Cal Bears Football

After a 7-6 2011 season, the California Golden Bears' football program is looking for answers. The fans want to know why this school can't get over the top while still producing high-end NFL talent such as Aaron Rodgers, Marshawn Lynch, Desean Jackson and Nnamdi Asomugha. 

Probably even more disappointing is realizing the last time Cal played in the Rose Bowl was 1958. Coach Jeff Tedford enters his 11th season at the helm of California, which will make him the longest tenured coach in Cal history. 

He appears to be on the cusp of turning around their program, and if he doesn't, his seat starts to warm. In 2010, the program missed a bowl for the first time since 2002. Then last year, Cal found two explosive playmakers and won seven regular season games. 

The upward trend should continue in 2012 because around the Pac-12, particularly in the Pac-12 North, many schools will be replacing star talent. 

Oregon lost dual-threat quarterback Darron Thomas and Heisman Trophy finalist LaMichael James to the NFL as early-entry departures. Oregon has lost just two conference games in the past three years, so unseating the Ducks will be a difficult task. 

Elsewhere, Stanford lost No. 1 overall pick Andrew Luck and Washington lost star tailback Chris Polk.

California's key losses are on the defensive side of the football—the top-rated defensive group in the Pac-12 last year. 

Linebacker Mychal Kendricks, the 2011 Pac-12 defensive player of the year, was drafted in the second round. 

Rebuilding and reloading seems imminent for the Pac-12 North in 2012, but one school returns all their offensive firepower from a year ago. Cal. 

The Bears feature an underrated three-headed offensive machine in quarterback Zach Maynard, tailback Isi Sofele and receiver Keenan Allen. 

Allen and Sofele exploded onto the college football scene in 2011. Allen hauled in 98 passes for 1343 yards, while Sofele ran for 1322 yards and 10 touchdowns last year. 

Maynard was still too inconsistent and inefficient last year, but the fifth-year senior should improve on his 57 percent completion percentage in his final season. 

One thing that will help the Bears is the fact that they play Oregon, Stanford and Washington, the other Pac-12 North contenders, all at home. 

Cal is one of those schools that plays much better at home than on the road for some reason. Throughout the last two years, Cal has been 3-8 on the road, while sporting a 9-4 record at home. 

If Cal can protect their home field, then they can make noise in the Pac-12 North next year.  After playing at AT&T Park last year, the San Francisco Giants' baseball stadium, Cal is expected to return to Memorial Stadium this fall.

Now that the first round of the NFL draft has been completed, where do the Cal players stand? While there were a flurry of trades, none of the Cal prospects were taken on Day 1. Fear not, Bears fan, there could still be as many as four former Bears drafted between Rounds 2 and 3.

ILB Mychal Kendricks is still projected to be the next middle linebacker to be drafted after Luke Kuechly and Dont'a Hightower were drafted in their respective positions. There should be plenty of teams interested in Kendricks' services as 3-4 defensive teams such as the Colts, Ravens, Bills and Chiefs all pick within the next 15 picks and have a need at inside linebacker.

OT Mitchel Schwartz's stock hasn't really been affected by Day 1. However, multiple higher ranked tackles remain available. Prospects including Georgia's Cordy Glenn, Stanford's Jonathon Martin, Ohio State's Mike Adams, Mississippi's Bobbie Massie and Illinois' Jeff Allen remain available, which hurts Schwartz' chances of going in Round 2.

However, all of those previously mentioned prospects have major flaws and could easily slide past Schwartz. At this point, I see Schwartz going at the tail end of the second round to the early third to a team that has a OT need like the Giants, Redskins, Bills or Texans.

WR Marvin Jones has a similar challenge facing him as there weren't a ton of receivers taken in Round 1. There are still a large number of superior prospects in front of Jones, including LSU's Reuben Randle, Georgia Tech's Stephen Hill, Alshon Jeffery from South Carolina and Chris Givens from Wake Forest.

I still believe whatever team that drafts Jones will be ecstatic to have him and will immediately see results of the selection. At this point, I see Jones being taken in the middle of the third or potentially as late as the early fourth.

There are still huge questions regarding DE/DT Trevor Guyton's draft position as there weren't a ton of 3-4 defensive ends taken on Day 1. The good news, however, is that there aren't that many true defensive ends that fit that scheme and have the experience that Guyton has. I think Guyton will probably go somewhere in the middle of the third, potentially to teams including the Chargers, Steelers, Packers or Ravens.

With spring practice for the California Golden Bears over, we officially are in the dead period for college football. No significant events will take place until August, when fall practice starts up.

Like many schools, California likes to redshirt players not expected to compete for starting positions. These players have now matured, and Cal has a slew of redshirt freshman anxious to break out next season.

In addition, Cal benefits from junior college transfers.

Here are the most important transfers and redshirt freshman for California this upcoming year, starting with junior college transfer Matt Williams. 

OL Matt Williams

Offensive lineman Matt Williams is a versatile football player who now plays on the offensive line. Williams has experience playing rugby in his younger European days. In high school he played wide receiver and corner.

Now, Williams has bulked up and measures in at 6'3" and 306 pounds and is an intriguing prospect. After red-shirting last year, the transfer from North Dakota State College of Science, should receive significant playing time. 

WR Maurice Harris

Redshirt freshman wide receiver Maurice Harris is the cousin of current Cal stars Keenan Allen and Zach Maynard. How about the storyline if Harris wins a starting receiver job, opposite Allen. That scenario would be just like they lined up in the backyard years ago.

Defenses are going to target Allen after he exploded onto the scene with a monster 2011 season. Harris should be playing against primarily one-on-one coverage, opening up large chunks of the field to challenge corners.  Harris has good size for a receiver (6'3", 206 pounds) and has picked up 10 pounds of muscle since the end of high school. 

LB Jason Gibson

Linebacker Jason Gibson is a speedy, explosive pass-rusher that should be able to penetrate into the offensive backfield. Gibson red-shirted last year and that experience watching under the eyes of prior starters should help his game. Gibson has a decent chance to land one of two outside linebacker spots as outside rusher in the 3-4 defense Cal runs.