Gonna say something unpopular but hear me out: don't start Ott at RB. If we are going up the middle with RPO, use Ifanse and Stredick to soften up the lines...then bring in Ott later to hit home runs. It's a mistake to use Ott as a power back. He'll never make it through the season and that's not his strength anyhow. He's not an every down back. I would save him for later in the game and as a third down specialist that they have to cover. That would also open upper receivers in longer yardage situations.
This is my 35th season in the stands, have only missed 2 games in that stretch. Couple of thoughts.
1. Jackson at the QB position is basically Zach Maynard with better legs, except this time our Keenan Allen player transferred to UCLA. He doesn't read the field well, is often too late to make the throw, and is not particularly accurate in both the short, middle, and downfield passes. #83 made the catch of the year on an overthrown ball. So far, I am not impressed. I still think Finley is the better choice to complement our run game, we don't need designed QB runs
2. The receivers have had trouble getting open in man coverage. I thought it was just Auburn's athletes, but Idaho was able to do the same thing. Coaches need to figure that one out fast cause I don't think we will be seeing much zone the rest of the way and our QB needs as much help as possible with the downfield passing game
I wonder if Cal and Stanford maybe should have stayed with Oregon state and Wazzu and focused on being prominent in a merged Pac-4/Mountain West conference. It's always been such a struggle and a constant series of disappointment in the Pac 12. Cal hasn't exactly been dominant against Mountain west opponents and even these Division II games are often not a given. The ACC with the likes of Clemson may be another opportunity to be the doormat. Maybe that's why they were accepted?
Great point made (re: touchdown to #3): "the other was a frankly frightening throw to Hunter where Cal has two deep routes to nearly the same spot in what I can’t help but assume may have been a route error from somebody."
Also, let's call out the great 4th down conversion from Finley to Hunter. Great catch!
Findley seems to have the better deep ball, and is mobile enough to be a threat. I hate platooning QBs, but I could see where that could keep a D on it's toes..... If we don't pressure Penix, it likely won't matter what we do on offense...... I don't have answers, but just got my UW tix, so I'll be shouting as loud as I can.....
Also everyone on the "start Finley over Jackson" train needs to take a step back. I know the transfer portal has made many feel like a) transfers are brought in to be experienced, relatively polished players and b) players are likely to transfer out "this off-season,"*every year.* But Jackson isn't experienced nor polished (his post game presser touched on how he's honing his game and this week focused on footwork) and I highly doubt he's transferring out this off-season, especially if Spav sticks around. It'll be a year of growth but he has a high ceiling beyond Finley's, and he won't hit that ceiling until we're in the ACC. Think Goff in 2013 when plenty of people were clamoring for Kline to play. But Dykes and Franklin -- darn good QB coaches -- saw his ceiling and pushed him to the top draft pick over 3 seasons. And Spav is also a darn good QB coach.
I think this column should be the end of attention to the Idaho game. Cal now needs to figure out how to cover Jalen McMillan, Rome Odunze and Ja'Lynn Polk before Saturday night. Those three probably should be playing for the Washington Commanders rather than the Washington Huskies. A blow-out loss would essentially be the end of the season.
CAL NEEDS INTENSIVE CARE FACING THE 21 POINTS DEFICIT PREDICTED AGAINST UW. QUESTION : WHO'S GOING TO THROW MORE THAN A FEW GREAT PASSES FOR CAL? I'VE ALREADY PEVIOUSLY MENTIONED OUR 6'3 SUBSTITUTE AS BEING BETTTER THAN JACKSON FOR THIS GAME! IN ORDER TO GENERATE BETTER RUN BACKS FROM RECEIVED PUNTS ( OF WHICH HERE MAY BE NONE FROM UW). CAL SHOULD COMPLETELY STOP TRYING TO BLOCK SAME AND SEND THOSE WOULD BE KICK BLOCKERS BACK TO PROTECT OUR RECEIVER!!! THE MAIN HOPES FOR CAL V. UW ARE ...#! ,AN INHANCED EFFORT TO RUSH UW'S QB, #2, BETTER DECEPTION IN CAL.S BACKFIELD WITH TWO RUNNING HALF BACKS, PLUS SCREEN PASSES TO SPRING OUR RUNNERS. WITHOUT THESE ABOVE MENTIONED CHANGES, WERE ONLY BACK WHERE WE STARTED AND LEFT WITH A FAIR DEFENSIVE LINE. I'D BE DELIGHTED TO OFFER MORE BUT , UNLESS MY IDEAS GET THROUGH TO THE COACHES WE ARE JUST BACK TO HOPING FOR 6 TURNOVERS BY UW! I HOPE TO LIVE THROUGH TH[S GAME WITH UW AND PRAY FOR THE BEARS TO LIVE THROUGHT IT ALSO. GERBEAR
Love everyone's contributions and insights. I love this community. Hell, I'd marry you all but that'd be ridiculous because I can't read everyone's minds and I can't decide on what to eat for dinner only to disappoint you because I don't have the culinary repetoire of Thomas Keller, heck, not even a line cook at a diner.
So, I'm an old blue, but I don't see us winning more that a total of 4 games this season, unless Sam Jackson V really needs, as he himself said, 6-7 full games, then maybe 5 wins. Like every year, we might win a game we shouldn't have, and lose to the bottom feeder of the pac (but f me if it's to the college that exploited railworkers migrant workers and made a fraudster a president) But by the way this team looks against bigger talent, I don't see us going to a bowl game this year.
I haven't read the post analysis from WFC for the Auburn game because as I was watching how bad our play calls were (there was one drive where their d line kept giving us 3-4 yards but then we started to throw low percentage shots down the field with our receivers who looked lost (gaaahhhh!), the off balance throws by SJ (worse than Zach Maynard and his presnap bouncing needs to stop), the disconnect between receivers and the qb, the slow db development (unable to look back for the ball with resultant PI's and game altering receptions), the god awful kicking game (tevecchio at Ohio State flashbacks-why did you pull an offsides?!!!!! man), how unprepared our offense looked in general against bigger defensive players....etc etc etc.
I am not expecting to win against UW when I fly up there but I am still hoping that I experience another game result like in 2019 (I look back with fond memories of finally reaching my hotel room at 5am in Seattle). I hope by some miracle we just happen to be lucky, like no matter how off balanced these pig skin tosses past 15 yards look when the qb is remotely under pressure, our receivers who can't seem to follow imaginary lines use the force to catch a floater that the defenders never see coming. I hope that the winds push that shanked 3 pointer through the middle of the uprights from 36 yards away. I hope we don't play catch up or blow an early marginal lead. I hope Wilcox turns into Bill Walsh (pre Furd) incarnate and builds a team our of a motley crew and continues to develop them game after game to a championship.
So, having said that, roll on you bears! I will always support the gold and blue! (even when my kids go to Stanfurd)! Beat the Dawgs!
Cal was unable to put pressure on Idaho's QB until they turned from zone pass defense, to man. Given the quality of Pac-12 QBs and receivers, our man pass defense must mature beginning this coming week. I think all of us are confused why we are not passing the ball over the middle of field when defenses are in two deep coverage, and short passes on crossing routes.
One thing I noticed about Idaho's offense in the 2nd half when they were still not completely out of it. The QB would slide on scrambles, even when a forward dive to avoid a hit would give them a first down. This gives a couple thoughts: 1) the back up is so not ready to play the coaches have told him ALWAYS SLIDE!, or 2) he was unaware of either position on the field, or situation in the game.
One thing I noticed about Idaho's offense in the 2nd half when they were still not completely out of it. The QB would slide on scrambles, even when a forward dive to avoid a hit would give them a first down. This gives a couple thoughts: 1) the back up is so not ready to play the coaches have told him ALWAYS SLIDE!, or 2) he was unaware of either position on the field, or situation in the game.
Post-Game Thoughts: Idaho Football
Also to put it into perspective that was Sam Jackson's first full game as the starting QB in his college career.
Gonna say something unpopular but hear me out: don't start Ott at RB. If we are going up the middle with RPO, use Ifanse and Stredick to soften up the lines...then bring in Ott later to hit home runs. It's a mistake to use Ott as a power back. He'll never make it through the season and that's not his strength anyhow. He's not an every down back. I would save him for later in the game and as a third down specialist that they have to cover. That would also open upper receivers in longer yardage situations.
This is my 35th season in the stands, have only missed 2 games in that stretch. Couple of thoughts.
1. Jackson at the QB position is basically Zach Maynard with better legs, except this time our Keenan Allen player transferred to UCLA. He doesn't read the field well, is often too late to make the throw, and is not particularly accurate in both the short, middle, and downfield passes. #83 made the catch of the year on an overthrown ball. So far, I am not impressed. I still think Finley is the better choice to complement our run game, we don't need designed QB runs
2. The receivers have had trouble getting open in man coverage. I thought it was just Auburn's athletes, but Idaho was able to do the same thing. Coaches need to figure that one out fast cause I don't think we will be seeing much zone the rest of the way and our QB needs as much help as possible with the downfield passing game
I wonder if Cal and Stanford maybe should have stayed with Oregon state and Wazzu and focused on being prominent in a merged Pac-4/Mountain West conference. It's always been such a struggle and a constant series of disappointment in the Pac 12. Cal hasn't exactly been dominant against Mountain west opponents and even these Division II games are often not a given. The ACC with the likes of Clemson may be another opportunity to be the doormat. Maybe that's why they were accepted?
Great point made (re: touchdown to #3): "the other was a frankly frightening throw to Hunter where Cal has two deep routes to nearly the same spot in what I can’t help but assume may have been a route error from somebody."
Also, let's call out the great 4th down conversion from Finley to Hunter. Great catch!
Findley seems to have the better deep ball, and is mobile enough to be a threat. I hate platooning QBs, but I could see where that could keep a D on it's toes..... If we don't pressure Penix, it likely won't matter what we do on offense...... I don't have answers, but just got my UW tix, so I'll be shouting as loud as I can.....
11-1 until the loss column says otherwise.
Also everyone on the "start Finley over Jackson" train needs to take a step back. I know the transfer portal has made many feel like a) transfers are brought in to be experienced, relatively polished players and b) players are likely to transfer out "this off-season,"*every year.* But Jackson isn't experienced nor polished (his post game presser touched on how he's honing his game and this week focused on footwork) and I highly doubt he's transferring out this off-season, especially if Spav sticks around. It'll be a year of growth but he has a high ceiling beyond Finley's, and he won't hit that ceiling until we're in the ACC. Think Goff in 2013 when plenty of people were clamoring for Kline to play. But Dykes and Franklin -- darn good QB coaches -- saw his ceiling and pushed him to the top draft pick over 3 seasons. And Spav is also a darn good QB coach.
I think this column should be the end of attention to the Idaho game. Cal now needs to figure out how to cover Jalen McMillan, Rome Odunze and Ja'Lynn Polk before Saturday night. Those three probably should be playing for the Washington Commanders rather than the Washington Huskies. A blow-out loss would essentially be the end of the season.
Does anyone know if #9 got hurt? We saw #5 exclusively in the 4th Quarter (I think).
Did Rashaverick just get banned to the MWC with OSU and WSU.
CAL NEEDS INTENSIVE CARE FACING THE 21 POINTS DEFICIT PREDICTED AGAINST UW. QUESTION : WHO'S GOING TO THROW MORE THAN A FEW GREAT PASSES FOR CAL? I'VE ALREADY PEVIOUSLY MENTIONED OUR 6'3 SUBSTITUTE AS BEING BETTTER THAN JACKSON FOR THIS GAME! IN ORDER TO GENERATE BETTER RUN BACKS FROM RECEIVED PUNTS ( OF WHICH HERE MAY BE NONE FROM UW). CAL SHOULD COMPLETELY STOP TRYING TO BLOCK SAME AND SEND THOSE WOULD BE KICK BLOCKERS BACK TO PROTECT OUR RECEIVER!!! THE MAIN HOPES FOR CAL V. UW ARE ...#! ,AN INHANCED EFFORT TO RUSH UW'S QB, #2, BETTER DECEPTION IN CAL.S BACKFIELD WITH TWO RUNNING HALF BACKS, PLUS SCREEN PASSES TO SPRING OUR RUNNERS. WITHOUT THESE ABOVE MENTIONED CHANGES, WERE ONLY BACK WHERE WE STARTED AND LEFT WITH A FAIR DEFENSIVE LINE. I'D BE DELIGHTED TO OFFER MORE BUT , UNLESS MY IDEAS GET THROUGH TO THE COACHES WE ARE JUST BACK TO HOPING FOR 6 TURNOVERS BY UW! I HOPE TO LIVE THROUGH TH[S GAME WITH UW AND PRAY FOR THE BEARS TO LIVE THROUGHT IT ALSO. GERBEAR
Love everyone's contributions and insights. I love this community. Hell, I'd marry you all but that'd be ridiculous because I can't read everyone's minds and I can't decide on what to eat for dinner only to disappoint you because I don't have the culinary repetoire of Thomas Keller, heck, not even a line cook at a diner.
So, I'm an old blue, but I don't see us winning more that a total of 4 games this season, unless Sam Jackson V really needs, as he himself said, 6-7 full games, then maybe 5 wins. Like every year, we might win a game we shouldn't have, and lose to the bottom feeder of the pac (but f me if it's to the college that exploited railworkers migrant workers and made a fraudster a president) But by the way this team looks against bigger talent, I don't see us going to a bowl game this year.
I haven't read the post analysis from WFC for the Auburn game because as I was watching how bad our play calls were (there was one drive where their d line kept giving us 3-4 yards but then we started to throw low percentage shots down the field with our receivers who looked lost (gaaahhhh!), the off balance throws by SJ (worse than Zach Maynard and his presnap bouncing needs to stop), the disconnect between receivers and the qb, the slow db development (unable to look back for the ball with resultant PI's and game altering receptions), the god awful kicking game (tevecchio at Ohio State flashbacks-why did you pull an offsides?!!!!! man), how unprepared our offense looked in general against bigger defensive players....etc etc etc.
I am not expecting to win against UW when I fly up there but I am still hoping that I experience another game result like in 2019 (I look back with fond memories of finally reaching my hotel room at 5am in Seattle). I hope by some miracle we just happen to be lucky, like no matter how off balanced these pig skin tosses past 15 yards look when the qb is remotely under pressure, our receivers who can't seem to follow imaginary lines use the force to catch a floater that the defenders never see coming. I hope that the winds push that shanked 3 pointer through the middle of the uprights from 36 yards away. I hope we don't play catch up or blow an early marginal lead. I hope Wilcox turns into Bill Walsh (pre Furd) incarnate and builds a team our of a motley crew and continues to develop them game after game to a championship.
So, having said that, roll on you bears! I will always support the gold and blue! (even when my kids go to Stanfurd)! Beat the Dawgs!
Cal was unable to put pressure on Idaho's QB until they turned from zone pass defense, to man. Given the quality of Pac-12 QBs and receivers, our man pass defense must mature beginning this coming week. I think all of us are confused why we are not passing the ball over the middle of field when defenses are in two deep coverage, and short passes on crossing routes.
One thing I noticed about Idaho's offense in the 2nd half when they were still not completely out of it. The QB would slide on scrambles, even when a forward dive to avoid a hit would give them a first down. This gives a couple thoughts: 1) the back up is so not ready to play the coaches have told him ALWAYS SLIDE!, or 2) he was unaware of either position on the field, or situation in the game.
One thing I noticed about Idaho's offense in the 2nd half when they were still not completely out of it. The QB would slide on scrambles, even when a forward dive to avoid a hit would give them a first down. This gives a couple thoughts: 1) the back up is so not ready to play the coaches have told him ALWAYS SLIDE!, or 2) he was unaware of either position on the field, or situation in the game.