Portland State Keys to the Game

(Source: Photo by Stephen Lam/Getty Images)

If you've been following this blog at all over the past few years, you know that I don't really do an actual Keys to the Game any time Cal faces an FCS team. It's not really arrogance...okay, there's probably a bit of arrogance involved here, but it's more that I don't always have a lot of information about opposing FCS schools. Breaking down their statistics are usually meaningless given the competition they face off against.

Instead, I always try to make the preview about what the Bears need to do and things that I hope to see in the game.

Let's get right to it.

Continued Intensity and Focus
This week, Sonny Dykes downplayed the possibility of Zach Kline and Austin Hinder playing, saying something to the effect that anyone who didn't think the upcoming game against Portland State would be a dogfight was "out of their mind."

Uh huh.

Here's the thing though. As dubious as that statement is, I want him saying that. I want him actually believing that, and I want the team running through that tunnel on Saturday expecting to execute at the highest level.

Far too often, we've seen Cal teams float through games against opposing teams, and quite frankly, not look great against them. Remember the dread Blue Hose two years ago? Remember Southern Utah last year? Remember what those games ended up telling us on the focus and mental resolve of those Cal squads?

Exactly.

Do I actually expect that Zach Kline will see some snaps? Absolutely. And I'm sure Dykes does as well, but you know he isn't going to trot out any reserves until he's convinced that his team has come to play and has taken care of business on the field.

Let me put it this way: if the Bears can't put away Portland State by the end of the first half, then this is going to be a long season.

Run Defense Needs to Step Up
Here's the bad news: Portland State runs the pistol, a defense that has given the Bears fits for years now.

Here's the good news: Current defensive coordinator Andy Buh and defensive line coach Barry Sacks have both coached for Nevada, the birthplace of Chris Ault's infamous shooter-named offense. So you have to think that they're going to be coaching up this defense this week.

And they had better. Last week, the Bears surrendered 209 yards on the ground, giving up over 5 yards a carry. That's awful, given that Northwestern was without its option quarterback Kain Colter for the vast majority of the game.

The Bears need to show much better technique and gap integrity than they did last Saturday. I though DL Villiami Moala and Deandre Coleman played ok, but the Bears' defensive ends struggled to seal the edge, and Cal's linebackers struggled to located the ball on runs up the gut. It did improve throughout the Northwestern game, but they need to show far more consistency in this area.

With Ohio State and Oregon (two spread option offenses) on the horizon, Portland State will at the very least give the Bears' D plenty of practice in terms of reading opposing lines and locating the ball. Rumor has it that Portland State uses "pin blocks" often pulling multiple offensive linemen to create a wall of blockers for backs. Sounds like a good test.

Rushing Offense
Speaking of running the ball, the Bears need to do just as good of a job running the ball as they plan to defend it.

I was ecstatic with Cal's first drive, where Brendan Bigelow carved up Northwestern's defense, taking advantage of the rushing lanes paved on the inside.

Then they went away from it. Far too many rushes aimed for the edges were called, with Cal's backs trying to find lateral rushing lanes instead of hitting the inside.

The Bears need to get back to calling plays that will build the offensive line's confidence in running the ball between tackles. Cal's RBs need more experience finding running lanes and pounding the ball inside. Further, Cal's WRs can do a far better job in maintaining their blocks when runs do indeed bounce to the outside. There were a couple of runs on Saturday that could have gone for far more yardage had a WR held their block for a second or two longer.

Also, I expect a healthy dose of Brendan Bigelow on Saturday. I know Cal doesn't expect to wear him down, but I'd be surprised if they don't give him at least 20 touches on Saturday.

Portland State just gave up 154 yards to Eastern Oregon. EASTERN OREGON. If Cal doesn't churn out at least 200 yards on the ground on Saturday (assuming we run the ball at least 30 times), you're going to find me in the freakout corner in full out panic mode for the rest of the season? Over exaggeration? Of course, but still rooted in honesty.

Extended Playing Time
This team is going to continue to need to play as much as it can. The more snaps the better. I know none of the coaches want to wear down any of the players, but given the youth of this team, they need to grow up quickly. Only playing can actually do that.

And given the injury prognosis this week (Sebastian out for the year, with Brennan Scarlett and Nick Forbes still likely sidelined), the reserves need to get in and take their licks. The sooner the better.

Ideally, the starters go out there and execute at a high level that the reserves are able to play at least a quarter to a quarter and a half. Not a single player or unit on this team is solid enough right now to warrant taking a game off though, so again, you hope there's some solid play in the first half.

Outlook
This isn't meant to be a knock on Portland State, but the only way I see the Bears keeping it close is if there's some type of emotional hangover from Saturday. I don't think that's the case though, and the Bears roll.

Prediction
Cal 55 Portland State 17

Read the rest of the post and comments here >>

Northwestern Recap

(Source: Mercury News)

A new era in Cal football kicked off on Saturday night in an electric evening game in Memorial Stadium. Though the game did much to energize a fanbase that has been starving for excitement, the Bears still showed their youth with a number of critical mistakes ultimately left them on the losing end of a 44-30 contest.

Let’s get to a couple of main thoughts.

Offense Can Be Great
In my Keys to the Game feature, I stated that I’d be shocked if the new, vaunted #BearRaid offense didn’t sputter early on. And despite a terrific opening 82 yard drive that was capped by a thrilling fake field goal attempt for a TD, the Bears struggled to move the ball for much of the first half.

I was pretty close to the Cal bench for the game, and following a Cal drive that stalled after back to back false start penalties, you could see the frustration from the offense. Freddie Tagaloa slammed his helmet down, Jordan Rigsbee laid into his offensive line, while offensive coordinator Tony Franklin laid into...well everyone.

The Bears really got going in the second half however, and when they did, the offense was a thing of beauty. The Bears moved at a blistering pace, showcasing the wealth of talent at its skill positions. It became almost difficult to keep up with the “1st and 10, do it again, GO BEARS!” chants.

But ultimately, the Bears’ offense did stall for good. With all of the momentum on the Bears’ side, the Bears seemed as if they were going to run away with the game, scoring on back to back drives to lead 24-20 in the 3rd quarter. They were undone by two tipped passes that were returned for TDs. One was tipped by an opposing defensive end while the other bounced off the chest of receiver Darius Powe right into the arms of Wildcat linebacker. After watching the replay, I wouldn’t say they were fluky plays, but there was certainly a level of luck involved. I’m not sold that both those passes are returned for TDs week in and week out.

So here’s the good news with the offense: I’ve already got a lot of confidence that we can move the ball on defenses. When Cal’s rolling, we all witnessed its greatness: the ball gets out quickly, it gets spread out to various targets, and Cal’s playmakers are able to get into space.

The problem is that despite racking up 548 yards of offense, Cal was only able to score two offensive touchdowns. They were just 1-5 in red zone opportunities, having to settle for 3 field goals and the aforementioned fake field goal TD. And frustratingly, all of the biggest mistakes from the missed blocking assignments and false starts occurred in the red zone.

It's an issue if these mistakes are still occurring midway through the season, but it's a bit more understandable when you consider that it's the first game. Despite all the issues, I think it's telling that the offense has already been able to instill a level of confidence in itself and in the fanbase after just one game. This offense can move the ball, and we haven't been able to say that about Cal's offense in a few years.

Jared Goff Impresses
I've been pretty high on Goff for a while, but what I saw on Saturday was just incredibly impressive. Goff threw for a record 445 yards, 2 TDs and 3 INTs in his debut. Were there throws that I'm sure he wanted back? Absolutely. A few of his swing passes were low and in the dirt, while a few of his deeper balls drifted a bit too far in front of the receiver. And for all the teeth gnashing about the "fluky" pick sixes, I counted at least two other passes that could easily have been picked off.

But almost everything else highlighted a brilliant performance for a true freshman. Goff really shook a slow first half with some absolutely beautiful passes in the second half. There was one particular pass in the 3rd quarter: Goff felt pressure from his left and began rolling to his right before throwing a perfect pass on the run to Chris Harper for a 20 yard gain and a first down. I immediately looked at my brother afterwards and said, "Wow. I don't think most people here understand how difficult of a pass that was to make." And Goff made it look effortless.

His accuracy on outs were fantastic, and I honestly can say it's been at least two years since I've seen a quarterback go through his progressions. Go back and watch the tape, and you'll see the speed at which Goff checks down and his one of his inside receiver over the middle.

And beyond that, Goff seemed unflappable. Other than one delay of game penalty, he managed the game and his teammates as well. After Jordan Rigsbee's false start penalty that ultimately stalled a Cal drive, Goff rushed over to Rigsbee on the sideline and repeatedly told him, "It's OK, it's OK." It's just not the type of maturity and poise you'd expect from an 18 year old.

And he's going to get better. He's got the potential to play like an all-conference player. I'm really excited to see how he grows as a quarterback, but even if it this is as good as it's going to get (and it's not), it's still a heck of a lot better than what we've seen at the QB position for quite some time.

Receiving Corps = Great
This was probably a little less of a story given that the wide receiving corps was a slightly more known quantity going into the game, but man, you have to like what you saw from Cal's WRs. 9 different receivers caught balls on Saturday, with 6 of them being WRs. And from the way the offense is set up, expect this to be more of the norm than an exception.

But none were more impressive than Cal's start outside receivers Chris Harper and Bryce Treggs. Harper hauled in 11 passes for 151 yards and 2 TDs, while Treggs caught 13 catches for 145 yards. Just awesome days for the two of them, and the type of performances that make me think back to some of Sean Dawkins and Brian Treggs' best games.

And these guys are sophomores. Sophomores. Let that sink in.

Defense a Mixed Bag
There were times on Saturday where I was flat out terrified about this defense. Quite frankly, there were a few too many drives where it seemed far too easy to move the ball on the Bears.

Cal's youth at linebacker and defensive end showed when they lost contain on some outside runs, as well some runs where they flat out got lost in crowd and allowed a few big runs up the middle including the Wildcats' first score.

The most alarming aspect of the defense though was Cal's pass rush, or lack of it. There were moments where NU QB Trevor Siemian seemingly had all day to throw.

Part of it was scheme. Defensive coordinator Andy Buh hardly sent pressure throughout the game. And when he did try to confuse NU's offensive line, it was often by having 7 or 8 stack the box presnap, only to have 3 or 4 players backpedal back into coverage.

Another part of it was the failure by Cal's defensive line to get pressure on their own. While they did a decent job in run defense, they failed to push back the line on most plays, provide easy passing windows for Siemian.

It doesn't matter how good your secondary is (which it's not, right now), there's not much you can do when your QB has 5-8 seconds to throw. With that said, Cal's coverage needs to improve, particularly in the middle of the field.

Honestly, you could easily point to the number of defensive starters who were out because of injuries. Hell Avery Sebastian had 11 tackles and an INT in the FIRST HALF before getting carted off the field. But you can't deny that things would have looked differently had Fortt, Forbes, Scarlett, Jalil all played the game.

Here's the good news though. I think for the most part, the game played out the way defensive coordinator Andy Buh would have liked. Sure, the Bears gave up huge chunks of yardage. But if you take away Northwestern's first and last drive, they were held to 3 FGs, 2 INTs, and 4 punts. In other words, they scored 16 points on 10 possessions.

And honestly, you saw some really good things on defense. They had some critical stops, and that goal line stand with the Wildcats having a first and goal on the 3 yard line was really impressive.

I think that's about what we can expect with this Buh coached defense. This isn't going to be a Clancy Pendergast "feast or famine" type of approach. It'll be closer to the bend-but-don't-break approach where you're going to see opposing offenses move the ball, but will be pressured into executing at a consistently high level in order to actually score touchdowns. Some times it will work, and some times it won't. You may not like it, but if things get going the way Buh likes, I'd expect opposing offenses to score 20-30 points per game, but rarely see a 40 or 50 point blowout.

And before you point to Saturday's scoreboard, remember that 14 of Northwestern's points were scored on turnovers.

Special Teams Shines
There of course some miscues on special teams, but overall, I was thrilled with the special teams performance on Saturday.

Vince D’Amato was automatic on his field goals (under 40 yards) as reported, going 3-3 on all his attempts. His kickoffs looked greatly improved, though his two kicks out of bounds were disappointing. The Bears were clearly trying to do directional attempts, though to have two fall out of bounds were head shaking. Not critical penalties, but disappointing.

Cole Leininger might be one of the most improved players on the team however, as some of his punts were Anger-esque. Leininger averaged 43.5 yards on 6 punts, downing 3 inside the 20 and an impressive long of 70 yards. He did have one bad shank, but it was overall a great day for the sophomore.

Other highs include the aforementioned fake field goal attempt, keeping the Wildcats to just 59 total kickoff yards, and no actual punt returns. True freshman Khalfani Muhammed gained 126 yards on 6 returns, and I’m absolutely convinced that the kid is going to return one for a score this season if teams continue kicking to him.

In short, it was a great debut for the Mark Tommerdahl led special teams units, and one I’ll easily take every week of the season.

Moving Forward
It wasn't a bad debut, it really wasn't. Disappointing? Hell yes. But nothing that makes you think this team is doomed. There are some incredibly bright spots on this team. Bright enough to outshine some real questions (run blocking, pass rush and coverage, penalties, etc).

It's early, but this honestly looks like a bowl team. If not now, it might be close to it in a few weeks. Of course, with their schedule, they may not actually have a bowl game to show for it, but they look like a bowl team.

I had predicted that Cal would go 7-5 this season with a win over Northwestern, but I'll adjust that to 6-6 with the loss. This team is already better than last year and can only improve.

Read the rest of the post and comments here >>

Keys to the Game: Northwestern

("Lawd have mercy.")

Here. We. Go.

It’s another year of college football but it’s not just another year. Saturday officially kicks off the Sonny Dykes era, as well as the debut of the much anticipated #BearRaid offense. Until then, Cal fans wait with eager anticipation and cautious optimism.

Unfortunately, the Bears don’t appear to have the luxury of a cupcake to work out the kinks early on. Instead, they open their season against a 22nd ranked Northwestern team that is coming off a 10-win season and their first bowl game win since Truman was president.

While Vegas predicts a 6 point victory for the Wildcats, the Bears have more than a fair shot of pulling off the upset. Let’s preview the team and break down what needs to be done.

Northwestern’s Offense
Northwestern features one of the few successful two-QB rotations in college football. Kain Colter is the more elusive and speedy of the two QBs, while Trevor Siemian has the stronger arm, often coming in on obvious passing situations.

Here are their passing stats from last season:



Though Siemian had more passing attempts last season, Colter is likely to see slightly more snaps, simply because of how much of a threat he is as a runner. In fact, Colter was NU’s second leading rusher last season with a whopping 170 carries for 894 yards and 12 TDs.

As an added twist, Colter also will split out wide at wide receiver, where he actually caught 16 passes for 169 yards last season.

Runningback
The best player on offense though might be senior runningback Venric Mark. He’s a small back at just 5’8, 175 pounds but he still rushed for 1,366 yards last season with 12 TDs. He’s also one of the most dynamic return men in the game, holding NU’s records for single-game, single-season and career kickoff return yards as well as the single-game punt return yards record.

Senior Mike Trumpy provides a bit more size at 6’1 and 210 pounds, but he’s battled injuries for most of his collegiate career.

The Bears will also need to watch out for Dan Vitale who was a surprise last year in the “superback” role which is a bit of a hybrid fullback/H-back type of position. Vitale caught 28 passes for 288 yards and 2 TDs, but 16 of those receptions came in the final 3 games. Look for Vitale to line up in your standard TE position, and motion to the center of the line after the snap to catch shovel passes.

Wide Receivers
Northwestern’s returning receivers Christian Jones, Tony Jones, and Rashard Lawrence are sure-handed though not particularly frightening matchups. Northwestern’s receivers averaged just a combined 9.9 yards per catch last year, one of the worst numbers in the country. Still, all three have good size at over 6 feet tall, and combined for 98 catches and 1068 yards last season.

Interesting note: former USC receiver Kyle Prater, who was a 5-star recruit and widely considered the best high school receiver in the country back in 2010 is buried in the depth chart after transferring to Northwestern after USC’s sanctions. Prater had just 10 catches for 54 yards last season. Knowing Cal’s luck he’ll quadruple that number against us in the first quarter.

Offensive Line
The offensive line should be a mixed bag as Northwestern comes off one of their best blocking performances as a unit in years. Their only returning starter though is RS junior center Brandon Vitabile who’s got 26 career starts under his belt and a bunch of preseason accolades. Other than that, the Wildcats are introducing 4 new starters on the line, though like the Bears, a number of their young players have played a bit last year.

You've got to like Cal's chances in the trenches here, and it will be up the Bear's new defensive line to shake off what was a massively disappointing season a year ago. The Bears appear to have the edge in talent and experience here, and are going to pivotal in maintaining gap integrity and preventing push off the line.

Northwestern Defense
On to the Wildcats' defense. The most important returning defensive player for the Wildcats is without question, MLB Damien Proby. Northwestern’s returning leading tackler boasts 112 tackles from last season, and reflects his ability as a solid, consistent tackler. He isn’t a huge playmaker but finds a way to consistently get to the ball and make stops.

Defensive Line
Northwestern’s best unit as a whole though is their defensive line. It all starts the DE Tyler Scott. The high motor player plays with solid technique is a flat out playmaker, notching 42 tackles, 9.5 sacks, and 12.5 TFLs last season. The battle between Scott and Cal’s RT Steven Moore will be a critical matchup.

On the other side, expect to see a rotations of DEs Dean Lowry, Deonte Gibson and Ideadi Odenigbo. This d-line has the chance to give slowfooted offensive linemen fits, and has an ability to get into the backfield, but doesn’t quite feature as daunting of a pass rush as one might assume. If Cal’s offensive linemen can keep Northwestern’s line from slicing into the backfield, then they should see success both through the air and punching the ball up the middle on the ground.

Secondary
Northwestern’s biggest liability on defense is their questionable secondary. The Wildcats were dead last in the Big-10 the previous season in yards allowed, though they did notch 13 interceptions. Given the Big-10’s lack of passing prowess, it’s more accurate to look at the team’s passing defense statistics nationally, where NU was ranked 86th in passing yards allowed, but did only give up 6.6 yards per passing attempt which isn’t actually all that bad.

Still, Northwestern fans still blame their secondary for giving up big plays late in the game, and will need to count on their veteran players like junior safety Ibraheim Campbell and sophomore Nic VanHoose.

Outlook
In all, the Bears have a formidable task in defending a mobile and shifty backfield of Colter and Mark. We all know that Northwestern’s rushing attack is prolific, with the Wildcats gaining nearly 3,000 yards on the ground last year. The Bears are obviously going to have to focus on defending their option running game, but their ability to defend Northwestern’s passing game may be the more important aspect of defending their offense.

Knowing that opposing defenses often key on their running game, Northwestern typically utilizes multiple receiver sets in an attempt to try to “flood” opposing defenses. Just to recap, I’ve written before that cover 2 and 3 defenses are attacked when, “vertical routes are run to stretch the coverage, causing indecision among the safeties. Similarly, zones can be “flooded” when multiple routes are run in hopes of pressuring the backers, typically the middle linebackers.”

The Wildcats will likely try and do so on the Bears, so the pressure will be on Cal’s nickelbacks and linebackers to quickly read and react to NU’s slot receivers. If the Bears can take away Northwestern’s passing game, it effectively increases their chances of slowing down the run. The game should be pretty telling as to the progress of Cal's defense from last year.

Honestly though, the main source of my optimism in this game resides in my belief that Northwestern’s defense can be more than had. Northwestern’s questionable secondary will face a stiff challenge in squaring off against the talent and depth the Bears have at the receiver position. When you also throw in the backfield’s pass-catching capabilities, the #BearRaid will challenge and stretch Northwestern’s defense.

If the Bears can keep the game competitive in the first half I have a feeling you could see the Bears begin to pull away in the latter part of the game.

I’ll be shocked (and elated) if the Bears’ nerves don’t cause them some stalled drives and mistakes in the beginning. But here’s what it boils down to: if Cal can avoid shooting themselves in the foot enough early on to keep it competitive, they’ve got a real shot. They face an experienced and disciplined team, but they have the talent and the athleticism to notch the win.

Prediction
Cal: 35
Northwestern: 31 Read the rest of the post and comments here >>

My CFB Week 1 Viewing Schedule

It's officially week one of college football week, and although the Bears don't play until Saturday, I'm still giddy with anticipation.

So pardon my nerdiness as I've mapped out my viewing schedule for this week.

Granted, I probably will miss games as I'm still settling on my pre-Northwestern activities for the day, but you kind of get the point.


(Click to enlarge)

And for what it's worth, the colors are indicative of the which network the game is being played on. O.M.G. I'm so hyped.

Oh, and tune in later in the week for my Northwestern preview.
Read the rest of the post and comments here >>

2014 Big Game To Be Played at Levi's Stadium

Hey BWF, did you hear? The Big Game next season will be played at the 49ers new Levi's Stadium.



Wow, they sure decided on this quick. Word broke on Friday night that there were talks of scheduling the 2014 Big Game at Levi's Stadium and that it might be decided sometime this week. Well it looks like it's pretty much all decided.

Just to recap, the schedule for the next four years will go as follows:

2013 - at Stanford (Regular schedule)
2014 - at Levi's Stadium
2015 - at Cal
2016 - at Stanford

So in effect, the Big Game is played on 2014, pushing back home field for the Bears one year to 2014. The Big Game will then switch to being played at Memorial Stadium on odd years.

More reactions after the jump.

Look, I get why they're doing this. Money and lots of it. Reports are that we can get an additional $100,000 in ticket revenue by playing the game at Levi's Stadium. Then there's the whole issue of "increased visibility" and media exposure.

I understand that. But you can't shake the feeling that Cal is being hosed big time. This just reeks of the 2012 when Cal somehow found itself hosting the Big Game in freaking October to appease Stanford's schedule. We got hosed then, and we're getting hosed now.

We now go two years without the Big Game being played at Cal. I would have been okay with the deal if the game were played in 2015 after Cal's had a chance to get their home game. But, now we have a two year gap and now switch to playing Stanford in odd years.

Secondly, I don't buy that Levi's Stadium is a neutral site venue. Granted, we're likely to outnumber Stanford's fan base that day anyway, but we're talking about Berkeley residents having to travel 45 minutes versus a Palo Alto resident's 15 minute commute to Santa Clara.

Third, I get that there's a uniqueness to having the Big Game played in the 49ers brand new shiny stadium, but newsflash: WE ALREADY HAVE A BRAND NEW SHINY STADIUM! One that we've spent hundreds of millions of dollars on, and I can't fathom not putting it to use.

But we haven't even discussed the biggest problem with all this. It just goes against tradition. We don't need the game to be played at Levi's Stadium. The Big Game is meant to be played at Memorial Stadium and occasionally in Palo Alto only to appease the monkeys. That's it. Playing it elsewhere? It's wrong. All wrong.

I'm too pumped about the upcoming season to let this get me too down now. And I'm sure there might be a certain level of, "This is kinda neat" feeling when I stroll into Levi's Stadium in 2014. But chances are, I won't be able to shake the sense that the powers that be sold out one of the most sacred past times in all of college football for a few extra bucks. And that's a shame.
Read the rest of the post and comments here >>