31 Comments

Totally unrelated but I grabbed DeSean Jackson but forgot to start him, and he has a 50 yard TD!

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He had a big part in winning the game today (drew a PI penalty - which doesn't show up in your fantasy stats, but important)

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Need a big game from Tevis and Bequette this week. Our run defense visibly suffers when they come out for a series.

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Sorry, I'm off topic here, but does anyone have any more color as to the news story this week about Tedford wanting to get back in to coaching? Could he be a possibility if Wilcox leaves? Interesting possibility.

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Just don't see this happening. I don't see him stressing out his body/heart at this point in his life. Hard pass for Cal IMO, too much baggage. But if he is all in, my guess is the FSU job will be open in a few weeks.

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I saw that as well. At this point, I think it's all speculation by writers. Tedford expressed interest in coaching. That may be a fact. But everything else seems to be just speculation. I love Tedford but I want someone different if we have to hire a new coach. Would Washington really go after Tedford? I doubt it. And I doubt ASU would go after another old HC after not getting good results with Herm Edwards.

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Are people saying Edwards is on the hot seat?

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The article I read had UW, Cal, and ASU.

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Maybe WSU rather than ASU?

Just went to their sbnation site and some think he’ll retire. Hard to take them seriously though because they called Cal the 2nd worst team in the conference

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Well, WSU is in a coaching search, so not really a hot seat. Same w UW, IMO. The funny thing in Oregon many people want Cristobal to be fired….spoiled brats….. Shaw is another whose seat should be warm.

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They are hella spoiled, but I doubt Shaw's seat is really warm, even if maybe it should be.

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Yes. Many recruiting violations. Potential sections coming down.

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ASU is gonna get hammered by the NCAA...but Edward’s has had solid results there. Bowl games, some good wins...some national relevance...but the program is gonna get sanctioned.

Tedford’s body can’t hold up to the rigors of coaching...tough to see him donning a headset again in anything other than an Associate HC/ mentor role. But he’s hung them up for health reasons twice now...just not seeing it.

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Cal needs to stress DTR out. Best way to do that is for Cal to get an early lead (1st qrtr) and take fucla out of their running game. Cuz as you said should they rush for > 200 yards Cal could be in trouble. Also, IIRC fucla has won all their home games. Tough challenge for Cal's D, which is why in this game, more than any (cuz it's the next game) Cal's offense has to produce and produce early... then throughout the game. Should that occur I'm comfortable watching DTR trying to beat us with the pass. Cal must take the run away from them, simple.

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Exactly. If there was ever a time to punch UCLA in the nose early, it’s Sat night.

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author

I meant to wake up a lot earlier for this, but I didn't feel too well yesterday.

Bonus Ethan Garbers section:

Ethan Garbers clearly has an arm, even if he's a bit less mobile than his brother. Here he does a nice job of working through his progressions, and then firing a laser to WR Kam Brown:

https://i.imgur.com/HorS1iJ.mp4

Note that he actually came into this game cold, subbing in for DTR after DTR took a big hit. He's not afraid to stand in the pocket to make the throw. Here he still makes a pretty good throw as he's hit by DT Hauati Pututau:

https://i.imgur.com/4NCEDa1.mp4

Ethan Garbers has excellent placement on his throws. Here he fires an absolute rope to WR Kyle Philips, just over the head of CB Clark Philips III:

https://i.imgur.com/7vO2Jf5.mp4

And here's another one of Ethan Garbers, given time to throw, just working through his progressions and zipping it in for the touchdown to TE Michael Ezeike:

https://i.imgur.com/fRYyt2m.mp4

I think Ethan Garbers is going to be an excellent quarterback, but regarding the Ethan Garbers/Justyn Martin debate, who knows. Chip Kelly definitely has a preference for dual-threat quarterbacks, probably because he has more options to work with in his play designs. I think that all of the backups to DTR were better passers than he is, e.g. Austin Burton, Chase Griffin, Ethan Garbers, etc., but DTR is a far better runner than any of them.

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Well, maybe when JMart takes his spot next year, we can have a third shot at EGarb in the portal. I’ve heard the third time is the charm….

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Before the Cal Oregon State game and before this game, which running game as a whole would've been harder to defend?

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author

That's a good question. I think as a whole, Oregon State blocks better, but UCLA has better running backs who get by more on individual effort. So to stop the OSU run game, you had to defeat their blocks, but to stop the UCLA run game, you need to have some sure tackling on their backs. So even though they both have good run games, they poses different challenges to stop them.

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UCLA has not beaten a team with a winning record this year. The combined records of the teams the Bruins have defeated this year is 25-52. I am not sure that playing for a better bowl position will be on the minds of the Bruins' players Saturday night in the cold and empty confines of the Rose Bowl. The college football writer from the LA Times just picked a Cal win.

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Let's hope so.

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Nov 25, 2021Liked by Christopher Helling

I haven't even made it past the intro and you're already clearly out for blood.

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I guess it comes down to a simple formula - bottle up Charbonnet and pressure DTR so he makes bonehead plays. I think our O will do fine against their defense, as well.

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Wonder how Chip will feel when his guys are 7-5 after Saturday?!

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I wonder how Justyn Martin will feel when his “dream school” falls to the first team he was “committed” to……

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And, he has to beat out Ethan Garbers.

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young Garbers looks good, Martin will be on the bench for several years IMO. Still miffed that Cal did not offer Ethan out of high school and then when he transferred. Not much of a reach given how high the staff is on CG, oh well.

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Good point!

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Yes, Donahue was a good coach with a perpetual tan. May he rest in peace.

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