Cal Bears 5-2 Overall (2-2 Conference)

This Week’s Score: Cal 49 – Washington State 17

Next Week’s Opponent: @Arizona State

The Bears did exactly what they were supposed to, handling an over-matched Wazzu team with little trouble. Before the relatively scarce crowd at Memorial Stadium even had a chance to fully settle into their seats, Cal led 35-3 (early in the second quarter). But while the outcome of this game was never in doubt, there were plenty of positives AND a few negatives for Jeff Tedford to take out of the performance.

Let’s start with the good. This Bears offense is starting to kick it into high gear again, and for the second straight week we saw the explosiveness of Jahvid Best (13 carries, 159 yards 3 total TDs) and Shane Vereen (103 total yards 2 TDs) on full display. I was also happy to see QB Kevin Riley put together a solid effort (12/18 229 yards 3 TDs 1 INT), and hopefully his confidence is rising after the horrendous efforts against ‘SC and Oregon.

The receivers didn’t have to do much, but what a day from WR Jeremy Ross! Ross showcased his playmaking in multiple ways, electrifying the crowd on a 76-yard punt return for a TD, while also adding a big kick return and a long catch. Overall, the offense looked as sharp as anyone could have hoped for (totaling 560 yards), and if the unit continues to play with this kind of balance, Cal may not lose another game.

Defensively, the Bears left a lot to be desired on Saturday, as the much-maligned WSU offense generated over 440 yards of offense. While Wazzu QB Jeff Tuel is a promising young player, there is NO excuse for allowing him to go off for 354 yards and two touchdowns. The Cal D made Tuel look like Jason Gesser (or dare I say… Ryan Leaf), and this is now the fourth straight week that an opposing QB has put up good numbers against Bob Gregory’s unit.

I can’t fault the pass rush, which was strong all game, and the linebackers played pretty well too. I believe the problem is with the secondary, as the unit just seems to be a step too slow right now.

Next, Cal will head to Tempe, AZ to take on a struggling Arizona State team. The Cal D should have a chance to regain its confidence against a mediocre Sun Devil attack, and Jeff Tedford’s offense is hitting its stride in time to face an ASU D that may suddenly be lacking confidence.

Cal Bears (3-0) vs. Oregon Ducks (2-1)
Saturday, September 26, 12:30 PM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: Cal -7.0
*AllPac10 Game of the Week*

Sam’s Take (20 – 7):

Before the 2009 college football season started, Pac-10 fans and pundits alike circled this game with great anticipation, as it was believed to be the contest that decided USC’s main challenger in the conference.

But now some are calling this a trap game for Cal?

Sure, Oregon lost to Boise State in disappointing fashion and the Ducks passing offense continues to be a work in progress (to put it nicely), but I have a hard time calling this a trap game for the Bears. In fact, I believe Cal will have to play its best game of the season to win in Eugene.

Having said that, I am going with the Bears. As much as I believe in the power of Autzen, the continued emergence of exciting freshman tailback LaMichael James, and the playmaking ability of Walter Thurmond III (as a defender and return man), I just don’t see enough balance on offense. I like QB Jeremiah Masoli, but he must prove that he can be a reliable passer soon because the fan base is running out of patience.

Masoli is a playmaker (as he has shown on the ground this year), but he is also a liability. As a result, the Ducks have somehow managed to rank dead last in passing and total offense in the conference so far, and that won’t cut it Saturday. Unless Masoli (or another QB) can get the passing game going, I expect Cal’s sturdy D to tee off on the run.

Jahvid Best is obviously rolling right now, but I believe the main difference in this 2009 Cal team and the one from last year is the play of QB Kevin Riley. While Masoli has struggled, Riley has looked razor sharp (698 yards passing, 5 TDs, 0 INTS), and he is the main reason I think the Bears offense will prevail against a game Ducks D.

I believe this will be a highly entertaining game with a ton of big plays in all three phases of the game, but ultimately, I see Cal winning its fourth straight in the series.

Prediction: Cal 35 – Oregon 24

Cal Player to Keep an Eye On: WR Jeremy Ross - Ross is really starting to come on strong, and his big-play ability should help offset the loss of Nyan Boateng.

Oregon Player to Keep an Eye On: LB Casey Matthews - His excellent instincts, run-stopping skills, and blitzing ability will be put to the test this weekend by a potent offense.

Dave’s Take (20 – 7):

Public perception is a funny thing.

Don’t get me wrong here, either; I think Cal is deserving of all of the respect they have been garnering, and I think Oregon deserves a lot of the criticism they have received, too.

Cal heads into Autzen a substantial favorite, and would obviously be an even bigger favorite if this game were being played at a neutral site. And they should be; they are a complete team that doesn’t seem to have any noticeable weaknesses. With both Kevin Riley and Jahvid Best playing at a high level, the offense is a lethal balanced attack, and the defense has been strong at all three levels.

But has Cal really proven anything yet? The first game against Maryland was a good old fashioned blowout, a game that Cal completely dominated from start to finish. Since then, Maryland was pushed to the limits against Division I-AA James Madison, needing overtime to win the game 38-35. The following week they hosted Middle Tennessee and lost 32-31 at home. Maryland just doesn’t have the look of a quality football team.

Eastern Washington of course is a Division I-AA team, and a blowout was expected and delivered. While the win over Minnesota in a rowdy TCF Bank Stadium was impressive, Minnesota did put up 21 points; the same output that they had against Syracuse (23) and Air Force (20). The game was also tied heading into the fourth quarter before Cal eventually pulled away.

Again, I’m not trying to downplay Cal’s achievements thus far; they look like the team to beat in the Pac-10 this year. All I’m saying is, if you’d have told me before the season started that Oregon was going to lose by 11 to a Top 10 Boise State team, outshoot Purdue, and end Utah’s 16-game winning streak, I wouldn’t have expected no one to be giving them a chance this Saturday.

Because college football is just that kind of game, I am giving them a chance. The defense is going to have to continue coming up with huge plays against an offense that doesn’t make many mistakes, and Jeremiah Masoli is going to have to be substantially better than what he has been to date. It will take a near-perfect game to beat a superior Cal squad, but with almost everyone counting them out, I think they find a way.

Prediction: Oregon 34 – Cal 31

Cal Bears 3-0 Overall (0-0 Conference)

This Week’s Score: Cal 35 – Minnesota 21

Next Week’s Opponent: @Oregon

In a wide open conference full of question marks and uncertainty (even Washington State got a win!), one team has risen to have the look of the team to beat; the Cal Bears.

Saturday’s game against Minnesota showed us a welcome side to Cal that we didn’t see on the road last season. After getting off to a 14-0 lead midway through the first quarter, Cal looked to be in command; but a proud Golden Gopher team wasn’t going to give up that easily. Minnesota made it 21-14 by the half, and a late touchdown in the third quarter brought the game to 21 all.

TCF Bank Stadium was in a complete frenzy. Jahvid Best, who’d had an incredible first half, was all of a sudden being solved by this Gopher defense. Even the most optimistic of Bears fans was likely thinking “here we go again”.

But Cal wasn’t going to roll over this time. The Bears dug deep and went out there and played their game in the fourth quarter. Unfazed by the crowd noise and the momentum swing, Kevin Riley led the team on a couple of nice scoring drives both punched in by Jahvid Best.

The defense came up big when it needed to with Michael Mohamed snagging an interception to not only end Minnesota’s chance at a game-tying drive, but also give Cal good field position for the drive that would eventually put the game out of reach.

Kevin Riley was extremely efficient, going 16/25 with 252 yards (0 TD, 0 INT). He spread the ball around well, hitting eight different receivers. Verran Tucker and Jeremy Ross each made three catches for 78 and 74 yards, respectively. (Tucker, Ross, and the rest of the receiving core will have to continue to play at a high level with star wideout Nyan Boateng lost for 4-6 weeks with a broken foot.)

And then of course there was Jahvid Best’s day. 26 carries for 131 yards and five touchdowns. What else needs to be said? While he racked up most of his yards in the first half, he was able to make big plays in the 2nd half when they mattered most; deep within the red zone. Days like this sure don’t hurt his Heisman chances.

Now the real fun begins. Cal clearly has the tools to be a Pac-10 champion (and maybe more), but the path through the conference will not be an easy one; and it starts in Autzen this week. Cal broke a 7-game losing streak at Autzen when they beat Oregon back in 2007, but regardless of Oregon’s struggles this season, they will always be a tough out when defending the home turf.

The Ducks have plenty to prove, too; a win over Cal would get them right back in the discussion as one of the best teams in the conference. Cal needs to do the same thing they did in triumphing over Minnesota; play their game. It should be a fun one, and it will tell us a lot about how real this team really is.

The receiving corps features everything you could want: size, speed, and after a year of growing pains, experience.

The leading receiver from 2008 is senior Nyan Boateng. Last season, Boateng finished with 29 catches for 439 yards and five touchdowns. The former Florida transfer displayed his explosive skill set in 2008, but has plenty of upside left in what could be a very successful senior season.

The 6-2 211 pound wideout can be a vertical threat, but also has the size to work the middle of the field. He is physical enough to block downfield as well, which could help spring the tailback duo of Jahvid Best and Shane Vereen when they get into the secondary (which will be a regular occurance).

Boateng has feature-receiver ability and must now become a polished version of his 2008 self. The Brooklyn (NY) native was considered one of the top prospects in the country when he left Lincoln High School (NY). Rivals.com gave Boateng 4-star recognition and he was invited to the U.S. Army All-American game. Boateng enjoyed a solid spring and enters fall as a lock to start.

Nyan Boateng celebrates a touchdown

One of the biggest differences between the 2008 Cal offense and the one that will debut this fall could be the return of sophomore Marvin Jones. Jones suffered a knee injury early last season that ended his sophomore year prematurely, and he finished with only one reception for eight yards.

The 6-2 190 pound wideout is as gifted as any receiver in the group, and the Cal coaches couldn’t stop raving about him this past spring. Jones showed no lingering effects of the injury in April, running silky smooth routes and catching almost everything in sight.

Jones was a standout receiver at Etiwanda High School (CA). Rivals.com and Scout.com rated him as a 4-star talent, and he was named a SuperPrep All-American as well. His last two years in high school were excellent, with a combined 2,349 receiving yards and 22 TDs to close out his career. Jones looks primed for a breakout season in 2009.

The favorite to start as the Bears slot receiver appears to be sophomore Alex Lagemann. Like Jones, Lagemann suffered injury setbacks in 2008 that kept him from seeing the field. The 6-1 205 pound wideout runs very precise routes and hardly ever drops a ball, while also displaying deceptive speed (4.51). The Saratoga High School (CA) star was given 4-stars by Scout.com after a stellar prep career.

Lagemann made the absolute most of spring ball, finishing as the leading receiver in the spring game with five catches for 73 yards and one TD. He now enters fall practice with an edge on the slot receiver spot.

Senior Verran Tucker finished 2008 with the second most receiving yards on the team, catching 21 passes for 362 yards and three touchdowns. Last year was Tucker’s first with the Bears after transferring from El Camino Community College (CA). The 6-1 204 pound wideout was one of the top Juco players in 2007 and showed promising ability in his first season with Cal.

He has good leaping ability, solid speed (4.5), and the ability to separate from defenders. The Torrance (CA) native had to sit out spring for academic purposes but will be back for the fall. When Tucker returns, he should see plenty of action in 2009.

Verran Tucker fights for extra yards

Two more receivers that could make a difference this fall are sophomore Michael Calvin and junior Jeremy Ross.

The 6-2 205 pound Calvin tore his ACL before he could find his stride in 2008, and has been working to become a part of the WR rotation once again. He was the Scout Team Player of the Year during his redshirt year of 2007, and the Cal coaches love his potential.

Calvin was rated as a 4-star prospect by Scout.com and was a SuperPrep All-American selection. He possesses very good upper body strength, and has been timed at 4.48 in the 40. The San Lorenzo (CA) product should compete for time behind Boateng and Jones this fall.

The 5-11 206 pound Ross played well as a sophomore, catching 17 passes for 210 yards and two TDs. Ross also returned kicks last year, with 17 returns for 337 yards, and rushed for 62 yards on nine carries. Ross had three straight games where he finished with over 100 all-purpose yards in 2008 (119 vs. Ore, 123 vs. UCLA, 141 vs. UA).

He is a spectacular athlete, setting school records among receivers in the vertical jump (37.5), the squat (500 pounds) and the power clean (330 pounds). On top of all that, he has legitimate 4.4 speed, making him a terror for corners and safeties to deal with. The Sacramento (CA) native enters fall as Nyan Boateng’s main backup.

Tight Ends

Last year’s starter at tight end was Cameron Morrah. Many assumed he would be the starter again this season, but his surprising decision to go pro has left a bit of a void at the position. Cal must now find a stabilizing presence at tight end for 2009.

The likely starter (despite having a current injury) is senior Tad Smith. Smith is a converted defensive end entering his second season at the position. Last year, he had three receptions for 23 yards and one TD.

The 6-5 248 pound Smith may miss the start of the season after breaking his Scapula on April 2, 2009. The Isleton (CA) native has been plagued by injuries before in his Cal career, but should play for the majority of the season if he can make a full recovery as is expected.  Smith is an excellent blocker, and must now work on becoming more of a pass-catching threat.

If Smith is down for an extended period of time, the onus falls on sophomore Anthony Miller. The 6-3 258 pound Miller is a gifted athlete with solid speed and agile feet. Miller only had one catch for two yards last season, but it was a touchdown reception. The San Jose (CA) native was likely to get playing time even with a healthy Smith as the starter; now Miller could begin the season as the feature tight end.

One more name to look out for is redshirt freshman Spencer Ladner. The 6-7 253 pound Ladner is a tremendous prospect with more upside than anyone else in the group. He redshirted last year and is ready for his first year of action.

The Kansas City (MO) native was a SuperPrep All-American and earned 4-star recognition from both Rivals and Scout.com.  He’s had a college-ready physique from the minute he stepped on campus, and will be a force for years in Berkeley as both a ferocious blocker and a sure-handed receiver. Ladner could give the Bears a huge boost at tight end this fall.

My Take

The Cal receivers are as physically gifted a group as any coach could ask for; now they must play like it. This is arguably the most important unit besides QB in determining the Bears fate for 2009.

The return of Marvin Jones is the reason I think the Bears will be successful at receiver. Jones is tremendously gifted and appears ready to be the difference maker. I also look for Boateng to have a breakout season to close out his career, giving the Bears a formidable 1-2 punch at wideout.

My x-factor is Jeremy Ross. He is a ridiculous athlete that could be the perfect mismatch in Tedford’s offense. I expect the talented junior to have a productive season in 2009.

Tight end is a bit of an unknown right now because of the injury to Smith. The Bears are going through a transitional time at TE after the loss of Morrah, and the young players may have to develop quicker than expected. I love Ladner’s measurables, but I’m not sure if he is ready. In the end, I expect Miller and Smith to be serviceable but not spectacular.

Bottom line: the Bears could be smelling roses if the wideouts play up to their potential.