Cal Inside Linebackers Coach Bob Gregory on His Long History in Strawberry Canyon

The former Cal defensive coordinator has returned to Berkeley with a clear-eyed view of the program and the game.

Cal inside linebackers coach Bob Gregory has seen Cal from multiple vantage points over the decades, and came back to find the essentials still intact.

“I think it’s different in a lot of ways, but still Cal to me. This is still the University of California. We still got great academics, still got great culture here. The pieces of the puzzle on the field are different. We had some unbelievably great players who were here before. I think we can get that back.”

On how college football itself has changed, he didn’t mince words.

“Oh jeez, everything’s different. Recruiting, NIL, portal, the pace and tempo of the game. Almost every aspect is different.”

The on-field game in particular has shifted dramatically.

“Much more faster offenses, more spread offenses, less two backs, one back. Really almost every aspect of the game is speeded up.”

Three practices into spring ball, Gregory likes what he’s seen from a linebacker room that has been largely rebuilt through the portal.

“We only been at it for three practices. I like our guys. They play with a tremendous amount of effort. I think they’re smart players and we’ll just keep growing as spring goes on.”

The identity he’s hoping to build in the room comes down to a few core things.

“I certainly hope that we’re a very tough, physical and smart team. If you can play hard and you play smart and you have fun, you got a chance on Saturday afternoons.”

His early read on defensive coordinator Michael Hutchings has been positive.

“He’s great. Brings a wealth of experience from the NFL. Got a great personality, motivator. The kids are gravitating toward him.”

On the scheme, Gregory kept it flexible.

“We run a 3-4. We have two inside linebackers. We’ll do both, we got 3-4 concepts and 4-2-5 concepts. Got a little bit of everything.”

The inside linebacker role today looks similar to what it was decades ago in terms of responsibility, with one notable addition.

“I’m not sure if that role has changed all that much, other than the tempo of the game and having an earpiece. We have the green dot now, and it’s going to be an inside linebacker who has it on defense, very similar to the NFL. In terms of the job description, it’s really the same. You got to rush the passer, you got to play zone, you got to play man, you got to know your defense. That part hasn’t changed, but the speed of it certainly has.”

Asked to describe Tosh Lupoi as a player back in their first stint together, Gregory made it short and fitting.

“About the same as a coach. Energy, played very hard, worked very hard. Had a passion for the game.”