the offensive side of the ball, and 9 on the defensive end (a very scary defense by the way). Throw in future NFL players, quarterback Matthew Stafford and runningback, Knowshon Moreno, and there’s a whole heck of a lot to like about the Bulldogs chances at a national championship run. But their schedule prevents me from chugging the Georgia juice. They face a brutal schedule with Florida, LSU, Auburn, South Carolina—all AWAY. I think they crush the Sun Devils on 9/20, but a road trip to the West Coast is never a cake walk. I think Georgia has the talent and coaching to reach the Sugar Bowl, or a BCS At Large, but I can’t quite put them in the top spot this year.

(Predicted regular season finish: 10-2)

Read the rest of the post and comments here >>

Bears in the NFL: Preseason Style [Week 3]

[Edit: After Justin Forsett's eye opening performance last week against Chicago last week, Forsett struggled mightily in his Week 3 performance. Forsett rushed 4 times for only 9 yards, and fumbled twice, once on a run and once on his 7 yard reception.]

We begin to wrap up Week 3 of the NFL Preseason Week 3 with a look at some of our Golden Bears in action. Some are trying to make their rosters, while others are looking to take control of their teams at starting positions.

Desean Jackson continues his impressive preseason and is nearly a lock for a starting spot with Kevin Curtis’ recent injury. Jackson AGAIN led the team in both receiving yards and catches. Action Jackson reminded Cal faithful and introduced Philadelphia fans to perhaps his most dynamic talent in special teams, returning a punt for 76 yards and his first preseason NFL score. Again, only the preseason, but you have to think that Jackson is going to contribute a lot more, and a lot sooner than many might have expected.

JJ Arrington had only 2 carries in his campaign to fight for the 2^nd running back spot behind Edgerrin James in Arizona, but it was all he needed to make his case. Arrington had had 71 yards on the day, with most yards coming from a 64 yard TD run midway through the 3^rd quarter. I was a bit afraid that Arrington would get caught from behind like he had a tendency to do with some of his long runs at Cal, but JJ was able to dive into the endzone just in time.

Marshawn Lynch had another quiet game in limited action rushing the ball 4 times for 2 yards. Don’t you worry folks, Lynch will be in full beastmode when the regular season starts.

Aaron Rodgers bounced back from a rough outing at San Francisco with a nearly flawless game against Denver. Rodgers led scoring drives on 4 of his 5 possessions with Green Bay’s offense and finished the game 18-22 on 192 yards passing includinh a 10 yard TD strike to Donald Driver on the opening drive of the game. Rodgers also rushed 3 times for 5 yards and a touchdown. This appears to be somewhat indicative of what the upcoming season might be like for Rodgers, who is sure to go through his share of ups and downs as his first season as Green Bay’s starter.

Craig Stevens had one catch for 11 yards in Tennessee’s loss to Atlanta on Friday night.

On the defensive side of the ball, Desmond Bishop contributed 3 solo tackles for Green Bay. Matt Giordano had 2 tackles, and teammate Dante Hughes also had 2 solo and 1 assisted.

Read the rest of the post and comments here >>

Preseason Top 25: 11-15

We continue on with our look at BearswithFangs' Preseason Top 25 with Spots 11-15. But first, here's a quick recap of who's been mentioned so far:

#15 BYU – Is this the year that BYU escapes from the Las Vegas Bowl hell and breaks through into the BCS fold with a perfect season? I’d venture with a “no,” but I still think they’ll have a heck of a season. An undefeated season isn’t out of the question mind you, but with games against two Pac-10 Squads (albeit mediocre ones in UCLA and Washington) and games at TCU, Air Force and Utah to end the season, I wouldn’t quite declare the schedule “gimme-free.” The rest of their schedule looks fine enough, and 9 returning offensive starters from an 11-2 squad incites me to believe we could be looking at another 10-2 season before being sucked back into the Las Vegas Bowl.

(Predicted regular season finish: 10-2)

#14 - South Florida – The Bulls emerged from nowhere in 2007, after having entered the season unranked, to become #2 in the country midseason. However, the Bulls finished poorly, losing three straight games before being blown out by Oregon in the Sun Bowl. An incredibly young program, it appeared the team wasn’t yet experienced enough to handle the brunt of the schedule. I don’t expect that to be the case this year, as the team has 17 returning starters, highlighted by an incredibly strong front 7. Their toughest games are hosting Kansas on 9/12 and playing at West Virginia to end the season (who they’ve beaten the last two years). They also play at Louisville and Cincinnati, but I expect them to only drop 2 or 3 games this year, which should be good enough to peg them in at the 14^th spot.

(Predicted regular season finish: 10-2)

("I HATE SIDEBURNS!")

#13 LSU – Let’s get it out of the way right now—I don’t expect the Bayou Bengals to repeat as National Champs. Sorry LSU fans. If it's any solace to you all, you guys never cared what I thought in the first place. But for what it's worth, I do think you guys will have a solid season. LSU is currently searching for a quarterback after predicted starter Ryan Perrilloux was kicked to the curb after his troubled tenure there. LSU also lost a lot of defensive talent in Glenn Dorsey, Chevis Jackson, Ali Highsmith, and Craig Steltz to the NFL, but the good news is that they have a ton of talent waiting in the wings with 24 lettermen waiting to make College Gameday highlight film. LSU’s schedule is arguably more demanding than last year’s, and it may be a challenge to even win the SEC West this year. I still see them potentially making a BCS at-large bid, but the Outback Bowl is looking more likely at this point.

(Predicted regular season finish: 9-3)

#12 Texas Tech – Like Tommy Bowden at Clemson, this year’s squad at Texas Tech will present Mike Leach’s best chance for a BCS Bowl Bid. If Leach can’t win with his talent this year, many will question whether Leach’s style of offense will ever break through to the BCS level. Fortunately, Texas Tech benefits from a huge O-line, 18 returning starters, and darkhorse Heisman candidates, WR Michael Crabtree and QB Graham Harrell. The Red Raiders could very well be 8-0 before hosting the Longhorns in early November. Assuming they avoid any slip ups, a 10-2 finish is very possible. Depending on how the college football landscape looks by early December, it just may be enough for that illustrious BCS bowl.

(Predicted regular season finish: 10-2)

(Michael Crabtree Highlights)

#11 Wisconsin – Brett Bielema has established Wisconsin as one of the premier programs in the country. The numbers don’t lie. The Badgers have played 4 January Bowl games the past four seasons, each with at least 9 wins. Bielema is 21-5 himself as a coach. They play some solid football in Madison. The schedule this year may provide one of the toughest challenges to the Bielema era however. Despite a cakewalk first the two games, and a breezy final three, the middle chunk of Wisconsin’s schedule is packed tight with a tough non-conference game with Fresno State and a gauntlet of formidable Big Ten foes. While Wisconsin could potentially drop 1 or 2 games to teams they should beat (Michigan, Penn State, Illinois, Michigan State), Ohio State will obviously prove to be the only expected loss from an outside standpoint. The Badgers return 17 starters including a veteran defense, with a talented and seasoned front seven. This coupled with Wisconsin’s deep running back corps., should ensure that Wisconsin will be back in the mix for another January Bowl game and a 10 win season.

(Predicted regular season finish: 10-2)

Read the rest of the post and comments here >>

Kevin Riley is your Starter [Updated]

I guess I was right. Kinda. I knew this feeling in my stomach was an indicator of something.

Kevin Riley will be the Cal Bears starter at quarterback.

[Update]

Kevin Riley as the starter: Thoughts and Updates

For one of the biggest announcements and most important decisions for the Cal football season, Jeff Tedford’s announcement of the starting quarterback fell a bit surreptitiously yesterday. Media members and journalists arrived at Memorial Stadium to cover the light positional drills yesterday and to receive any updates from Coach Tedford in regards to the depth chart. Yet, many knew that was something different was in the air upon observing that redshirt sophomore Kevin Riley took all the snaps with the first team offense. As practice ended and Tedford walked towards the media, reporters and journalists readied their cameras and voice recorders—they knew what was coming.

Tedford stated that he had another meeting to go to, and didn’t have time to address the media.

Hahah…but seriously. "Kevin is going to start, might as well cut to the chase," Tedford said. "Kevin's going to start the first game. We feel like both of them have had great camps. Kevin's going to take the first snaps, and we'll see how it goes from there."

No backflips. No press conferences. And not a single word from Nate Longshore who decline to comment before walking into the locker room. Perhaps the reason why such an eagerly anticipated decision was so announced so quietly is because the decision isn’t as final as many would assume.

Coach Tedford has announced that both quarterbacks, regardless of who was starting, would get playing time in the season opener. "Nate will play (against Michigan State)," Tedford said. "I don't know exactly when."

With the first game of the season a little more than a week away, a decision had to be made. Someone had to work with the first team. The team had to know who QB1 was going to be (Friday Night Lights reference yo) and had to mentally prepare accordingly. That person is going to be Riley.

However, to use a cliché for the lack of a better metaphor, the decision is set in pencil, not in stone. [Edit: My friend Eric just let me know this analogy makes no sense. So to revise it: "the decision is set in sand, not in stone." There. Better.] The evaluation process will continue through next week, and possibly through the next few games, just as Tedford said it would months ago. It’s not out of the question that Nate could become the starter again at some point in the season. More than anything, Tedford may have the sense Riley is ultimately the better QB for the team, but may need to see him more in real game situations to feel confident in his decision.

Fan reaction to Tedford’s decision hasn’t been as stifled however. Browsing Cal blog comments and message boards, many appear to be marking the moment as the ushering in of a new era in Cal football. I get the sense that some feel as though Tedford’s decision was a no-brainer and has finally “grown some.” Others who feel guilty for having doubted Tedford. Most who feel Riley is Moses in cleats waiting to lead the old Blue faithful to the promised land.

Look, let’s not get too ahead of ourselves. I have many reasons to believe that we are in a very good situation with our quarterbacks. That is, barring any major injuries, I don’t think quarterback will be a serious weakness for our offense this year. With that said, let’s see what Riley can do in a full season. He’s played 2 meaningful games, and has been dramatically dynamic in both (both good and bad). Let’s remember that Longshore was 15-3 as a starter and nearly led the Bears to the Rose Bowl, before he was injured and subsequently had Cal fans around the world crap on him as the worst QB ever.

Performances can fluctuate. Opinions can change. And as most Cal fans know, expectations can often times not be met. But there’s a lot to be excited about as we count down the days and hours until the canon goes off to mark the beginning of the season. Let’s see what happens and be ready to validated or blown away if Kevin Riley is indeed going to lead Cal into the Golden Era of Cal Football.

A few links:

Daily Cal Coverage of the Announcement.

Jonathan Okane's Post on the News.

Tedford announces Riley as the starter. (What is that on Riley's face?)

Read the rest of the post and comments here >>

Depth chart questions

It’s officially week until the start of college football season and 9 days until Cal’s opener against Michigan State. As I am wetting my pants while writing the season to begin, I’m intrigued by the position battles and the impending yet tentative depth charts that will begin emerging. Yesterday, the coaching staff met to review and discuss personnel decisions, as they begin to prepare for MSU. Nothing will be really set in stone, and expect some flip flopping here and there, but we should begin getting a better idea of the starting rotations by this evening.

Here are my thoughts and predictions regarding a few of the position battles:

Quarterback: Nate Longshore vs. Kevin Riley.

The most publicly notable position battle is one that still has Cal fans holding their breath and scratching their heads. Up until two weeks ago, I was convinced that Nate Longshore was going to take the field on opening day as the Bears’ starter. While I expected Riley to get increased playing time this year, I though Longshore was too safe a pick in the eyes of the coaching staff to not have him start the season. However, with Kevin Riley’s markedly improved performances in Fall camp the past few weeks, I’m beginning to think Coach Tedford may go with the upside and begin the Riley era now. All in all, I still think Longshore will emerge as the starter, but I’m less certain now than ever.

Pick? Longshore. Confidence Factor? 7/10.

(Who's it going to be?)

Cornerback: Chris Conte vs. Darian Hagan.

One would presume that the player who started 3 games, and played in 13 last season as a true freshman would have a leg up on other competitors for the other starting spot opposite Syd’Quan Thompson. But touted recruit Darian Hagan, a redshirt sophomore, stepped up his game towards the end of last season and is playing his best ball so far at Cal. Defensive Coordinator Bob Gregory has given no hints as to who has the leg up at this point, but has assured that both will be playing. In effect, the “starter” may end up playing just as much as the other corner at this point. Still, I have to make a pick for the sake of this discussion, and as capricious as my pick might be, I’m going to go with my gut and think that Hagan gets first shot and first team snaps.

Pick? Hagan. Confidence Factor? 5/10

(Who's going to lock it down?)

Kicker: Jordan Kay vs. David Seawright

Walk on freshman David Seawright has all but locked up the kickoff duties. Tedford has been a fan of kicking off the ball so it caught as close to the goal line as possible, but with Cal’s ability to give up the big play every so often on kick offs, look for Cal to begin just booting the ball through the uprights on kickoffs. Seawright would be the man for the job as a majority of his kicks went through the endzone in high school. Jordan Kay, while perfect on point after attempts, was only 13-20 on field goals, and 7 of 14 on field goals 30 yards or longer. While Kay has apparently improved his accuracy in camp, he’s being pushed hard by Seawright who is quickly learning to match his leg power with accuracy. While it’s very possible that Special Teams Coach Peter Alamar sends Kay out there with a short leash knowing he has a capable backup in Seawright, I’m thinking Seawright gets the nod for both kickoff and field goal duties.

Pick? David Seawright. Confidence? 8/10.

Nose Tackle: Mika Kane vs. Derrick Hill

Again, much like the Conte/Hagan situation, expect a pretty fluid rotation of linemen this year. With that said, the nose tackle position is going to be much more critical this year for the defense, as the 3-4 will depend more on the nose tackle to initiate double teams and plug up the line. Both appear to get a fairly equal share of playing time between the two. However, with Hill not significantly outplaying Kane (although both have been sidelined with injuries) in camp, expect Kane to run with the first team if he can be healthy and get enough practice reps in before the season opener.

Pick? Mika Kane. Confidence? 6/10.

(Who looks meaner?)

Read the rest of the post and comments here >>

Preseason Top 25: 16-20

We continue with our Preseason countdown with #16-20.

#20 Oregon – Call me one of the initial haters. It was hard for me to imagine Oregon’s offense being as dangerous as it was last year without its two star players: Dennis Dixon and Jonathan Stewart. The entire nation saw what happened to its offense without Dixon after his season ending injury: Consecutive losses to Arizona, UCLA and OSU. However, while I’m not fully drinking the green kool-aid, I still think Oregon has firmly put itself in position to fight for the #2 spot in the conference. I firmly expect RB Jeremiah Johnson to be one of the premier backs in the conference, and coaches are raving about expected QB starter Nate Costa. But more importantly, Oregon’s defense returns 7 starters including a star studded and experienced secondary. With a young QB (no matter how talented) and a road schedule that features the toughest conference teams on the road (USC, ASU, OSU, Cal), I’m predicting the Sun Bowl for the Ducks this year. (Predicted regular season finish: 8-4)

(That's a whole lot of...hair.)

#19 Penn State – I could have had the Nittany Lions pegged much higher for a couple of reasons. They are re-implementing the spread offense. The last time they ran the spread? 2005. When they won the Big Ten title and went 11-1. This year, they do it with arguably more talent at each position with the exception of QB. And I could also consider a defense with 8 returning starters who should still have a solid linebacking corps. despite losing Chris Lee for the season in the spring. Also, Penn State’s only real non-conference threat this year is Oregon State who has traditionally sputtered against non-conference opponents early in the season. However, much of PSU’s success this year will be contingent on how they handle the challenge of a 5 game stretch in which they face Illinois, Purdue and Wisconsin away, Michigan, and oh yeah, the Buckeyes at the Horseshoe. Drop only one or two of those, and expect the Lions to float to another 10-2 regular season finish. Lose the first two conference games back to back however, and they could go into a tailspin. (Predicted regular season finish: 9-3)

#18 Texas – Love him or hate him (I side with the latter), you have to respect what Mack Brown has done at Texas. Although the team enters into the season with questions at nearly every position, you have to think that a team that has had seven consecutive 10-win seasons is a lock for another Top 25 finish. However, with Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas Tech, and Kansas all on their schedule this year, I predict that it may be another year before the Longhorns are in the mix for another Big 12 Championship and BCS Bowl. (Predicted Regular season finish: 9-3)


#17 Tennessee - The Volunteers will have another challenge in front of them coming off an SEC east Title. The heat again will be on Phil Fulmer to produce (as it is every year in Tenn) despite losing his offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe. The Bad News? QB Erik Ainge is gone to the NFL. The Good News? The Volunteers return 7 starters from an offense that is much more experienced than the unit that took the field at Memorial Stadium last season. The Bad News for the Defense? The Volunteers need to replace 1st round draft pick LB Jerod Mayo, but return LB Rico McCoy and SS Eric Berry with 4 other returning starters. The beginning of the season looks tough with UCLA, UAB, Florida, and @ Auburn (although going to the Rose Bowl doesn't look as tough as it did 8 months ago). However, Tennessee could very well be 1-3 going into October. Or they could be 3-1. In either case, it's hard to imagine Tennessee not losing 3 games or so this year with road trips at Auburn, Georgia, and South Carolina, in addition to games against Florida and increasingly feisty Miss State. I think Fulmer has enough talent to aim for 3rd in the SEC East this year. (Predicted regular season finish: 9-3)

(3rd just ain't good enough.)

#16 Cal - So here's the thing about the Bears. I can see Cal going 10-2 this year. I can also just as easily see us going 6-6 with all the questions the team has going into its season opener against Michigan State. Who will be the QB? How will the 3-4 defense work against the Pac-10? Will Frank Cignettin's playcalling help or hurt the Bears? Who will be kicking? How will a brand new receiving corps do in the pass heavy Pac-10? How will the new uniforms look? My goodness. The logical prediction would be to aim somewhere in between 6 and 10 wins and look at a 8-4 regular season. Call me an eternal optimist. Or a Cal blogger who's read more about the Bears in the past week than many do in a given year. Given what I've read and heard, I really do think that Jeff Tedford's squad has a chance to surprise a lot of people this year. The Bears's success will ride heavily on Cal's O-line, a more experienced and hungry defense, and a team who has committed to rid themselves of any and all issues that may have led to last year's 1-6 regular season finish. Given all of Cal's questions, a 9-3 finish and a Holiday Bowl will be considered a huge accomplishment for even the most cynical of Cal fans. (Predicted regular season finish: 9-3)

Read the rest of the post and comments here >>

Preseason Top 25: 21-25

It's time for BearswithFangs' Preseason Top 25 List!

That's right, it's the time of the year when the pundits begin the process of overhyping media team darlings and destroying BCS hopes for others before a single snap has even been played. Ahh...it's August in college football season folks.

Here's the thing though, I run the ship a little differently here. Instead of pegging teams in terms of where I think they'll start the season, I breakdown where I think the teams will be by the end of the regular season. So I try my best to take into account a team's strength of schedule in addition to their talent, and coaching.

Why do I do it this way? 1) Because it's more fun this and 2) because I'm the freakin' man. And here we go.

#25 Utah – Can Utah beat a rebuilding Michigan this year to begin the season? If so, this could be a great year for the Utes. Utah will have the non-conference pedigree (even more so if they can knock off OSU in October) to make a strong BCS bowl bid this year. Much of their success will ride on the arm and the legs of injury-riddled QB Brian Johnson. You can’t knock the productivity he’s had when he’s been healthy. Johnson ran for 478 yards and 8 TDs and passed for 2,892 yards and 18 TDs in his last full healthy season as a starter. If he can match that level of productivity, expect Utah to put up a lot of points on their Mountain West foes. While Utah’s secondary should be strong and experienced, they have a number of questions to answer at other units, as they are incredibly young and inexperienced at the D-line and linebacker position. Still, Utah should have the talent to compete for a conference title. (Predicted Regular Season Finish: 9-3)


#24 Pittsburgh – This could very well be the year that Dave Wannstedt finally pulls it together—that is, pull his team out of the cellars of mediocrity and finally compete for a conference championship. It’s hard for me to fully get on the Pitt train with USF and West Virginia in the mix, but it’s still possible. Despite going 5-7 last, year, Pittsburgh lost 4 games by a TD or less, and they should be returning more talent and experience this year on both sides of the ball. Their offensive strength will be their running game with Lesean McCoy and LaRod Stephens-Howling as a backup. Their passing game, the offense’s weak point last year (104th in the nation in passing offense) should be improved with junior QB Bill Stull returning from his season ending thumb injury last year. The Panthers also have experience in each defensive unit, so while not spectacular, the defense should prove to be decent, if not solid. Pittsburgh will have to show that the grit and maturity they demonstrated in their season ending win over West Virginia will carry over and continue through this season, particularly towards the end when they face Cincinatti, West Virginia, and Connecticut (combined 30-9 record last year) to finish the season. I’m predicting a 3rd place finish in the conference and a Top 25 ranking come December. (Predicted Regular Season Finish: 9-3)


#23 Fresno State - It's been awhile since Fresno State has won a WAC Title, but the Bulldogs have a lot of people thinking a conference championship this year with 16 returners starting. And it doesn't stop there. A number of pundits have pegged Fresno State as the sexy pick to make a run for a BCS Bowl. I'll say it again: I don't expect a non-BCS team to pull a Hawaii or Boise St. this year. And as experienced as the Bulldogs are, I don't expect them to knock off Wisconsin in one of their tougher non-conference games. I do however, think they'll be solid enough to roll through most of their conference competition to play Boise State for the conference title on Nov. 28. The WAC's lack of strength this year will keep the Bulldogs lower in the polls despite only dropping 2 games this year. No undefeated business from a non-BCS team this year. (Predicted Regular Season Finish: 10-2)

(Damn...he really looks a bulldog.)

#22 Illinois – Coach Ron Zook has begun seeing the fruits of his recruiting labors. While the Fighting Illini haven’t shown they’re quite ready for the national stage yet (see USC thrashing at the Rose Bowl), the fact that Zook even got them there (albeit controversially), is a testament to what the Zookster has done in such a short amount of time (remember when they were 1-11?). Illinois hurts after having lost RB Rashard Mendenhall in the first round of last year’s NFL draft, but expect Juice Williams to step up his game. Or he had better. If Illinois’ secondary can also step up a bit, they have a chance to be one of the premier defenses in the conference behind the Buckeyes. Illinois has a brutal opener against Missouri, and will have to be nearly flawless at home to aim for the Capital One Bowl this year. I get the feeling that the Rose Bowl won’t be calling for them this year though, with the OSU, Mizzou, Wisconsin on their plate. I also think they may drop a game to Penn State or Michigan. 8-4 it is then. (Predicted Regular Season Finish 8-4)

#21 Wake Forest – You have to respect what Jim Grobe has done at Wake Forest. For the past several years, Grobe has found a way to consistently put the program in contention for the ACC Atlantic title. Much of the program’s success however, will be nearly completely dependent on QB Riley Skinner, who when not showing off his schlong (don't ask) led them to their first ACC Atlantic title since 1970 in his first season as a starter. In essence, the Demon Deacons don’t win without him. He’ll have to play behind a young offensive line however. Fortunately, the team has 9 returning starters from a solid D on the other side of the ball, who will keep the Deacons competitive through the first 4 games of the season. They benefit from facing Clemson at home, and not having to face Virginia Tech at all. While this probably won’t be the year to win another Atlantic title, another 8-4 season going into a bowl game is quite reasonable. (Predicted Regular Season Finish 8-4) Read the rest of the post and comments here >>

Fall Camp Recap: Week 2

Again, Jonathan Okanes at BearTalk and Andrew Kim and Matt Kawahara at the Daily Cal have been doing a spectacular job with Fall Camp coverage. It’s the best I’ve seen in a while Daily Cal’s video interviews with the coaching staff and players have been helpful as well. Definitely check them out if you want up to date info and notes as to what’s happened in camp so far.

For your convenience, a quick summary of all that transpired in Week 2:

-Jahvid continues to amaze at practice and is shaping up to meet the team’s hopes in terms of health, and exceed everyone else’s in terms of performance. Ted Miller at ESPN has a pretty good piece on him in his blog today.

-The QB Competition is heating up, with both QBs stepping up their game after having been unimpressive for a period over the weekend. Kevin Riley, in particular has been coming on very strong, and has had a few better days than Longshore recently. All in all, it’s what you want to hear from camp reports regarding a QB battle—both QBs stepping up their game.

-The kicking competition also continues with Jordan Kay and freshman David Seawright. The expected starter should be decided after Cal’s final scrimmage tomorrow on Tuesday.

-Both units are seeing their share of injury, although none appear to be as serious as what’s happened to a few players in LA (cough jock itch). A few of the injuries: Mika Kane (ankle sprain), Derrick Hill (ankle sprain), Worrell Williams (abdominal strain – has returned), Syd’Quan Thompson (sprained shoulder), Marcus Ezeff (thigh bruise – has returned), Michael Calvin (sprained toe), Tracy Slocum (turf toe – ouch)

Read the rest of the post and comments here >>

Cal Fan Appreciation Day: An even better reason

The Jersey looks awesome Michelle.

As if there weren't already a great reason to attend Saturday's Fan Appreciation Day at Memorial Stadium from 12-2 (to meet players and coaches, get autographs and take photos), the program has provided an even greater one.

The Golden Bears have partnered with Project Michelle to support Michelle Maykin, a Cal grad who was diagnosed with leukemia earlier this year. Members of the Cal football team, its coaching staff and the University athletic department staff will be registering to be potential donors at the marrow drive being held at Saturday's event. Staff from the Asian American Donor Program (part of the National Marrow Donor Program network) along with volunteers from Project Michelle will be present to register potential donors.

Michelle is a true Cal fan, a season ticket owner, and even named her dog "Marshawn" after Marshawn Lynch.

So come on all, come out Saturday, and show your support for the program, and more importantly, an even greater cause.

Check out the Cal site for more details here.

Read the rest of the post and comments here >>

Bears in the NFL: Preseason Style [Week 2 Update]

Justin Forsett had a monster game for the Seahawks, accumulating a ridiculous (by preseason standards) 136 yards on 15 carries, scoring a TD while carrying former LSU safety Craig Steltz in the end zone. Forsett also demonstrated his workhorse skills with 2 kickoff returns for 70 yards and 5 punt returns for 47 yards. Oh and he caught a ball for 8 yards too. I know shouldn't be so excited by preseason action, but I was worried Forsett would even make the team with Seattle's crowded backfield situation. Screw that. Move the guy up in the depth chart.

"I don't even need this."
(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

The biggest story out of the weekend involving any former Bears players is most likely to be Aaron Rodgers' second preseason game as the starting QB. Much was anticipated with Rodgers making his return to his hometown fans (or as hometown as you can get when you're from Chico) and to play against the team that had passed him up with the first overall pick in the 2005 Draft.

Rodgers didn't have much to celebrate however, as he was unable to match last week's solid start. Rodgers was 9 of 16 for 58 yards, and was sacked a whopping 4 times. It didn't help that Rodgers two best passes were drops, most importantly a drop by a wide open Donald Lee that would have gone for a TD. Still, Rodgers was hassled by the Niners' pass rush all game, and Green Bay's offense as a whole struggled.

On the a related note, Tully Banta-Cain had a strong performance with the second unit, contributing 2 tackles, 2 sacks, and a forced fumble.

Kyle Boller had a "meh" day for the Ravens, going 8-12 for 40 yards and an INT. He seems locked in a battle for the starting spot with former Heisman winner Troy Smith. Fortunately, Smith didn't play much better. Don't worry Kyle. If the Ravens use Smith's Heisman pedigree as leverage against you, just tell them you can throw a football through the uprights-on your knees.

JJ Arrington had a spectacular day in the return game, with 2 kickoff returns for 104 yards, with a long of 78. He also had 2 rushes for 13 yards for the Cardinals and 1 rec for 5 yards.

Read the rest of the post and comments here >>

Bears in the NFL: Preseason Style [Week 2]

Another week of Preseason Football, and another round of solid performances by some former Cal players in the NFL preseason games. Let’s a take a quick look to see how some them did.

Desean Jackson – Jackson again led the Eagles in catches and receiving yards with another impressive game. A few drops in the rainy weather didn’t stop “Fraction Jackson” (as they like to call him on the NFL Network) from catching 7 balls for 71 yards. He still looks like he’s getting suplexed on every tackle though.

Craig Stevens – Stevens had another quiet preseason game, mainly blocking with the second and third units, though he did contribute one catch for 8 yards.

Lavelle Hawkins – “The Hawk” finally had the chance to show off what he could do after being relegated to mainly blocking duties last week. Hawkins led the team in receiving yards with 70 yards on two catches, including a long a 51 yarder TD catch in which Hawkins eluded two defenders before diving into the end zone. And yes, he did “The Hawk” Dance. Hawkins also had 2 kickoff returns, each for 24 yards.

Marshawn Lynch – Another quiet week for Beastmode, as he again limited carries. No reason to force anything with him, as everyone in Buffalo saw what Lynch could last year. Lynch rushed 5 times for 25 yards and had one reception for 8 yards. On a side note, Trent Edwards is showing he’s not too shabby when he has an offensive line to play behind. He’s still a dousche though.

Adimchinobe Echemandu – Being buried in the 5^th spot in the Raider’s backfield depth chart (behind McFadden, Fargas, Bush, and former Huskies tailback Louis Rankin) didn’t stop Echemandu from making the most of his opportunity in mop up duties. Joe was the leading rusher for the Raiders with 77 yards on only 3 carries, most of the yards coming on a long 71 yarder he broke out for late in the game. Echemandu didn’t have a chance to punch the ball though, as the Raiders inexplicably decided to give it to their full back who subsequently fumbled the ball allowing the Titans to rally back for the game winning field goal.

“We want to win. The Raider fans deserve it. The Raider players deserve it.”

Check in later in the weekend to see how Aaron Rodgers does against the Niners who passed him up in the draft, and to see if Justin Forsett can match his performance from last week.

Read the rest of the post and comments here >>

Aaron Rodgers Flash Animation

Found this on ESPN Page 2. So true. Totally forgot about Matt Jones. Geez. Matt Freaking Jones. Click on the image to go to see it.

Read the rest of the post and comments here >>

Fall Camp Recap: Week 1

So I’m not officially part of the Cal “media” per say. Apparently, Cal officials feel as though stalking Jeff Tedford and falling asleep in Jahvid Best’s car doesn’t really grant me press privileges. Whatever. So what this means is that I’m unable to attend any of Cal’s closed fall practices and am therefore unable to report on what’s happening in fall camp first hand.

Fortunately, there are journalists who Cal are allowed to attend, have been doing a pretty good job reporting on most of main details. Particularly Jonathan Okanes who consistently puts up good work at Bear Talk as well as Andrew Kim over at the Daily Cal.

A quick synopsis for what we’ve learned and what we know so far about the Bears since they opened camp a little over a week ago:

-Jahvid Best is back to his blazing, explosive self. While coaches and media members are all collectively holding the breath every time he touches the ball, and cringing every time he gets hit, Best appears to be showing that he is fully recovered from his hip injury last fall and appears to be ready to be THE man when it comes to Cal’s rushing attack this fall. Oh, and even after having added ten pounds of muscle, Best thinks he’s even faster now.

-As for the all important QB Battle, both redshirt senior Nate Longshore and redshirt sophomore Kevin Riley seem to be pretty evenly. While Longshore has had a few better practices, Riley has also done pretty well running with the first team.

-By the way, Nate thinks this team is the most talented team we’ve had.

- However, Tedford didn’t seem too pleased with the passing game from either quarterback yesterday. The defense appears to be a little bit ahead of the offense, which is no surprise at this point in the year.

-While many have pegged Nyan Boateng, Michael Calvin, and Jeremy Ross as our starters this fall, a handful of receivers may have something to say about it. Coach Tedford has stated that senior receiver Sean Young has had the most consistent camp thus far of any receiver and is certainly expected to see some playing time. And Marvin Jones is living up to the hype as the new #1. One of the top 25 receivers in the country as a 4 star recruit, Jones appears to be showing he has what it takes to play right away this year.

-One of the more interesting battles in Fall camp however, will be who grabs the other starting cornerback spot between Chris Conte and Darian Hagan opposite Syd’Quan Thompson. Conte has the experience having started a number of games last year as a true freshman, but Hagan appears to have gotten his act together on the practice field and is make a strong push in camp.

-Cameron Morrah is catching nearly everything coming his way. Couple him with newly converted tight end Tad Smith, and Bears fans can be excited about the role our tight ends might play in our passing game this fall.

-Them Bears Be Hitting Hard. Injuries are beginning to slow the team as a good number of players have had to sit out a few sessions. They include: Tracey Slocum (stinger), Covaughn Deboskie (concussion), Shane Vereen (ankle), Anthony Felder (swollen knee), Chet Teofilo (hamstrong), Mike Tepper (pectoral muscle), Charles Amadi (concussion), Michael Costanzo (concussion), Jesse Brooks (concussion) Zack Follet (groin), Mika Kane (ankle). Geez. At least it’s not like UCLA’s situation. Knock on wood.

-Finally, the Cal D-Line looks to be much improved this year. Part of it is because of our scheme. Another part is because players like Derrick Hill are realizing it’s time to live up to the hype. And another is because of their new D-Line coach.

Read the rest of the post and comments here >>

Bears in the NFL: Preseason Style [Update]

Danzig has again shown why is the man when it comes to Cal football highlights. He's put together all the plays involving Desean Jackson and Justin Forsett from their respective weekend performances. No music, but you can have your iTunes running in the background while they play. Kanye West's "Stronger"? Fort Minor's "Remember the Name"? The Pussycat Dolls' "When I Grow Up?" Whatever floats your boat.






Oh and as for Aaron Rodgers, the Tedford QB had a solid first outing kicking off the Aaron Rodgers era in Green Bay. Coming out to a warm (partly standing) ovation, Rodgers was efficient going 9-15 for 107 yards. He recovered from an interception off a deflection to lead two consecutive scoring drives, with a 30 yard TD strike to James Jones to finish the first quarter.

Again, nothing to read into too much for the first exhibition game, but a solid outing and impressive first game for Rodgers. He will need to be able to lead similar scoring drives on a consistent basis, for like 15 years, to put this whole Favre business behind him. Read the rest of the post and comments here >>

Bears in the NFL: Preseason Style

I’ll admit it. I love the NFL preseason. Not nearly as much as the regular season of course, and nowhere near as much as I love college football, but I have to say, me like-eeh some preseason action. Maybe it’s because I’ve been so starved for anything football related, and sorry AFL, for many reasons, you just don’t count. Or maybe it’s because I’m intrigued with how some of the former college players perform in their first NFL snaps. Will Desean Jackson silence the critics in his first NFL snaps? Does Justin Forsett show what he has to make the roster? My goodness, I’m getting excited.

I took a quick look at how some of former Cal Bears players have done in week 1 of the NFL Preseason.

Desean Jackson: THA1 (now THA10) was the star offensively for the Eagles this past weekend, leading the receiving corps. with 5 rec eptions for 51 yards including a spectacular 19 yard catch in which Jackson leaped and caught a ball thrown behind him before getting hit hard to the turf. Jackson said of his first game: “It felt good. It’s football, it’s what I play. It’s nothing different, just going out and trying to make the same plays.” So far so good.

("Welcome to the NFL.")

DAVID MAIALETTI / Philadelphia Daily News

Justin Forsett: Had a solid outing carrying the rock 13 times for 58 yards. He had significantly more carries than “MoMo” Maurice Morris, Julius Jones, and TJ Duckett. While I still expect Forsett to fight to make the roster, it was incredibly encouraging to see him get the bulk of the work running the ball on Friday Night.

Marshawn Lynch: As the starter and cornerstone of Buffalo’s offense, it doesn’t come as a surprise that they decided to rest Beastmode. Lynch only rushed the ball 3 times for 9 yards.

Kyle Boller: 11/15 for 102 yards and an INT. (73.3 QB Rating). Boller had an efficient day as he fights to hold the starting QB position from Troy Smith and rookie Joe Flacco. Boller connected with Derrick Mason on a number of long passes, but marred his performance after throwing into triple coverage.

A few other notables:

Craig Stevens had 1 catch for 11 yards in his debut…Thomas Decoud contributed 2 tackles as a free safety for the Atlanta Flacons…Brandon Mebane, now a full time starter for the Seahawks, saw limited action with 1 assisted tackle…Dante Hughes showed he had fully recovered from last year’s shoulder injury with 2 tackles and 1 pass breakup…while former Cal backs JJ Arrington rushed twice for 8 yards with a 5 yard reception and Adimchinobi Echemandu had 5 rushes for 21 yards for Oakland’s crowded backfield.

The Big ?

The Big Question that remains is how former Cal QB Aaron Rodgers will do in tonight’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Granted, Rodgers will see limited action as the starter, and very little can be learned from a QB in preseason, but as Tedford would say “No question about it”…all eyes will be the quarterback from Chico this evening.

Read the rest of the post and comments here >>

How Good are our Cal Linebackers?

(credit: Norman Mo)

No I ain’t tryin’ ta be a busta and be hatin’. I simply figured it was a legitimate question worth asking. Don’t get me wrong, I think our linebackers will be among the nation’s best this year. And everyone knows our starting linebackers are supposed to be the strength not only of our defense, but our team as a whole. With three returning senior starters, and a plethora of young talent who will get their fair share of playing time, our linebacking crew this year appears to be the only sure unit for a young Cal squad filled with questions going into the fall.

However, one has to wonder how much of the hype surrounding our linebacking corp this year has been generated from years of outstanding linebacker play, and how much of it is the result of a deep longing for solidity on the defensive side of the ball. More simply put, are we excited about this years’ linebackers because of what we’ve seen them do, or because of what we hope they will do?

To help illustrate my points, BearswithFangs is hyphied out to show off some Cal Linebacker highlights from none other than Danzig himself, who has made a name for himself among Cal fans the past year as THE source for Cal video highlights.







Reasons to be scared:
-Inconsistency.
As talented as the linebacking corp. has been thus far, all three starters have shown moments of inconsistency the past few years. In fact, starters Worrell Williams and Anthony Felder performances were so inconsistent last year that they actually lost their starting spots in two games towards the backend of Cal’s slide last season to seniors Greg Van Hoesen and Justin Moye.


And to clarify, by “inconsistent,” I simply mean a varying propensity to be out of position or to miss tackles. It’s not a matter of nitpicking, it’s a matter of the lasting impression I have from a few previous games, namely allowing Washington to rush for 334 yards, after having allowed USC to rush for 239 yards the week prior. Cal ranked an 76th in the nation in sacks per game and an abysmal 110th in tackles for a loss per game, last in the Pac-10 in both categories. Much can be said about the Cal team as a whole playing poorly during the “Callapse,” but the fact still remains that the linebacking crew were at times unimpressive.

(Hmmm...)

We’ve seen enough big plays from the squad that I don’t believe that any issues were the result of a lack of talent, or athleticism. Nor do I profess to know exactly why the unit didn’t play “lights out” every game as we knew they had the ability to do. Whether it was a lack of focus or leadership, there were a few moments that left Cal fans wondering where to look to for defensive inspiration last year.

-Injuries.
While Worrell Williams has remained relatively healthy the past few seasons, the other two starters have not been as fortunate. Zack Follett has been victim to a neck stinger that put him out of action for two and a half games last year. The length of time that Follett was sidelined was not so much of a concern as the type of injury he incurred, involving nerves and discs in the neck. It’s the type of injury that one is unsure one can fully recover from, especially for a player that plays with the motor and impact that Follett does.

Anthony Felder had battled injuries for most of his first two years at Cal before having a healthy and productive season his Junior Year. Time will tell whether Felder will be able to keep his healthy streak going.

With the increased play that all three linebackers will see this year, it will be absolutely critical that they are able to remain healthy and mainly injury free if Cal is to be as productive on offense as they are expected to be.

Reasons to be excited:
-3-4.
The new scheme will allow the best players more opportunities to make big plays. Don’t believe me? Consider this: Zack Follett recorded more than half as many sacks as the entire Cal defensive line last year, despite missing nearly 3 full games. Even more shocking, Follett had more tackles for losses than Cal’s top four leading defensive linemen in the tackles for loss category. The top three tacklers on the team were none other than Cal’s starting linebackers.

This is not intended to be a knock on last year’s defensive line (although most will be quick to point out the drastic improvement in play Cal needs from that unit—more on that for another day). I am merely pointing out the level of production the linebacking unit achieved last year in the 4-3 scheme.


Now imagine a 3-4 scheme in which more of these playmakers can be on the field at once. Will the defense as a whole be better that last year’s. That remains to be seen (although God, I hope so). But expect to see even more linebackers planted in even more piles and highlights this year.

-Experience.
One of the most striking differences between the NFL and NCAA football is the difference a few years make in the quality of play from a player. Whereas in the NFL a player’s performance may plateau for a few years once they’ve hit their stride, collegiate player’s performance on the field is often so remarkably improved between one’s freshman year and their junior or senior year, that it’s at times it can be nearly impossible to compare the two.

Cal’s returning three starters have played solidly for the past three years, steadily improving each year with more of a pronounced role in each year’s team. However, Cal fans should be excited at the luxury of three veteran, senior linebackers, all of whom have shown themselves to be reliable, if not at times spectacular. The starters share 53 starts among the three of them, and should be ready to lead the rest of the linebacking crew all season.

-Depth.
Fall Camp will ultimately reveal who will be taking the other starting OLB spot opposite Zack Follett. While most expect Mike Mohammed to lock up the spot in the fall, an injury kept Mohammed out of most of Spring Ball, opening the doors to show what Eddie Young could do. In fact, Young played so well that Worrell Williams even predicted that Young would be the starter.

Mike Mohammed played in all 13 games last year and got the start in one of them, tallying 46 tackles and 3 pass breakups as a redshirt freshman. Mohammed finished the season strong, recording 24 tackles in his last 5 games.

Eddie Young on the other hand, had less playing time last year (recording only 12 tackles), but has an extra year of experience under his belt. His limited game time however has shown bursts of big playmaking ability however, as Young has already netted a sack, a forced fumble, and an interception in his few game appearances. Either way, one can expect that whoever will fill in will have necessary game time experience to contribute right away.

In addition to the starters, Cal has a number of linebackers who will provide perhaps the most depth of any unit on the team. DJ Holt, a redshirt freshman, was last year’s defensive scout player of the year. He was reported to have been talented enough to play right away, had it not been for the five other juniors and senior linebackers who rotated starts last year.

Devin Bishop (yes, Desmond Bishop’s younger brother) also redshirted last year despite coming to Cal as a four star prospect by Rivals and one of the best JC linebackers in the nation. If Devin can play anything like his brother, Cal fans have little to worry about.

Solomona Aigamaua, Charles Johnson, and Shea McIntyre should also be ready to contribute as well. Depth should not be an issue this year.

-Leadership.
I believe that psychology plays such an essential role in a team’s overall performance, that it’s almost funny how little it is regarded as a serious issue. However, the lack of leadership on last year’s Cal squad during their illustrious slide has been brought up countless times over the last few months, and much has been made recently about how this year will be different. From the words of Coach Jeff Tedford, to players’ vows, and seminars on fans and media have heard an enduring message throughout the offseason, leadership will not be an issue this year.

And which players specifically have stepped up? Namely Alex Mack on offense, and none other than Zack Follett and Worrell Williams on defense. Follett in particular, has made a personal mission of being a visible leader on and off the field. It is my firm belief that Follett and the other linebackers will play with more direction on the field this year, with a newly embraced sense of confidence, focus and leadership.

So should we be excited or not?

Yes. Yes you should. Call me a believer. I think we have much to look forward to in this year’s linebacking corp. Don’t believe me? Watch the highlights again. T he talent and athleticism is there. The instincts, the camaraderie are all there. And based on what we’ve heard so far from the players in camp, the leadership, trust, and drive will be there in full force.

Expect big things from our linebackers this year. One, because we have to if we hope to have more success on defense this year. But more importantly, because there’s good reason to. Read the rest of the post and comments here >>

Bear Bits: Bears in the NFL Updates, Williams Interview, and Tedford Updates His Blog

...I'll start off with this: A pic of actual Cal players rocking the new jerseys. I found this on the new Bear Insider Forum. For the record, the number 1 is being shared by the Worrell Williams and freshman receiver Marvin Jones. I know he looks short, but I’m pretty sure that’s Worrell and his massive arms sticking out of that helmet there...

...Speaking of Worrell, Ted Miller’s ESPN Blog on the Pac-10 (which is absolutely fantastic by the way) has a pretty good interview with him. Nothing groundbreaking, but it’s fun to see Miller constantly try to milk out juicy quotes or bulletin board material from Williams. It’s as if he pretty much wants Williams to declare that Cal’s ready to dominate, and WW’s going to lead the charge…

…A few updates on Bears in the NFL…

…Desean’s beginning to get his act together after annoying Eagles Head Coach Andy Reid with his inability to participate in practices after aggravating a hamstring injury. Allegedly, Jackson also turned down an offer to work out with Donovan McNabb during the offseason, wanting to work out alone in CA. Mmm...apparently you didn’t see this Desean…

…I’m really hoping Forsett makes the Seahawks roster…It’s looking tough with the crowded running back situation there, but I can assure Seattle they will not be disappointed by holding on to the guy. He’s exactly the type of guy you want on your team. Now, if Seattle were to release Forsett so he could sign a free agent deal with Buffalo to be right back behind Marshawn Lynch again…then well…

…Glen Dickey has an article up regarding the Cal QB situation. Some pretty interesting quotes to be found…

…Speaking of good quotes, here’s a good one from Tedford at the Bay Area Media Day regarding a race that took place last year between Desean Jackson and Jahvid Best (courtesy of the Daily Cal):

"They kind of raced one day, and the whole team was egging them on," Tedford said. "They took off, and Jahvid was right behind DeSean and looking at him. Then Jahvid went (past him a bit), and then out of respect he kind of pulled off a little bit, and DeSean went ahead. But I think that's just because Jahvid's a nice guy."

Doesn’t surprise me one bit. Jahvid is apparently as good of a kid as he is blazing. Which makes him the guy version of Mother Theresa…

…Oh and Coach Tedford has finally updated his blog. Yeah that’s right, Tedford has a blog. And it looks nicer than mine. Great. Read on to read the juicy details of his European excursion with his family…

Read the rest of the post and comments here >>