Arizona State Helmet Stickers and Play of the Game

Victory belongs to the new starters!

Offensive Player of the Game: Shane Vereen

Cal’s offense starkly contrasted with the previous week’s outing against Colorado State. In the game against CSU, Cal went into the locker room at half time with only 7 points to its credit on offense. Jeff Tedford wanted a quick start on offense, and got it, with the Bears scoring on its opening drive before racking up 17 points by half time.

Shane Vereen, filling in for an injured Jahvid Best, was the day’s workhorse, amassing 144 total yards of offense. Vereen recorded 51 yards by air on 5 catches, and 93 yards by land on 27 carries. While Vereen was unable to break free for a huge run, with his longest run being 9 yards, he was effective in gaining important yardage and keep drives productive, particularly early on in the game.

Overall, I’m a big fan of Vereen’s running style. While he may be a tad less dangerous in the open field than Best, because let’s be honest, Best can do things very few others in the country can do, Vereen looks like he might be a better runner in between the tackles. The key word is “might,” because we still have seen very little of both backs, but Vereen shows good balance, patience in waiting for his blocks, and shows the ability to gain a few more sneaky yards after initial contact.

Again, calling Tracy Slocum. Tracy Slocum, please report to the sideline.

Last bit, I’m relieved we didn’t have to, or most likely won’t have to resort to burning Covaughn Deboskie’s red shirt this year. While I’m sure Deboskie is itching to play, Cal fans will appreciate having that extra year of eligibility when we have the Vereen/Deboskie combo in a few years after Best is gone.

Honorable Mentions:
Nate Longshore: 17-28 passing, 198 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
Nyan Boateng: 3 catches, 51 yards, 1 TD
LaReylle Cunningham: 3 catches, 42 yards, 1 TD



Defensive Player of the Game: Cameron Jordan

Finally, an easy pick! Or easier than it has been in previous weeks. And not because of a lack of playmakers on the defensive side of the ball. No no, actually it was quite the opposite. Plays were being made in every phase of the defensive game. Whether it was the secondary and their multiple pass breakups and interceptions, or the constant pressure on Rudy Carpenter, or the stuffing of the ASU run game on Saturday, there were a plethora of Bears players to choose from for this week’s honors.

Even so, the defensive player of the week this week was easier than most. It goes to the recently named Pac-10 defensive player of the week, Cameron Jordan.

Jordan, a sophomore from Chandler, Arizona, had a monster day filling in for injured DE Rulon Davis. Jordan posted 8 tackles on the day, including 5 solo. He also had an impressive 3 tackles for losses including 2 sacks. It’s been a while since any Cal D-lineman has had as impressive and as monstrous of a day as Jordan did, and a refreshing one at that.

Honorable Mentions:
Darian Hagan: 8 total tackles (7 solo), 1 Tackle for Loss, 1 Fumble Recovery, 1 Pass Break Up
Syd’Quan Thompson: 3 tackles, 4 pass break ups (leads nation in pass break ups)
Zack Follet: 5 tackles (4 solo), 1 sack, 1 forced fumble
Nate Longshore: 1 tackle (Kidding)

Play of the Game
I was really tempted to go with Bryan Anger’s booming 72 yard punt to pin the Sun Devils inside their own 5 and essentially close the game. Really tempted. One, because of its importance to the game, and two, because it was so sexy.

At the end of the day though, I had to go with Zack Follet’s jarring hit on Rudy Carpenter late in the fourth quarter to force a fumble. It was an absolutely devastating hit, but I’m a fan of the story behind the hit.

Apparently, Follett had some strong beef with Carpenter going into the game. Carpenter had talking some trash to Follett in last year’s game, and it didn’t help that Follett’s parents were spit on by Sun Devil fans during the game.

So when Follett was able to blow past his left tackle and got an open shot at Rudy’s blind side, it was the release of a year’s worth of frustration. The Zack attack left the ensuing free ball tumbling fifteen yards back and Rudy Carpenter writhing in pain underneath the reciprocating trash talk of Follett.

What did Follett say? No one except Follett and Carpenter knows. But DE Cameron Jordan was quick to tell an ASU offensive lineman: “Your quarterback just died.”