Jordan Kunaszyk for most underrated player of the decade came in on a shit defense and left with one of the best in school history while being an instrumental leader and player.
The mediocrity of Cal's record in the past decade has me struggling to find candidates. Jerod Goff is an obvious choice, but how many comeback wins did he lead over good teams? Maybe if he had directed comeback wins against UCLA in 2014 and Utah in 2015? Keenan Allen was one of the great wide receivers in Cal history, but he played on mediocre teams. I am struggling to remember his great moments the way I remember Sean Dawkins, a similarly talented guy who played two decades earlier.
On the defensive side of the ball, Cam Bynum comes to mind, but he got burned too many times in key games. I think Evan Weaver gets the nod because the great pick six he made against Washington still burns in my mind.
Weaver seems to be the one that fits all the boxes for being the embodiment of the teams he played on. He got the media focus because he talked the talk and walked the walk for a team that had an identity of grinding out games. Just putting it out there, walk-on Hansen (like Laird) also had a year that should put him in the conversation.
Nice seeing defense getting recognition in this very, very rough decade for the Bears. That said, no one embodied the team spirit the way Weaver did. He was excited to watch both on and off the field and delivered when the chips were down (that interception in Washington). Weaver was a one-man wrecking crew that dragged our defense along with him.
I could also include Kenny Lawler as one of my favorites - he helped make Goff better.
The mediocrity of Cal's record in the past decade has me struggling to find candidates. Jerod Goff is an obvious choice, but how many comeback wins did he lead over good teams? Maybe if he had directed comeback wins against UCLA in 2014 and Utah in 2015? Keenan Allen was one of the great wide receivers in Cal history, but he played on mediocre teams. I am struggling to remember his great moments the way I remember Sean Dawkins, a similarly talented guy who played two decades earlier.
On the defensive side of the ball, Cam Bynum comes to mind, but he got burned too many times in key games. I think Evan Weaver gets the nod because the great pick six he made against Washington still burns in my mind.
Feels like it will be Goff will be the winner with Weaver and Allen in close pursuit. Goff has the highest profile and the numbers. Allen is the better pro and talent IMO (and he certainly affected the way we play, by ensuring his buddies got schollies and starting qb gigs). But Weaver was probably the most fun of the three to watch and root for. Marvin Jones was probably my favorite Bear of the decade.
Weaver for me, hands down, and I'm shocked this wouldnt be unanimous. Shocked, I say! He was basically "Mr. Football" and made us nationally relevant, showing up in Heisman conversations *as a linebacker*. He embodied what many of us wanted this program to be, coming out of a dark period that saw some humiliating and demoralizing defenses.
While Goff was a very talented QB no doubt, he was basically only that, and while in a Cal uniform he didn't seem to have that transcendent quality. In terms of profile, I dont think that really came until he shot up the draft boards after the season, and even then nationally most people thought he was being overvalued and fortunate that for some reason Jeff Fisher was head over heels for him.
Jordan Kunaszyk for most underrated player of the decade came in on a shit defense and left with one of the best in school history while being an instrumental leader and player.
Malik McMorris
Jared Goff and Keenan Allen for talent, production, and career in the NFL.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
The mediocrity of Cal's record in the past decade has me struggling to find candidates. Jerod Goff is an obvious choice, but how many comeback wins did he lead over good teams? Maybe if he had directed comeback wins against UCLA in 2014 and Utah in 2015? Keenan Allen was one of the great wide receivers in Cal history, but he played on mediocre teams. I am struggling to remember his great moments the way I remember Sean Dawkins, a similarly talented guy who played two decades earlier.
On the defensive side of the ball, Cam Bynum comes to mind, but he got burned too many times in key games. I think Evan Weaver gets the nod because the great pick six he made against Washington still burns in my mind.
Mychal Kendricks played two years last decade.
How about an all decade team? That would be fun.
Weaven’ it! (And Jared Goff if you have to have an offensive representative)
Weaver seems to be the one that fits all the boxes for being the embodiment of the teams he played on. He got the media focus because he talked the talk and walked the walk for a team that had an identity of grinding out games. Just putting it out there, walk-on Hansen (like Laird) also had a year that should put him in the conversation.
Nice seeing defense getting recognition in this very, very rough decade for the Bears. That said, no one embodied the team spirit the way Weaver did. He was excited to watch both on and off the field and delivered when the chips were down (that interception in Washington). Weaver was a one-man wrecking crew that dragged our defense along with him.
I could also include Kenny Lawler as one of my favorites - he helped make Goff better.
Thanks to Ed Dickson, I always freak out when I see a TE wide open downfield in ANY football game.
Weav, Goff, Laird, Davis
I mean, what other RB had a game-clinching run on 4th and 1 against USC.
The mediocrity of Cal's record in the past decade has me struggling to find candidates. Jerod Goff is an obvious choice, but how many comeback wins did he lead over good teams? Maybe if he had directed comeback wins against UCLA in 2014 and Utah in 2015? Keenan Allen was one of the great wide receivers in Cal history, but he played on mediocre teams. I am struggling to remember his great moments the way I remember Sean Dawkins, a similarly talented guy who played two decades earlier.
On the defensive side of the ball, Cam Bynum comes to mind, but he got burned too many times in key games. I think Evan Weaver gets the nod because the great pick six he made against Washington still burns in my mind.
Feels like it will be Goff will be the winner with Weaver and Allen in close pursuit. Goff has the highest profile and the numbers. Allen is the better pro and talent IMO (and he certainly affected the way we play, by ensuring his buddies got schollies and starting qb gigs). But Weaver was probably the most fun of the three to watch and root for. Marvin Jones was probably my favorite Bear of the decade.
Weaver for me, hands down, and I'm shocked this wouldnt be unanimous. Shocked, I say! He was basically "Mr. Football" and made us nationally relevant, showing up in Heisman conversations *as a linebacker*. He embodied what many of us wanted this program to be, coming out of a dark period that saw some humiliating and demoralizing defenses.
While Goff was a very talented QB no doubt, he was basically only that, and while in a Cal uniform he didn't seem to have that transcendent quality. In terms of profile, I dont think that really came until he shot up the draft boards after the season, and even then nationally most people thought he was being overvalued and fortunate that for some reason Jeff Fisher was head over heels for him.