Honestly the roster isnt that different from 2019. It just goes to show how the main takers and God like linebacker play from Weaver boosted everyone else. The DL has been horrendous, even Cam Goode was struggling and no we have a lack of NG again with Mckenzie down and Maldonado regressing. Man the DL is brutal, and that doesnt even count Bequette who has just been around.
Clearly we can see Tatersall even with the 2019 seasoning isnt up to par, and frankly doesnt help the interpretation of the development of players. Why the coaches moved Elijah Hicks to safety I'll never know and how Chigi Anusiem turned into a bench warmer after almost getting 3 INT's by himself in the Redbox Bowl. Just a lot of confusion with this roster, and thats not even counting the offense, who either runs for 10 yards, passes for 50 yards, gets pressured every other play, or forgets that downfield passing exists as issues that occur weekly.
In the run game sure they've been fairly solid but for the players we have, we have a severe lack of pressure (not necessarily sacks) on plays. You need pressure to get sacks but you don't need sacks to get pressure and make QB's uncomfortable (which is what I don't like), it seems like sack or nothing in rushing the passer.
It’s the classic chicken and egg question. Is the run defense actually good because we can stop the run when teams try to run consistently or is it due to teams not running as often because they are so successful passing the ball.
Agreed our OLB (Goode et al) haven't put much pressure on the QB. My comment was directly on the interior of the DL. Losing McKenzie for the year sucks but Roberts and Saunders are both playing well and causing disruption. Luc and Tevis are solid but not spectacular.
Our OLB (where sacks and pressure is expected) should play more off the line to at least make the QB consider they will go back into coverage, indeed more can and should be done with this unit.
TD is right. With essentially the same players we have taken a HUGE drop-off, which is truly baffling. The key missing ingredient is no 'Root! He really is a defensive genius and there is no question in my mind that the downward spiral that is currently Cal Football started the day he left for Oryegun. Think about it. He turned a mostly unwanted three-star player (Evan Weaver) into an All-American and a walk-on (Ashtyn Davis) into an NFL third round pick (Gerald Alexander certainly helped). We need to find another coach like Tim DeRuyter and FAST!
No but he was responsible for the overall defensive excellence. Weaver and Davis couldn't have excelled if they weren't in the right defensive schemes at the right time.
I never understood the excitement over Tattersall. I mentioned before the season started that ILB was the unit in the defense that worried me the most due to the lack of proven players, lack of depth and that I didn’t think Tattersall was very good.
I had the same feeling in Ft Worth when I saw him get carted off & then hobble out on crutches...did not look good. Dagger, too...he was primed for a big year.
A comment for the WFC writers that attend and presumably can ask questions during the presser (not sure I've heard anyone here mentioned during a presser). Can someone ask meaningful questions? For example when asked what happened to the OL, coach responded "we didn't block". No shit, but why didn't you block? Was the OL calling the wrong blocking scheme? Did they not know what to call? And why weren't half time or in game adjustments made to handle Wazzu's DL? Were the adjustments not available, no coaching for Wazzu's scheme? Also, ask if the competition is open at QB and at what point in the season would the staff "consider" using another QB be it Millner or other?
A few things. First, We try to attend this as much as possible during the week, but most of us just arent able to make the weekday ones. Second, and this isnt talked about a lot openly, which I think should be, a lot of these more meaningful questions or harder questions might be easy to put out there, but its defn harder when it comes to making relationships with the staff and players. Sure theres defn moments to ask the harder questions, but its a balance between asking them and knowing which moments to use to ask them cz you have to see them weekly and face-to-face. There's also questions we dont ask because we already know the answer were going to get. None of us are journalist majors or have any experience with that so the way in which we approach these press conferences is different from let's say a writer from The Athletic or AP.
On the QB Front, I can tell you after watching camp Chase gives us the best opportunity to win, and it wasn't even close. A lot can have changed between then and now, but without live snaps or first team snaps, theres a reason a grad transfer QB is the backup on the depth chart week to week and not Zach or Kai.
Asking questions in just the right way, so that you can get useful answers and at the same time build the relationship, takes a fair amount of skill and experience.
OK @Rob Hwang here's a possible question: "At times it benefits a player to sit out a series or two to allow a different perspective of the game, has the staff considered using that with CG?"
I don’t know what the staff would say but id point to our 2018 season. The HAENER/Browning swap against us by UW. And so on. Barring injury I don’t think you sit your starting QB for a series or two. If you’re building for next season sure. Throw on the young guy. Let him get snaps. But if you’re chasing wins which you need to be. Chase is the best and only option.
Great point, I remember that decision by Petersen. It really did change the game. In my head, I know Chase probably gives us the best chance to win, but still... Even if it's totally irrational, I can't help but wonder if someone else could step up.
Does he plan on being very active in the transfer portal this year? Especially if we start to lose a lot of recruits due to the lack of on the field success?
This will be the next shoe to drop, how many players opt out and transfer at the end of the season. More importantly which ones? Losing Polk has hurt and should we lose more players of his caliber it will be tough for Wilcox to right the ship. This season and last has already affected this year's recruiting...
Word on the Twitter sphere is Jaxson Moi is probably going to flip to Stanford and Curlee Thomas might be leaning to Sonny Dykes and SMU. It looks like this current recruiting class is disintegrating and the season isn’t even half way over. If this recruiting class falls apart and veterans begin to leave via the transfer portal you have to fire Wilcox at that point because he and his staff will be toxic to recruits.
Honestly the roster isnt that different from 2019. It just goes to show how the main takers and God like linebacker play from Weaver boosted everyone else. The DL has been horrendous, even Cam Goode was struggling and no we have a lack of NG again with Mckenzie down and Maldonado regressing. Man the DL is brutal, and that doesnt even count Bequette who has just been around.
Clearly we can see Tatersall even with the 2019 seasoning isnt up to par, and frankly doesnt help the interpretation of the development of players. Why the coaches moved Elijah Hicks to safety I'll never know and how Chigi Anusiem turned into a bench warmer after almost getting 3 INT's by himself in the Redbox Bowl. Just a lot of confusion with this roster, and thats not even counting the offense, who either runs for 10 yards, passes for 50 yards, gets pressured every other play, or forgets that downfield passing exists as issues that occur weekly.
Maldonado hasn't played a snap in 2 years. DL, IMO has been very good this year and is getting better each game, which is what you want to see.
In the run game sure they've been fairly solid but for the players we have, we have a severe lack of pressure (not necessarily sacks) on plays. You need pressure to get sacks but you don't need sacks to get pressure and make QB's uncomfortable (which is what I don't like), it seems like sack or nothing in rushing the passer.
It’s the classic chicken and egg question. Is the run defense actually good because we can stop the run when teams try to run consistently or is it due to teams not running as often because they are so successful passing the ball.
Agreed our OLB (Goode et al) haven't put much pressure on the QB. My comment was directly on the interior of the DL. Losing McKenzie for the year sucks but Roberts and Saunders are both playing well and causing disruption. Luc and Tevis are solid but not spectacular.
Our OLB (where sacks and pressure is expected) should play more off the line to at least make the QB consider they will go back into coverage, indeed more can and should be done with this unit.
If he returns next year, his medical redshirt season will be this year, not next year.
TD is right. With essentially the same players we have taken a HUGE drop-off, which is truly baffling. The key missing ingredient is no 'Root! He really is a defensive genius and there is no question in my mind that the downward spiral that is currently Cal Football started the day he left for Oryegun. Think about it. He turned a mostly unwanted three-star player (Evan Weaver) into an All-American and a walk-on (Ashtyn Davis) into an NFL third round pick (Gerald Alexander certainly helped). We need to find another coach like Tim DeRuyter and FAST!
Root wasn;t the position coach for either Weaver, K, or Davis.
No but he was responsible for the overall defensive excellence. Weaver and Davis couldn't have excelled if they weren't in the right defensive schemes at the right time.
I never understood the excitement over Tattersall. I mentioned before the season started that ILB was the unit in the defense that worried me the most due to the lack of proven players, lack of depth and that I didn’t think Tattersall was very good.
I also think that Deng is done for the season.
I had the same feeling in Ft Worth when I saw him get carted off & then hobble out on crutches...did not look good. Dagger, too...he was primed for a big year.
Thanks for this.
A comment for the WFC writers that attend and presumably can ask questions during the presser (not sure I've heard anyone here mentioned during a presser). Can someone ask meaningful questions? For example when asked what happened to the OL, coach responded "we didn't block". No shit, but why didn't you block? Was the OL calling the wrong blocking scheme? Did they not know what to call? And why weren't half time or in game adjustments made to handle Wazzu's DL? Were the adjustments not available, no coaching for Wazzu's scheme? Also, ask if the competition is open at QB and at what point in the season would the staff "consider" using another QB be it Millner or other?
Sure thing.
A few things. First, We try to attend this as much as possible during the week, but most of us just arent able to make the weekday ones. Second, and this isnt talked about a lot openly, which I think should be, a lot of these more meaningful questions or harder questions might be easy to put out there, but its defn harder when it comes to making relationships with the staff and players. Sure theres defn moments to ask the harder questions, but its a balance between asking them and knowing which moments to use to ask them cz you have to see them weekly and face-to-face. There's also questions we dont ask because we already know the answer were going to get. None of us are journalist majors or have any experience with that so the way in which we approach these press conferences is different from let's say a writer from The Athletic or AP.
On the QB Front, I can tell you after watching camp Chase gives us the best opportunity to win, and it wasn't even close. A lot can have changed between then and now, but without live snaps or first team snaps, theres a reason a grad transfer QB is the backup on the depth chart week to week and not Zach or Kai.
Asking questions in just the right way, so that you can get useful answers and at the same time build the relationship, takes a fair amount of skill and experience.
man how bad were Brasch and Casey then...
His success at a d2 school doesn’t equate to how well he would’ve done at cal.
He missed one week and is still the #2 on the depth chart. That should tell you enough.
OK @Rob Hwang here's a possible question: "At times it benefits a player to sit out a series or two to allow a different perspective of the game, has the staff considered using that with CG?"
This is an excellent way of phrasing it, and I would love to hear their answer.
I don’t know what the staff would say but id point to our 2018 season. The HAENER/Browning swap against us by UW. And so on. Barring injury I don’t think you sit your starting QB for a series or two. If you’re building for next season sure. Throw on the young guy. Let him get snaps. But if you’re chasing wins which you need to be. Chase is the best and only option.
He still leads the conference in total offense. Can't imagine where we would be without him, though we still are 1-4.
Great point, I remember that decision by Petersen. It really did change the game. In my head, I know Chase probably gives us the best chance to win, but still... Even if it's totally irrational, I can't help but wonder if someone else could step up.
The most alluring player on a football team to fans is the backup QB.
Does he plan on being very active in the transfer portal this year? Especially if we start to lose a lot of recruits due to the lack of on the field success?
This will be the next shoe to drop, how many players opt out and transfer at the end of the season. More importantly which ones? Losing Polk has hurt and should we lose more players of his caliber it will be tough for Wilcox to right the ship. This season and last has already affected this year's recruiting...
The Polk loss was so bad...El Cerrito kid w/ NFL size, goes to play for Leach in Starkville...bad sign.
Word on the Twitter sphere is Jaxson Moi is probably going to flip to Stanford and Curlee Thomas might be leaning to Sonny Dykes and SMU. It looks like this current recruiting class is disintegrating and the season isn’t even half way over. If this recruiting class falls apart and veterans begin to leave via the transfer portal you have to fire Wilcox at that point because he and his staff will be toxic to recruits.
Curlee literally tweeted out. Help is on the way to the Wazzu game.
I think he’s good.
Sounds like he is already a true Golden Bear, good on him.
Winning games, that would be a welcome change. I hope they can figure it out.