Looks to me like OSU loves to play a horizontal game - running the ball out wide with either a WR on a sweep or just pulling for their RBs. The passing game for them opens up when a team overplays that.
I will say, the thing in Cal's favor is that our pass defense, especially our safeties, is very good. I think back to how we held 1st round talent Strong and Nevada to just 22 points, and I don't think Nolan is as good as Strong. We might be one of the few teams OSU plays this year who can focus on the run without exposing ourselves to the pass, no?
Well, I'm just going to say that I'm not particularly optimistic about that. I think that if Cal wins this one, it's a high scoring game. UW has a great secondary with two NFL-level corners (and you're leaving your DBs in man coverage when you start stacking the box), but they couldn't stop the run at all anyway, so it didn't matter. OSU had 15 pass attempts and 50 rush attempts... they ran the ball 77% of the time.
100% agree, OSU has an awesome offense. Simple reason: great OL play. Cal fans can only dream of such.
Probably the best game in the Pac12 this year WOULD HAVE BEEN ducks v beavers but the bears will end that this weekend with a victory! I will still root for the beavers when they play the ducks albeit it won't be for the Pac12 North title.
My wife did her MS at OSU back with Erickson was coach and J Smith was QB. What great teams! J Smith was an under sized guy who just crushed people. Was at the game in Corvallis when OSU beat Oregon for the first time in a long time. Most fun I've ever had in a stadium, sorry Cal. If you watch the score in the Utah game you see that Utah led for much of the game. So I agree with the analysis that it will be up to our offense to score enough. First to 21!
Bob R., definitely catch a game in Corvallis one of these days. Either the day before or after, do the drive up 99W and you'll be in premium wine country within 30 minutes. Enjoy!
Glad you've been wine tasting in the valley. So many great options in the McMinnville area!
Yes, Eugene is part of the Willamette Valley. I always consider Cottage Grove to be the valley's southern border, but I don't believe that's official. From north to south, the Willamette Valley's major towns are Portland, Salem, Corvallis/Albany and Eugene/Springfield.
I've noticed that the more I hype up a team the worse they do, and vice versa. So if all goes according to plan, Oregon State is suffering a serious jinx right about now.
In which case, my original analysis that Oregon State has an overpowering offense is correct. It's a win-win for me. And if OSU's offense does get the life choked out of it by Cal's defense, you better believe I'll be hyping up Arizona next week like there's no tomorrow (which is going to be a very difficult task to do).
Let's hope so. Going into the Colosseum and knocking off USC easily is pretty impressive. They did squeak out a win against Washington, which Cal almost did. So if we can keep the game ugly and have maybe three td's in the first 3 quarters than I think we can be in range of a victory at the end of the 4th.
Please no more "ugly", hell we are Cal Bears just dominate your opponent and step on their throats. Per Arnold, "“What is best in life? To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women!”
As a former rugger under Clark this notion of "win ugly" is such a foreign concept to me. It is so un-Cal like, at least to me.
What you are saying would be infinitely preferable to winning ugly. However in the Wilcox era Cal imposing its will with a beatdown is a scarce commodity.
Your former favorite author Nick (and I agree with him) both know that recruiting is absolutely the number 1 way that programs turn student athletes into wins.
You're right that none of OSU's recruits were 4-star coming out of high school, but they did pick up a couple as transfers from other schools -- in fact, a good chunk of their starting lineup are transfers from elsewhere.
What's impressive to me is the number of NFL players Utah has created from e.g. 3-star recruits. Either Wittingham is very good at finding diamonds in the rough, or he's very good at developing them into top players (likely both).
This is THE BEST write up I have read on the Beavers thus far (this year). I’m looking forward to the game later today. Keep up the great work.
"Like Taggart, Tre’Shaun Harrison shows great speed and shiftiness in getting from point A to point B."
LMAO. Chris H with the extra sauce
Justyn Martin to UCLA......crap. This will be Shaq T. all over again.....
His "dream school...."
Looks to me like OSU loves to play a horizontal game - running the ball out wide with either a WR on a sweep or just pulling for their RBs. The passing game for them opens up when a team overplays that.
I will say, the thing in Cal's favor is that our pass defense, especially our safeties, is very good. I think back to how we held 1st round talent Strong and Nevada to just 22 points, and I don't think Nolan is as good as Strong. We might be one of the few teams OSU plays this year who can focus on the run without exposing ourselves to the pass, no?
Well, I'm just going to say that I'm not particularly optimistic about that. I think that if Cal wins this one, it's a high scoring game. UW has a great secondary with two NFL-level corners (and you're leaving your DBs in man coverage when you start stacking the box), but they couldn't stop the run at all anyway, so it didn't matter. OSU had 15 pass attempts and 50 rush attempts... they ran the ball 77% of the time.
100% agree, OSU has an awesome offense. Simple reason: great OL play. Cal fans can only dream of such.
Probably the best game in the Pac12 this year WOULD HAVE BEEN ducks v beavers but the bears will end that this weekend with a victory! I will still root for the beavers when they play the ducks albeit it won't be for the Pac12 North title.
Benny Benny Benny
Can't you see?
Sometimes your offense hypnotize me
This whole post is a masterpiece, but I love that you started with a classic CGB complisult.
I'm seriously jealous. That running game reminded me a lot of the early to mid Tedford era and I miss it. A lot.
At some point on Saturday OSU will line up in the Angry Beaver at the goal line and then Colletto will throw a pass. I can feel it.
My wife did her MS at OSU back with Erickson was coach and J Smith was QB. What great teams! J Smith was an under sized guy who just crushed people. Was at the game in Corvallis when OSU beat Oregon for the first time in a long time. Most fun I've ever had in a stadium, sorry Cal. If you watch the score in the Utah game you see that Utah led for much of the game. So I agree with the analysis that it will be up to our offense to score enough. First to 21!
Chance Nolan is freaking good
Really well played here -->"Like Taggart, Tre’Shaun Harrison shows great speed and shiftiness in getting from point A to point B."
How is Harrison at getting from point B to the unemployment office?
Bob R., definitely catch a game in Corvallis one of these days. Either the day before or after, do the drive up 99W and you'll be in premium wine country within 30 minutes. Enjoy!
Glad you've been wine tasting in the valley. So many great options in the McMinnville area!
Yes, Eugene is part of the Willamette Valley. I always consider Cottage Grove to be the valley's southern border, but I don't believe that's official. From north to south, the Willamette Valley's major towns are Portland, Salem, Corvallis/Albany and Eugene/Springfield.
Eugene and Corvallis are about 45 minutes apart, depending on the route.
We put way too many eggs in the Garbers basket for him to be the 9th rated QB in the Pac-12
He's looking at the link you posted. Garbers has the 9th highest QBR (QB Rating) in the Pac-12 according to the ESPN page you linked.
Garbers also is the total offense leader in the conference, which is something to consider, based both on rushing and passing.
Here's the link:
http://www.cfbstats.com/2021/leader/905/player/split01/category10/sort01.html
It doesn't.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passer_rating
I've noticed that the more I hype up a team the worse they do, and vice versa. So if all goes according to plan, Oregon State is suffering a serious jinx right about now.
REVERSE JINX
I’m pretty sure that by admitting that you know this, the contrarian trick loses all its power and predictive value.
In which case, my original analysis that Oregon State has an overpowering offense is correct. It's a win-win for me. And if OSU's offense does get the life choked out of it by Cal's defense, you better believe I'll be hyping up Arizona next week like there's no tomorrow (which is going to be a very difficult task to do).
Let's hope so. Going into the Colosseum and knocking off USC easily is pretty impressive. They did squeak out a win against Washington, which Cal almost did. So if we can keep the game ugly and have maybe three td's in the first 3 quarters than I think we can be in range of a victory at the end of the 4th.
Please no more "ugly", hell we are Cal Bears just dominate your opponent and step on their throats. Per Arnold, "“What is best in life? To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women!”
As a former rugger under Clark this notion of "win ugly" is such a foreign concept to me. It is so un-Cal like, at least to me.
What you are saying would be infinitely preferable to winning ugly. However in the Wilcox era Cal imposing its will with a beatdown is a scarce commodity.
Funny that “keep it ugly” is a key to victory
Your former favorite author Nick (and I agree with him) both know that recruiting is absolutely the number 1 way that programs turn student athletes into wins.
https://athleticdirectoru.com/articles/do-football-recruiting-ratings-matter/
Well, sometimes your first option isn't an option so you gotta finda other option 🤷🏽♂️
*find another. Sheesh, typing is hard...
You're right that none of OSU's recruits were 4-star coming out of high school, but they did pick up a couple as transfers from other schools -- in fact, a good chunk of their starting lineup are transfers from elsewhere.
Utah has much better recruits, though, and they've had a number of 4-stars over that same period. You can check recruiting rankings here: https://247sports.com/Season/2021-Football/CompositeTeamRankings/?Conference=Pac-12
What's impressive to me is the number of NFL players Utah has created from e.g. 3-star recruits. Either Wittingham is very good at finding diamonds in the rough, or he's very good at developing them into top players (likely both).
Which is exactly what Cal needs to do this season: cherry pick off the portal to pick up positions of need, say...........for example OL.