Cal Bears Football

Earlier I posted a breakdown of the California Golden Bears for the upcoming season.  Here are three games from their schedule I am ready to see today.

Ohio State

So this one falls under the “Let’s see what happens” category.  Like I said in my team breakdown, I never know what Cal is going to do.  After they got beat at Tennessee in 2006, I don’t think many people thought they would be able to keep up with them in 2007. 

They ended up winning that game.

They did the same thing in 2008 and 2009 with Maryland, losing the first but winning the second. 

The thing is, they lost on the road and won at home—and this game is in Columbus. 

Ohio State has a new coach in Urban Meyer, who runs a spread offense.  It is not something Cal has never seen before.  Oregon has been running their version for a few years now, and Cal has had a little bit of success slowing it down. 

Both teams will have two games to get ready, so it may come down to who adjusts and comes together first.  I know big things are expected of Ohio State despite their postseason ban and being ineligible for the conference title, but coming off a 6-7 season with a new coach I am not ready to buy in. 

I’m not betting on Cal to win this one, but I am not ready to count them out either. 

Stanford

I am not sure why this game—the Big Game—is being played in October this year.  Usually, this rivalry is played at the end of the season with the rest of them. 

This will be the 115th meeting.  Stanford leads the all time series 57-46-11.  Stanford has won the last two meetings, while Cal took the two before. 

Stanford has been a top 10 team the last couple years.  However, Cal did beat them in 2009 when they were ranked 14. 

Like any good rivalry, throw the records out the window when this one is played.  I know they did last year.  Cal was just bowl eligible last season when they met, while Stanford was still holding on for a shot at the National Championship.  Despite the seemingly large gap, Stanford only won by 3. 

Cal made a last-second push and scored a touchdown with 14 seconds left in the game.  The on-side kick was recovered by Stanford, finishing off any last second hope for the comeback upset. 

People are expecting a little bit of a drop off for Stanford since they lost their star Andrew Luck.  I think they still have too much for Cal, but like I said before: Throw out the records.  Expectations in games like this mean nothing. 

Oregon

Oregon has won the conference the last three years.  One team that has been a thorn in their side, though, has been Cal.  Although they haven’t beat the Ducks, they have given them scares. 

In 2010, Oregon was undefeated and on track for their first appearance in the National Championship Game.  Cal, in the meantime, had upset on their minds.  The Bears held Oregon to their lowest point total of the season, and the margin of victory was only two points.

Some people try to sell that game saying Cal was just a missed kick away from beating Oregon, but if you hear that don’t believe it.  The missed kick happened right at the start of the fourth quarter.  Had Cal made that, they would have been up by one.  Oregon ran off the last nine and a half minutes and ended at that 15. 

They let up instead of going for the score.  The missed Cal kick wasn’t some last second game changer.   

Last year, the game wasn’t as close, but the game was at Autzen.  Oregon has more issues when they travel to Cal.  Last year's scare came in a different way.  Oregon’s star running back LaMichael James suffered a horrifying injury that ended up not being as bad as it first appeared but still held him out for a few games.  But Oregon fans didn’t know that right away, and there were plenty of fans thinking worst case scenarios. 

Oregon is favored to win the North this season, and Cal is picked in the middle.  With the game being at revamped Memorial Stadium, I would say expect the unexpected. 

Over the last few years I find myself hating California.  It’s not because I am a fan of another team.  It is because I can’t figure them out.  In years I figure them to do well, they are bad.  When I expect a bad season, they end up doing well.  I mostly have them in the middle this year so I have no idea what they will do. 

Head coach Jeff Tedford is getting heat as over the last few seasons his record has been rather inconsistent.  Cal has not beaten a conference opponent with a winning record since 2009. 

The offensive coordinator is Jim Michalczik, though Tedford was the primary play caller last year.  I am not sure if that was because he felt it truly necessary or because Michalczik was in his first year.  The defense is run by Clancy Pendergast for the third year. 

Zach Maynard was a tale of two halves last year.  The first two thirds of the season, he was inconsistent, while the back third he found something of a rhythm.  Efficiency went up and his interceptions dropped.  If he can start the season the way he finished and keep it up all year, he could have a good one. 

Isi Sofele was the conferences fifth place rusher and his 1,382 yards also put him in the top 20 in the nation. Two of the running backs that finished ahead of him have moved on so he is actually the conferences third leading returning rusher.  With CJ Anderson back again as well as a handful of younger guys,  the running game at Cal should continue to be very productive. 

Maynard’s favorite target last season was Keenan Allen. Considering they are half brothers, it isn’t that big a surprise that they have something of a connection. The other returning receivers don’t have much experience as they lose their next three top pass catchers from last season. Also on the roster is Allen's cousin Maurice Harris, so there very well could be one big family game of catch going on.  I also expect at least one of the true freshman receivers to earn a spot. 

The offensive line may very well be the biggest question for Cal.  They have to replace the left side including Mitchell Schwartz who was drafted in the second round.  He is likely to be replaced with a senior so that could help experience wise. If the line comes together quickly and improves from their poor showing at the Holiday Bowl, the questions could go away. 

The defensive line is in no better shape than the offensive line.  They have to replace all the starters, although the projected starters do have experience. The biggest loss was line coach Tosh Lupoi who left to help rebuild Washington’s defense. Lupoi was also considered a top recruiter.

Pac-12 defensive player of the year last season was Cal linebacker Mychal Kendricks. Unfortunately for Cal he is now in the NFL. Kendricks and inside linebacker DJ Holt, were the teams leading tacklers.  With them gone, as well as the teams' third and fourth tacklers, they will be looking for some young players to step in.

Cecil Whiteside, David Wilkerson, Nick Forbes, Robert Mullens and Dan Camporeale will all get time on the field so it is just a matter of proving themselves when given the chance. They will also be adding in Khairi Fortt, a transfer from Penn State who will be eligible right away. 

The secondary doesn’t inspire a whole lot of confidence either. Both safeties are gone and corner Marc Anthony missed spring practices. If he comes back and the safety battles get settled early in fall camp the unit could come together and be a solid pass defense. 

More bad news for Cal, they are losing solid players at both punter and kicker. Kicker Vincenzo D’Amato did play some in 2009 though has not attempted any kicks since. The return game will also be looking for help as the leading punt and kick returners are gone. They weren’t spectacular last season so maybe new players will be a boost.

One more exciting factor to add in is the return to a revamped Memorial Stadium.

As i previously stated, I have Cal as finishing in the middle of the conference. I think they have just enough to get to a mid tier bowl such as the Sun or Vegas Bowl. Will it be enough to help Tedford stick around another year or will his job security be weighing on the minds of the Cal faithful.