I wonder if the TV timeouts are longer when you’re on a national broadcast (this one was ESPN)? As opposed to having most of our games on Pac-12 Network?
Yep. the timeouts last night were 4 minutes for the end of quarter/2 minute timeout and 3 minutes for the others, longest ever since they started showing the timeout clock on the field. Previous games they were about 30 seconds to a minute shorter.
The students looked like dad had just yelled at them after Wilcox got on the mike. Love love that they showed up in force- they will be an asset in future games.
I mean, is there any chance a Wilcox-coached Cal team ever just comes out and stomps an 18.5 point underdog from the jump? That’d be nice.
A win’s a win, but that game very easily could have gone in another direction if that pick-6 when we inexplicably went empty from the shotgun on 4th and 1 stands….
Well, the Bears are 3-0, and won 31-10. But as a measure of progress in terms of honing the teams performance and execution, this game left much to be desired. The good was a substantial improvement in our running game, and another generally strong passing performance by Mendoza, coupled with a workmanlike defensive effort. But the first half anemic play, the penalties, failure to convert 4th and short, a missed short field goal and inconsistent play, left a mixed picture. An effective, full game performance would have the Bears scoring 50+ points. We basically almost played down to the level of an opponent, before asserting ourselves. I'm happy for the team, for their sake I hope they take a major step up in achieving a complete game execution and performance. Go Bears.
Agreed, would be nice to see a complete game. We have gotten away with it so far this season, but these are the same types of issues that have resulted in the rocky seasons of years past. The team seems to acknowledge this at least, and it feels like slightly better defense combined with a little more consistency from the offense is keeping us out of trouble so far. But that is probably not going to be enough to make it through conference play.
With the way things are shaking out, it feels like this could be a special season, but until we clean things up, we are going to be a few bad bounces away from a more typiCAL season.
Sure hope there is solid progress on the critical injuries this week. Jet and Calloway did nicely with Ott out, but the Oline is still tenuous. Cal was fortunate to deal with a middling SDSU team who also shot themselves in the foot. Not that we didn't either- coaching has to focus on the fundamentals esp eliminating the ridiculous unnecessary penalties. Not much we can do with refs (still think that targeting call was a joke). Get healthier and focused, and off to Tallahassee.
275 is great! But we struggled with short yardage and QB protection vs. San Diego State. Also we had a difficult time running vs. Auburn, and FSU's front will be big and even more athletic than Auburn. GO BEARS keep improving!
I really like that the team has responded so well to adversity - star player hurt basically all season, O line a MASH unit, no problem, next guys step up, D elevates game, Nando elevates game, has been awesome!
Good game by our sturdy golden bears! Good to see the run game clicking. Nando not spectacular but managed the game well. Took too many hits though. Would like to see him protect himself.
Kicking problem hasn’t haunted us yet but there needs to be a big emphasis this week on Coe and getting him right. I think he is 1/5 this year. If you take away that 60+ yarder, he is still 1/4 from make able distance. This is one of my top 3 worries.
Nyziah Hunter is amazing. No matter what happens with the other two returning starters, Hunter should not be taken off the field.
Oline is a work in progress but I do think that this line has improved and will be better when we get our starters back.
Cal students need to know how to cheer better but at least they showed up!
Hard for ‘Nando to protect himself on those speed rush sacks where SDSU defense went right past would be protection. He didn’t have time to blink. Too many whiffed blocks.
Wasn’t talking about those. Just some ex: when he jumped to do a jumping pass then landed awkwardly. Then when he should have slid but didn’t. Those were avoidable.
Agree re the kicking game. I don’t know if Coe just has the yips, but man, he misses some easy ones. He’s like a pitcher that is incapable of throwing straight. Is Luckhurst still on team?
KOs and PATs - kid’s got a leg, apparently that’s why we hired him instead of a ST coach 😉. RS senior, he’s been through three programs. Appeared confident for the Aggies but a friend at Auburn observed he looked fully deflated after the first miss. Team psych anyone?
No doubt the kid is talented. But he needs mental fortitude. Easy for us geezers to say when we are not in that situation but still… he wanted to be in those situation as a PK so so he needs to figure this out or next man up
As I mentioned before, this could be a "trap" game. In other words, Cal came in overconfident and "flat". Thinking you have an easy opponent can do that to young impressionable young athletes. Thank goodness they came out in the 2nd half more mentally prepared to do what they are coached to do.
Please give them the half time speech before the get off of the bus in Tallahassee!
Please make half time adjustments before 1st quarter
Brilliant!
And put a chip on our shoulders for every game.
Seems like we play better when feeling maligned.
Random thoughts.
The TV timeouts seem to be getting more frequent and are definitely longer. The -- who asked for this? -- two minute warning makes it even worse.
The Bears have depth at RB and WR. Thomas and Calloway are very good backs.
San Diego State has a terrible offense and their QB was one of the worst I've seen at Memorial Stadium in recent years.
Our defense looks better this season especially at DB where we are talented and deep.
The students turned out last night but at least one of them -- the idiot throwing cards on the field -- should have stayed home.
Nice to see the chancellor leading cheers.
Mendoza is already a good QB and could well become an excellent one.
We've been lucky we faced terrible QBs two weeks in a row
I wonder if the TV timeouts are longer when you’re on a national broadcast (this one was ESPN)? As opposed to having most of our games on Pac-12 Network?
If so, might need to get used to it.
Yep. the timeouts last night were 4 minutes for the end of quarter/2 minute timeout and 3 minutes for the others, longest ever since they started showing the timeout clock on the field. Previous games they were about 30 seconds to a minute shorter.
The students looked like dad had just yelled at them after Wilcox got on the mike. Love love that they showed up in force- they will be an asset in future games.
We still have Oregon State on tap, the Non-Conference is not over yet
I mean, is there any chance a Wilcox-coached Cal team ever just comes out and stomps an 18.5 point underdog from the jump? That’d be nice.
A win’s a win, but that game very easily could have gone in another direction if that pick-6 when we inexplicably went empty from the shotgun on 4th and 1 stands….
Yeah that call was inexcusable.
IL can't believe that stupid call of a pass on 4th and 1.
Well, the Bears are 3-0, and won 31-10. But as a measure of progress in terms of honing the teams performance and execution, this game left much to be desired. The good was a substantial improvement in our running game, and another generally strong passing performance by Mendoza, coupled with a workmanlike defensive effort. But the first half anemic play, the penalties, failure to convert 4th and short, a missed short field goal and inconsistent play, left a mixed picture. An effective, full game performance would have the Bears scoring 50+ points. We basically almost played down to the level of an opponent, before asserting ourselves. I'm happy for the team, for their sake I hope they take a major step up in achieving a complete game execution and performance. Go Bears.
Agreed, would be nice to see a complete game. We have gotten away with it so far this season, but these are the same types of issues that have resulted in the rocky seasons of years past. The team seems to acknowledge this at least, and it feels like slightly better defense combined with a little more consistency from the offense is keeping us out of trouble so far. But that is probably not going to be enough to make it through conference play.
With the way things are shaking out, it feels like this could be a special season, but until we clean things up, we are going to be a few bad bounces away from a more typiCAL season.
Felt like we are finally building on the 2019 season before the pandemic set us back half a decade.
Sure hope there is solid progress on the critical injuries this week. Jet and Calloway did nicely with Ott out, but the Oline is still tenuous. Cal was fortunate to deal with a middling SDSU team who also shot themselves in the foot. Not that we didn't either- coaching has to focus on the fundamentals esp eliminating the ridiculous unnecessary penalties. Not much we can do with refs (still think that targeting call was a joke). Get healthier and focused, and off to Tallahassee.
Yes the Oline needs to improve. Hope the starters get back soon.
We did have 275 yards rushing. Pretty good for a patchwork line. I hope we get the starters back vs Florida State.
275 is great! But we struggled with short yardage and QB protection vs. San Diego State. Also we had a difficult time running vs. Auburn, and FSU's front will be big and even more athletic than Auburn. GO BEARS keep improving!
The rule has been around since 2008, and I still absolutely do not understand what "targeting" is.
Nor do the refs as it varies widely.
I really like that the team has responded so well to adversity - star player hurt basically all season, O line a MASH unit, no problem, next guys step up, D elevates game, Nando elevates game, has been awesome!
Good game by our sturdy golden bears! Good to see the run game clicking. Nando not spectacular but managed the game well. Took too many hits though. Would like to see him protect himself.
Kicking problem hasn’t haunted us yet but there needs to be a big emphasis this week on Coe and getting him right. I think he is 1/5 this year. If you take away that 60+ yarder, he is still 1/4 from make able distance. This is one of my top 3 worries.
Nyziah Hunter is amazing. No matter what happens with the other two returning starters, Hunter should not be taken off the field.
Oline is a work in progress but I do think that this line has improved and will be better when we get our starters back.
Cal students need to know how to cheer better but at least they showed up!
Beat the Noles! Go Bears!
Hard for ‘Nando to protect himself on those speed rush sacks where SDSU defense went right past would be protection. He didn’t have time to blink. Too many whiffed blocks.
Jet struggled picking up the blitz. Ran the ball real well tho.
Wasn’t talking about those. Just some ex: when he jumped to do a jumping pass then landed awkwardly. Then when he should have slid but didn’t. Those were avoidable.
Agreed
And begin the slide after the line to gain.
Agree re the kicking game. I don’t know if Coe just has the yips, but man, he misses some easy ones. He’s like a pitcher that is incapable of throwing straight. Is Luckhurst still on team?
I will say the strong leg on the touchbacks is a nice addition. Would like him to be a little more consistent on the FGs tho.
"He’s like a pitcher that is incapable of throwing straight." LOL
He'd be a perfect fit for the Giants.
Luckhurst has "retired" from football, if I understand rightly, I feel badly for how he was treated by fans.
KOs and PATs - kid’s got a leg, apparently that’s why we hired him instead of a ST coach 😉. RS senior, he’s been through three programs. Appeared confident for the Aggies but a friend at Auburn observed he looked fully deflated after the first miss. Team psych anyone?
No doubt the kid is talented. But he needs mental fortitude. Easy for us geezers to say when we are not in that situation but still… he wanted to be in those situation as a PK so so he needs to figure this out or next man up
Definitely a morale issue for him.
Who would have ever thought Florida State would be a must-win game?
Well.. not a must win. But would be amazing.
Win or lose, Go Bears!
Must win for the College Game Day possibility.
As I mentioned before, this could be a "trap" game. In other words, Cal came in overconfident and "flat". Thinking you have an easy opponent can do that to young impressionable young athletes. Thank goodness they came out in the 2nd half more mentally prepared to do what they are coached to do.