Always love your analyses, Nick, and this one does not disappoint!!!!
IIRC, we have two fullbacks on roster; how effective do you think they can be in "plugging holes" on the OL in pass protection? If a FB blocks, the LB covering them would, I think, have to stay honest and stay home...... Or maybe a TE in motion can be an extra blocker, etc. Just thinking of ways to get Plummer some extra time.....
Thanks Nick. Mason Starling has been making plays and should get mentioned as being in the mix. Your basic premise is sound, we don't have a history with these offensive coaches to say for certain that they can take new players and make them outstanding. So how much of our mediocrity was the players last year, or the coaches? What I've seen is that Tedford and Dykes came in and took talent that had been performing poorly and made them into dynamic offenses in one year. I tend to believe great offensive coaches can work wonders with players. If we aren't at least pretty good, in the top half, this year, then Musgrave will need to retire. That's my view. I'm hopeful though, and Go Bears!
If Rugbear is feeling optimistic, then I’m feeling pretty good. There may be new faces who are projected starters on the O-line, but they are experienced, proven players. That’s not the same as sticking a freshman in there and hoping he’s got enough talent to overcome his lack of development.
Thanks for the in depth write-up. I hope the offense comes out strong against the Aggies and makes a statement - and the right kind of statement at that...
The schedule seems to set up well for us, with most of the more difficult games in the back end. Hopefully this will give the offense time to gel, so that it'll be ready for the UW/USC/Oregon/OSU/furd/UCLA stretch at the end. We could end up starting 5-1. With the schedule flipped, we could easily start 1-5.
Every fall camp I get sucked into at least some hype about how good the upcoming Cal team is going to be. I guess the hype started in Spring ball about the talent of the wide receivers and what a solid and deep group of running backs the team has. This time, I am not accepting any of this until I see it on the field. I am gearing up for a bunch of slogfests that will be decided on the last possession. Think of the Washington and Oregon losses from last season and the USC and Washington wins from 2018. That's apparently the way that Wilcox wants things, and he got the green light from the administration via his contract extension to keep it that way.
Thanks Nick. Your assessment of the 2022 offense aligns to offense performance history since 2017.
Additional details on presumed QB1 history of turnovers and injuries should further temper enthusiasm.
In contrast, the recent hype on the offense, particularly select skill positions, conveys upside expectations.
Key to Cal out performance in 2022 is an OC who can deliver more explosive plays/TDs from young, unproven talent. I’ll manage down my expectations, for now.
So far...defense: best of the era. Offense: talented but OL question mark.
This has naturally got me wondering about playing the field position game and how many points can come from our kicking game? Obvs, I'll be very interested to hear about what's cooking on special teams now. Thanks for the write up!
Im just here to funnel you toward the practice notebooks that Nick referenced. 👀👀
Unsure if to feel better or worse...but nice job Nick...now let's just get to playing some ball!
Always love your analyses, Nick, and this one does not disappoint!!!!
IIRC, we have two fullbacks on roster; how effective do you think they can be in "plugging holes" on the OL in pass protection? If a FB blocks, the LB covering them would, I think, have to stay honest and stay home...... Or maybe a TE in motion can be an extra blocker, etc. Just thinking of ways to get Plummer some extra time.....
Thanks Nick. Mason Starling has been making plays and should get mentioned as being in the mix. Your basic premise is sound, we don't have a history with these offensive coaches to say for certain that they can take new players and make them outstanding. So how much of our mediocrity was the players last year, or the coaches? What I've seen is that Tedford and Dykes came in and took talent that had been performing poorly and made them into dynamic offenses in one year. I tend to believe great offensive coaches can work wonders with players. If we aren't at least pretty good, in the top half, this year, then Musgrave will need to retire. That's my view. I'm hopeful though, and Go Bears!
Curious how you came up with the depth chart. And, I think, despite the youth, CAL's offense is going to surprise some people this year.
If Rugbear is feeling optimistic, then I’m feeling pretty good. There may be new faces who are projected starters on the O-line, but they are experienced, proven players. That’s not the same as sticking a freshman in there and hoping he’s got enough talent to overcome his lack of development.
Thanks for the in depth write-up. I hope the offense comes out strong against the Aggies and makes a statement - and the right kind of statement at that...
The schedule seems to set up well for us, with most of the more difficult games in the back end. Hopefully this will give the offense time to gel, so that it'll be ready for the UW/USC/Oregon/OSU/furd/UCLA stretch at the end. We could end up starting 5-1. With the schedule flipped, we could easily start 1-5.
UC Davis
UNLV
Notre Dame
Arizona
Washington State
Colorado
-----------
Washington
Oregon
USC
Oregon State
Stanford
UCLA
Every fall camp I get sucked into at least some hype about how good the upcoming Cal team is going to be. I guess the hype started in Spring ball about the talent of the wide receivers and what a solid and deep group of running backs the team has. This time, I am not accepting any of this until I see it on the field. I am gearing up for a bunch of slogfests that will be decided on the last possession. Think of the Washington and Oregon losses from last season and the USC and Washington wins from 2018. That's apparently the way that Wilcox wants things, and he got the green light from the administration via his contract extension to keep it that way.
Thanks Nick. Your assessment of the 2022 offense aligns to offense performance history since 2017.
Additional details on presumed QB1 history of turnovers and injuries should further temper enthusiasm.
In contrast, the recent hype on the offense, particularly select skill positions, conveys upside expectations.
Key to Cal out performance in 2022 is an OC who can deliver more explosive plays/TDs from young, unproven talent. I’ll manage down my expectations, for now.
So far...defense: best of the era. Offense: talented but OL question mark.
This has naturally got me wondering about playing the field position game and how many points can come from our kicking game? Obvs, I'll be very interested to hear about what's cooking on special teams now. Thanks for the write up!
The offensive line's development, and an opportunistic defense will be key to an improved season record.