Cal wins 45-21. Glitches and rust are fixed and shaken off. Receivers get separation, Oline opens holes and gives JKS time to make a snack. D got a royal chew out from coach T and shows up ready to play. (I know, I know. Old sunshine pumper here).
Just like me, the WFC prognosticators show real restraint for week 2. I salute your honesty after week 1! In listening carefully to Tosh over the last few weeks, he repeatedly says he is concerned with process, not W/L. This might be his way of telling us the program has a long way to go to be the winning program we all desire, especially Tosh!
I would love to jump on the Cal winning bandwagon — after all, pre-UCLA I predicted à 12-0 season and a march to the ACC championship! But after last week’s clear eyed dismissal of all the camp-based hype, I’m now in with those who saw structural issues with both lines and the WR corps that I do not believe can be fixed in the few days the coaching staff had before getting on a plane to fly cross country to play in upstate NY.
While I agree that the win over hapless NH told us little about Syracuse, it did tell us that they have potentially a very good QB and running attack but little more about how it would function against a better opponent.
The structural problems in Cal’s trenches get down to one question:
Does Cal actually have the horses who can step up and play at the level required to be a competitive team in the ACC?
Without almost earthshaking improvement, the answer based on last week is a resounding No. Same for the WR corps whose speed and separation ability were not exactly stellar. We’ve got a great QB and a workhorse running back on offense. Unfortunately, their supporting cast is currently still questionable. I’m in the camp that believes Cal will travel across the country for another losing effort that will make for a long ride home.
I’ve been watching Cal football for more than 50 years and, trust me, I really hope I’m wrong!
I hate to say that the season hinges on the second game of the year, but it kind of does. Win and we get a lot of pressure off the team. Shake off more rust against Wagner and then we can hype up the Clemson game. The team will start to believe.
Lose and confidence is shot, recruits and current players start to look elsewhere, and the casual fan is gone (the Wagner game will be a ghost town).
I’ll still watch every game and cheer them on in person for the home games (as will most people on this site).
Their energy in the Syracuse will tell me everything.
Agreed, even if he does play... If he's not practicing live reps this week amid some big schematic adjustments (we needed quicker developing passes), him and the receivers might not be in sync yet.
Cal wins 45-21. Glitches and rust are fixed and shaken off. Receivers get separation, Oline opens holes and gives JKS time to make a snack. D got a royal chew out from coach T and shows up ready to play. (I know, I know. Old sunshine pumper here).
GO BEARS!!
You are clearly prescient… nailed it!
Just like me, the WFC prognosticators show real restraint for week 2. I salute your honesty after week 1! In listening carefully to Tosh over the last few weeks, he repeatedly says he is concerned with process, not W/L. This might be his way of telling us the program has a long way to go to be the winning program we all desire, especially Tosh!
our defense really improves especially with putting more pressure on the Syracuse QB. Cal 31 Syracuse 24.
I would love to jump on the Cal winning bandwagon — after all, pre-UCLA I predicted à 12-0 season and a march to the ACC championship! But after last week’s clear eyed dismissal of all the camp-based hype, I’m now in with those who saw structural issues with both lines and the WR corps that I do not believe can be fixed in the few days the coaching staff had before getting on a plane to fly cross country to play in upstate NY.
While I agree that the win over hapless NH told us little about Syracuse, it did tell us that they have potentially a very good QB and running attack but little more about how it would function against a better opponent.
The structural problems in Cal’s trenches get down to one question:
Does Cal actually have the horses who can step up and play at the level required to be a competitive team in the ACC?
Without almost earthshaking improvement, the answer based on last week is a resounding No. Same for the WR corps whose speed and separation ability were not exactly stellar. We’ve got a great QB and a workhorse running back on offense. Unfortunately, their supporting cast is currently still questionable. I’m in the camp that believes Cal will travel across the country for another losing effort that will make for a long ride home.
I’ve been watching Cal football for more than 50 years and, trust me, I really hope I’m wrong!
I think we lose. Hope I’m wrong.
I don’t have confidence on coaching.
Tosh needs three years to get the roster chock full of five star guys so that coaching deficiencies are covered over by sheer talent on the field.
But three years might be too late because of conference realignment
Bryan Zapenzine on one of the Syracuse sites. (insidetheloudhouse..)
does a concise writeup that conveys that Syracuse's strong points play well into the weak areas of Cal's game that were exposed vs UCLA.
Cal actually can have nice things, I just know it, but based on what we saw last Saturday, probably not winning this game. Hope I am wrong. Go Bears!
I hate to say that the season hinges on the second game of the year, but it kind of does. Win and we get a lot of pressure off the team. Shake off more rust against Wagner and then we can hype up the Clemson game. The team will start to believe.
Lose and confidence is shot, recruits and current players start to look elsewhere, and the casual fan is gone (the Wagner game will be a ghost town).
I’ll still watch every game and cheer them on in person for the home games (as will most people on this site).
Their energy in the Syracuse will tell me everything.
Surprised to not see predictions separated by "If JKS plays/If JKS doesn't play..."
Agreed, even if he does play... If he's not practicing live reps this week amid some big schematic adjustments (we needed quicker developing passes), him and the receivers might not be in sync yet.