As noted, there are good reasons to think that the offensive improvement is sustainable. We knew Cal had good talent at the skill positions coming in. The question was if the OL could give them a chance to make plays. In this game it happened, and can be attributed to a reshuffling of personnel. It also happened consistently, over multiple long drives, so it doesn't look like a fluke.
Arizona is probably not a good defense by Pac-12 standards, but if you can put up 49 on them then there is hope against the better teams too. Let's hope everyone can stay healthy.
This win gave me the confidence to purchase my away game ticket for WSU this weekend! Last time I saw a game in Pullman was the fiasco with Macilwain or however it's spelled, throwing a pick to end the game. Hoping for a better outcome this Saturday. I'm with those thinking the offensive improvements are real and not a fluke. Defense is now a worry. Game should at least be competitive. Go Bears!
WSU will give us a good idea of where this offense is really at. WSUs defense shut us down last season and their defense, while it isn’t as good as NDs, it certainly isn’t as bad as Arizonas. I’m not expecting 49 points and 599 yards against WSU but if we can put up 28-35 points and about 400 yards of offense that would be very encouraging.
My quick take of a highlight viewing, is that while Ott ran much more decisively than against earlier teams, he was also not close to getting touched until well into positive yardage.
Interesting that Brooks + Moore got 15 carries for 63 yards and as the game went into the 3rd and 4th quarter, they more of the "the defense is now tired and we're going to pound the rock" sort of carries to finish out the game.
Cal's 2022 recruiting class paying big dividends so far. I am wondering how many other programs in the Pac 12 are relying as heavily on true freshmen as Cal's is. I am guessing that Vatikani will be a starter the rest of the year if he stays healthy, and Earby is already a mainstay among the D backs. Enough said about how valuable Ott is to the team.
For the Cal historians, can anyone remember a season where true freshmen contributed so heavily? It will be interesting to see if programs are more willing to throw true freshmen into the fray out of fear of losing them to the transfer portal.
Obviously it's a bit different without Leland's writeups, but are there any plans to resume the weekly Power Rankings? I guess the Roundtable segments fill a similar role, but as a compulsive ranker I miss the signature shot of homerism.
This was the best analysis of a game I've read on this board. Statistically, Washington State should allow the Cal offense to continue its performance, albeit one on the road. Defensively, Cal will need to let us know which defense is for real, the one that we saw in the 1st half, or the one we saw in the 2nd half of the Arizona game. Running the ball will be key to keeping the WSU offense off the field, and allowing our quarterback time in the pocket. Fingers crossed.
"Meanwhile, Ryan Puskas and Nate Rutchena got a lot of snaps playing ILB where we would usually see Oladejo, and had a tough assignment dealing with Arizona’s over the middle passing game. I’m hoping that Femi is back in the middle next week."
I like Oladejo at OLB very disruptive and held the edge. Against Wazzzu I like Rutchena and Paster manning the middle of the field. Haven't seen much of Paster lately so I'm not sure if he is injured but his skill set, as a former safety, will be needed this week.
Well. I completed my victory lap. That was a fun 24 hours going through the comments of AZ fans backtracking their comments and name-calling.
I was in the box and not with the guys, but I imagine Nick had a grand ol time yelling one of Larry's favorite phrases.
ALWAYS RUN.
As noted, there are good reasons to think that the offensive improvement is sustainable. We knew Cal had good talent at the skill positions coming in. The question was if the OL could give them a chance to make plays. In this game it happened, and can be attributed to a reshuffling of personnel. It also happened consistently, over multiple long drives, so it doesn't look like a fluke.
Arizona is probably not a good defense by Pac-12 standards, but if you can put up 49 on them then there is hope against the better teams too. Let's hope everyone can stay healthy.
The most exciting thing for me is that Stanford's defense is probably worse than Arizona's. We've got a shot at #Drop50 in the Big Game
This win gave me the confidence to purchase my away game ticket for WSU this weekend! Last time I saw a game in Pullman was the fiasco with Macilwain or however it's spelled, throwing a pick to end the game. Hoping for a better outcome this Saturday. I'm with those thinking the offensive improvements are real and not a fluke. Defense is now a worry. Game should at least be competitive. Go Bears!
“Due to some post-game miscommunication, the band played ‘Fight’ before the players could gather”
The band and mic men are especially terrible this year. One of the mic men was yelling block that punt on a PAT. Terrible.
WSU will give us a good idea of where this offense is really at. WSUs defense shut us down last season and their defense, while it isn’t as good as NDs, it certainly isn’t as bad as Arizonas. I’m not expecting 49 points and 599 yards against WSU but if we can put up 28-35 points and about 400 yards of offense that would be very encouraging.
My quick take of a highlight viewing, is that while Ott ran much more decisively than against earlier teams, he was also not close to getting touched until well into positive yardage.
Interesting that Brooks + Moore got 15 carries for 63 yards and as the game went into the 3rd and 4th quarter, they more of the "the defense is now tired and we're going to pound the rock" sort of carries to finish out the game.
Cal's 2022 recruiting class paying big dividends so far. I am wondering how many other programs in the Pac 12 are relying as heavily on true freshmen as Cal's is. I am guessing that Vatikani will be a starter the rest of the year if he stays healthy, and Earby is already a mainstay among the D backs. Enough said about how valuable Ott is to the team.
For the Cal historians, can anyone remember a season where true freshmen contributed so heavily? It will be interesting to see if programs are more willing to throw true freshmen into the fray out of fear of losing them to the transfer portal.
Obviously it's a bit different without Leland's writeups, but are there any plans to resume the weekly Power Rankings? I guess the Roundtable segments fill a similar role, but as a compulsive ranker I miss the signature shot of homerism.
This was the best analysis of a game I've read on this board. Statistically, Washington State should allow the Cal offense to continue its performance, albeit one on the road. Defensively, Cal will need to let us know which defense is for real, the one that we saw in the 1st half, or the one we saw in the 2nd half of the Arizona game. Running the ball will be key to keeping the WSU offense off the field, and allowing our quarterback time in the pocket. Fingers crossed.
Big award(s) win for Ott this week
"Meanwhile, Ryan Puskas and Nate Rutchena got a lot of snaps playing ILB where we would usually see Oladejo, and had a tough assignment dealing with Arizona’s over the middle passing game. I’m hoping that Femi is back in the middle next week."
I like Oladejo at OLB very disruptive and held the edge. Against Wazzzu I like Rutchena and Paster manning the middle of the field. Haven't seen much of Paster lately so I'm not sure if he is injured but his skill set, as a former safety, will be needed this week.
You said the 5-1 part out loud! Theme’s Tedford era ambitions. Sweet to dream…
I don't know what this means: "the offense that gained 599 out of 747 possible yards (80%!!!) on Saturday"
Am I just being dense (don't answer that......)?
So...four games in, are we ready to leave behind the Tercel metaphor for the offense and claim that we may now have at least a V6 Camry?