Cal has really struggled to run the football consistently ever since the 2023 UCLA W. Perhaps not coincidentally, that is about the time Bloesch started pulling double duty as OC/OL coach…so there’s that data point…(resigned sigh).
The entire football-watching world can see this OL is a major issue regardless of personnel, and in the 1H last week @ Wake, it looked like Bloesch finally made some adjustments in play-calling by going pass-heavy and throwing the ball 40 times.
I can understand not wanting to get into a scorefest with Cuse, given their offensive proficiency, but did Wilcox honestly think they were going to be able to run the ball effectively when they haven’t done so in a year? It’s like he has this coach’s playbook that tells him how he SHOULD play…yet they simply can’t execute what is needed.
My biggest frustration came when Cal got the ball back after forcing a SYR punt down 13 in 4Q…a likelihood of a comeback was still pretty low, BUT the Bears lost 4 yards and punted after a quick 3 & out, highlighted by a 2nd and 10 run by Ott up the middle that not-surprisingly got absolutely stonewalled for no-gain. After a predictable sack on the ensuing 3rd and 10 play, Cal punted and that was that.
UC Berkeley is a world class university with a lousy football program, let's face it. The in-conference embarrassment continues with another horrible Golden Bears conference record - currently 1-5. This has been >10 years Cal has a losing conference record and performed at or near the bottom of their conference. I don't know if the ACC is happy the rest of the schools can whip Cal's and Stanford's asses year in and year out, or angry they picked up the dregs of the Pac 12. When realignment comes I believe both schools will be relegated to a lesser conference... there will be additional hand wringing and teeth gnashing in Cal fandom when this comes, but one thing is sure - we have earned relegation.
Well folks, we are late enough into the season that there really aren't any excuses anymore.
2024 Cal football is a flawed team. We were lucky to win the games that we did win. Our opponent today obviously watched enough tape of our team to realize how to take advantage of us. They kept the ball away from us and prevented Mendoza from getting comfortable and in rhythm. Cal could not stop any 4th down conversion attempts. O-line could not get enough pass protection or run blocking. We have talented players who want to succeed but we just don't have enough tools in the toolbox to do all of things that need to get done to win games comfortably. Now that the clock does not stop on first down in-bounds, we do not have the luxury of stalled drives. The clock will run out. Every drive MUST score points, even if its just a field goal.
There are a lot of things to unpack here but the reason we lost today was that Gadsden and Pena abused us all day long. Syracuse is not Ohio State, or Oregon, or Texas. They are a middle of the road ACC team and one that we need to know how to handle year in and year out.
Our focus moving forward NEEDS to be recruiting better offensive line players in order to establish the run, which will then open up the possibility for more creativity. We are just too one dimensional right now and it shows.
Honestly, the only win that could be considered "lucky" was Auburn. Our other wins are UC Davis, San Diego State, Oregon State, and Wake Forest. Those aren't lucky, it's just winning against an inferior opponent like you should. In the really competitive matchups, we always fall short.
You’re probably right. I should pull back on the doom and gloom a little bit. I still stand by my statement that when we do well, it feels lucky, instead of intentional.
Absolutely need to prioritize both sides of the Line of Scrimmage.
John Madden built his teams from the line up. We have great RBs, but that means less when they do not have blocking or the QB does not have pass protection.
If we had a team consisting of: Jared Goff, Tony Gonzalez, Marshawn Lynch, Keenan Allen, Geoff MacArthur, DeSean Jackson, Jahvid Best, JJ Arrington, and our current offensive line, we would still struggle to win every game this year. Line play is important. This is not meant to be an insult to any of our players past or present. I am merely stating that we need better line play.
All the losses are purely on the coaching not the players. While Cal still needs to improve on recruiting and depth. The team has far better talent as a whole this year than it has had under most of Wilcox’s previous seasons. Wilcox or whoever else can continue to say they need to play better or they will play better but continuing to say and believe that does not make it so. Experienced, skilled and effective coaching is the only thing that will put more W’s in the win column at this point. With all the 1 and 2 point losses this season at the very least Cal should be 3-3 in the ACC and very arguably 5-1 or even 6-0. Again this is due to poor coaching. Cal is now tied with Florida State at the bottom of the conference with 1-5 records and Florida State’s only win so far this season was against Cal. Stanford is now ahead of Cal by 1 game in the conference. I would think the SMU game is all but a guaranteed loss. Stanford looked a hell of a lot better in their win over #19 Louisville than Cal did today. So with that said and it being the Big Game next weekend Cal will be lucky if they get one more win this season. In my mind this is an unmitigated disaster of a season. Cal’s coaching continues to be mediocre at best and obviously it isn't going to change in the remainder of this year and I don't see it changing in any forthcoming seasons with Wilcox at the helm. I don't believe Wilcox has the skills or experience to take the program any further than he already has. Syracuse had a team that Cal was expected to and should have been able to beat. While I wasn't at the game today from what I've heard it sounds like an extremely disheartening loss and makes me wonder if Wilcox is losing the team or if things are headed in that direction. Either way it is time to move on before its too late with conference realignment looming in the not-too-distant future. I know it's going to be expensive to buy out Wilcox but it will cost more in the long and quite possibly the loss of most if not all of Cal’s non revenue sports if Cal Football isn't built up to a relatively consistent top 25 program.
I am double bummed. The Furd just came from behind and beat Louisville on a walk-off long field goal. They had no business winning this game but they pulled it off. Big Game win is now seriously in question.
Here's another one score loss for Wilcox on paper but this game was completely outmatched. We could not stop Syracuse all day long. They were moving the ball at will.
We are so terrible at bleeding the clock when we have the lead, but when we are down and need to hurry up, we are so good at taking time off the clock.
If Troy Taylor came back to Cal, he is alma mater, That would be fantastic. Our offense would be so much better. And, get rid of Sirman and get a new proven Defensive coordinator
If you listen to Pawlawski’s game call and podcast, he shares amazing insights on each play. I watch the action on TV or in-person, but only listen to Paws.
Who has had enough of this?
Everyone
Cal fans need to make their voices heard.
This malfeasance shall not stand. ;-)
You’re going to lose the athletic department.
(Except Jim Knowlton)
Me
Thanks Rick. Continue to enjoy your work.
Didn't JET score on offense, not special teams?
Ya. 75 yarder on 2nd play of drive.
And then he hardly played again. Get rid of the offense and defense coordinators!!!
Cal has really struggled to run the football consistently ever since the 2023 UCLA W. Perhaps not coincidentally, that is about the time Bloesch started pulling double duty as OC/OL coach…so there’s that data point…(resigned sigh).
The entire football-watching world can see this OL is a major issue regardless of personnel, and in the 1H last week @ Wake, it looked like Bloesch finally made some adjustments in play-calling by going pass-heavy and throwing the ball 40 times.
I can understand not wanting to get into a scorefest with Cuse, given their offensive proficiency, but did Wilcox honestly think they were going to be able to run the ball effectively when they haven’t done so in a year? It’s like he has this coach’s playbook that tells him how he SHOULD play…yet they simply can’t execute what is needed.
My biggest frustration came when Cal got the ball back after forcing a SYR punt down 13 in 4Q…a likelihood of a comeback was still pretty low, BUT the Bears lost 4 yards and punted after a quick 3 & out, highlighted by a 2nd and 10 run by Ott up the middle that not-surprisingly got absolutely stonewalled for no-gain. After a predictable sack on the ensuing 3rd and 10 play, Cal punted and that was that.
Yes, I made the correction. He scored from scrimmage and not on special-teams play.
Players looked flat-footed.
Even the effervescent and inspiring Nando could not lift the spirits to match those of the well-coached Cuse team.
Some coaches inspire, some coaches do not.
Meanwhile, in Palo Alto...
UC Berkeley is a world class university with a lousy football program, let's face it. The in-conference embarrassment continues with another horrible Golden Bears conference record - currently 1-5. This has been >10 years Cal has a losing conference record and performed at or near the bottom of their conference. I don't know if the ACC is happy the rest of the schools can whip Cal's and Stanford's asses year in and year out, or angry they picked up the dregs of the Pac 12. When realignment comes I believe both schools will be relegated to a lesser conference... there will be additional hand wringing and teeth gnashing in Cal fandom when this comes, but one thing is sure - we have earned relegation.
Well folks, we are late enough into the season that there really aren't any excuses anymore.
2024 Cal football is a flawed team. We were lucky to win the games that we did win. Our opponent today obviously watched enough tape of our team to realize how to take advantage of us. They kept the ball away from us and prevented Mendoza from getting comfortable and in rhythm. Cal could not stop any 4th down conversion attempts. O-line could not get enough pass protection or run blocking. We have talented players who want to succeed but we just don't have enough tools in the toolbox to do all of things that need to get done to win games comfortably. Now that the clock does not stop on first down in-bounds, we do not have the luxury of stalled drives. The clock will run out. Every drive MUST score points, even if its just a field goal.
There are a lot of things to unpack here but the reason we lost today was that Gadsden and Pena abused us all day long. Syracuse is not Ohio State, or Oregon, or Texas. They are a middle of the road ACC team and one that we need to know how to handle year in and year out.
Our focus moving forward NEEDS to be recruiting better offensive line players in order to establish the run, which will then open up the possibility for more creativity. We are just too one dimensional right now and it shows.
Honestly, the only win that could be considered "lucky" was Auburn. Our other wins are UC Davis, San Diego State, Oregon State, and Wake Forest. Those aren't lucky, it's just winning against an inferior opponent like you should. In the really competitive matchups, we always fall short.
You’re probably right. I should pull back on the doom and gloom a little bit. I still stand by my statement that when we do well, it feels lucky, instead of intentional.
Absolutely need to prioritize both sides of the Line of Scrimmage.
John Madden built his teams from the line up. We have great RBs, but that means less when they do not have blocking or the QB does not have pass protection.
If we had a team consisting of: Jared Goff, Tony Gonzalez, Marshawn Lynch, Keenan Allen, Geoff MacArthur, DeSean Jackson, Jahvid Best, JJ Arrington, and our current offensive line, we would still struggle to win every game this year. Line play is important. This is not meant to be an insult to any of our players past or present. I am merely stating that we need better line play.
All the losses are purely on the coaching not the players. While Cal still needs to improve on recruiting and depth. The team has far better talent as a whole this year than it has had under most of Wilcox’s previous seasons. Wilcox or whoever else can continue to say they need to play better or they will play better but continuing to say and believe that does not make it so. Experienced, skilled and effective coaching is the only thing that will put more W’s in the win column at this point. With all the 1 and 2 point losses this season at the very least Cal should be 3-3 in the ACC and very arguably 5-1 or even 6-0. Again this is due to poor coaching. Cal is now tied with Florida State at the bottom of the conference with 1-5 records and Florida State’s only win so far this season was against Cal. Stanford is now ahead of Cal by 1 game in the conference. I would think the SMU game is all but a guaranteed loss. Stanford looked a hell of a lot better in their win over #19 Louisville than Cal did today. So with that said and it being the Big Game next weekend Cal will be lucky if they get one more win this season. In my mind this is an unmitigated disaster of a season. Cal’s coaching continues to be mediocre at best and obviously it isn't going to change in the remainder of this year and I don't see it changing in any forthcoming seasons with Wilcox at the helm. I don't believe Wilcox has the skills or experience to take the program any further than he already has. Syracuse had a team that Cal was expected to and should have been able to beat. While I wasn't at the game today from what I've heard it sounds like an extremely disheartening loss and makes me wonder if Wilcox is losing the team or if things are headed in that direction. Either way it is time to move on before its too late with conference realignment looming in the not-too-distant future. I know it's going to be expensive to buy out Wilcox but it will cost more in the long and quite possibly the loss of most if not all of Cal’s non revenue sports if Cal Football isn't built up to a relatively consistent top 25 program.
I think I agree with your predictions for ROS. It seems like Wilcox became coach under conditions that are no longer suited for his talents.
I am double bummed. The Furd just came from behind and beat Louisville on a walk-off long field goal. They had no business winning this game but they pulled it off. Big Game win is now seriously in question.
A Big Game loss may be what it takes to save Cal football from itself. It’s always darkest before the dawn.
Here's another one score loss for Wilcox on paper but this game was completely outmatched. We could not stop Syracuse all day long. They were moving the ball at will.
We are so terrible at bleeding the clock when we have the lead, but when we are down and need to hurry up, we are so good at taking time off the clock.
Yes. Very strange
x1000
So here is a pure hypothetical question ...
Would you straight up make the following swap?
- Mark Madsen over to Stanford as head basketball coach
- Troy Taylor to Cal as head football coach
Both coaches are young in their tenure, showing positive signs (perhaps Madsen more than Taylor?) but this would place each man back at his alma mater
I guess this is one way of asking which sport is more important?
If Troy Taylor came back to Cal, he is alma mater, That would be fantastic. Our offense would be so much better. And, get rid of Sirman and get a new proven Defensive coordinator
No way. We want Mad Dog, who has already made an impact on recruiting. I think I'd start Taylor as an OC, if he'd do it.
That being said, why not Mike Pawlawski as OC/QB coach?
Our QB coach seems just fine. Look at Nando's improvement
Because he's never coached anything.
If you listen to Pawlawski’s game call and podcast, he shares amazing insights on each play. I watch the action on TV or in-person, but only listen to Paws.
Justin Wilcox is now 2-20 since COVID against FBS teams with a winning record. Fire that man!