Given how bad their running game is, I predict they'll rush for 200 yards (because, you know, Cal), before Coug'ing it with a late turnover that allows the Bears to secure the win.
Cam Ward is a streaky player, and he has to be smacking his lips at getting healthy again against a team that has suddenly forgot how to defend against the pass. Cal has not only the worst defense in the conference this year but also one of the worst defenses in its history after giving up 50 or more points in four games over the past six weeks. Only Sonny's 2013 inaugural team managed that.
WSU has a quality win over Oregon State and put up 428 passing yards on Oregon at Autzen two weeks ago. Cal has no quality wins and did not respond well against Oregon after tanking against USC. This is an acid test for Wilcox to see if he has or hasn't lost the team this year. My head says WSU, but by heart says Cal. Should be fun.
Ward’s play should make for an entertaining afternoon in Strawberry Canyon. Though I desperately want Cal to salvage bowl eligibility from this downwardly trending season, in the end I would be happy for the PAC-2 if both OSU and WSU can play in the postseason this year (maybe my mind is preemptively trying to find a silver lining to mitigate against the usual emotionsI experience with a Cal loss). Saturday essentially is an elimination game for both Cal and WSU (as I don’t see WSU beating UW), that gives this contest an element of added excitement. If Ott can remain healthy throughout the game, I think the point spread is pretty fair-this one will be close. Cal has to control time of possession to prevent Ward from going off.
Sermon better get off his duff and use some newer blitz packages to put pressure on Ward. Green Dogs, G- ILB loops, late CB blitzes, etc. And the DB's have to make better reads while in zones, and in cover 1 or 2 man they have to shade outside of WR and get help from Safeties on digs or posts.
Ha Ha. A "dog" on football defense means blitz, or more simply, sending an extra defensive player, usually a LB but can be a CB or Safety, into the O backfield to put pressure on the QB or RB. It was originally called a "Reddog".
Sadly, Justin Wilcox continues to remind me way, way too much of Mark Fox. Sure, he’s 100% more likable, but I have a similar lack of confidence in his ability to put the kids in the best possible position for success. Looking at his performance in comparison to his contract, there’s no other way to describe him other than to say he is absolutely stealing from the University.
This is a rather huge game for his future…had them ticketed for 5-7 this year, which is still rather doable. Can they finish with W’s in 2 of the past 3 and set up maybe as much momentum as we can reasonably expect for next year’s move to the ACC.
Your continual negative rants about Wilcox are really getting old. You must have something personal against him. the real problem with Cal is their talent. Cal is at a disadvantage in recruiting whereas teams like Oregon, WSU, Oregon State, etc. make it a lot easier to enroll in their institutions. I'm a retired high school and college coach and when we had good material we won and when we had didn't we lost. It's really pretty simple.
Give me a break, Geoff. As a former Coach, it seems reductive to make such a patently silly statement. Isn’t it the job of a coach, in ANY sport, to help develop and elevate the play of their players? That was my goal when I coached because you’re not always going to be the most talented team - that’s really where coaching factors in. Otherwise just hand the title to the team with the #1 recruiting class.
I have said repeatedly that I have nothing at all against Wilcox the man. I’ve met him and he’s a good guy. I have also said that as with Mark Fox, there are fundamental issues with his athletic program that are quite evident to those that are paying attention. I don't see him going anywhere though, and acknowledged that winning a few games here at the end would be a nice momentum builder. There are no personal feelings of ill will, however, and I am hardly the only WFC member that is skeptical of Wilcox. C'mon, man...
I do agree with you on some of your opinions. I'll add one of my own. Long term defensive coaches don't make good head coaches. A head coach has to be well versed in offensive strategy and then hire a good defensive specialist as his top assistant.
Geoff Wahl does seem to have creds about coaching and our history, at Cal, does seem to bear out that coaching is not as much our problem as the general academic exclusivity and struggle to recruit and keep talent.
He IS NOT a good head coach, and there is enough evidence to prove it wherever you look. Cal's overall talent is based on pulling in 3-star recruits, which is what very successful programs like Oregon State, Arizona and Utah rely on as well. Wilcox falls down in so many areas, but one of the biggest is in player development. Go back and look at his 2018, 2019, and 2020 recruiting classes and see how many of them have transferred, washed out of the program or are simply not contributing. I know we are in the era of the transfer portal and all, but it's pretty shocking to look at.
Actually at the high school where I was the head coach for 34 years, the stadium was named after me. I won four section championships and 12 league championships. I had 206 wins. I also coached at a Div II college for 2 years after I retired and was the ILB coach.
Given how bad their running game is, I predict they'll rush for 200 yards (because, you know, Cal), before Coug'ing it with a late turnover that allows the Bears to secure the win.
Cal's been cougin' it all season.
Cam Ward is a streaky player, and he has to be smacking his lips at getting healthy again against a team that has suddenly forgot how to defend against the pass. Cal has not only the worst defense in the conference this year but also one of the worst defenses in its history after giving up 50 or more points in four games over the past six weeks. Only Sonny's 2013 inaugural team managed that.
WSU has a quality win over Oregon State and put up 428 passing yards on Oregon at Autzen two weeks ago. Cal has no quality wins and did not respond well against Oregon after tanking against USC. This is an acid test for Wilcox to see if he has or hasn't lost the team this year. My head says WSU, but by heart says Cal. Should be fun.
If our D can't get any sacks, Ward will have a field day throwing the ball deep
Cal's going to have to make Cam Ward uncomfortable.
Ward’s play should make for an entertaining afternoon in Strawberry Canyon. Though I desperately want Cal to salvage bowl eligibility from this downwardly trending season, in the end I would be happy for the PAC-2 if both OSU and WSU can play in the postseason this year (maybe my mind is preemptively trying to find a silver lining to mitigate against the usual emotionsI experience with a Cal loss). Saturday essentially is an elimination game for both Cal and WSU (as I don’t see WSU beating UW), that gives this contest an element of added excitement. If Ott can remain healthy throughout the game, I think the point spread is pretty fair-this one will be close. Cal has to control time of possession to prevent Ward from going off.
Sermon better get off his duff and use some newer blitz packages to put pressure on Ward. Green Dogs, G- ILB loops, late CB blitzes, etc. And the DB's have to make better reads while in zones, and in cover 1 or 2 man they have to shade outside of WR and get help from Safeties on digs or posts.
Hey why not some Blue & Gold Dogs. We haven't seen any of those yet this year!!
Green is a composite of blue and gold.
True, true that.
Ha Ha. A "dog" on football defense means blitz, or more simply, sending an extra defensive player, usually a LB but can be a CB or Safety, into the O backfield to put pressure on the QB or RB. It was originally called a "Reddog".
Yah, I know what a dog is. I was attempting a joke...didn't work.
This is a must win
Wazzu ML is the play.
Sadly, Justin Wilcox continues to remind me way, way too much of Mark Fox. Sure, he’s 100% more likable, but I have a similar lack of confidence in his ability to put the kids in the best possible position for success. Looking at his performance in comparison to his contract, there’s no other way to describe him other than to say he is absolutely stealing from the University.
This is a rather huge game for his future…had them ticketed for 5-7 this year, which is still rather doable. Can they finish with W’s in 2 of the past 3 and set up maybe as much momentum as we can reasonably expect for next year’s move to the ACC.
We’ll see.
Your continual negative rants about Wilcox are really getting old. You must have something personal against him. the real problem with Cal is their talent. Cal is at a disadvantage in recruiting whereas teams like Oregon, WSU, Oregon State, etc. make it a lot easier to enroll in their institutions. I'm a retired high school and college coach and when we had good material we won and when we had didn't we lost. It's really pretty simple.
Give me a break, Geoff. As a former Coach, it seems reductive to make such a patently silly statement. Isn’t it the job of a coach, in ANY sport, to help develop and elevate the play of their players? That was my goal when I coached because you’re not always going to be the most talented team - that’s really where coaching factors in. Otherwise just hand the title to the team with the #1 recruiting class.
I have said repeatedly that I have nothing at all against Wilcox the man. I’ve met him and he’s a good guy. I have also said that as with Mark Fox, there are fundamental issues with his athletic program that are quite evident to those that are paying attention. I don't see him going anywhere though, and acknowledged that winning a few games here at the end would be a nice momentum builder. There are no personal feelings of ill will, however, and I am hardly the only WFC member that is skeptical of Wilcox. C'mon, man...
I do agree with you on some of your opinions. I'll add one of my own. Long term defensive coaches don't make good head coaches. A head coach has to be well versed in offensive strategy and then hire a good defensive specialist as his top assistant.
Geoff Wahl does seem to have creds about coaching and our history, at Cal, does seem to bear out that coaching is not as much our problem as the general academic exclusivity and struggle to recruit and keep talent.
https://www.maxpreps.com/ca/nicolaus/east-nicolaus-spartans/football/
He IS NOT a good head coach, and there is enough evidence to prove it wherever you look. Cal's overall talent is based on pulling in 3-star recruits, which is what very successful programs like Oregon State, Arizona and Utah rely on as well. Wilcox falls down in so many areas, but one of the biggest is in player development. Go back and look at his 2018, 2019, and 2020 recruiting classes and see how many of them have transferred, washed out of the program or are simply not contributing. I know we are in the era of the transfer portal and all, but it's pretty shocking to look at.
sounds like you were a pretty mediocre coach that relied on superior talent to win games
Actually at the high school where I was the head coach for 34 years, the stadium was named after me. I won four section championships and 12 league championships. I had 206 wins. I also coached at a Div II college for 2 years after I retired and was the ILB coach.
Cam Ward preparing to light up our secondary:
https://www.manitowoc.org/ImageRepository/Document?documentID=21886