42 Comments
Jan 24, 2023·edited Jan 24, 2023

Since when did the English Bonehead class at Cal teach you to start a paragraph with “I mean . . .”

If you're going to write representing Cal, use the language that actually reflects a major top rated English school. I mean, is this the laugh any flucky school would use?

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"Lighten up Francis". A statement made by Sgt. Hulka in 'Stripes'.

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Cute. Doesn't add anything in the discussion.

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Dude, this is an INTERNET blog, after all…..but what do I know, I still think “alot” is a word…..

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Jan 25, 2023·edited Jan 25, 2023

"Alot" is not a "word." The correct grammar is "A lot." If someone is going to post on this blog as a Cal graduate, the least they can do is follow what Cal taught regarding simple rules of grammar. Stop pretending to have gone to Cal, where this would have been marked down severly on any paper submitted in a UC Berkeley class. Including you, Dude, BTown85.

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It was a joke.....but maybe you're not in a joking mood......

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Perhaps working on what is humor is in order. JFC.

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Well, when I say “I still think ‘alot’ is a word”, that SHOULD tell you I know it’s not a word…. But I’m guessing that was lost in the back and forth. Go back to your grammar help….

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You can't expect anyone who's handle ends with a 9 to get jokes or sarcasm

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I never learned grammar at Cal.

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Sounds like Subject A, if they still call it that, was a traumatic experience for someone. Grammar is an ever changing convention, not set in stone and too often mastered by aspiring snobs. I mean, that just my opinion, though.

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Pray thee tell, what sayeth you the Harold Bloom of college blogging. What style of written expression would placate thy sophisticated sensibilities? Your wordsmithing requirements are the veritably the one's espoused by Berkeley, we shall endeavor post haste to fit thy narrow minded standards.

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I miss the old CGB with the embedded memes. Sigh.

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And the Oracle.

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It would have allowed us to see Wilcox everyday

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And the sunshine would be pumped….

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I would assume you are referring to my post since you have used the grumpy reference in other threads. I never take personal shots at other people who blog here, and you shouldn't either. Unless you are perfect.....are you?

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No, net perfect. But I did pass Bonehead English my Freshman year at Cal.

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WHEN SELECTING ANYONE FOR RECRUITMENT HOW MUCH ATTENTION IS PAID TO SPEED VS, WEIGHT , DEPENDING ON THE POSITION OF PLAY? ARE YOU CAREFULLY SECTECTIVE BEFORE YOU BECOME COLLECTIVE? HOPEFULLY YOU'LL FIND THE 'RIGHT' GUYS IN IN OUR GOLDEN BEAR STATE!

GERBEAR

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You can't coach speed. You can always add weight.

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I've been proving that true for 40 years...

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Ott is clearly a star and I love the kid. However, how do we explain the extreme variance in his performances? Was it simply an overmatched O-line? Teams that managed to game plan around shutting him down?

He looks to be fast and slippery, but was often not able to get the small chunks when needed. Just not a power-back, maybe? Curious what others think.

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Definitely o-line related. Ott often had defenders meeting him at the handoff. All his slipperiness was used in the backfield instead of after hitting the gap. He can be physical but he can't just truck guys like Marshawn.

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To be fair, we've never seen a collegiate runner truck and carry guys like Marshawn. I'll never forget watching him as a freshman, treating defenders like ping pong balls to be ignored.

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It's like he'd dodge them as a courtesy instead of just running them over.

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Now that I think about it. Cal has had the most monstrously strong back in Marshawn, and the most elusive and flighty back in Best. Cal is a such a running back U. Only SC comes to mind with Reggie Bush with having the latter. Plenty of big strong backs will bruise defenders. Marshawn's gift was that he was fast, elusive enough, but if you got on him, he was pissed and would drag you and your friends a few yards before slamming you to the ground.

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There was a clip (probably many clips, actually) where he talked about how if he wasn't going to outrun a defender he would make it a point to hit them as hard as possible so they'd have to think twice about tackling him lol.

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Jan 23, 2023Liked by Piotr Le, TD_24

There were many, many times when the O-line failed catastrophically and we were looking at a 3–4 yard loss, but Ott fought to get back to the line of scrimmage or a yard or two beyond it. That work doesn't show up on traditional stats sheets but should show up in advanced stats/analyses (and I seem to remember Piotr or someone bringing it up at some point this season).

It's the opposite of CMC's game-sealing 2-yard TD run last night, where he was nigh untouched by defenders due to incredible blocking—the RB takes the credit for the O-line's tremendous performance. For Ott, he instead took no (statistical) credit for correcting the O-line's mistakes.

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Good thing we've been beefing up our OLine in the portal so far

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Ummmm.......

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We just need to believe that Brown or Ramsey will become the next Troy Auzene or Todd Stuessie and be redshirt freshmen beasts ready to start and contribute on that O line. Can Wilcox channel Bruce Snyder and make that happen? Not likely, but dreaming is allowed.

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This is Cal; of COURSE dreaming is allowed!!

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*insert sarcasm font

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Jan 23, 2023·edited Jan 23, 2023Liked by TD_24

Thanks TD! Awesome write up.

Just need Mason Starling to stay healthy….huge upside, with NFL size. He’s a leading candidate for Cal breakout performer for 2023.

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Agree Starling flashed size and speed. If he can stay healthy and get enough snaps he could crack an NFL roster.

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Which site are you looking at?

Calbears.com roster page doesn't list 2023 roster yet. The latest is 2022 and it looks fine to me.

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I like Christakos too, tho he had a couple of drops last year in his limited targets. Gotta clean those up, but hopefully this is a wide open attack with plenty of run to go around.

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I love him just for his nickname!!!!!

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I was definitely intrigued by his size - 6’4”, 220 - he can be a problem match-up wise.

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Jan 25, 2023·edited Jan 25, 2023

Marshawn made it through the classroom. Didn't you see the video where he talks about the importance of spell check?

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How do you know that those two couldn't get by in the classroom? from their public personas?

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