I would add the APR progress, started by Sonny, which has been trending upward. This ticks the box for administrators and more cerebral backers. If we can beat Stanford two out of three years and maybe take down UCLA or USC fairly regularly than I think Wilcox almost has a job for life. It's easy to say at 5-7 that we were just one win away from a bowl, or blame Covid.
Thank you for the recap and "state of the program" article. I'm excited about the transfer portal additions as well as the 2021 defensive recruits, and the return of Brett Johnson. The defense should be a solid unit. The offense is what I am worried about. Who is the Quarterback? Millner or Plummer? Do we have enough speed at WR & TE? Also, is Musgrave going to run the offense again? Or is his contract finished at the end of the month? For this team to make a huge jump, we need to be able to score 28 points or more per game, in my opinion.
Cal had another losing season in the Pac 12 last year when the conference was historically bad. Gotta believe Washington and USC are going to be markedly better next year with new and better coaching staffs and a ton of four and five stars to accelerate the improvement. DTR is coming back to UCLA, and that's not good for Cal. Oregon State is improving every year under Jonathan Smith.
I am penciling in four losses right there plus the road game against Notre Dame. I think Plummer easily wins the qb competition, but he lacks the mobility that Garbers had to escape trouble. Add in a lot of inexperience across the skill positions, and the offense takes a step backwards next year, unfortunately. I think the 2022 season is going to look a lot like the 2018 season. Perhaps an upset or two because there will be a lot of ugly and close games due to a good defense that will keep the scores down. But still 5-7 overall and a pretty happy fan base, apparently.
I think it is fairly obvious that to break through we would need higher caliber recruits. When you look at write ups on here of Cal alums in the pro bowl or playoffs or what have you, a large swathe of them are Tedford recruits even though he has been gone for a decade now.
That begs the question of course - how to get those recruits. I think we need to really get folks thinking about how the players can capitalize on name and likeness. I assume all other angles (pushing quality of school, location, etc) are already being done
Thanks the the excellent write up Nick. And, I just heard a rumor that JT Daniels, with three years of eligibility left (you read that right) has entered the transfer portal and is considering CAL. Not sure how I feel about this.
I think that a little good luck will go a long way. The players play very hard for this coach, seem to be well coached in general. They just need a few things to come together (like recruiting and some luck* at the same time), and the program should be a consistent bowl team.
*luck being no covid bullshit and widespread injuries
I would add the APR progress, started by Sonny, which has been trending upward. This ticks the box for administrators and more cerebral backers. If we can beat Stanford two out of three years and maybe take down UCLA or USC fairly regularly than I think Wilcox almost has a job for life. It's easy to say at 5-7 that we were just one win away from a bowl, or blame Covid.
Thank you for the recap and "state of the program" article. I'm excited about the transfer portal additions as well as the 2021 defensive recruits, and the return of Brett Johnson. The defense should be a solid unit. The offense is what I am worried about. Who is the Quarterback? Millner or Plummer? Do we have enough speed at WR & TE? Also, is Musgrave going to run the offense again? Or is his contract finished at the end of the month? For this team to make a huge jump, we need to be able to score 28 points or more per game, in my opinion.
Cal had another losing season in the Pac 12 last year when the conference was historically bad. Gotta believe Washington and USC are going to be markedly better next year with new and better coaching staffs and a ton of four and five stars to accelerate the improvement. DTR is coming back to UCLA, and that's not good for Cal. Oregon State is improving every year under Jonathan Smith.
I am penciling in four losses right there plus the road game against Notre Dame. I think Plummer easily wins the qb competition, but he lacks the mobility that Garbers had to escape trouble. Add in a lot of inexperience across the skill positions, and the offense takes a step backwards next year, unfortunately. I think the 2022 season is going to look a lot like the 2018 season. Perhaps an upset or two because there will be a lot of ugly and close games due to a good defense that will keep the scores down. But still 5-7 overall and a pretty happy fan base, apparently.
I think it is fairly obvious that to break through we would need higher caliber recruits. When you look at write ups on here of Cal alums in the pro bowl or playoffs or what have you, a large swathe of them are Tedford recruits even though he has been gone for a decade now.
That begs the question of course - how to get those recruits. I think we need to really get folks thinking about how the players can capitalize on name and likeness. I assume all other angles (pushing quality of school, location, etc) are already being done
Thanks the the excellent write up Nick. And, I just heard a rumor that JT Daniels, with three years of eligibility left (you read that right) has entered the transfer portal and is considering CAL. Not sure how I feel about this.
I think that a little good luck will go a long way. The players play very hard for this coach, seem to be well coached in general. They just need a few things to come together (like recruiting and some luck* at the same time), and the program should be a consistent bowl team.
*luck being no covid bullshit and widespread injuries
I don't believe Gabers was the answer