The QB play today from Sam Jackson ain't gonna be good enough in conference play. He is locking in on primary receivers and throwing into coverage way too much. I would take the guy on the other side, McCoy. He surveys the field a ton better and completes check downs to find open receivers. I think it's going to be UGLY next week at Washington.
Jackson and Finley looked like 1a and 1b (or, less charitably, two backups without a starter). I do think Jackson's ceiling is higher (and needs game experience, especially with passing) and his legs give us an extra dimension we need.
Basically, Jackson is our better option right now but I can't say he's the better QB.
Jackson V's whole training and background was as RB/WR. QB is relatively new to him. If some sort of NCAA fantasy league magically made itself available to us and Jackson V ended up fourth or fifth string QB, I'd say you still want him a RB. His speed is SO impressive.
I agree - I think Jackson is definitely raw and his reads/understanding remains flawed but that can come with more reps and experience. Let's be honest, Aaron Rodgers isn't waiting in the wings here.
It’s hard to trust Jackson to win games strictly with his arm, as the accuracy is spotty…but it also sure seems like none of our WRs, with the exception of maybe Hunter, can win on their routes.
Jackson obviously has trouble finding open receivers. Number one reasons he's too short to see open guys while looking over the middle. He's only 5'9" and in today's QB standard, that's too short.
That was a fun afternoon. Weather was good, it was alumni band day, the Bears scored some exciting touchdowns and it's always a joy to connect with fellow Bear fans. Could have done without spotting them seventeen points but scoring 31 unanswered after that was great. In the afterglow of the game I'm going to bask in victory and worry about Xs and Os and coaching and special teams later on. Palms of Victory. Go Bears!!!
Hard to see many more wins on the schedule with our offense. No separation from WRs and a QB that Spav doesn’t seem to trust isn’t gonna cut it in conference play.
ASU and Furd look like the bottom of the PAC. California should be favored over them but could easily drop those. The other 7 games are ALL against teams that are currently ranked! Hard to see a better scenario than winning the two we'd be favored in and picking off a ranked upset. That gets you 5. Beyond that is going to require a far better passing game than we've seen. Who knows, maybe as SJV gets some more reps he will get better at progressing through reads and hitting his guys. I wouldn't put money on Wilcox getting his first winning record in conference play in year seven though...
The ‘where do the wins come from’ game is a real miserable exercise this year. It’s beyond infuriating when you consider that during the time wilcox has had us stuck in neutral/reverse, 3 or 4 of those now-ranked teams were varying degrees of messes that hired new coaches and completely rebuilt their programs. We’ve stagnated while everyone around us with the exception of asu and the furd has massively improved.
And I’d rather have Kenny Dillingham rebuilding the program than Wilcox right now. We’re saddled with him and can not even begin the rebuild until probably after next season….
Maybe. We struggled with them last year and they were a dumpster fire. Troy Taylor has 7 games to get things clicking before we see them. Naturally, it’ll happen right before big game because Cal.
THE QB REPLACEMENT FOR JACKSON IN THE GAME WITH OGDON (AT 6'3) COULD SEE THE FIELD MUCH BETTER THAN JACKSON. WHY WAS HE OVERLOOKED IN THIS GAME. I VOTED FOR HIM OVER JACSON PREVIOUSLY AND THATS WHERE I'M AT RIGHT NOW!! DON'T YOU KNOW I'M RIGHT??
WHERE IS THE DECEPTION IN OUR BACKFIELD TO HELP SPRING RUNS? I'M DYING TO SEE A SCREEN PASS FOR THE SAME REASON. DOES ANYONE EVEN REMEMBER WATCHING A SCREN PASS BY CAL?
How are our coaches so dumb??? Agree, no deception in backfield, no separation by our WRs and no ability to design and execute screen passes. It's mind-boggling how these guys are still here.
Agreed. Instead of spotting them 17, we will spot them 35 before breaking the ice with a missed field goal attempt. Yuuuge Penix will end up with 300+ and another 4TD.
He's listed at 6'0" in HS and 6'2" now so maybe height was originally a concern? This is his 2nd year (he redshirted '21) so would still have some eligibility too.
Even if he got shut out in the 2nd half, still looked like, ahem, The Real McCoy.
TD_24, I believe you got Q&A during the midweek coach availability. Can you ask these questions (or some of them).
+ Can Luckhurst put KO into the end zone or are you strategically looking for short kicks to cover/tackle at the 24 yard line or less?
+ [SPAV] With 15 seconds left in the 1st quarter, Spav called the same play he called in a 2 point conversion against UNT where #87 & #89 line up with a WR near the sideline and block for a WR screen. It's been unsuccessful both times. Do #87 & #89 block more effectively in practice? What's success in that play?
+ [SPAV] Is the no. of reps #87 & #89 receive an implicit message about the O Line's capacity to block and/or the WR room's quality?
+ [SIRMON] This year we see #8 split out against an RB or TE right against the sideline frequently. Is that more a systematic change or something about #8's game that has developed since last year?
I had this same feeling, until this year when I finally had an epiphany. Why would people pay to watch this? To see a seemingly unprepared coaching staff spot an opposing team 17 points? How, after last weeks crushing loss, do we come out looking so flat. This is really not entertaining football.
Shouldn’t take a home field advantage to not have a completely hopeless looking first quarter against an fcs opponent. This is year 7 of wilcox, the fanbase clearly doesn’t believe in his ability to fox this.
The only thing exacerbating the situation imo, is an administration that continues to stick with a coach who can’t meet minimum expectations. I just can no longer blame fans who have simply seen enough. I agreed with your opinion for like the first six years of Wilcox, and I know we’re sitting at 2-1, but the last two games make me thinking we’re staring down another 3-4 win season. Hope I’m wrong.
The fact that he is even keeled makes Wilcox easy to like, but similar to Tedford, he does not seem to be a great motivator when they need a foot up their ass.
I get where you're coming from, but I don't think you can blame the fans here. When you look at all the top attendance programs, their schools generally put out a team that is at least watchable where there is hope that you can have a good season at the start of each year.
Cal is a program where we had success under Tedford once over a span of like 50 years and they think fans will continue to show up in droves just to hope that we don't have a sub .500 conference record for once.
A lot of people seemed to show up a little late. It wasn't anything like Auburn but it wasn't empty. I made it EXACTLY at kickoff because "police action" at West Oakland BART caused delays.
Oh, you mentioned the woke word. Now I know where the negativity comes from. You're just one of those guys who is bitching at every thing you see. No I'm not a lefty, I and many others, detest negative people.
Man, you are really negative. I'm glad I don't sit near you at games. I've been a loyal POSITIVE fan since the late 50's and we've had some great years. If you don't like Cal football so much then go watch Furd, or Sac state.
You are probably one of those who wanted Troy Taylor. Well, look at what he did yesterday and the week before. If you know anything about football, winning is having the better players, particularly O linemen and D backs. Cal and furd have trouble recruiting due to the academic standards of getting accepted to their Universities.
Troy Taylor is in year one of a complete rebuild. We are in year 7. Troy Taylor just got beat by a program he built with a lot of guys he recruited. I would absolutely still take him. I would also absolutely take just about anyone new at this point. Wilcox is a known commodity and, barring a miraculous turnaround this year with a brutal conference schedule, we’ve seen his ceiling.
The QB play today from Sam Jackson ain't gonna be good enough in conference play. He is locking in on primary receivers and throwing into coverage way too much. I would take the guy on the other side, McCoy. He surveys the field a ton better and completes check downs to find open receivers. I think it's going to be UGLY next week at Washington.
Yeah, perhaps a Cal coach spoke with McCoy and promised him some NIL on a transfer.
Taco: I had the same thought. Maybe we can entice him to play for us next year.
Jackson and Finley looked like 1a and 1b (or, less charitably, two backups without a starter). I do think Jackson's ceiling is higher (and needs game experience, especially with passing) and his legs give us an extra dimension we need.
Basically, Jackson is our better option right now but I can't say he's the better QB.
Jackson V's whole training and background was as RB/WR. QB is relatively new to him. If some sort of NCAA fantasy league magically made itself available to us and Jackson V ended up fourth or fifth string QB, I'd say you still want him a RB. His speed is SO impressive.
Better be.
We definitely need one for the high percentage, high need shorter FGs, it Luckhurst will eventually be drafted. Patience.
I agree - I think Jackson is definitely raw and his reads/understanding remains flawed but that can come with more reps and experience. Let's be honest, Aaron Rodgers isn't waiting in the wings here.
Rashada might hit the portal.
Of all the way to get across the Atlantic, that was one of them!
I mean... While probably not the journey they expected there must have been SOME survivors that got to their destination... right? That's a win.
I don’t know. Seems to me our receivers can’t get open or break tackles.
Honestly it’s probably a little of both.
It’s hard to trust Jackson to win games strictly with his arm, as the accuracy is spotty…but it also sure seems like none of our WRs, with the exception of maybe Hunter, can win on their routes.
I think our receivers are getting open. Jackson just needs experience to make the quick reads. That experience will come with a price.
Not getting open like Idaho’s receivers were
Jackson obviously has trouble finding open receivers. Number one reasons he's too short to see open guys while looking over the middle. He's only 5'9" and in today's QB standard, that's too short.
That was a fun afternoon. Weather was good, it was alumni band day, the Bears scored some exciting touchdowns and it's always a joy to connect with fellow Bear fans. Could have done without spotting them seventeen points but scoring 31 unanswered after that was great. In the afterglow of the game I'm going to bask in victory and worry about Xs and Os and coaching and special teams later on. Palms of Victory. Go Bears!!!
Well the score was as I predicted: 31 - 17
Can't afford to sleep 😴 walk through the 1st quarter next week though.
Hard to see many more wins on the schedule with our offense. No separation from WRs and a QB that Spav doesn’t seem to trust isn’t gonna cut it in conference play.
ASU and Furd look like the bottom of the PAC. California should be favored over them but could easily drop those. The other 7 games are ALL against teams that are currently ranked! Hard to see a better scenario than winning the two we'd be favored in and picking off a ranked upset. That gets you 5. Beyond that is going to require a far better passing game than we've seen. Who knows, maybe as SJV gets some more reps he will get better at progressing through reads and hitting his guys. I wouldn't put money on Wilcox getting his first winning record in conference play in year seven though...
The ‘where do the wins come from’ game is a real miserable exercise this year. It’s beyond infuriating when you consider that during the time wilcox has had us stuck in neutral/reverse, 3 or 4 of those now-ranked teams were varying degrees of messes that hired new coaches and completely rebuilt their programs. We’ve stagnated while everyone around us with the exception of asu and the furd has massively improved.
And I’d rather have Kenny Dillingham rebuilding the program than Wilcox right now. We’re saddled with him and can not even begin the rebuild until probably after next season….
He has no excuses, but the fact that there is a segment of our fanbase still willing to make excuses for him completely boggles my mind.
Hmmm… like Sonny Dykes?
Yes, there is cultural bullshit, here. Nerds that hated PE and football even more.
We'll beat stanfurd!! They lost to Sacramento State yesterday!
Anything can happen in a rival game. Anybody bet on Colorado State, yesterday?
Maybe. We struggled with them last year and they were a dumpster fire. Troy Taylor has 7 games to get things clicking before we see them. Naturally, it’ll happen right before big game because Cal.
Coach Sirmon needs to trash the powder blue digs. That's some bad mojo. Took a quarter to shake it off.
A W. One that I would not predicted when Cal was down 17-0. No O. No D. But the faithful were rewarded.
At least those who survived. We old blues are grizzled, frazzled, and fragile.
Quite true. It's a painful allegiance.
I was ready to walk out of the stadium and I wasn't even there.
No Exit.
Such a lovely place.
Indeed. Tirture
THE QB REPLACEMENT FOR JACKSON IN THE GAME WITH OGDON (AT 6'3) COULD SEE THE FIELD MUCH BETTER THAN JACKSON. WHY WAS HE OVERLOOKED IN THIS GAME. I VOTED FOR HIM OVER JACSON PREVIOUSLY AND THATS WHERE I'M AT RIGHT NOW!! DON'T YOU KNOW I'M RIGHT??
WHERE IS THE DECEPTION IN OUR BACKFIELD TO HELP SPRING RUNS? I'M DYING TO SEE A SCREEN PASS FOR THE SAME REASON. DOES ANYONE EVEN REMEMBER WATCHING A SCREN PASS BY CAL?
GERBEAR
Yes. We get a good run up the middle or off tackle and -- bank on it -- next play we run it up the middle for +1, 0, or -1. Rinse. Repeat.
How are our coaches so dumb??? Agree, no deception in backfield, no separation by our WRs and no ability to design and execute screen passes. It's mind-boggling how these guys are still here.
I'm surprised Spavital didn't bring in his guys such as RB or WR coach.
Thompson is fine but it would have been nice to get Peeler back.
I suspect we will see a completely differently gameplan next week in Seattle.
Agreed. Instead of spotting them 17, we will spot them 35 before breaking the ice with a missed field goal attempt. Yuuuge Penix will end up with 300+ and another 4TD.
I don't know about that. Their QB had his game together.
he was pretty good. A lot better than our guys
Seemed like their WRs were better than ours also.
Did a Bear D-linemen go all DJ Khaled at all today? Like, not even once…passing lanes on the slants/crosses were wide TF open.
He got panicky when we were givng him pressure.
Agreed, once we sent the blitz his pocket composure broke down.
Still, compare him to Caleb Williams in a collapsing pocket.
Looks like we may have a problem with qbs that can run outside the pocket. Not a great omen for conference play, cause there are a whole lot of them.
Wonder if this will be his last year in FCS.
Great question.
Impressive dude
He's listed at 6'0" in HS and 6'2" now so maybe height was originally a concern? This is his 2nd year (he redshirted '21) so would still have some eligibility too.
Even if he got shut out in the 2nd half, still looked like, ahem, The Real McCoy.
I see what you did there
TD_24, I believe you got Q&A during the midweek coach availability. Can you ask these questions (or some of them).
+ Can Luckhurst put KO into the end zone or are you strategically looking for short kicks to cover/tackle at the 24 yard line or less?
+ [SPAV] With 15 seconds left in the 1st quarter, Spav called the same play he called in a 2 point conversion against UNT where #87 & #89 line up with a WR near the sideline and block for a WR screen. It's been unsuccessful both times. Do #87 & #89 block more effectively in practice? What's success in that play?
+ [SPAV] Is the no. of reps #87 & #89 receive an implicit message about the O Line's capacity to block and/or the WR room's quality?
+ [SIRMON] This year we see #8 split out against an RB or TE right against the sideline frequently. Is that more a systematic change or something about #8's game that has developed since last year?
can we please have an unofficial field goal kicking tryout and invite the rugby and soccer team and anyone else who think they can kick?
and can we make note to talk to their QB at the end of the season.
Luckhurst has a great leg. He needs reps to get experience and his confidence back. Wilcox held tryouts and Luckhurst won.
there is experience. then there is game-day performance.
if your life is on the line would you send him out?
GO BEARS
And the turnout is an embarrassment. Have we not learned our lesson? I know it's Idaho, but wake the f**k up Bay Area.
I had this same feeling, until this year when I finally had an epiphany. Why would people pay to watch this? To see a seemingly unprepared coaching staff spot an opposing team 17 points? How, after last weeks crushing loss, do we come out looking so flat. This is really not entertaining football.
Having a semblance of a home field advantage might remedy this some.
Shouldn’t take a home field advantage to not have a completely hopeless looking first quarter against an fcs opponent. This is year 7 of wilcox, the fanbase clearly doesn’t believe in his ability to fox this.
Idaho was pretty good. Our defense has always (save last year) our strength and they picked us apart.
I get the frustration, I just don't think tuning out is the answer. It just exacerbates the situation and makes us look as if we don't give a crap.
The only thing exacerbating the situation imo, is an administration that continues to stick with a coach who can’t meet minimum expectations. I just can no longer blame fans who have simply seen enough. I agreed with your opinion for like the first six years of Wilcox, and I know we’re sitting at 2-1, but the last two games make me thinking we’re staring down another 3-4 win season. Hope I’m wrong.
He sure as hell has trouble picking OCs.
The fact that he is even keeled makes Wilcox easy to like, but similar to Tedford, he does not seem to be a great motivator when they need a foot up their ass.
I get where you're coming from, but I don't think you can blame the fans here. When you look at all the top attendance programs, their schools generally put out a team that is at least watchable where there is hope that you can have a good season at the start of each year.
Cal is a program where we had success under Tedford once over a span of like 50 years and they think fans will continue to show up in droves just to hope that we don't have a sub .500 conference record for once.
I won’t miss a game but I absolutely understand why fan interest is at an alltime low.
A lot of people seemed to show up a little late. It wasn't anything like Auburn but it wasn't empty. I made it EXACTLY at kickoff because "police action" at West Oakland BART caused delays.
I heard it was around 36k.
Of course, that might be sales and not butts in seats.
That has to be sales. There wasn’t anywhere close to 36k. 20, maybe.
The attendance number is calculated by the ticket reading at the entrance computer ticket readings.
Are you sure? If there were only 44k there for auburn last week, there is no possible way there were only 8k less in the stadium yesterday.
Our pattern has changed from turtle to a more bear-like wake from hibernation.
Glad we finally put our offense in H.
Just pull a Furd and be the Golden.
😂
I see what you did there. Politics brings out our uglies, and distracts when we need to rally for the Bears.
Oh, you mentioned the woke word. Now I know where the negativity comes from. You're just one of those guys who is bitching at every thing you see. No I'm not a lefty, I and many others, detest negative people.
We beat the spread again...but not by much.
Just what gamblers need, more stress!
the golden bear is a golden colored black bear which are commonly called cinnamon bears. They will eventually change to black.
wait why will they eventually be black?
There’s a cinnamon bear that hangs out at Snowflower campground near Donner Lake.
Viscera has gotten full turnouts since the games of classic Rome.
Bread, too.
Man, you are really negative. I'm glad I don't sit near you at games. I've been a loyal POSITIVE fan since the late 50's and we've had some great years. If you don't like Cal football so much then go watch Furd, or Sac state.
Wow. That’s a blast from the past.
Put it on UCLA's tab.
You are probably one of those who wanted Troy Taylor. Well, look at what he did yesterday and the week before. If you know anything about football, winning is having the better players, particularly O linemen and D backs. Cal and furd have trouble recruiting due to the academic standards of getting accepted to their Universities.
Troy Taylor is in year one of a complete rebuild. We are in year 7. Troy Taylor just got beat by a program he built with a lot of guys he recruited. I would absolutely still take him. I would also absolutely take just about anyone new at this point. Wilcox is a known commodity and, barring a miraculous turnaround this year with a brutal conference schedule, we’ve seen his ceiling.