Last year USC clearly made the best moves, but attracting Lincoln Riley and having gobs of NIL money to go with their reputation as a football school doesn't hurt. UW probably was #2 and Oregon #3. This year I think in the PAC12, UW had the best portal Class, and based on my own evaluations, CAL is #2. When you combine freshman and JC recruiting plus the portal, it's a different story. But I don't worry too much about that because how many true freshman end up as impact players like a number of Portal transfers? I think we've made some excellent coaching changes, brought in some excellent Portal talent and we aren't done yet. I'm optimistic for next year, but then I was optimistic ahead of last year and we dropped a big turd. One thing is clear to me now, the Spread or Air Raid systems are infinitely preferable than the Pro Style offense that Musgrave brought. When I think back, Beau Baldwin do more with much less talent than Musgrave had. Spav was here with Dykes after Tony Franklin left. That's a good sign. I think with a few more good Portal transfers (at least one more QB, a couple of WR's one more big DL and a couple of stud OL's) we could be the reverse of Sonny Dykes TCU team where a brilliant offensive coach (Dykes) got real about his defense and changed the team through the Portal. JW is a hell of a defensive coach and I expect Spav to be every bit as good on the offensive side of the ball as TCU's DC was on the defensive side. Does that mean we're gonna get to the playoffs next year? Nah, but hopefully it means we'll see improvement that gets us excited about the future of CAL football again.
Definitely felt like we were in freefall for a bit but we're approximately at the same level with adjustments for the new coaching staff. OL and QB still seem dangerously thin though I think Jackson has the better skillset to work around a bad OL (though injury is a concern). Also Me. Plough will hopefully put those blocking tight ends in H gear. Hope there's a plan before spring.
This does feel like a pretty sizeable reboot but I'm not sure Wilcox has a 2nd year left (i.e., 2018 vs. 2017 with Baldwin as OC).
Excellent piece, thanks! Was looking for something like this. It confirms my napkin level analysis of the comings and goings. We need two things: backup QB and Oline.
"Solid but unspectacular" sums it up very well. When you look at some of the game changing portal moves that were made in the conference last year - Penix to Washington, Delara to Arizona, Nix to Oregon, Williams to USC, Ward to WSU; and then look at a potential game changer to Oregon State this year with Uiagalelei coming in, Cal looks to be hanging on to a status quo that will keep the team in the bottom half of the conference. It's a huge wait and see on Jackson. You always worry about running quarterbacks staying healthy. I think of the Chase Garbers shoulder injury in 2019 that knocked Cal out of contention for what could have been a great season.
Uiagalelei sucks. He won't do much for the Beavers. If he was anything good then why did he leave Clemson after his second year as the starter? Because he sucks and Clemson had a true Freshman that played better than Uiagalelei, and he didn't play that great either. We have a QB coming in who could be a game changer. UW knew Penix was good but no one knew he would be that good. Same with Ward and WSU or Bo Nix at Oregon. Nix was not great at Auburn, but was better at Oregon. Everyone knew Williams would be good at USC and he delivered as promised. Jackson could be CAL's version of Williams. He can throw and run as good as Williams, the difference will be how he makes decisions on the field. The think that sets Caleb Williams apart from the competition is not just his athleticism, it's his football IQ. The guy manages the field better than any other college QB right now. Maybe Jackson will be the same. If so we are going to be very blessed. Even if Jackson plays as well as Bo Nix (I think he'll be better) we will be in great shape.
Whatever you had for dinner tonight, it just begs a quote from the diner scene in When Harry Met Sally........ "I'll have what he's (you are) having." Gotta love your pre-season optimism, my man. One thing about Uiagalelei, though. Jonathan Smith has shown you don't need a great quarterback to win and win big in his program at Oregon State. He went 10-3 with two quarterbacks who may never see the field again. OSU gonna be scary next season with Uia.
True about Jonathan Smith. He's a damn good coach. Uiagalelei just can't make the downfield reads, so unless Smith dumbs down OSU's offense the way Clemson did, I think the Big Islander QB may be a bust. And' here's a thought for you, I think the PAC12 is tougher across the board than the ACC.
Thought DJ was from the Inland Empire. But yeah, DJ looks fantastic on a condensed highlight reel but is pretty bad at all other QB things besides throw ball hard.
You right. The transformation in the league has been nothing short of amazing over the past 12 to 15 months. I would love to see a forced ranking of which team made the best moves and where Cal would sit in that ranking.
I subscribe to CAL Rivals, which had an article just like you described. I read Bloesch's CV's when he was hired and I was immediately excited. A guy who started for three years as an offensive lineman in a program like Houston with the coaches he had knows all about the techniques, fine points and subtleties of playing OL. And when I read about how he describes the mindset his big uglies must have and the success of his o-lines, it is clear to me that he knows how to build the mindset within his group where they will end up strutting with their huge balls dragging on the ground, knowing as a unit they are the nastiest motherfuckers on the field, and no one, absolutely no one, fucks with them or their teammates. They are the baddest motherfuckers on the field. When that happens the attitude of the whole team will change and we will take the field like Utah, who are known to be a very physical team. I love it!
That Alberding has a cryptocurrency business is pretty funny. But, yeah, I'm really impressed by Bloesch. Has way more personal knowledge of Cal Football due to his time at Davis than I'd expected.
Yes, I'd like to think Wilcox and Spav have not so transparent, but brilliant plans. We will know more come Spring. I am glad you put my hopes into check and, so, I am more watchful and wary of what's to come.
Thanks for the assessment and analysis. To the limited extent I've thought about it I had guessed it would basically be a wash amongst departures or arrivals. We didn't lose any high-impact running backs and adding two former 4-stars to the position might be helpful to complement Ott.
Agree. One of the points mentioned in passing in this article is that the team needs more QB's just to practice. Having depth past 1 or 2 is critical to development of the team as a whole. These guys need to have someone good to practice with and against... and of course there's the whole injury issue and running bodies out to reduce fatigue and, and, and ...
Staff did a great job and all credit to those helping out with Nil. It’s not all black and white. The game has changed.
Last year USC clearly made the best moves, but attracting Lincoln Riley and having gobs of NIL money to go with their reputation as a football school doesn't hurt. UW probably was #2 and Oregon #3. This year I think in the PAC12, UW had the best portal Class, and based on my own evaluations, CAL is #2. When you combine freshman and JC recruiting plus the portal, it's a different story. But I don't worry too much about that because how many true freshman end up as impact players like a number of Portal transfers? I think we've made some excellent coaching changes, brought in some excellent Portal talent and we aren't done yet. I'm optimistic for next year, but then I was optimistic ahead of last year and we dropped a big turd. One thing is clear to me now, the Spread or Air Raid systems are infinitely preferable than the Pro Style offense that Musgrave brought. When I think back, Beau Baldwin do more with much less talent than Musgrave had. Spav was here with Dykes after Tony Franklin left. That's a good sign. I think with a few more good Portal transfers (at least one more QB, a couple of WR's one more big DL and a couple of stud OL's) we could be the reverse of Sonny Dykes TCU team where a brilliant offensive coach (Dykes) got real about his defense and changed the team through the Portal. JW is a hell of a defensive coach and I expect Spav to be every bit as good on the offensive side of the ball as TCU's DC was on the defensive side. Does that mean we're gonna get to the playoffs next year? Nah, but hopefully it means we'll see improvement that gets us excited about the future of CAL football again.
1000000%
Rashada to Miami.
At least it's not Washington or Oregon.
I would have loved it if he would have gone to UW or Oregon. He's a damn cancer. He and Cristobal are perfect for each other.
Even if he may bring baggage with him, he's gonna have one huge game in a year and that is against Cal.
LOL. That's what I was thinking.
On the other hand, do high school ratings always translate to college D1?
Never thought of that. Sort of a white elephant.
Beware Bears bearing gifts.
Best part-no Ott transfer yet
Definitely felt like we were in freefall for a bit but we're approximately at the same level with adjustments for the new coaching staff. OL and QB still seem dangerously thin though I think Jackson has the better skillset to work around a bad OL (though injury is a concern). Also Me. Plough will hopefully put those blocking tight ends in H gear. Hope there's a plan before spring.
This does feel like a pretty sizeable reboot but I'm not sure Wilcox has a 2nd year left (i.e., 2018 vs. 2017 with Baldwin as OC).
FWIW Chris Street and Nick Alftin, plus FB Champion Johnson (6'1" 250lb) are the three departures that have yet to commit to another school.
Champion is at Colorado
Gotcha. I'm going off 247
Excellent piece, thanks! Was looking for something like this. It confirms my napkin level analysis of the comings and goings. We need two things: backup QB and Oline.
"Solid but unspectacular" sums it up very well. When you look at some of the game changing portal moves that were made in the conference last year - Penix to Washington, Delara to Arizona, Nix to Oregon, Williams to USC, Ward to WSU; and then look at a potential game changer to Oregon State this year with Uiagalelei coming in, Cal looks to be hanging on to a status quo that will keep the team in the bottom half of the conference. It's a huge wait and see on Jackson. You always worry about running quarterbacks staying healthy. I think of the Chase Garbers shoulder injury in 2019 that knocked Cal out of contention for what could have been a great season.
Uiagalelei sucks. He won't do much for the Beavers. If he was anything good then why did he leave Clemson after his second year as the starter? Because he sucks and Clemson had a true Freshman that played better than Uiagalelei, and he didn't play that great either. We have a QB coming in who could be a game changer. UW knew Penix was good but no one knew he would be that good. Same with Ward and WSU or Bo Nix at Oregon. Nix was not great at Auburn, but was better at Oregon. Everyone knew Williams would be good at USC and he delivered as promised. Jackson could be CAL's version of Williams. He can throw and run as good as Williams, the difference will be how he makes decisions on the field. The think that sets Caleb Williams apart from the competition is not just his athleticism, it's his football IQ. The guy manages the field better than any other college QB right now. Maybe Jackson will be the same. If so we are going to be very blessed. Even if Jackson plays as well as Bo Nix (I think he'll be better) we will be in great shape.
Whatever you had for dinner tonight, it just begs a quote from the diner scene in When Harry Met Sally........ "I'll have what he's (you are) having." Gotta love your pre-season optimism, my man. One thing about Uiagalelei, though. Jonathan Smith has shown you don't need a great quarterback to win and win big in his program at Oregon State. He went 10-3 with two quarterbacks who may never see the field again. OSU gonna be scary next season with Uia.
True about Jonathan Smith. He's a damn good coach. Uiagalelei just can't make the downfield reads, so unless Smith dumbs down OSU's offense the way Clemson did, I think the Big Islander QB may be a bust. And' here's a thought for you, I think the PAC12 is tougher across the board than the ACC.
Thought DJ was from the Inland Empire. But yeah, DJ looks fantastic on a condensed highlight reel but is pretty bad at all other QB things besides throw ball hard.
You right. The transformation in the league has been nothing short of amazing over the past 12 to 15 months. I would love to see a forced ranking of which team made the best moves and where Cal would sit in that ranking.
I subscribe to CAL Rivals, which had an article just like you described. I read Bloesch's CV's when he was hired and I was immediately excited. A guy who started for three years as an offensive lineman in a program like Houston with the coaches he had knows all about the techniques, fine points and subtleties of playing OL. And when I read about how he describes the mindset his big uglies must have and the success of his o-lines, it is clear to me that he knows how to build the mindset within his group where they will end up strutting with their huge balls dragging on the ground, knowing as a unit they are the nastiest motherfuckers on the field, and no one, absolutely no one, fucks with them or their teammates. They are the baddest motherfuckers on the field. When that happens the attitude of the whole team will change and we will take the field like Utah, who are known to be a very physical team. I love it!
Post the link and I'll go check it out!
I think it's a public article on the front page. I'm reading it without even having an account.
I'll post it because taboos against this sort of thing is dumb. Especially when one service is getting my money and the other isn't.
https://bearinsider.com/s/3468/bears-new-te-coach-tim-plough-ready-for-new-challenge-at-cal
That Alberding has a cryptocurrency business is pretty funny. But, yeah, I'm really impressed by Bloesch. Has way more personal knowledge of Cal Football due to his time at Davis than I'd expected.
Thank you, Nick.
Yes, I'd like to think Wilcox and Spav have not so transparent, but brilliant plans. We will know more come Spring. I am glad you put my hopes into check and, so, I am more watchful and wary of what's to come.
We do need one more solid QB.
Thanks for the assessment and analysis. To the limited extent I've thought about it I had guessed it would basically be a wash amongst departures or arrivals. We didn't lose any high-impact running backs and adding two former 4-stars to the position might be helpful to complement Ott.
Nick: Great review. What about kickers and other key special teams positions such as snapper and holder?
I'd happily hold for kicks, but I burned my NCAA eligibility when I ran track for Foothill College back when I was 33.
Luckhurst is the kicker next year, imo better than Dario
Punter is the Tulsa guy
This is not against the rule, but you should comment this in the basketball post not football post.
I'm more concerned that we don't yet have a "one deep" offensive line.
Agree. One of the points mentioned in passing in this article is that the team needs more QB's just to practice. Having depth past 1 or 2 is critical to development of the team as a whole. These guys need to have someone good to practice with and against... and of course there's the whole injury issue and running bodies out to reduce fatigue and, and, and ...