Fall Depth Chart Analysis (Offense)

Some time ago, I reviewed the projected starters for the season after week one. Fortunately, there hasn't been too much movement, and most fans should take it as an encouraging sign that the coaching staff seemed confident enough to determine their starters early on.

The bigger question throughout camp was filling out the rest of the depth chart and filling out the two and three deep. Despite a few surprises here and there, most things have seemed to have fallen in line with initial expectations.

[note: The official depth chart will be released later today, so some of this may change.]

Quarterback
Starter: Zach Maynard (JR JC)
Backup: Allan Bridgford (RS SO)
QB3: Brock Mansion (RS SR)
QB4: Austin Hinder (RS FR)
Redshirt(s): Kyle Boehm

No surprise with the starter. It's only a matter of time before Cal fans see what they have with Zach Maynard as the starting quarterback. There are still tons of questions, but every report out there seems to indicate that Maynard seemingly improves in some aspect of the game with every single practice, which is hugely encouraging. Again, we'll see if he's ready next Saturday.

Allan Bridgford secured the backup spot fairly early in camp due to his consistent play. He's shined in most performances, and his improved throwing motion and increased arm strength are paying major dividends. I'm still very much high on Bridgford, and looking forward to the game time he'll undoubtedly see this year.

Regardless of one's opinion on Brock Mansion's play, no one should discount the importance of a senior backup with starting experience. Mansion will also continue to be the primary holder on field goal and extra point duties.

Austin Hinder is still likely a year away from challenging for playing time, but no one is sleeping on his potential. I continue to hear great things about him in camp.

And as expected, Kyle Boehm will redshirt this year.


Runningback
Starter: Isi Sofele (JR)
Backup: Covaughn Deboskie-Johnson (RS JR)
RB3: CJ Anderson (JR JC)
RB4 &5: Dasarte Yarnway (RS SO), Mike Manuel (JR JC)
Slotback? Darren Ervin (FR)
Redshirt(s): Brendan Bigelow, Daniel Lasco

Isi Sofele is ready to prove the entire world wrong, and I'm glad the coaching staff has lessened his workload to keep him healthy for the season.

Moreso than any other season prior, look for runningback by committee this year. While Coach Gould runs a two-back type of rotation, I wouldn't be surprised to see RBs 3 and 4 sneak in a few more carries than usual.

Covaughn Deboskie-Johnson is being pushed hard by CJ Anderson for the backup spot, and this battle may go well into the season. Hell, depending on their performances, it's not out of the question to see either push Isi Sofele for the top spot down the line. I will say that the more I watch old game tape of CDJ, I walk away more and more impressed by his burst. The guy hits the whole hard and very quickly runs forward for a good chunk of yardage. He's not going to rip off a ton of long runs, but he's got the goods to move the chains, and usually requires more than one defender to take him down.

I'm sure many are disappointed that Bigelow will likely redshirt alongside Daniel Lasco, but I always considered it an uphill battle for Bigelow to have seen playing time this year. It's just a whole lot for a freshman to come in and play right away when they're coming off two major ACL injuries and haven't played a full season of football since their sophomore year of high school. There were likely too many factors of physical durability, mental recovery, digesting the offense, etc...

But seriously, when Bigelow AND Lasco (who I strangely think has an Adrian Peterson type of frame and running style) are ready to rumble next year...whooooo, look out.

Fullback
Starter: Will Kapp
Backup: John Tyndall, David Aknin, Nico Dumont

Again, the season-ending injury to Eric Stevens hurts here. I like Will Kapp a lot. Love his passion and drive, and he's reportedly a strong leader to the FB crew. I am still concerned that he just doesn't have the size to blow people over and will have to settle for more risky chop blocks.

Depending on how much the Bears utilize the spread this year, the damage may be minimized.

Tight End
Starter: Anthony Miller (RS SR)
Backup: Spencer Hagan (RS SO)
TE3 & 4: Jacob Wark (RS FR) and Richard Rodgers (FR)
Redshirt(s): None

Anthony Miller is solid and I'm confident he'll return to sophomore year form if the tight end is included more in the passing game this year.

One of the more interesting stories in the offseason, is converted wide receiver Spencer Hagan's rise to success at the tight end position. He's gone from a backup wide receiver who saw little playing time, to being the backup tight end. He's still likely need to add some weight, despite his already ridiculous weight gains, but just might be the pass-catching threat at the position. The second tight end is usually more of a blocker, so I wonder if Hagan will be more of an H-back.

Jacob Wark will continue to show off his blocking skills after impressing early on last year, and the surprise is the plan for true freshman Richard Rodgers not to redshirt. He's put on major weight since high school, and has also impressed in camp, though I'm not entirely sure he would have played this year had it not been for the absence of Spencer Ladner.

Speaking of Ladner, the junior is still recovering from injury, and would have likely have filled in at the backup tight end spot. Still not sure where he'll figure in and how soon he'll be back.

Wide Receivers
Starters: Marvin Jones (SR) and Keenan Allen (SO)
WR 3 & 4: Michael Calvin (RS SR) and Coleman Edmond (SR)
WR 5 & 6: Kaelin Clay (RS FR) & Bryce McGovern (FR)
Redshirt: Maurice Harris?

Marvin Jones and Keenan Allen. One of the best returning receiving duos in the conference, if not the best. Boom. Non-story.

Michael Calvin and Coleman Edmond are their backups, and both seem to be ready to live up to their billings. Calvin has battled injury and consistency his entire career, but came on a bit towards the end of last season. Edmond finally seems to have grasped the offense, and I'm hoping for a Verran Tucker type of emergence from him. Also, look for him to be used as an option of fly sweeps until Kaelin Clay returns.

On that note, the speedster is back in camp after his knee surgery, and after some doubt, plans on participating in the season opener will likely be limited. Of course, we'll see how he involved he'll be after sitting out for most of camp, but it will still benefit the Bears to have a burner available.

Again, you got to feel good about walkon wide receiver Bryce McGovern quietly impressing in camp. The fact that he's going to play as a true freshman speaks volumes about his passion and work ethic. He'll see limited playing time and should hopefully contribute on special teams.

Freshman Maurice Harris was likely ready to play as a freshman, but he'll be out another 1-2 more weeks. It sounds like the coaches plan on having him play, but depending on how slowly he comes back, a redshirt is certainly possible.

Offensive Tackles
Starters: Mitchell Schwartz (SR) and Matt Summers-Gavin (RS SR)
Backups: Tyler Rigsbee (RS JR) and Bill Tyndall (RS SO)

Again, little surprise with the starters. Schwartz should compete for all-conference honors and I'm hopeful MSG fully develops into a tackle.

The depth is still a huge concern in my opinion, and am hoping 1) that players stay healthy but 2) more realistically, that Coach Michalczik has everyone ready to play. MSG has never played a full season so you can bet either will have to step up.

Rigsbee just returned from injury in camp and Tyndall has been holding his own. See a hail mary and hope for the best here.

Offensive Guards
Starters: Brian Schwenke (JR) and Justin Cheadle (RS SR)
Backups: Chris Adcock (RS FR) and Justin Gates (RS SR)
Redshirt: Jordan Rigsbee

While Schwenke and Cheadle were expected as starters, I'm a bit surprised with the projected backups. I knew the staff were very high on Adcock, but I figured they'd still have him battle for the backup center spot. More surprising to me has been the naming of Gates to the second team, with talented youngster Alejandro Crosthwaite and Geoffrey Gibson waiting in the wings. I knew that Gibson had gotten into very good shape for his giant frame, but still had to play faster and let the game come to him a bit more.

Something tells me this could still very well change as the season progresses.

Center
Starter: Dominic Galas (RS SR)
Backup: Mark Brazinski (RS SO)

I'm still very much excited about how Galas will do his year. I love his tenacity, aggression and pitbull mentality. I've said before that I'm hoping for an Alex Mack in Marvin Phillips type of hybrid center, which I'm sure no one would complain with.

He's still a bit small for a center at just 6'1, 290, but still has 20 pounds on last year's starting center Chris Guarnero, and won the freshman lifter of the year award.