Thanks for the article Nick, it is a pleasure reading your work.
I would say the lack of Spring and Fall camp when installing a new offense is concerning. All of those reps just can not be replaced. While I'm sure the lads know the playbook and new jargon, it is quite a bit different from actually doing it live in scrimmage and in games. The lack of repetitions could delay the offense until about 3 - 4 games into this shortened season.
I agree that that the O line will be critical to early success. I would make a slight adjustment to your potential starting 5:
Left tackle, junior Will Craig/senior Valentino Daltoso
Left Guard, sophomore Matthew Cindric/senior Gentle Williams
Center, senior Michael Saffell
Right Guard, **sophomore McKade Mettauer**/senior Valentino Daltoso
Right Tackle, senior Jake Curhan
Additionally, I think this could be an alternative depth chart:
Left tackle, junior Will Craig/senior Valentino Daltoso
Left Guard, sophomore Erick Nisich/senior Gentle Williams
Center, sophomore Matthew Cindric/senior Michael Saffell
Right Guard, sophomore McKade Mettauer/senior Valentino Daltoso
Right Tackle, senior Jake Curhan/freshman Everett Johnson
IIRC another site stated that Mettauer had the highest PFF of all of Cal's linemen. I don't see a scenario where he isn't a starter.
With such a short season, maybe that gives us less potential to catch the injury bug. Of course, it also gives us less time to heal injured players for a return to the field. Oh the madness!!!!!!
A couple of thoughts here for you. Our offense does not need to be the best in the PAC12 to win the conference championship. As you recall when Sonny Dykes was here we put up huge numbers on offense, the vast majority of it was our passing game. And we were never that good in the final end of season tally. Likewise, when Wilcox first got here and we were a great defense but absent a potent offense, we did well, bet ended up in about the same spot as the best year under Dykes. Different systems favor different strengths. We have a grind it out offense that uses time of possession to help control the outcome of the game. If we couple that with a stout defense, it creates a winning combo. Incremental improvements on either side of the ball can provide major improvements in our outcomes. Personally I could care less whether we have the top offense or top defense; my measuring stick is how many games we win. If your offense averages 24 points a game and your defense averages allowing 22 points per game, that's a winning combo. If your offense can spend even more time on the field and add 7 points more per game, the opposite effect is that the defense spends less time on the field and hopefully their average points allowed goes down. I think our offense is in a GREAT position with the addition of Musgrave to do some really good things. I'm only sorry that with all our talent that we did not have a complete Spring and Fall camp with Musgrave, where the kids would really have a chance to learn and run the system. I expect our offense to go from a C grade to a B+ and just maybe an A-. If our defense can play at a level close to last year, I think we should have a great season. We are going to miss Luc Bequette and Tevin Paul on Defense. Those two were solid.
Yeah, I should've mentioned Schlegel. He and Zach Angelillo are the only fullbacks listed on the roster, and Angelillo is going through a position change, so the safe presumption is that Schlegel will get every snap in packages that call for a fullback.
While the fullback is a part of the Musgrave offense, I'd guess that packages using a fullback this season will be pretty limited.
Thanks for the preview and analysis. It will be interesting to see who fills the slot as the no. 3 running back. Another returnee is the redshirt frosh DeCarlos Brooks, add in Street and Moore and maybe the walk-on Ashton Stredick, the former Texas 4A player of the year
Thanks for the article Nick, it is a pleasure reading your work.
I would say the lack of Spring and Fall camp when installing a new offense is concerning. All of those reps just can not be replaced. While I'm sure the lads know the playbook and new jargon, it is quite a bit different from actually doing it live in scrimmage and in games. The lack of repetitions could delay the offense until about 3 - 4 games into this shortened season.
I agree that that the O line will be critical to early success. I would make a slight adjustment to your potential starting 5:
Left tackle, junior Will Craig/senior Valentino Daltoso
Left Guard, sophomore Matthew Cindric/senior Gentle Williams
Center, senior Michael Saffell
Right Guard, **sophomore McKade Mettauer**/senior Valentino Daltoso
Right Tackle, senior Jake Curhan
Additionally, I think this could be an alternative depth chart:
Left tackle, junior Will Craig/senior Valentino Daltoso
Left Guard, sophomore Erick Nisich/senior Gentle Williams
Center, sophomore Matthew Cindric/senior Michael Saffell
Right Guard, sophomore McKade Mettauer/senior Valentino Daltoso
Right Tackle, senior Jake Curhan/freshman Everett Johnson
IIRC another site stated that Mettauer had the highest PFF of all of Cal's linemen. I don't see a scenario where he isn't a starter.
We are adding CJ Anderson as our coach too!
https://www.si.com/college/cal/news/cj-anderson-back-to-cal
He's an unpaid assistant that can not be on the field coaching.
This is completely off the subject but it is hilarious...I guess Jared Goff does have small hands. Lol! https://www.sbnation.com/secret-base/21512646/jared-goff-spikes-the-football-la-rams-washington-football-team
lol that website looks like it's from 2000s
...in the best way possible
Keeping the line healthy......
With such a short season, maybe that gives us less potential to catch the injury bug. Of course, it also gives us less time to heal injured players for a return to the field. Oh the madness!!!!!!
Can't wait; Go Bears!!!!
A couple of thoughts here for you. Our offense does not need to be the best in the PAC12 to win the conference championship. As you recall when Sonny Dykes was here we put up huge numbers on offense, the vast majority of it was our passing game. And we were never that good in the final end of season tally. Likewise, when Wilcox first got here and we were a great defense but absent a potent offense, we did well, bet ended up in about the same spot as the best year under Dykes. Different systems favor different strengths. We have a grind it out offense that uses time of possession to help control the outcome of the game. If we couple that with a stout defense, it creates a winning combo. Incremental improvements on either side of the ball can provide major improvements in our outcomes. Personally I could care less whether we have the top offense or top defense; my measuring stick is how many games we win. If your offense averages 24 points a game and your defense averages allowing 22 points per game, that's a winning combo. If your offense can spend even more time on the field and add 7 points more per game, the opposite effect is that the defense spends less time on the field and hopefully their average points allowed goes down. I think our offense is in a GREAT position with the addition of Musgrave to do some really good things. I'm only sorry that with all our talent that we did not have a complete Spring and Fall camp with Musgrave, where the kids would really have a chance to learn and run the system. I expect our offense to go from a C grade to a B+ and just maybe an A-. If our defense can play at a level close to last year, I think we should have a great season. We are going to miss Luc Bequette and Tevin Paul on Defense. Those two were solid.
Thanks Rugger...was hoping you would weigh in here...4 more weeks of waiting and then we play ball...Go Bears!
Can't wait! I think if we can limit turnovers, we'll have a solid season. :-)
Ricky Walker transferred to Oregon State.
Doh, thanks for the catch, fixed
Musgrave's offense calls for a FB. Did you exclude because there's no knowledge from 2019 or because he'll hold off on implementing the FB until 2021?
Yeah, I should've mentioned Schlegel. He and Zach Angelillo are the only fullbacks listed on the roster, and Angelillo is going through a position change, so the safe presumption is that Schlegel will get every snap in packages that call for a fullback.
While the fullback is a part of the Musgrave offense, I'd guess that packages using a fullback this season will be pretty limited.
Thanks for the preview and analysis. It will be interesting to see who fills the slot as the no. 3 running back. Another returnee is the redshirt frosh DeCarlos Brooks, add in Street and Moore and maybe the walk-on Ashton Stredick, the former Texas 4A player of the year