I guess its better than nothing, but we'll see where we end up at the end of the season. This season was not something by which to measure any teams in the PAC12. I will also say that the 2019 season was marred by the Garbers injury. We won every game where he played more than a half. I think one of the biggest components in a teams success is QB play. Yo can have a great team with an average QB and they won't end up with a great record. You can have an average team with a great QB that will finish with a better than average record. I think that when Garbers is on his game, he's a damn good QB. He played as a freshman and had a steep learning curve. Then, in BB's last year it all came together, except he had not yet learned that in Power 5 football he can't be the hero he was in high school and take the hits that he took trying to get that extra yard or first down. He has not had a full Spring or season in Musgrave's system, but I believe that if we have a normal Spring and Fall practice schedule this year, Garbers will open some eyes next year. Second, Wilcox continues to elevate our talent with recruiting. With work in the weight room and time on the field with our coaches, our kids will be competitive as hell. I will continue to say that I think Coach WIlcox continues to field one of the better coaching staffs in the country; no bull. Lastly I think CAL is starting to mature as Wilcox's team. I think we're gonna be a lot better than 8-4 during the regular season, we've beat UW the last two times we played them. Two years ago we were in the game against the Ducks with a back-up QB and this year we beat them. I think we are way better than WASU and if we are healthy we should be able to play with UCLA. I think we are a better team but Chip Kelly is the master at offensive play calling agains the Bears. I still think we finish above them. When we play well we can beat USC; Wilcox has done it. I think ASU and Utah will be tough. We'll knock off Colorado. Two teams that will be way better than these ratings indicate are Stanford and OSU. Shaw was distracted in 2019 by his brothers cancer (if you have not seen the story its awesome - it was all kept under the radar). Stanford gave us a taste of what is to come next year with the way they finished this season. OSU is going to surprise some folks. I like their head coach and I think he's destined for some big things. I would take him over Cristobal or Helton all day long. Lake at UW is an unknown at HC but I think he will be as solid as Petersen was. In conclusion, I would expect us to be a top 30 team and hopefully a top 25 team at season end. Go Bears!
Outperforming expectations? That's my life story and those of many first generation Cal students. Bring it on! A longshoreman father, and me a Son of California. Who would have ever guessed?
Ha! I wish. My Greatgrandfather was a longshoreman in San Pedro from about 1910 to 1950, and though they were comfortable, that only meant they had a roof and food. My Dad was one from about 1955-1985, and I can assure you in San Pedro they were not making coin in those days. Maybe now. But he had a 3rd grade education and we never wanted for food or clothes and we had insurance, only because they were on strike all the time. Union family, public schools, first to college, Cal grad. I'm come by my Fiat Lux with an earnestness I've found unusual even amongst fellow alums. Emily D. said something like "success is counted sweetest by those who ne'er succeed...to contemplate a nectar, requires sorest need." True words.
Honestly this feels pretty correct. We've been overperforming in terms of wins due to an insane defense, but results lag recruiting. Hopefully we get more pre-season rankings as our recent classes get on the field.
Agreed. Until we get an offense ~ haven't had one in the Wilcox era ~ this rank seems reasonable. Our hopium for some offense has nearly exhausted us. Starts w/ the OL and better QB play. We shall see what the Spring and Fall camp develop. I will have little hope for an improved offense if we trot out the same players on the OL. 4 years in, we should have developed at least a few good lineman, right?
I was shocked at how good UCLA looked at certain times during the shortened season. Both quarterbacks they had played at a very high level. They could be downright scary next season with all those guys coming back and buying into Chip Kelly's system.
They kind of ambushed us at the Rose Bowl. We weren't expecting them to be good, since Cal won easily in 2019. However, we also were dealing with Covid and a short week.
They've had some excellent recruiting classes in the last 4+ years, beating us head to head on a lot of in state talent, even at the end of the Jim Mora era. The knock on them is they were never playing to their potential.. but eventually that talent is going to show up on the field.
Good to be ahead of the Beavers and Furd
Fight hunger bowl, HERE WE COME!
I guess its better than nothing, but we'll see where we end up at the end of the season. This season was not something by which to measure any teams in the PAC12. I will also say that the 2019 season was marred by the Garbers injury. We won every game where he played more than a half. I think one of the biggest components in a teams success is QB play. Yo can have a great team with an average QB and they won't end up with a great record. You can have an average team with a great QB that will finish with a better than average record. I think that when Garbers is on his game, he's a damn good QB. He played as a freshman and had a steep learning curve. Then, in BB's last year it all came together, except he had not yet learned that in Power 5 football he can't be the hero he was in high school and take the hits that he took trying to get that extra yard or first down. He has not had a full Spring or season in Musgrave's system, but I believe that if we have a normal Spring and Fall practice schedule this year, Garbers will open some eyes next year. Second, Wilcox continues to elevate our talent with recruiting. With work in the weight room and time on the field with our coaches, our kids will be competitive as hell. I will continue to say that I think Coach WIlcox continues to field one of the better coaching staffs in the country; no bull. Lastly I think CAL is starting to mature as Wilcox's team. I think we're gonna be a lot better than 8-4 during the regular season, we've beat UW the last two times we played them. Two years ago we were in the game against the Ducks with a back-up QB and this year we beat them. I think we are way better than WASU and if we are healthy we should be able to play with UCLA. I think we are a better team but Chip Kelly is the master at offensive play calling agains the Bears. I still think we finish above them. When we play well we can beat USC; Wilcox has done it. I think ASU and Utah will be tough. We'll knock off Colorado. Two teams that will be way better than these ratings indicate are Stanford and OSU. Shaw was distracted in 2019 by his brothers cancer (if you have not seen the story its awesome - it was all kept under the radar). Stanford gave us a taste of what is to come next year with the way they finished this season. OSU is going to surprise some folks. I like their head coach and I think he's destined for some big things. I would take him over Cristobal or Helton all day long. Lake at UW is an unknown at HC but I think he will be as solid as Petersen was. In conclusion, I would expect us to be a top 30 team and hopefully a top 25 team at season end. Go Bears!
Before we start that old discussion again, it’s always an open competition for QB (and likely any other position), tho I expect Chase to win it.
Outperforming expectations? That's my life story and those of many first generation Cal students. Bring it on! A longshoreman father, and me a Son of California. Who would have ever guessed?
Most longshoreman make well over $200,000.00, but cool.
Ha! I wish. My Greatgrandfather was a longshoreman in San Pedro from about 1910 to 1950, and though they were comfortable, that only meant they had a roof and food. My Dad was one from about 1955-1985, and I can assure you in San Pedro they were not making coin in those days. Maybe now. But he had a 3rd grade education and we never wanted for food or clothes and we had insurance, only because they were on strike all the time. Union family, public schools, first to college, Cal grad. I'm come by my Fiat Lux with an earnestness I've found unusual even amongst fellow alums. Emily D. said something like "success is counted sweetest by those who ne'er succeed...to contemplate a nectar, requires sorest need." True words.
Honestly this feels pretty correct. We've been overperforming in terms of wins due to an insane defense, but results lag recruiting. Hopefully we get more pre-season rankings as our recent classes get on the field.
Agreed. Until we get an offense ~ haven't had one in the Wilcox era ~ this rank seems reasonable. Our hopium for some offense has nearly exhausted us. Starts w/ the OL and better QB play. We shall see what the Spring and Fall camp develop. I will have little hope for an improved offense if we trot out the same players on the OL. 4 years in, we should have developed at least a few good lineman, right?
I was shocked at how good UCLA looked at certain times during the shortened season. Both quarterbacks they had played at a very high level. They could be downright scary next season with all those guys coming back and buying into Chip Kelly's system.
They kind of ambushed us at the Rose Bowl. We weren't expecting them to be good, since Cal won easily in 2019. However, we also were dealing with Covid and a short week.
They've had some excellent recruiting classes in the last 4+ years, beating us head to head on a lot of in state talent, even at the end of the Jim Mora era. The knock on them is they were never playing to their potential.. but eventually that talent is going to show up on the field.
Whoa nellie, 7 of the top 15 teams for returning production are Pac-12 teams