They retain their position groups. We also add Keith Heyward as co-DB coach and Bob Gregory as senior defensive assistant. Andrew Browning elevated to Run Game Coordinator.
Exactly. Who is making the call when it’s 3rd & 7 in a 1-score game in the 4Q v Duke?
Now we as fans don’t necessarily need to know the answer, but the stakes are high enough that you would hope it’s neither a committee of paid analysts nor a tandem of position coaches with other responsibilities on their plates already and that have never done it before. Power Conference football, where the future existence of your entire athletic department basically hangs in the balance, is not the place for people to learn on the job.
It’s just typical Justin Wilcox…a series of head-scratching decisions that are puzzling at the time…I mean, who thinks this is gonna work, unless of course JW is making the calls himself? Then it may!!
I would hope/guess JW will be more involved with the D and making those calls. Considering he has a legit brain trust on offense he shouldn't really need to think about that side of the ball.
This will likely be Wilcox’s last season in Berkeley unless he is calling the plays. Wouldn’t be a bad thing if he were calling plays, but if Co-DC’s are calling it for the first time it’s going to be a mess.
Completely understand that the timing of Sirmon’s departure left them somewhat in the lurch….but it’s a puzzling situation nonetheless, one where Wilcox seems to have been caught flat-footed and unprepared…
Stinks of the same line of thinking that led him to bestow dual OC/OL coach duties on inexperienced play caller Mike Bloesch last season and we sure saw how that turned out. It is evident how an HC can be 20-games under .500 against conference foes during some incredibly down years for whichever conference he has been in. Cal needs to move on.
Though skeptical, I am still a Cal fan and am nonetheless hopeful that the collection of coaching talent Wilcox has put together, other than the lack of a DC, will pay off this year. 8 wins would be a good start.
Isn't So'oto also the ST coordinator? Now did he drop that role and we are back to having no ST Coordinator again? or is Bob Gregory going to help with Special teams?
When Sirmon left, my first thought was Wilcox was going to bring Heyward back as DC, as they have coached together for many years. It was almost a miracle that Heyward came to Cal as OLB coach the first stint because he was co-DC at Oregon the previous year, and he wasn't even fired. Heyward wanted to add LB coach to his resume to become DC, and sure enough, he left after one year to become DC at UNLV. Anyway, it's good to have him back, but I'm just surprised that he's not the DC. At least Wilcox didn't hire Gregory as the DC, which would have brought no excitement with his BBDB defense.
I don’t know if this is quite fair to Heyward and Oregon State. I mean, didn’t all their best defensive players bolt for power 4 teams via the portal after the 2023 season? Granted they played a number of Mt West games, but there was a lot of bad juju to contend with in year one post-PAC-12.
I am also a bit surprised that Heyward isn't back as DC. But glad he is back. Could be all about dollars. Cal cannot pay for a top DC. so they share the pot among the next tier coaches to retain them. Adding Bob Gregory back in the mix also seems positive Management by committee, I am not against it. It is not just about who is making game decisions - they will figure out what works best. You need a solid team of coaches to develop the players you do have and to build a solid team defense. Also helps your recruiting. Overall a positive development.
Bob Gregory is an experienced coach who knows what CAL IS ALL ABOUT and was on the staff of Tedford’s best teams. Excellent move.
While I like the addition of these talented coaches, I wanted a real DC, not many Co-DCs and analysts.
Exactly. Who is making the call when it’s 3rd & 7 in a 1-score game in the 4Q v Duke?
Now we as fans don’t necessarily need to know the answer, but the stakes are high enough that you would hope it’s neither a committee of paid analysts nor a tandem of position coaches with other responsibilities on their plates already and that have never done it before. Power Conference football, where the future existence of your entire athletic department basically hangs in the balance, is not the place for people to learn on the job.
It’s just typical Justin Wilcox…a series of head-scratching decisions that are puzzling at the time…I mean, who thinks this is gonna work, unless of course JW is making the calls himself? Then it may!!
I would hope/guess JW will be more involved with the D and making those calls. Considering he has a legit brain trust on offense he shouldn't really need to think about that side of the ball.
Agreed. And if this ends up being the case, I am kind of intrigued, as I think DC is a role he is better at than HC…
Welp, Vic was just asked this question... And the answer/non-answer wasn't very promising
4:30 in:
https://youtu.be/X4B_sVrp5rc?si=6e7fLCN3xZXf1pkt
I mean, from what we know about Justin WIlcox, if there is any chance he can screw this up, he will.
Too many cooks in the kitchen?
Interesting. Gotta be Wilcox acting as HC-DC. Otherwise, none of it makes sense.
If you know what your doing, name a guy and move on. Stop with this stuff. Co DC...QB competition, etc....Bear nation needs to move on!
Co Defensive coordinates reeks of a boss who can't say no and promotes two people for one job. Weak!
Multiple new coaches and still no dedicated special teams coordinator? Surely So’oto will not be doing position coach and DC and special teams?!
This will likely be Wilcox’s last season in Berkeley unless he is calling the plays. Wouldn’t be a bad thing if he were calling plays, but if Co-DC’s are calling it for the first time it’s going to be a mess.
Completely understand that the timing of Sirmon’s departure left them somewhat in the lurch….but it’s a puzzling situation nonetheless, one where Wilcox seems to have been caught flat-footed and unprepared…
Stinks of the same line of thinking that led him to bestow dual OC/OL coach duties on inexperienced play caller Mike Bloesch last season and we sure saw how that turned out. It is evident how an HC can be 20-games under .500 against conference foes during some incredibly down years for whichever conference he has been in. Cal needs to move on.
Too tough to know right now.
Though skeptical, I am still a Cal fan and am nonetheless hopeful that the collection of coaching talent Wilcox has put together, other than the lack of a DC, will pay off this year. 8 wins would be a good start.
I don't mind if they move on to a bigger program if they have an incredible season or two.
Wow what in the world?
Isn't So'oto also the ST coordinator? Now did he drop that role and we are back to having no ST Coordinator again? or is Bob Gregory going to help with Special teams?
When Sirmon left, my first thought was Wilcox was going to bring Heyward back as DC, as they have coached together for many years. It was almost a miracle that Heyward came to Cal as OLB coach the first stint because he was co-DC at Oregon the previous year, and he wasn't even fired. Heyward wanted to add LB coach to his resume to become DC, and sure enough, he left after one year to become DC at UNLV. Anyway, it's good to have him back, but I'm just surprised that he's not the DC. At least Wilcox didn't hire Gregory as the DC, which would have brought no excitement with his BBDB defense.
Oregon State was not good at defense last year. Better Heyward comes in as an analyst and works his way back up.
I don’t know if this is quite fair to Heyward and Oregon State. I mean, didn’t all their best defensive players bolt for power 4 teams via the portal after the 2023 season? Granted they played a number of Mt West games, but there was a lot of bad juju to contend with in year one post-PAC-12.
I am also a bit surprised that Heyward isn't back as DC. But glad he is back. Could be all about dollars. Cal cannot pay for a top DC. so they share the pot among the next tier coaches to retain them. Adding Bob Gregory back in the mix also seems positive Management by committee, I am not against it. It is not just about who is making game decisions - they will figure out what works best. You need a solid team of coaches to develop the players you do have and to build a solid team defense. Also helps your recruiting. Overall a positive development.