Cal Football Didn't Need its Stars in Win Over San Diego State
The Bears move to 3-0 and have what they want right in front of them
With a bevy of starters on a pitch count or out all together, it would have been easy for Cal to run out a vanilla game plan and escape their game against San Diego State with a score in the vein of 17-7. Instead, the Bears fortified their newfound depth and saw additional contributors shine in what became a second half romp of the Aztecs. Cal is now 3-0, and now has a showdown in Tallahassee against a somehow winless Florida State, with the sight of what seems like a herculean season in the distance.
The Bears have what they want right in front of them.
The running backs have the (JET)S
In years past, if Jaydn Ott didn’t take charge of a game, the offense likely cratered as a result. This season, Cal has had about 2.5 quarters of a healthy Ott and are 3-0. After a rough start to his Cal tenure, Kadarius Calloway got right with a game of 9 carries for 87 yards and a touchdown. With the unknown status of Jaydn going forward, its paramount that the rest of the running back room know that they can contribute on a weekly basis.
But that wasn’t the only star in the backfield against San Diego State.
Oakland’s own Jaivian Thomas had a breakout game, rumbling for 169 rushing yards on 17 carries (9.9 yards per carry). The first few weeks, Cal had trouble opening up running lanes between the guards, but put together their best performance of the season in that regard with JET speeding off into the distance. Aristotle Thompson continuously has this room prepared, and having seen JET’s journey from the end of last season to now, I’m sure it is a feel good story in the locker room.
If Cal wants to continue to find ways to win in close games, having continued depth with all of the current injuries will be apart of the formula.
The Takers V2?
The last two seasons have been anything but smooth for the Cal defense and the secondary especially. After graduating a whole NFL secondary, it has taken time for the Bears to find their leaders on the back end, and for them to additionally lead this team much like their predecessors did.
However, Nohl Williams, Marcus Harris, and Craig Woodson look to have Cal back on the right track. The Bears are tied for first in the nation in turnovers generated (10), with 9 of those coming via interception and 8 of those courtesy of the secondary. Moreover, Williams leads the country with four interceptions himself.
Part of the issue the last few seasons for the secondary was the lack of disruption up front along the defensive line. Through three games, the front 7 has been demonstratively more active at the line of scrimmage and racking up pressure. As a result, that has allowed the talent on the back end to shine through, and will need to keep up if they don’t want to fall into some of the same predicaments as last year.
The kicking game gives me pause
It hasn’t cost Cal yet this season, but the kicking game continues to be a mystery under Justin Wilcox. It’s fair to say that Ryan Coe’s actual kicking itself is in the upper echelon of Cal kickers under this coaching regime but there’s one big problem.
You still have to make the kicks regardless of how close they are.
The Bears are 2/6 on field goals this year and if they were to have dropped any of the first three games this season, you can bet that there would be more discussion of that sector. So far, the special teams unit has won the field position battle decisively in all three games, had more lifelines in the return game, and isn’t actively being a hinderance to winning football.
As with many of the other themes that have been talked about, it’s going to take more consistency. The special teams unit itself is close to having a game where all of their units put it together, a sight that Cal fans will welcome if the time comes.
In the interim, I’ll be looking at the kicking game going forward to see what boost it can give the Bears if any. Coe has arguably had one clutch kick opportunity this year, a 55 yard miss against Auburn that would have made it a two score game. If a similar situation arises in a closer game, will the kicking unit come through? Time will tell.
The Bears are 3-0. Considering most predictions heading into this year, it would be incorrect to assert this start as anything other than successful.
Now you have to build on it. In 2015, Cal started 5-0 only to finish the season 8-5 with the No.1 overall pick. During the 2019 season, Cal started 4-0 only to fall short after a Chase Garbers injury against Arizona State in front of a raucous crowd.
This team has everything they want right in front of them. A win against Florida State uncorks multiple possibilities that may change the course of viewing this season. But that doesn’t just get given to you. Cal has to go out and take it.
Hopefully the depth in the running back room will continue to shine. FSU only allowed 66 rushing yards against Memphis but somehow lost, so surely this will be the Bears' biggest test of the season so far. Also we must pressure Uiagalelei.
Who is to say the stars weren't present DURING the SDSU game?! Hell the Jet had over 150yds. Hunter continues to play at a high level. Perhaps these are our stars this year. Vatikani is OK, not sure he makes much of a difference. And the listed starter ~ at the start of the season ~ at center hasn't even played a down at Cal, perhaps he doesn't pan out or it takes multiple games for him to get back into game shape.
Our stars are currently playing by virtue that they are actually PLAYING. The grass isn't necessarily greener on the other side.