Meh, Mendoza played a couple of snaps in garbage time. I certainly don’t doubt that he’s probably not up for this, but I’m not gonna use scrub time in a blowout to pass judgment.
Sam may be our best, but he is not a P5 QB, either.
But agreed - at least get him the reps so you know for sure that he’s not the guy. Be nice if the WRs could get open, but milquetoast Wilcox can’t land those types of players.
We're taking a revenue cut next year and I don't think the Regents want us to spend UCLA's money on buyouts. Unless someone comes in with the cash, Wilcox will be our coach through next season at least.
Sucks that we're stuck in this huge transition time with a middling coach with a long contract.
With our upcoming gauntlet (and probably 5 straight losses) I'm not sure how much it matters. But I agree Jackson would benefit more from the experience so just make him the presumed starter. Maybe he'll improve enough to be the starter next year but we'll be searching the portal regardless.
Terrible. Absolute garbage game that was way too close. Just a typical Wilcox win where we can’t do shot on offense and it comes down to the defense making a stop. Downfield passing is still non-existent. Sam was not good, going 11-26 at one point for 129. But hey, we made our kicks.
That desperation throw could have been an INT or well I guess incomplete because it was the 4th down, but somehow we got PI to continue the drive. SJV needs to stop with running backwards and throwing in desperation.
On the replay, it looked like Sam spaced out as the ball was snapped. It seemed like he saw running room straight up the middle, but he didn't think to secure the ball.
Left way too much time on the clock during that drive, particularly during the beginning of it. At least 4 times, there were more than 30 seconds on the play clock. That's over 2 minutes. Would have diminished (if not eliminated) any chance of A State trying to put a rally together on that last drive...
If a defense is tiring, it makes some sense to go tempo. The plays won't eat up as much time, but they should go for more yards. I think the approach worked, it got us a first and goal and then a 4th and goal from the 1. We just didn't get the payoff that teams usually get.
Tempo is a mix of plays. This was 7 runs and one incomplete, poorly thrown pass. If all we are going to do is (successfully) run it down their throat. If they know it and we know they know, why not run as much clock as possible at the same time (keeping the tired defense off the field even longer)? BTW, was totally fine that we didn't get the payoff, no criticism there. 1st and 99 is a great thing for that defense. Would have been better with 1st and 99 and under a minute than 1st and 99 with 3:40 left.
Holy shit was that ugly but the running game did look good. Also, right after the game my phone started blowing up with ads from Fanatics and the Cal Bookstore to buy new swag like we had just beat a top ten team. Cal is going to need to start putting up a more exciting product on offense if they want everyone to get excited and start buying more t-shirts and swag.
And it's the same old after-market t-shirt & swag. The offerings are slim, at best, and despite the coaches displaying all manner of gear I'd pay money to wear, that stuff is never offered up for sale to fans, where it's Wilcox or Toler's "Big C" caps, or the cropped jackets or shirts they wear.
Is the Athletic Department that allergic to actually taking our money?
Heck, the other night on Twitter, a group of us were begging the Cal Hockey team to start selling its sweaters--which are hands down absolutely gorgeous!
Auricursine: Those are great points. I've tried for years to get that stuff with no luck. The head of the hockey team actually told me that it is really expensive to make those jerseys so that is why they haven't been able to make them more available for purchase.
I don't see any reason why they couldn't charge us + any necessary profit. Heck, if you're the type to drop $ on Cal gear from the likes of Ebbets Field Flannels (I am, have to admit it), or similar, then dropping a similar amount to something that could directly benefit the various programs would be worth it.
Uh, I think I said somewhere that if we don’t score more than 21 points in this game that it’ll be a 3-4 win season. But by the context of this game…it will be a 3-4 win season.
I consider this game TWO positives: The first is that we won the game. The second is that Arizona State came close so they can feel good about themselves too. See - win-win!
Jackson is the QB going forward. Don’t put Finley in any more. This is who we got. Let him ride it out
Plus a wins a win
They’ll win 1 more game, but you give Sam enough of a look to see if he can be the guy next year.
He’s not, IMO. Cal’s starting 2024 QB will come from the portal.
Wilcox might not even be here next year so who knows.
Sam’s not turning the ball over which is going to keep us in games more often than not
Outside of some off the field incident, Wilcox will be back.
Wilcox is almost 99% surely going to be here next year.
But Sam was 12-29 v the worst D in the P12. He’s not the answer.
Unfortunately neither is Finley. I’d like to see Mendoza.
Mendoza looked pretty clueless against north Texas. Sam is the best we got. I say enough with the qb shuffling and let him start
Meh, Mendoza played a couple of snaps in garbage time. I certainly don’t doubt that he’s probably not up for this, but I’m not gonna use scrub time in a blowout to pass judgment.
Sam may be our best, but he is not a P5 QB, either.
But agreed - at least get him the reps so you know for sure that he’s not the guy. Be nice if the WRs could get open, but milquetoast Wilcox can’t land those types of players.
We're taking a revenue cut next year and I don't think the Regents want us to spend UCLA's money on buyouts. Unless someone comes in with the cash, Wilcox will be our coach through next season at least.
Sucks that we're stuck in this huge transition time with a middling coach with a long contract.
With our upcoming gauntlet (and probably 5 straight losses) I'm not sure how much it matters. But I agree Jackson would benefit more from the experience so just make him the presumed starter. Maybe he'll improve enough to be the starter next year but we'll be searching the portal regardless.
Terrible. Absolute garbage game that was way too close. Just a typical Wilcox win where we can’t do shot on offense and it comes down to the defense making a stop. Downfield passing is still non-existent. Sam was not good, going 11-26 at one point for 129. But hey, we made our kicks.
Excellent game smary
No interceptions by Sam. No missed place kicks. I guess that’s improvement?
Next week, let’s work on 50% completion pct
That desperation throw could have been an INT or well I guess incomplete because it was the 4th down, but somehow we got PI to continue the drive. SJV needs to stop with running backwards and throwing in desperation.
On the replay, it looked like Sam spaced out as the ball was snapped. It seemed like he saw running room straight up the middle, but he didn't think to secure the ball.
Hijinks then ensued.
If you look at his game films from TCU, this is exactly what he did, except it worked in garbage time.
That 6.5 minute drive in the 4th quarter was a big positive. Something we could never do. Good thing we have a running game.
Left way too much time on the clock during that drive, particularly during the beginning of it. At least 4 times, there were more than 30 seconds on the play clock. That's over 2 minutes. Would have diminished (if not eliminated) any chance of A State trying to put a rally together on that last drive...
If a defense is tiring, it makes some sense to go tempo. The plays won't eat up as much time, but they should go for more yards. I think the approach worked, it got us a first and goal and then a 4th and goal from the 1. We just didn't get the payoff that teams usually get.
Tempo is a mix of plays. This was 7 runs and one incomplete, poorly thrown pass. If all we are going to do is (successfully) run it down their throat. If they know it and we know they know, why not run as much clock as possible at the same time (keeping the tired defense off the field even longer)? BTW, was totally fine that we didn't get the payoff, no criticism there. 1st and 99 is a great thing for that defense. Would have been better with 1st and 99 and under a minute than 1st and 99 with 3:40 left.
Jackson isn’t quite ready but if he isn’t going to turn the ball over then theres a path forward to a bowl game.
Before he graduates?
Ugly win but special teams was a bright spot... 49.7 average yards on punts
Wilson is our new Anger.
We also made all FG and PATs.
With Luckhurst we would have lost 21-20.
Damn near every punt had a perfect spiral to it
Just like the old days--when a stud punter was all we had to entertain us!
Being a punter for Cal is a real chance for extensive in-game experience.
And some punt returns but that's still missing
I'm not sure why we wait until 4th down to punt?
Other than the 50 yard return they allowed.
That was on a kickoff
Except for kickoff coverage. that is AWFUL.
Sun Devil Andrew Lwowski called it pretty close: “Cal comes away with a 28-23 win.”
Holy shit was that ugly but the running game did look good. Also, right after the game my phone started blowing up with ads from Fanatics and the Cal Bookstore to buy new swag like we had just beat a top ten team. Cal is going to need to start putting up a more exciting product on offense if they want everyone to get excited and start buying more t-shirts and swag.
And it's the same old after-market t-shirt & swag. The offerings are slim, at best, and despite the coaches displaying all manner of gear I'd pay money to wear, that stuff is never offered up for sale to fans, where it's Wilcox or Toler's "Big C" caps, or the cropped jackets or shirts they wear.
Is the Athletic Department that allergic to actually taking our money?
Heck, the other night on Twitter, a group of us were begging the Cal Hockey team to start selling its sweaters--which are hands down absolutely gorgeous!
Well they successfully forced many of us to buy yellow T-shirts three weeks ago.
All while the team refused to wear their own gorgeous Gold jerseys--along with a positive W-L record of 12-6 while wearing gold jerseys...
I hoped for gold on blue combo. We would have won in it.
Auricursine: Those are great points. I've tried for years to get that stuff with no luck. The head of the hockey team actually told me that it is really expensive to make those jerseys so that is why they haven't been able to make them more available for purchase.
I don't see any reason why they couldn't charge us + any necessary profit. Heck, if you're the type to drop $ on Cal gear from the likes of Ebbets Field Flannels (I am, have to admit it), or similar, then dropping a similar amount to something that could directly benefit the various programs would be worth it.
Yeah the stadium store has like five things. WTF happened there???
Why not try the freshman at qb, we’re
Sure as hell not going anywhere with Jackson or Finley, come on coach don’t
Send me back to rooting for a lessor
Institution of learning. And what everhappened to the good old panty raids days
Of the 50’s. Just asked.
Bud
Bud
We won ugly, but...
the ugly person at the end of the bar looks more and more attractive as the night goes on and you're beyond your drinking limit.
As the song goes. They all get prettier at closing time.
Uh, I think I said somewhere that if we don’t score more than 21 points in this game that it’ll be a 3-4 win season. But by the context of this game…it will be a 3-4 win season.
I consider this game TWO positives: The first is that we won the game. The second is that Arizona State came close so they can feel good about themselves too. See - win-win!
What do you think the betting line should be for next week's Oregon State at Cal game?
OSU -9.5
is that your halftime spread?
Two scores probably
Boy howdy Troy T’s team is playing well.
Well…that escalated quickly.
dad not brother