Keys to the Game

As Brent Musburger would say, "Oh baby!" We're one day away from Cal's opener at Michigan State. Despite Stanford and Oregon State's "exciting" game to kick off the season Thursday night, it still hasn't quite hit me yet that we are finally here at the beginning of the 2008-2009 College Football season.

When will it hit me? Not sure. Perhaps it will when I make the trek up to Memorial Stadium with thousands of other Cal fans for tomorrow’s opener. Or maybe when the team takes the field as Cal’s fight song kicks off in the stadium. Or on Jahvid Best’s first huge run. We shall see. But I await it nonetheless.

We’ve talked about the offense. We’ve talked about the defense. Now let’s talk about the keys to the game (in my mind) if we plan on being victorious against what is supposed to be a very evenly matched game with the Michigan State Spartans.

3 Keys to the Game:

1) Keep Javon Ringer under 100 yards.
In my mind, this is the granddaddy of ‘em all. When people ask me if I think we’re going to win tomorrow, I respond with, “Depends on how we do with Ringer.” Javon Ringer, a 5’9 Senior, is considered one of the premier backs in the nation, and will be the focal point of the Spartans offense this season. Tomorrow’s matchup will provide the truest test for how Cal’s new 3-4 defense will fair against a power, up-your-gut, smash mouth run offense. I don’t think we’ll be able to completely shut down Ringer (MSU’s experienced and huge offensive line and Ringer’s talent will see to that), but if we can contain him for minimal yardage, wrap up well, fill in the gaps, and prevent him from breaking off huge runs, especially after initial contact, I think Cal stands a very good chance of winning this one.

This will especially prove to be true in the second half of the game as the initial enthusiasm and energy begins to wear off. How will Cal’s D perform in the trenches late in the 3rd quarter and early in the 4th? That will be the question.

(None of this, please.)

2) Limit Turnovers
I know this is incredibly cliché, as any joe-schmo like yours truly can rattle a statement off like this in pre-game analysis. But this statement remains even truer for Cal’s young offense. Cal will be sending out a QB with only one career start, a whole new crop of wide receivers, and a tandem of running backs with only one running back having any actual in-game carries. Given the youth and inexperience at nearly ever skill position, Cal will need to overcome any early season jitters and focus on executing the offensive game plan, avoiding turnovers, and finishing drives (whether it be field goals or touchdowns). A few early long drives will instill some confidence in this young offense, and hopefully the home crowd will prevent them from too many costly mental errors. An early interception or a few fumbles may make it difficult for Cal to get back into the game if they find themselves behind early.

3) The Big Play
As effective as Cal has been running the ball, Tedford’s most successful teams have never been known for being “work the clock” or “grind the ball” kind of teams. They’ve been known for being explosive. Cal will need that one particular explosive play to fire up the home crowd, and energize the team. It happened last year in the Tennessee game with Follet’s hit and subsequent Worrell Williams recovery run for a touchdown. While Tennessee came right back and responded with a nice drive of their own, it put Cal in the driver’s seat for the rest of the game.

It might come in a punt return, or a forced fumble or an interception, or perhaps a long run by one of our speedy backs, but I believe it will be incredibly important for some type of spark to ignite the entire Cal team tomorrow.

Keep in mind, it can go the other way as well. Busted coverage leading to a long TD pass, a poor tackle allowing Ringer to run 64 yards for a TD, or an early pick six may challenge a lot of the good feelings and team chemistry that the team worked so hard to build in the offseason. Cal will have to work efficiently to prevent Michigan State from making any big plays.

In conclusion:
There are so many other issues that I could have brought up. For Riley to establish a solid timing with his new receivers. For Cal’s D-line to get some pressure on QB Brian Hoyer. Solid tackling. Avoiding stupid penalties. For the Cal fans to make some freaking noise.

The list could go on. But none appear to be as important as the three keys outlined above (at least in my mind). Leave a comment if you think I’m off or am forgetting something else. Other than that, I’ll just be happy to be back at Memorial Stadium, and enjoying a beautiful Saturday evening with the new old Cal faithful. Go Bears!

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Depth Chart Resolutions? (Defense)

We finish (and I say finish even though I didn't have a chance to get to the Special Teams portion. Check out Okanes' blog for some of the most recent developments on that.) our look at the Depth Chart going into Saturday's game and who we can expect to step out onto the field first.

Linebackers
Starters: Zack Follet, Worrell Williams, Anthony Felder, Eddie Young
Backups: Devin Bishop, DJ Holt, Mike Mohammed, Mychal Kendricks, Charles Johnson

Follett, Williams, and Felder come as a surprise to no one. The only question was who would fill into the 4th spot after the switch to the 3-4. Mike Mohammed was favored until Eddie Young solidified his position towards the beginning of Fall camp. While we’re somewhat sure of what to expect with the starters (a lot of pain), the backups, provide both depth and questions.

However, the fact that true freshman linebacker Mychal Kendricks is slated to see playing time this year may be very telling. The kid is only 17 years old. Do you know what I was doing when I was 17? I wasn’t planning on taking on linemen, that’s for sure. It would be a different story if Cal had severe questions at the linebacker position, and were calling upon its younger players to contribute because of a lack of talent or depth. When your linebacking corps. is considered the strongest unit of your defense, and you still feel confident with a true freshman playing right away, that speaks volumes about the depth that Cal has at that position.

Now how all the reserves will perform throughout the season remains to be seen. The only backup linebacker with significant playing time is redshirt sophomore Mike Mohammed. In addition to Kendricks, Devin Bishop and touted recruit DJ Holt are coming off redshirt years, and will be seeing their first real collegiate playing time.


Defensive Tackle
Starter: Derrick Hill
Backup: Mika Kane

Earlier I had predicted that Mika Kane would step onto the field before Derrick Hill mainly due to experience, but Kane’s injury during Spring Ball scratched that idea. Even then, Hill has shown dramatic improvement this offseason and appears ready to plug some gaps and engage some double teams on Saturday. Kane should hopefully still get some playing time in.

Defensive Ends
Starters: Rulon Davis, Tyson Alualu
Backups: Ernest Owusu, Keith Browner, Kendrick Payne, Cameron Jordan (suspended)

The DE position has seen a lot of movement in the past week for a few reasons. While Rulon Davis was a near lock on one end, there was a bit of a camp battle between Alualu and Jordan for the other spots. Alualu came in with more experience, and reports spoke of his fantastic camps, but Jordan was too physically gifted to ignore. In the end, Alualu got the nod at the starting spot, with Jordan sure to see as much playing time in the season opener.

And then Cameron Jordan got drunk. And then he decided to drive. And then he got arrested. And then…*TADA! * suspended for the season opener.

The loss of Jordan certainly hurts, as he can be a potential game changer when focused. Jordan’s suspension weakens a bit of the depth at the DE position, with more of reliance now than ever on Ernest Owusu and Keith Browner to step up their game and fill in. Kendrick Payne, a true freshman who impressed everyone at camp with his work ethic and athleticism, has been moved into his more natural at end, so that should help alleviate a few of the worries in regards to the depth at the position.

Safety
Starter: Marcus Ezeff
Backups: Sean Cattouse and Jesse Brooks

Free Safety
Starter: Bernard Hicks
Backup: Brett Johnson

Marcus Ezeff and Bernard Hicks spent much of last year competing for the strong safety position. Ezeff, who is probably best known for making the game saving tackle of Oregon wide receiver Cameron Colvin to force the fumble into the endzone last year has fought through injury this camp, but should be ready to go for Saturday. Redshirt freshman Sean Cattouse and junior Jesse Brooks will take turns filling in for Ezeff.

Bernard Hicks, provides good experience at the free safety position, and if consistent, can be a strong leader for the defense this season. Brett Johnson, who filled in for Thomas DeCoud in the first quarter of last year’s Armed Forces Bowl, backs him up at that position.

[Update: As per Okanes, Brett Johnson reportedly took most of the first team reps today at the free safety spot. Bob Gregory has stated that the position is still being evaluated, but this would be somewhat surprising. Hicks has seemingly been in starting competitions since he started at Cal, and this would only further that trend. We'll see what unfolds.]

The darkhorse could be newly transferred Bryant Nnabuife, who can play both the cornerback and safety position, and should see some playing time at both.

Cornerback
Starter: Syd’Quan Thompson and Darian Hagan
Backups: Chris Conte, Charles Amadi
Syd’Quan Thompson has developed into one of the better corners in the conference and is expected to lock down his side of the field. A separated shoulder has kept him out of practice the last few weeks however, and Squid is just now slowly getting back into practice. Defensive Coordinator Bob Gregory maintains that he should be ready to go for Saturday, but the question is how healthy he’ll be and how he’ll be able to perform.

Darian Hagan has edged out sophomore Chris Conte for the other cornerback spot, but is sure to get his share of playing time, as the battle has been pretty close all camp, and even more so with SQT’s injury. Could this be the year that Hagan, a touted recruit, finally breaks out and lives up to much of the hyper that surrounded his arrival at Cal? We shall see soon enough.

Charles Amadi will back up both corners as well.

That about wraps it up, but I'll try and give some updates to any changes that may pop up before game time. Read the rest of the post and comments here >>

College Football Season Starts Today!

After more than seven painful months, it’s finally here: The start of College Football Season.

Of course, in my mind, the season doesn’t officially start until Saturday at 5PM, but you’ve got one pumped up Bear Blogger nonetheless.

To Kick it Off We’ve Got…Oregon State vs. Stanford?


Man…that’ll be like watching two kids with speech impediments slug it out in a Spelling Bee…
“T-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t-T…uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-O”
Whatever. I’m still going to watch it. Go Beavers!

THAT WAS AWESOME! Who was that again?
Here’s a really cool tool to help Cal fans memorize numbers in time for their game on Saturday: Online Flash Cards for Players’ Numbers. Remember, Coach Tedford has announced that the jerseys aren’t going to have any names this year, so this is your chance to brush up before the game.


An Alternative to Gold Out?
Without the backing of the University, a Gold Out for Memorial Stadium seems unlikely, although that doesn’t mean one shouldn’t try. How about this shirt?

New Cal Marketing Video
Cal’s got a new promo video up. Not as cleanly edited for as Red Bull chugging as their previous Every Game Counts video, but still miles ahead of their previous efforts. Check it out on the main page. Read the rest of the post and comments here >>

Preseason Top 25: 1-5

We wrap up our look at my preseason Top 25 with the final 5. The best candidates for a BCS bowl, and National Championship contenders. But first, let's do a quick recap of #6-25.

(Click on the images for my writeups)

#5 Oklahoma - As much as Coach Bob Stoops has shown a propensity to choke in big BCS games the past few seasons (losing the last 4, in either gut-wrenching or blowout fashion), the guy knows how to coach. Oklahoma has been in the running for the Big 12 title nearly every year since Stoops took over the program and this year looks to continue the trend. The Sooners benefit from playing most of their toughest Big12 foes at home (Cincinnati, Kansas, Texas Tech) and not having to play other conference favorite Missouri. Despite losing Malcom Kelly, the Sooners return a bunch of talent with the offensive side of the ball. If Sam Bradford can avoid a sophomore slump and Demarco Murray can stay healthy, Oklahoma will be up there with TTU and Missouri in terms of offensive firepower. While Oklahoma will be dominant in stopping the run with their defensive line, there are questions at linebacker, and the Sooners will be fresh at the cornerback position. And Oklahoma wasn’t ever all that great in pass defense any way. Even so, the questions on the defensive side of the ball aren’t enough for me to believe that the Sooners will again be playing in a BCS Bowl this year. The question is whether or not they’ll win in it.
(Predicted Regular Season Finish: 11-1)

#4 Ohio State – I would rather let each hippie tree-sitter in Berkeley fart in my mouth than see Ohio State in another National Championship game. I’m just fed up with seeing the Buckeyes float through cupcake schedules and blow through a subpar conference only to bend over for a SEC teams in the National Title game. With that said, I think this is actually better than the last two championship contenders. The Buckeyes return a ridiculous 18 starters (and a kicker and punter to boot) and features one of the best defenses position by position. Heisman front runner Beanie Wells will put up big numbers and the force of Sweater Vest will be working its mojo all season. Only an early game with the USC Trojans provides a wrinkle in a potential perfect season. If the Buckeyes escape USC with a win, then you can pretty much sharpie them in for a third consecutive national championship bowl appearance.

(Predicted Regular Season Finish: 11-1)

#3 USC – I’m not going to do it. I’m not pegging USC to go undefeated this year. And it’s not because I hate USC (which I do—a lot). And it’s also not because of Ohio State. In fact, I think USC that despite their questions on offense, I think USC manages to take down Ohio State this year. It’s because I think somewhere in the season, the Trojans drop a game to a Pac-10 conference team. Call it a gut feeling, or perhaps wishful thinking, but I sincerely believe that with all the mystery and questions surrounding Pac-10 teams this year, someone will rise up and knock off the Trojans, perhaps even at home. USC’s toughest games over the past few years have all been against Pac-10 squads (with the exception of the memorable 2005 Rose Bowl), and I don’t expect this year to be too different. Pete Carroll’s squad will still a very good bet to take a seventh consecutive league title and may end up in the National Title game, but not without faltering somewhere down the line.

(Predicted Regular Season Finish: 11-1)

#2 Florida – It’s not out of the question to imagine a number of other SEC teams pegged in at this spot (Auburn, Georgia come to mind), but in the land of the SEC, schedule DOES make that much of a difference. Most of Florida’s conference schedule consists of teams they should be favored against, with the exception of a few key games: @ Tennessee, hosting LSU, and against Georgia in Jacksonville. That last game could very well determine the national championship picture.

Oh and offense? The Gators are going to be scary good. With starters returning from an offense that averaged 42.5 ppg last year, they’ve got all the makings of an even better scoring juggernaut (Tebow, Harvin, more talent at the tailback position, and a very solid offensive line). The biggest question for the Gators’ success this season involves their defense, arguably the main reason why Florida wasn’t in the hunt to repeat as National Champions last year. I have good reason to believe that Florida’s young defense will be much improved from last year. The secondary, which started freshman corners last year, return with a year of experience. The entire starting linebacking corps. is back. If the defensive line can grow up quickly, Florida should be one of the top contenders for the national title game.

(Predicted Regular Season Finish: 11-1)

(This? This don't phase me.)

#1 Missouri – Yes Missouri. I’m not declaring Missouri the best team in the country just yet. But the Tigers have the talent (15 returning starters) including a leading Heisman candidate in Chase Daniels and the coaching (you have to be impressed with what Gary Pinkel has done there) to make a serious threat for the top spot this year. But what really separates Mizzou from the other NC contenders is their favorable schedule. The Tigers start the season with a formidable opponent in Illinois, but their only other tests this year will be games against Nebraska and Kansas, two teams I don’t even have finishing the season in my Top 25. They don’t face either Oklahoma (the only team to beat them last year, twice in fact) or Texas Tech, unless it will be the Big 12 Championship game. The biggest question is how a team will handle the unfamiliar pressures of being the hunted throughout the course of the entire season. The only thing stopping Missouri from a spot in the National Championship game may be Missouri themselves.

(Predicted Regular Season Finish: 12-0)

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A few quick site updates...

BearswithFangs wants nothing but the best for you. That's right. You.

So I'm constantly tweaking the site here and there to try and optimize the site as much as possible from a blogger standpoint, and for the reader. There are a few issues that still remain, and I ask everyone to be as patient as possible while I hammer out some of the last kinks. I may go with a complete site revamp some time in the near future, but time will tell how quickly I can get around to this as the demands of the college football season are quite fierce at this time of the year.

A few new updates:

1) BearswithFangs is proud to announce Barry's Tickets as its official Ticket Vendor Sponsor. They specialize in providing tickets when all hope appears lost. Definitely check 'em out. I just may have to hit them up for the Cal USC game that already appears to be sold out. Dang son.

2) Changed to the three column format so that readers don't have to scroll down for two yards to get to my Bear Blogger blog roll. Boom Tho.

3) Resolved Internet Explorer Display Issues. It came to my attention that my site wasn't displaying properly in IE, so I believe I've resolved all those issues. I'm now having issues with my expandable post summaries, so again, please be a bit more patient as I look to resolve that. At least it might force ya'll to read my full posts? Yeah? No? Alright...

4) Added a new poll to get a sense of which of the wide receivers we're most excited about. I've got a feeling that a few casual Cal fans might be looking at it like this: @_@

A recent conversation with one of my friends:

Friend: ive never heard of any of our wr's

lol

except that one florida trasnfer guy

Aites yo. Keep coming back for as we gots a lot more coming. And again, thanks for reading. Read the rest of the post and comments here >>

Depth Chart Resolutions? (Offense)

It’s Game Week. O. M. G. I can’t hide my excitement enough. Can't you tell? As we buckle down for Cal’s opening game against Michigan State this Saturday, it’s time to look at all things Cal while we wrap our minds around what we might expect out of the team for Saturday’s kickoff. We begin by looking at the depth chart.

The depth chart appears to be finalized—at least for this Saturday’s game. While starters have been named, many critical positions will continue to be evaluated as the season moves on, and more players are expected to get more playing time regardless. In other words, a backup may end up playing just as much as a starter throughout the course of the season.

Today we’ll start with the offensive side of the ball and get to the defense later in the week.

Quarterback

Starter: Kevin Riley Backup: Nate Longshore

Yawn. Pff. Old news. Much has already been said. Bottom line: Tedford and staff knew what they had with Longshore. A player with a good grasp of the offense who could manage that side of the ball. Riley, however, has the potential to be something special. And they have to see him in more real game time situations to be sure that he is the guy of the future. With Longshore and Riley playing nearly evenly in camp, Tedford felt it was the right time to take that risk and see how Riley would prepare and perform as the starter.

Running Back

Starter: Jahvid Best Backup: Shane Vereen

Tedford appears to be set on his 1-2 punch for this year. Continuing a tradition of utilizing 2 backs (with the near exception of last year), Best will be the main tailback, with Vereen coming in to give Jahvid a breather after he rips off a 60 yarder. Expect Tracey Slocum to be used much like Marcus O’Keith was used during the Marshawn Lynch/Justin Forsett years as a 3^rd down back, and later in the game as a potential bruiser for tough yards. As for Covaughn Deboskie? I haven’t heard any official words just yet, but you got to redshirt the guy. As much as I like him, I’d rather have him contribute more in a year than in a crowded backfield now.

(We need lots and lots of this.)

(credit: Getty Images)

Fullback

Starter: Will Tau’fou’ou Backup: Brian Holley

We’ll be in good shape here. Both have had their share of playing time the last few years, and both have shown to be very capable fullbacks, and Holley even had a number of reps in as a running back in spring ball. Who else wants to see more naked bootlegs to Tau’fou’ou this year? Show of hands? I agree.

Offensive Line

Left Tackle: Chet Teofilo Backup: Donovan Edwards

Left Guard: Chris Guarnero Backup: Mark Boskovich

Center: Alex Mack Backup: Richard Fisher

Right Guard: Noris Malele Backup: Justin Cheadle

Right Tackle: Michael Schwartz Backup: Matt Laird

There be a lot of names that most Cal fans probably aren’t too familiar with. It was never a question as to who would anchor the line at center, with Big Mack captaining not just the offensive line, but the whole team. With Mike Tepper most likely missing the first game due to his torn pectoral muscle, Chet Teofilo who also had reps with the first team towards the end of last season at right tackle, will have the all important task of protecting the QB’s blind side. This is one of the areas that I’m least sure about, as I’m not sure how deep we are.

Tight End

Starter: Cameron Morrah Backup: Tad Smith

No real surprises here. Cameron Morrah will be a strong receiving threat this year, and should have more balls going his way. The question will be whether he can come close to replicating the level of blocking Craig Stevens demonstrated as a starter. Tad Smith, a converted defensive end, opened eyes during Spring Ball with ridiculous catches, and should also fill in well on the other side in 2 TE sets. Also look for true freshman Anthony Miller to get some reps in this year.

Wide Receiver

Starters: Michael Calvin, Sean Young, LaReylle Cunningham

Backups: Marvin Jones, Jeremy Ross, Nyan Boateng, Verran Tucker, among others.

I could start a Vegas pool right now in trying to determine which receiver will have the most productive season. I just might actually… No one really knows for sure what to expect out of the brand new receiving corps. At this point in the preseason, the coaching staff had to go with the receivers that they had the most trust in and/or had the most consistent camps. Those spots go to seniors Cunningham and Young, as well as redshirt freshman Michael Calvin, who won offensive Scout Player of the Year last year. But don’t expect the spots to be as locked down as it was with last year’s crew. Tedford has stated that as many as 6 or 7 receivers will be rotating in and out in the games this year, which could mean our receivers are that good, or that inconsistent. I’m hoping it’s the former.

Read the rest of the post and comments here >>

Preseason Top 25: 6-10

We keep chugging along with our Preseason Top 25. As a reminder, our list looks at what the rankings should look like at the end of the regular season. Not where I think they'll be to start it. Here's a quick recap of #'s 11-15, so you know not to expect them in the Holy Top 10.

# 10 Virginia Tech – It’s strange, I really don’t feel that confident about the Hokies this year. There are so many questions with the team on both sides of the ball. How improved with the O-line be after struggling with inconsistency and battling injuries for much of last season? Who will step up at running back after incumbent starter Brandon Ore was dismissed from the team? How will the offense run without any returning receivers who have caught at least 10 passes? How will the defense perform with only 4 returning starters? Yet, despite that, I expect Virginia Tech to again with the ACC Coastal Division, almost by default. Well, I wouldn’t go quite that far, but needless to say, I think the Hokies will be coached well enough and have a decent enough schedule (toughest tests being away games at FSU and Miami) without having to face ACC preseason favorites Clemson until the conference championship game.

(Predicted regular season finish: 10-2)

#9 Auburn – There are lot of questions regarding the Auburn Tigers’ offense this year. The new spread offense under new offensive coordinator Tony Franklin, the task of having to replace 3 year starter Brandon Cox, and a veteran offensive line appear to be the necessary ingredients for an interesting season. Fortunately, the Tigers again return a solid defense that will keep them in most of their games, regardless of the offense’s inconsistency. While the losses of Quentin Groves and Pat Sims will hurt, Auburn has a lot of talent waiting in the wings to continue the ways of a unit that was 6^th in both scoring and total defense in the entire country. Auburn’s biggest games will be against LSU which could be crucial in determining the SEC West Champions, and a non-conference game against West Virginia late in October. I’m thinking Auburn drops 3 games this year, but their win over LSU is enough to keep them in the Top 10 this year. (Predicted regular season finish: 9-3)

#8 West Virginia – Pat White will finish a brilliant career at West Virginias as one of the, if not THE best dual threat quarterbacks ever to play the game at the collegiate level—before turning into a wide receiver in the pros. Sophomore running back Noel Devine may end up being better than Steve Slaton sooner rather than later, and a standout offensive line will ensure that happens. I’m still not completely sold on Bill Simmons who practically fell into the head coaching position (he doesn’t really care mind you), and am interested to see how he handles the premier Big East program in his first head coaching gig since botched run at VMI. Things get really interesting however, starting Oct.23 as they face a tough test with Auburn, and begin the Big East “gauntlet” of UConn, Cincy, Louisville, Pitt, and USF—any of which I think are capable of knocking the Moutaineers out of the NC Title picture again late in the season. I still believe that WVU will be the Big East Champions come December, and will provide a heck of a game in the Fiesta Bowl.

(Predicted regular season finish: 10-2)

(Absolutely out of control.)

#7 Clemson – Much like Texas Tech, Clemson enters the season with their most talented team yet and high BCS hopes. And there are a lot of reasons to be excite. Clemson returns most of the skill players from one of the best offenses in school history. Both their QB Cullen Harper, running backs CJ Spiller and James Davis, and wide receiver Aaron Kelly are expected to lead the ACC in every category. The youth of the offensive line however will cause a bit of concern however, as they will be expected to grow up quickly in an away game against Alabama to start the season. The Tigers’ defense plays very well as a whole, with 7 starters returning from a defense that was in the nation’s top 10 in both total and scoring defense. All in all, Clemson has all the pieces in place to be the conference’s best on both sides of the ball. However, Clemson has had plenty of talent in the past. The question has always been whether Tommy Bowden would be able to win the big games, and finally get the Tigers in the illustrious BCS Game. I feel this is going to be the year. If not this year, then it might not ever come in the Bowden era. I expect Clemson to drop no more than 2 games before beating Virginia Tech in the ACC Championship game to beg the Orange Bowl bid.

(Predicted regular season finish: 10-2)

#6 Georgia – Georgia will most likely enter the season as Top 3 team, but I don’t think they’ll finish it that way. Don’t get me wrong, the Bulldogs will without a doubt one of the best teams in the nation. You have to like 8 returning starters on the offensive side of the ball, and 9 on the defensive end (a very scary defense by the way). Throw in future NFL players, quarterback Matthew Stafford and runningback, Knowshon Moreno, and there’s a whole heck of a lot to like about the Bulldogs chances at a national championship run. But their schedule prevents me from chugging the Georgia juice. They face a brutal schedule with Florida, LSU, Auburn, South Carolina—all AWAY. I think they crush the Sun Devils on 9/20, but a road trip to the West Coast is never a cake walk. I think Georgia has the talent and coaching to reach the Sugar Bowl, or a BCS At Large, but I can’t quite put them in the top spot this year.

(Predicted regular season finish: 10-2)

Read the rest of the post and comments here >>

Bears in the NFL: Preseason Style [Week 3]

[Edit: After Justin Forsett's eye opening performance last week against Chicago last week, Forsett struggled mightily in his Week 3 performance. Forsett rushed 4 times for only 9 yards, and fumbled twice, once on a run and once on his 7 yard reception.]

We begin to wrap up Week 3 of the NFL Preseason Week 3 with a look at some of our Golden Bears in action. Some are trying to make their rosters, while others are looking to take control of their teams at starting positions.

Desean Jackson continues his impressive preseason and is nearly a lock for a starting spot with Kevin Curtis’ recent injury. Jackson AGAIN led the team in both receiving yards and catches. Action Jackson reminded Cal faithful and introduced Philadelphia fans to perhaps his most dynamic talent in special teams, returning a punt for 76 yards and his first preseason NFL score. Again, only the preseason, but you have to think that Jackson is going to contribute a lot more, and a lot sooner than many might have expected.

JJ Arrington had only 2 carries in his campaign to fight for the 2^nd running back spot behind Edgerrin James in Arizona, but it was all he needed to make his case. Arrington had had 71 yards on the day, with most yards coming from a 64 yard TD run midway through the 3^rd quarter. I was a bit afraid that Arrington would get caught from behind like he had a tendency to do with some of his long runs at Cal, but JJ was able to dive into the endzone just in time.

Marshawn Lynch had another quiet game in limited action rushing the ball 4 times for 2 yards. Don’t you worry folks, Lynch will be in full beastmode when the regular season starts.

Aaron Rodgers bounced back from a rough outing at San Francisco with a nearly flawless game against Denver. Rodgers led scoring drives on 4 of his 5 possessions with Green Bay’s offense and finished the game 18-22 on 192 yards passing includinh a 10 yard TD strike to Donald Driver on the opening drive of the game. Rodgers also rushed 3 times for 5 yards and a touchdown. This appears to be somewhat indicative of what the upcoming season might be like for Rodgers, who is sure to go through his share of ups and downs as his first season as Green Bay’s starter.

Craig Stevens had one catch for 11 yards in Tennessee’s loss to Atlanta on Friday night.

On the defensive side of the ball, Desmond Bishop contributed 3 solo tackles for Green Bay. Matt Giordano had 2 tackles, and teammate Dante Hughes also had 2 solo and 1 assisted.

Read the rest of the post and comments here >>

Preseason Top 25: 11-15

We continue on with our look at BearswithFangs' Preseason Top 25 with Spots 11-15. But first, here's a quick recap of who's been mentioned so far:

#15 BYU – Is this the year that BYU escapes from the Las Vegas Bowl hell and breaks through into the BCS fold with a perfect season? I’d venture with a “no,” but I still think they’ll have a heck of a season. An undefeated season isn’t out of the question mind you, but with games against two Pac-10 Squads (albeit mediocre ones in UCLA and Washington) and games at TCU, Air Force and Utah to end the season, I wouldn’t quite declare the schedule “gimme-free.” The rest of their schedule looks fine enough, and 9 returning offensive starters from an 11-2 squad incites me to believe we could be looking at another 10-2 season before being sucked back into the Las Vegas Bowl.

(Predicted regular season finish: 10-2)

#14 - South Florida – The Bulls emerged from nowhere in 2007, after having entered the season unranked, to become #2 in the country midseason. However, the Bulls finished poorly, losing three straight games before being blown out by Oregon in the Sun Bowl. An incredibly young program, it appeared the team wasn’t yet experienced enough to handle the brunt of the schedule. I don’t expect that to be the case this year, as the team has 17 returning starters, highlighted by an incredibly strong front 7. Their toughest games are hosting Kansas on 9/12 and playing at West Virginia to end the season (who they’ve beaten the last two years). They also play at Louisville and Cincinnati, but I expect them to only drop 2 or 3 games this year, which should be good enough to peg them in at the 14^th spot.

(Predicted regular season finish: 10-2)

("I HATE SIDEBURNS!")

#13 LSU – Let’s get it out of the way right now—I don’t expect the Bayou Bengals to repeat as National Champs. Sorry LSU fans. If it's any solace to you all, you guys never cared what I thought in the first place. But for what it's worth, I do think you guys will have a solid season. LSU is currently searching for a quarterback after predicted starter Ryan Perrilloux was kicked to the curb after his troubled tenure there. LSU also lost a lot of defensive talent in Glenn Dorsey, Chevis Jackson, Ali Highsmith, and Craig Steltz to the NFL, but the good news is that they have a ton of talent waiting in the wings with 24 lettermen waiting to make College Gameday highlight film. LSU’s schedule is arguably more demanding than last year’s, and it may be a challenge to even win the SEC West this year. I still see them potentially making a BCS at-large bid, but the Outback Bowl is looking more likely at this point.

(Predicted regular season finish: 9-3)

#12 Texas Tech – Like Tommy Bowden at Clemson, this year’s squad at Texas Tech will present Mike Leach’s best chance for a BCS Bowl Bid. If Leach can’t win with his talent this year, many will question whether Leach’s style of offense will ever break through to the BCS level. Fortunately, Texas Tech benefits from a huge O-line, 18 returning starters, and darkhorse Heisman candidates, WR Michael Crabtree and QB Graham Harrell. The Red Raiders could very well be 8-0 before hosting the Longhorns in early November. Assuming they avoid any slip ups, a 10-2 finish is very possible. Depending on how the college football landscape looks by early December, it just may be enough for that illustrious BCS bowl.

(Predicted regular season finish: 10-2)

(Michael Crabtree Highlights)

#11 Wisconsin – Brett Bielema has established Wisconsin as one of the premier programs in the country. The numbers don’t lie. The Badgers have played 4 January Bowl games the past four seasons, each with at least 9 wins. Bielema is 21-5 himself as a coach. They play some solid football in Madison. The schedule this year may provide one of the toughest challenges to the Bielema era however. Despite a cakewalk first the two games, and a breezy final three, the middle chunk of Wisconsin’s schedule is packed tight with a tough non-conference game with Fresno State and a gauntlet of formidable Big Ten foes. While Wisconsin could potentially drop 1 or 2 games to teams they should beat (Michigan, Penn State, Illinois, Michigan State), Ohio State will obviously prove to be the only expected loss from an outside standpoint. The Badgers return 17 starters including a veteran defense, with a talented and seasoned front seven. This coupled with Wisconsin’s deep running back corps., should ensure that Wisconsin will be back in the mix for another January Bowl game and a 10 win season.

(Predicted regular season finish: 10-2)

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Kevin Riley is your Starter [Updated]

I guess I was right. Kinda. I knew this feeling in my stomach was an indicator of something.

Kevin Riley will be the Cal Bears starter at quarterback.

[Update]

Kevin Riley as the starter: Thoughts and Updates

For one of the biggest announcements and most important decisions for the Cal football season, Jeff Tedford’s announcement of the starting quarterback fell a bit surreptitiously yesterday. Media members and journalists arrived at Memorial Stadium to cover the light positional drills yesterday and to receive any updates from Coach Tedford in regards to the depth chart. Yet, many knew that was something different was in the air upon observing that redshirt sophomore Kevin Riley took all the snaps with the first team offense. As practice ended and Tedford walked towards the media, reporters and journalists readied their cameras and voice recorders—they knew what was coming.

Tedford stated that he had another meeting to go to, and didn’t have time to address the media.

Hahah…but seriously. "Kevin is going to start, might as well cut to the chase," Tedford said. "Kevin's going to start the first game. We feel like both of them have had great camps. Kevin's going to take the first snaps, and we'll see how it goes from there."

No backflips. No press conferences. And not a single word from Nate Longshore who decline to comment before walking into the locker room. Perhaps the reason why such an eagerly anticipated decision was so announced so quietly is because the decision isn’t as final as many would assume.

Coach Tedford has announced that both quarterbacks, regardless of who was starting, would get playing time in the season opener. "Nate will play (against Michigan State)," Tedford said. "I don't know exactly when."

With the first game of the season a little more than a week away, a decision had to be made. Someone had to work with the first team. The team had to know who QB1 was going to be (Friday Night Lights reference yo) and had to mentally prepare accordingly. That person is going to be Riley.

However, to use a cliché for the lack of a better metaphor, the decision is set in pencil, not in stone. [Edit: My friend Eric just let me know this analogy makes no sense. So to revise it: "the decision is set in sand, not in stone." There. Better.] The evaluation process will continue through next week, and possibly through the next few games, just as Tedford said it would months ago. It’s not out of the question that Nate could become the starter again at some point in the season. More than anything, Tedford may have the sense Riley is ultimately the better QB for the team, but may need to see him more in real game situations to feel confident in his decision.

Fan reaction to Tedford’s decision hasn’t been as stifled however. Browsing Cal blog comments and message boards, many appear to be marking the moment as the ushering in of a new era in Cal football. I get the sense that some feel as though Tedford’s decision was a no-brainer and has finally “grown some.” Others who feel guilty for having doubted Tedford. Most who feel Riley is Moses in cleats waiting to lead the old Blue faithful to the promised land.

Look, let’s not get too ahead of ourselves. I have many reasons to believe that we are in a very good situation with our quarterbacks. That is, barring any major injuries, I don’t think quarterback will be a serious weakness for our offense this year. With that said, let’s see what Riley can do in a full season. He’s played 2 meaningful games, and has been dramatically dynamic in both (both good and bad). Let’s remember that Longshore was 15-3 as a starter and nearly led the Bears to the Rose Bowl, before he was injured and subsequently had Cal fans around the world crap on him as the worst QB ever.

Performances can fluctuate. Opinions can change. And as most Cal fans know, expectations can often times not be met. But there’s a lot to be excited about as we count down the days and hours until the canon goes off to mark the beginning of the season. Let’s see what happens and be ready to validated or blown away if Kevin Riley is indeed going to lead Cal into the Golden Era of Cal Football.

A few links:

Daily Cal Coverage of the Announcement.

Jonathan Okane's Post on the News.

Tedford announces Riley as the starter. (What is that on Riley's face?)

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Depth chart questions

It’s officially week until the start of college football season and 9 days until Cal’s opener against Michigan State. As I am wetting my pants while writing the season to begin, I’m intrigued by the position battles and the impending yet tentative depth charts that will begin emerging. Yesterday, the coaching staff met to review and discuss personnel decisions, as they begin to prepare for MSU. Nothing will be really set in stone, and expect some flip flopping here and there, but we should begin getting a better idea of the starting rotations by this evening.

Here are my thoughts and predictions regarding a few of the position battles:

Quarterback: Nate Longshore vs. Kevin Riley.

The most publicly notable position battle is one that still has Cal fans holding their breath and scratching their heads. Up until two weeks ago, I was convinced that Nate Longshore was going to take the field on opening day as the Bears’ starter. While I expected Riley to get increased playing time this year, I though Longshore was too safe a pick in the eyes of the coaching staff to not have him start the season. However, with Kevin Riley’s markedly improved performances in Fall camp the past few weeks, I’m beginning to think Coach Tedford may go with the upside and begin the Riley era now. All in all, I still think Longshore will emerge as the starter, but I’m less certain now than ever.

Pick? Longshore. Confidence Factor? 7/10.

(Who's it going to be?)

Cornerback: Chris Conte vs. Darian Hagan.

One would presume that the player who started 3 games, and played in 13 last season as a true freshman would have a leg up on other competitors for the other starting spot opposite Syd’Quan Thompson. But touted recruit Darian Hagan, a redshirt sophomore, stepped up his game towards the end of last season and is playing his best ball so far at Cal. Defensive Coordinator Bob Gregory has given no hints as to who has the leg up at this point, but has assured that both will be playing. In effect, the “starter” may end up playing just as much as the other corner at this point. Still, I have to make a pick for the sake of this discussion, and as capricious as my pick might be, I’m going to go with my gut and think that Hagan gets first shot and first team snaps.

Pick? Hagan. Confidence Factor? 5/10

(Who's going to lock it down?)

Kicker: Jordan Kay vs. David Seawright

Walk on freshman David Seawright has all but locked up the kickoff duties. Tedford has been a fan of kicking off the ball so it caught as close to the goal line as possible, but with Cal’s ability to give up the big play every so often on kick offs, look for Cal to begin just booting the ball through the uprights on kickoffs. Seawright would be the man for the job as a majority of his kicks went through the endzone in high school. Jordan Kay, while perfect on point after attempts, was only 13-20 on field goals, and 7 of 14 on field goals 30 yards or longer. While Kay has apparently improved his accuracy in camp, he’s being pushed hard by Seawright who is quickly learning to match his leg power with accuracy. While it’s very possible that Special Teams Coach Peter Alamar sends Kay out there with a short leash knowing he has a capable backup in Seawright, I’m thinking Seawright gets the nod for both kickoff and field goal duties.

Pick? David Seawright. Confidence? 8/10.

Nose Tackle: Mika Kane vs. Derrick Hill

Again, much like the Conte/Hagan situation, expect a pretty fluid rotation of linemen this year. With that said, the nose tackle position is going to be much more critical this year for the defense, as the 3-4 will depend more on the nose tackle to initiate double teams and plug up the line. Both appear to get a fairly equal share of playing time between the two. However, with Hill not significantly outplaying Kane (although both have been sidelined with injuries) in camp, expect Kane to run with the first team if he can be healthy and get enough practice reps in before the season opener.

Pick? Mika Kane. Confidence? 6/10.

(Who looks meaner?)

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Preseason Top 25: 16-20

We continue with our Preseason countdown with #16-20.

#20 Oregon – Call me one of the initial haters. It was hard for me to imagine Oregon’s offense being as dangerous as it was last year without its two star players: Dennis Dixon and Jonathan Stewart. The entire nation saw what happened to its offense without Dixon after his season ending injury: Consecutive losses to Arizona, UCLA and OSU. However, while I’m not fully drinking the green kool-aid, I still think Oregon has firmly put itself in position to fight for the #2 spot in the conference. I firmly expect RB Jeremiah Johnson to be one of the premier backs in the conference, and coaches are raving about expected QB starter Nate Costa. But more importantly, Oregon’s defense returns 7 starters including a star studded and experienced secondary. With a young QB (no matter how talented) and a road schedule that features the toughest conference teams on the road (USC, ASU, OSU, Cal), I’m predicting the Sun Bowl for the Ducks this year. (Predicted regular season finish: 8-4)

(That's a whole lot of...hair.)

#19 Penn State – I could have had the Nittany Lions pegged much higher for a couple of reasons. They are re-implementing the spread offense. The last time they ran the spread? 2005. When they won the Big Ten title and went 11-1. This year, they do it with arguably more talent at each position with the exception of QB. And I could also consider a defense with 8 returning starters who should still have a solid linebacking corps. despite losing Chris Lee for the season in the spring. Also, Penn State’s only real non-conference threat this year is Oregon State who has traditionally sputtered against non-conference opponents early in the season. However, much of PSU’s success this year will be contingent on how they handle the challenge of a 5 game stretch in which they face Illinois, Purdue and Wisconsin away, Michigan, and oh yeah, the Buckeyes at the Horseshoe. Drop only one or two of those, and expect the Lions to float to another 10-2 regular season finish. Lose the first two conference games back to back however, and they could go into a tailspin. (Predicted regular season finish: 9-3)

#18 Texas – Love him or hate him (I side with the latter), you have to respect what Mack Brown has done at Texas. Although the team enters into the season with questions at nearly every position, you have to think that a team that has had seven consecutive 10-win seasons is a lock for another Top 25 finish. However, with Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas Tech, and Kansas all on their schedule this year, I predict that it may be another year before the Longhorns are in the mix for another Big 12 Championship and BCS Bowl. (Predicted Regular season finish: 9-3)


#17 Tennessee - The Volunteers will have another challenge in front of them coming off an SEC east Title. The heat again will be on Phil Fulmer to produce (as it is every year in Tenn) despite losing his offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe. The Bad News? QB Erik Ainge is gone to the NFL. The Good News? The Volunteers return 7 starters from an offense that is much more experienced than the unit that took the field at Memorial Stadium last season. The Bad News for the Defense? The Volunteers need to replace 1st round draft pick LB Jerod Mayo, but return LB Rico McCoy and SS Eric Berry with 4 other returning starters. The beginning of the season looks tough with UCLA, UAB, Florida, and @ Auburn (although going to the Rose Bowl doesn't look as tough as it did 8 months ago). However, Tennessee could very well be 1-3 going into October. Or they could be 3-1. In either case, it's hard to imagine Tennessee not losing 3 games or so this year with road trips at Auburn, Georgia, and South Carolina, in addition to games against Florida and increasingly feisty Miss State. I think Fulmer has enough talent to aim for 3rd in the SEC East this year. (Predicted regular season finish: 9-3)

(3rd just ain't good enough.)

#16 Cal - So here's the thing about the Bears. I can see Cal going 10-2 this year. I can also just as easily see us going 6-6 with all the questions the team has going into its season opener against Michigan State. Who will be the QB? How will the 3-4 defense work against the Pac-10? Will Frank Cignettin's playcalling help or hurt the Bears? Who will be kicking? How will a brand new receiving corps do in the pass heavy Pac-10? How will the new uniforms look? My goodness. The logical prediction would be to aim somewhere in between 6 and 10 wins and look at a 8-4 regular season. Call me an eternal optimist. Or a Cal blogger who's read more about the Bears in the past week than many do in a given year. Given what I've read and heard, I really do think that Jeff Tedford's squad has a chance to surprise a lot of people this year. The Bears's success will ride heavily on Cal's O-line, a more experienced and hungry defense, and a team who has committed to rid themselves of any and all issues that may have led to last year's 1-6 regular season finish. Given all of Cal's questions, a 9-3 finish and a Holiday Bowl will be considered a huge accomplishment for even the most cynical of Cal fans. (Predicted regular season finish: 9-3)

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