IMO the DL has been the top unit on the team this year despite the lack of experience and depth. They showed up ready to produce this year and have done just that. This game, once again, will test their mettle and resolve. And it will likely be just 3 DL playing the ENTIRE game: Tevis, Johnson & Johnson. It would be such a delight to see these three lads just tear the down out of the Ducks!!!
I do agree that they've done well despite the lack of depth, I was more just lamenting that I'd love to see more players (on both sides of the line) like Alex Mack, Mitchell Schwartz, Cameron Jordan, etc.
Just objectively speaking, I think Cal still has one of the best secondaries in the conference (behind maybe UW), but Cal's offensive and defensive lines are both middle of the Pac. Given all the setbacks, pandemic restrictions/injuries, lack of depth, I certainly expected worse out of the O-Line and D-Line, so I was pleasantly surprised with how well they've been holding up. All I was trying to express was that I think the only thing stopping Cal from getting over the hump and really contending for the top of the conference is a truly elite offensive and defensive line.
Not very sanguine about our prospects. The lack of depth thing will likely be our undoing. Also, if we continue to make mistakes at the rate we have been making them we are toast.
On the blocked extra-point against Stanford, there was only one defender on the left side of the line, who was facing a blocker. The holder should have picked up the ball and run into the endzone untouched.
Washington against Dallas it was run nicely, I would think a philly special type play would do wonders for us along with a lot more misdirection off the HB toss where we fake it left for example and either run right with Garbers or have crossing routes coming across right. It is important to have variation within the plays which is something I think would help us dearly. Also the opposing special teams seem to lay off our aussie punter a lot with one guy against the 3 on the wall plus the punter I would give him the green light to run especially on 4th and 3 or less from our own 45+ yard line.
You are a much better man than I for caring this much. I've never given up on the Bears before, but I actually want them to go winless this season. It's a lost season, and the students need to learn that if you aren't focused on your job (which is to be a student and an athlete), then you are going to get embarrassed.
Of course, we have new coaches, and have had no time in the off-season to prepare. But that is true for teams like the cougs and washington. And we are returning a lot of starters. So let them be embarrassed this year, learn and win the rose bowl next year.
The pac12 united thing or whatever it was called. This generation of people want to "change the world" through big government/mass movements. I guess I am not wise enough to judge whether they are right. I was raised to think that we can change the world through each of us being good at our given jobs - like being spouses, parents, workers, etc.
I would love to see upgrades and both sides of the line. The lines are the unsung heroes in football, and make the whole rest of the team better. Giving a QB <2 seconds to throw versus 3.5+ seconds to throw can be the difference in forcing the QB to throw a check down (or making a mistake) and letting the play develop fully to hit someone deep. Consistently opening up holes at the line for the RB is the difference between keeping drives alive or stalling out. I've been pleasantly surprised with how most of the backups have been doing this year on the offensive line, so I have hope that they'll improve into the future, but we could definitely use some more gap-fillers on the defensive side, especially as mobile QBs become more and more prominent.
Upgrades on the DL are on their way and with Browning's coaching (this dude can coach and recruit) Cal's DL should be solid in the next few seasons. Let's hope we can keep this recruiting class together for early signing just a few short weeks away.
OL: I'm pleased w/ the new guys and trust the former "starters" will have to earn their spot back. My preferred OL would be: LT Craig, LG Cindric, C Driscoll, RG Mettauer, RT Mello. We've seen what Saffell, Daltoso & Curhan can do and each has likely hit their ceiling. So, let the young guys finish out the year and gain valuable playing time. It would be disappointing if the staff did otherwise.
There is a hidden gem within the interior lineman, Nisich. Guy is interchangeable from OL to DL. He's a former high school wrestler and knows leverage. Given he's good enough to play both sides of the ball it would be great if he landed a spot. This year he started off w/ the OL, this week he is backing up ZJ on the DL. I think this kid will emerge and have an outstanding career at Cal.
I watched the video, but I hate these sorts of edited montages, since I can't really tell anything that's happening. The tape is sped up and slowed down at times, you can't see the arc of the ball or get a sense of hang time, so it's hard to judge arm strength here. It looks like he's throwing it at some stud receivers, so his accuracy doesn't really need to be on point, he clearly trusts those big body receivers to come down with the ball. The weird sideline view of the field makes it impossible to tell what his reads are or how the play is developing. He had some questionable throwing mechanics at times, but I don't watch enough high school football tape to really know what should be expected of a kid in high school.
In short, I can't tell anything from that video, other than the fact he clearly has some great wide receivers.
IMO the DL has been the top unit on the team this year despite the lack of experience and depth. They showed up ready to produce this year and have done just that. This game, once again, will test their mettle and resolve. And it will likely be just 3 DL playing the ENTIRE game: Tevis, Johnson & Johnson. It would be such a delight to see these three lads just tear the down out of the Ducks!!!
I do agree that they've done well despite the lack of depth, I was more just lamenting that I'd love to see more players (on both sides of the line) like Alex Mack, Mitchell Schwartz, Cameron Jordan, etc.
Just objectively speaking, I think Cal still has one of the best secondaries in the conference (behind maybe UW), but Cal's offensive and defensive lines are both middle of the Pac. Given all the setbacks, pandemic restrictions/injuries, lack of depth, I certainly expected worse out of the O-Line and D-Line, so I was pleasantly surprised with how well they've been holding up. All I was trying to express was that I think the only thing stopping Cal from getting over the hump and really contending for the top of the conference is a truly elite offensive and defensive line.
Agreed, we need to get better recruits for the trenches especially OL.
Not very sanguine about our prospects. The lack of depth thing will likely be our undoing. Also, if we continue to make mistakes at the rate we have been making them we are toast.
On the blocked extra-point against Stanford, there was only one defender on the left side of the line, who was facing a blocker. The holder should have picked up the ball and run into the endzone untouched.
I mean the coaches should have called timeout and inserted a trick play...
Washington against Dallas it was run nicely, I would think a philly special type play would do wonders for us along with a lot more misdirection off the HB toss where we fake it left for example and either run right with Garbers or have crossing routes coming across right. It is important to have variation within the plays which is something I think would help us dearly. Also the opposing special teams seem to lay off our aussie punter a lot with one guy against the 3 on the wall plus the punter I would give him the green light to run especially on 4th and 3 or less from our own 45+ yard line.
You are a much better man than I for caring this much. I've never given up on the Bears before, but I actually want them to go winless this season. It's a lost season, and the students need to learn that if you aren't focused on your job (which is to be a student and an athlete), then you are going to get embarrassed.
Of course, we have new coaches, and have had no time in the off-season to prepare. But that is true for teams like the cougs and washington. And we are returning a lot of starters. So let them be embarrassed this year, learn and win the rose bowl next year.
"if you aren't focused on your job (which is to be a student and an athlete), then you are going to get embarrassed."
Ah yes, the famed job of "student athlete". What's the starter salary and benefits you receive for that again?
Bye
Ok. You guys are morally superior. Have a nice day.
methinks he had an agenda which we ferreted out, best to let it go now.
"...need to learn that if you aren't focused.."
What makes you think that they aren't focused?
The pac12 united thing or whatever it was called. This generation of people want to "change the world" through big government/mass movements. I guess I am not wise enough to judge whether they are right. I was raised to think that we can change the world through each of us being good at our given jobs - like being spouses, parents, workers, etc.
Being a college football athlete is not a job.
Being a spouse is not a job.
Being a parent is not a job.
You have some serious issues if you think the former is an actual work position and the other two roles are that transactional.
Ok. Whatever.
I sensed you had an angle so I'm glad I asked and thank you for responding. Have a nice day.
Are you a teacher? “Tough, learn from your mistakes!”
No, one needs to be a caring person to be a teacher.
I would love to see upgrades and both sides of the line. The lines are the unsung heroes in football, and make the whole rest of the team better. Giving a QB <2 seconds to throw versus 3.5+ seconds to throw can be the difference in forcing the QB to throw a check down (or making a mistake) and letting the play develop fully to hit someone deep. Consistently opening up holes at the line for the RB is the difference between keeping drives alive or stalling out. I've been pleasantly surprised with how most of the backups have been doing this year on the offensive line, so I have hope that they'll improve into the future, but we could definitely use some more gap-fillers on the defensive side, especially as mobile QBs become more and more prominent.
Upgrades on the DL are on their way and with Browning's coaching (this dude can coach and recruit) Cal's DL should be solid in the next few seasons. Let's hope we can keep this recruiting class together for early signing just a few short weeks away.
OL: I'm pleased w/ the new guys and trust the former "starters" will have to earn their spot back. My preferred OL would be: LT Craig, LG Cindric, C Driscoll, RG Mettauer, RT Mello. We've seen what Saffell, Daltoso & Curhan can do and each has likely hit their ceiling. So, let the young guys finish out the year and gain valuable playing time. It would be disappointing if the staff did otherwise.
There is a hidden gem within the interior lineman, Nisich. Guy is interchangeable from OL to DL. He's a former high school wrestler and knows leverage. Given he's good enough to play both sides of the ball it would be great if he landed a spot. This year he started off w/ the OL, this week he is backing up ZJ on the DL. I think this kid will emerge and have an outstanding career at Cal.
I watched the video, but I hate these sorts of edited montages, since I can't really tell anything that's happening. The tape is sped up and slowed down at times, you can't see the arc of the ball or get a sense of hang time, so it's hard to judge arm strength here. It looks like he's throwing it at some stud receivers, so his accuracy doesn't really need to be on point, he clearly trusts those big body receivers to come down with the ball. The weird sideline view of the field makes it impossible to tell what his reads are or how the play is developing. He had some questionable throwing mechanics at times, but I don't watch enough high school football tape to really know what should be expected of a kid in high school.
In short, I can't tell anything from that video, other than the fact he clearly has some great wide receivers.