9 Comments

The sixth best defense in the conference and a typical Cal offense under Wilcox is a 6-6 record at best this year. Hope it's better than that.

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RE: Might Cal deploy some DEs at OLB, particularly on passing downs?

I may be mistaken, but I thought I heard the other day that Xavier Carlton was getting reps at OLB?

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author

It's a hybrid role. Just depends on if we go even or odd front from our base 3-4 defense. and then the personnel group they want in those formations.

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author

Yeah, I could see them using Carlton in passing downs as an OLB in the 2-4-5 formations we used a ton last year, which would make it kind of a hybrid 3-3-5.

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Is it football season yet?

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Nice preview and it sounds like that under all circumstances Cal will field at least the 5th or 6th best defense in the conference and possibly excel. Looking forward to the season.

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Or maybe a top 3 defense!!!!! Sorry, sunshine pumper here.....

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Wonderful analysis. Makes sense, which means you are persuasive. My biggest concern is NT as we've lacked depth and real skill there for years. Sure hope we don't have to use Brett there much, since plugging up the middle is not a full use of his skill set. Stop the run. Stop the run. Stop the run. Evan Weaver (where is he now?) was a godsend because he could stop so many runs even though he wasn't on the line. With anticipation and brutality, guys would crumble for little gain.

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Agreed, but I thought the author referenced injury impact sufficiently. I'm not one who cares much about 2021 snaps, given our situation. Experience surely matters, but we don't have much of it, so my focus is on talent and early assessment.

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