Arizona Wildcats (6-2) vs. Cal Bears (6-3)
Saturday, November 14, 4:00 PM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: Cal -3.0

Sam’s Take (43 – 16):

Arizona is the only school in the Pac-10 that has never played in a Rose Bowl. With only four games left this season, the ‘Cats control their own destiny in the race to Pasadena. So is Mike Stoops team the real deal? A defining four game stretch will provide the answer (@Cal, Oregon, @ASU, @USC). Cal started the season with the belief that they would be in the hunt for a Pac-10 title in mid-November, but now the 6-3 Bears are just hoping for a solid bowl game.

Statistically, Arizona looks like the best team in the Pac-10. UA heads to Berkeley ranked 13th nationally in total offense and 17th nationally in total defense. Across the board, the Wildcats are a solidly built football team. Offensively they can run and pass, and defensively they can stop the run and the pass.

As I study this game, there is one particular match up that seems grossly in favor of ‘Zona. QB Nick Foles and the ‘Cats high-powered passing attack will be going up against a Cal defense that ranks 117th nationally in pass defense. While Cal CB Syd’Quan Thompson is an excellent defender, the rest of the secondary appears to be ripe for the picking so I expect Sonny Dykes to exploit the Bears defensive backs with quick passes (specifically receiver screens).

We will found out a lot about Cal’s resolve on Saturday. With RB Jahvid Best sidelined, RB Shane Vereen must once again prove why many consider him to be the best backup tailback in the Pac-10. Vereen has game-breaking ability, and if he can get going early that should open up the passing game for QB Kevin Riley. I think it will be critical for Jeff Tedford’s squad to start fast and ignite the home crowd; otherwise a repeat of last week’s game against Oregon State is likely.

While Cal certainly has the talent to win this game, I think Arizona is peaking just in time for a tough four game stretch. The ‘Cats have already proven they can beat a quality opponent on the road (OSU), and I expect another complete performance from Stoops team this week.

Prediction: Arizona 34 – Cal 27

Arizona Player to Keep an Eye On: DE Ricky Elmore - Elmore leads UA with 7.5 sacks, and I expect him to be all over QB Kevin Riley.

Cal Player to Keep an Eye On: RB Covaughn DeBoskie - With Best out, DeBoskie becomes the second tailback in the rotation. The Bears coaching staff has a lot of confidence in the redshirt freshman, and he will provide a nice change of pace when Vereen is on the sideline.

Dave’s Take (46 – 13):

Heading into Cal will be no easy task for the Arizona Wildcats, and the Bears will be especially motivated to go out and play a great game for injured teammate and leader Jahvid Best.

The problem, though, is that motivation hasn’t really seemed to get the Bears anywhere this season.

Coming into the year as the favorite to knock off USC atop the Pac-10, the Bears seemed to have the talent and the drive to make this a special year. When they headed into Eugene, they were a road favorite. And they got completely demolished.

They had a chance for redemption, at home, against the USC Trojans in the very next game. Same result.

Against Oregon State, another quality opponent, they once again were completely blown out. On paper, this team has what it takes to compete with almost any team in the nation. On the field though, they lack… well, for lack of a better word, “it”.

Arizona has put together a pretty special season to this point, and I think they have both the talent and the mental toughness to make sure that this one doesn’t get away from them. It should be a good one, but Arizona prevails in the end.

Prediction: Arizona 38 – Cal 28

Cal Bears (5-2) vs. Arizona State Sun Devils (4-3)
Saturday, October 31, 12:30 PM PST
Las Vegas Favorite: Cal -6.5

Sam’s Take (36 – 14):

As it currently stands, there is a logjam in the middle of the Pac-10 that includes four teams with two conference losses. This Saturday, both Cal and Arizona State will look to separate from that jam and jump back into the top tier of the conference. This will be a match-up of strength vs. strength as the explosive Cal rushing attack faces off against ASU’s talented defense.

While Jeff Tedford’s squad will not reach the lofty goals set at the beginning of the season, the team is still in position to win 10 games and go to a high quality bowl. This week should tell us a lot about how far the team has come since the disheartening losses to USC and Cal. For the Bears to win in Tempe, they must establish the run early. Stanford was able to set the tone physically against a Devils D that is used to pushing offenses around. Cal does not have a 240-pound bulldozer at running back, so the onus will fall on the o-line to be extra nasty up front.

Jeff Tedford has stated that his offense will need to be patient in the running game, and I agree. Jahvid Best and Shane Vereen may not bust the big runs early, but I believe there will be room for them to maneuver later in the game. QB Kevin Riley must also stay patient, as the Devils are likely to throw a lot of blitz packages at him early on. Assuming Riley can weather the ASU surge, he should be able to attack a relatively vulnerable secondary.

For ASU, this is a season-defining game. Two weeks ago, the Devils were riding high after a dramatic win over U-Dub. One week later, the defense looked defenseless and the “bench Danny Sullivan” sentiments were as prevalent as ever. A win this week would put ASU right back on the path to Bowl eligibility, but the Devils will have to be substantially better in all three phases than they were in Palo Alto. Cal allowed WSU to throw the ball all over the field last week, so Chris McGaha and the ASU receivers could have a big day (especially if Syd’Quan Thompson doesn’t play).

I expect both Cal’s running game and ASU’s defensive front seven to be outstanding this week. So what does that mean? It means the winner of the battle between the Bears defense and the Devils offense will probably win this game. I believe Cal will win that battle, and while I expect a pretty tight game, the Bears will leave Tempe with a solid road victory.

Prediction: Cal 28 – Arizona State 20

Cal Player to Keep an Eye On: DE Cameron Jordan - Jordan can be flat out unblockable at times, and the Arizona native will be extra motivated to have a big game Saturday.

Arizona State Player to Keep an Eye On: RB Ryan Bass - Dennis Erickson has hinted that Bass will get more carries this week, and he gives the Devils a home run threat every time he touches the ball.

Dave’s Take (39 – 11):

I keep thinking back to Cal’s disastrous stretch against USC and Oregon, and the game plan for both of those defenses was simple; pressure, pressure, pressure. With the box stacked up and a ton of bodies flying into the backfield, it was difficult for either of the running backs to get any sort of a rhythm going, and it also forced Kevin Riley into making plenty of mistakes.

ASU’s front seven just might have the ability to emulate that defensive game plan when UCLA and Washington State were unable to. Considering UCLA put up 26 points and WSU put up 17 points, it stands to reason that even ASU’s sub-par offense should be able to get into the low 20s in scoring. Can they win the battle against Cal’s offense?

For some reason, I get the feeling that they can and will. Cal has looked great in their last two games, but they looked great in the first three games against soft opponents too (and actually, that Minnesota game was tied heading into the 4th). This is arguably the best defense left on Cal’s schedule; if they can prove me wrong and solve it, this offense just might power their way to a 10-win season.

As for ASU, this might be the weakest defense left on their schedule. If the offense continues to flounder and put way too much pressure on the defense to win them games, and they fall in this one, the road to bowling will be a lot tougher.

Prediction: Arizona State 23 – Cal 20

Cal Bears 1-0 Overall (0-0 Conference)

This Week’s Score: Cal 52 – Maryland 13

Next Week’s Opponent: Eastern Washington

Sam’s Take:

That was all any Bears fan could ask for out of a season opener. Cal was dominant on both side of the ball against the Terps, and Jahvid Best started his Heisman campaign in style with a big highlight run on national television early in the game (finished with 137 yards, 2 TDs). I really liked what I saw out of Kevin Riley, who seemed completely in control of the offense on his way to 298 yards passing and four touchdowns. It was great to see Marvin Jones flash his playmaking ability, and there should be plenty more of that to come this season as long as he is healthy.

The energy of the defense was exceptional, especially the front seven which sacked Maryland QB Chris Turner six times. If the D continues to play like that, the rest of the Pac-10 will be in trouble. Mychal Kendricks came up big with 12 tackles, and I also came away impressed with Ernest Owusu (two sacks). It was fun to watch Syd’Quan Thompson shut down his side of the field after Maryland went after him early, and I will be curious to see if any other teams dare to challenge him.

Overall, Cal looked spectacular in their redemption game and will now have a warm-up (Eastern Washington) before taking their show on the road to Minnesota.

Dave’s Take:

California did exactly what I expected them to do; exact their revenge in dominate fashion.

Jahvid Best is obviously going to be the national story with 137 yards on 10 carries for two touchdowns (was three carries, 80 yards, two touchdowns), and he deserves it after last year’s disappointing trip to Maryland.

But Kevin Riley’s four touchdown mistake free day and a stellar defensive effort were equally impressive, and through week one the Cal Bears look every bit as good as advertised.

This upcoming week against Eastern Washington will produce similar gaudy numbers all around, and then the real fun begins; @MIN, @ORE, vs. USC.

Listed below are all of the Pac-10 players who were included on the national lists. The only two awards not listed are the Heisman Trophy and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. The Heisman Trophy does not release a preseason watch list, and the Unitas Award, which is handed out to the nation’s best senior college quarterback, had no Pac-10 players on their watch list.

Congratulations to the players named, and good luck taking home the hardware!

As impressive as the 2008 season was, the unit has a chance to be even better in 2009.

Defensive coordinator Bob Gregory and defensive backs coach Al Simmons will have the services of virtually every contributor from last year, and they will welcome fresh new talent as well.

One of America’s best cornerbacks will headline this unit, and he is looking to end his remarkable career in Berkeley with another tremendous season.

Syd'quan Thompson getting past the line

Cornerbacks

Decorated senior Syd’Quan Thompson enters the 2009 season as a legitimate contender for the Jim Thorpe Award (Best DB in Nation), Chuck Bednarik Award (Best Defensive Player in nation according to Maxwell Football Club), and Bronco Nagurski Trophy (Best Defensive Player according to Football Writers of America).

Thompson has started 39 straight games for Cal since redshirting in 2005. He is the Bears career active leader in tackles (208), interceptions (six), passes defended (32) and pass breakups (26). Last season, he finished with 70 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, four interceptions (team-high), and 14 pass breakups (second on team) on his way to first-team All-Pac 10 honors.

On top of his stellar defensive production, Thompson also returns punts for the Bears. He finished 4th in the Pac-10 during 2008 with 28 returns for 344 yards (12.3 YPR) and one touchdown.

At 5-9 191 pounds, Thompson possesses excellent speed (4.4) and arguably the best ball skills of any cornerback in the country. He is an instinctive player who can cover an opposing team’s feature receiver one-on-one, and his exceptional ability to tackle in space separates him as a truly rare CB.

Despite his relatively small frame, Thompson can be a devastating hitter who is not afraid to lower his shoulder on players much bigger than he is. He’s also a threat to score after an interception, possessing elite field awareness once the ball is in his hands, as evidenced by his punt return production.

The Sacramento (CA) native became a superstar defender even before his arrival in Berkeley, garnering five-star recognition from Scout.com and 4-stars from Rivals during his successful prep career at Grant High School (CA).

Thompson now enters the final chapter of his collegiate career as the unquestioned anchor of this impressive secondary.

Joining Thompson as a starting corner for the second straight season will be junior Darian Hagan.

Darian Hagan in on the team-tackle

Last season was Hagan’s first taste of extensive playing time (no recorded stats in five games during ’07) and he thrived, finishing with 56 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions and a school-record 15 pass breakups in a breakout sophomore campaign.

At 6-0 186 pounds, Hagan plays faster than his 40 time (4.5), showing fluid movement and tremendous range in coverage. He possesses great size and strength, and has a knack for reading offensive plays with his natural instincts. Hagan demonstrated his superior ball skills last season (15 pass breakups), but he is also capable of playing in the box on run-support.

The Los Angeles (CA) native was given 4-star recognition by both Rivals and Scout.com, while also being named a PrepStar All-American. Hagan has been limited recently in fall practice because of a sore knee, but he is expected to be 100% for the season. He will be one of the key performers for this defensive backfield in 2009.

Two top reserves that should provide quality depth at cornerback are junior Bryant Nnabuife and redshirt freshman Marc Anthony.

Nnabuife played sparingly last season, contributing mostly on special teams and finishing with five tackles and one pass breakup. Even in a very limited role, the junior college transfer (Blinn College, TX) managed to make a huge impact for the Bears in 2008 by returning two blocked punts for touchdowns (first against Michigan State and then Colorado State). He will now make a position switch from safety to cornerback for 2009.

At 6-1 190 pounds, Nnabuife is a fantastic athlete with great size and some of the best speed on the team (4.38). The Houston (TX) native has worked with the first team at times during the fall, and he will be an important contributor in 2009.

Anthony spent last season with the scout team but now appears ready to make an impact for the Bears. At 6-0 194 pounds, he’s physical in press coverage, aggressive in run support, and a very good tackler.

Anthony is not a burner (4.5), but he makes up for it with his intuitive feel for the position. Rivals.com gave the Chandler (AZ) native 4-star recognition during his excellent prep career at Chandler High School. He has looked good during the fall and could become a mainstay at corner over the next few years.

Safeties

Reliable senior Marcus Ezeff will lead the safeties in 2009. Ezeff has established himself as a stable presence in the defensive backfield over the last two years, playing in 34 games and starting 17 during his career.

Last season, he finished fifth on the team with 66 tackles, and also totaled three interceptions (tied for 2nd on team) and six pass breakups as a full time starter. Many may remember Ezeff for his clutch hit on Oregon’s Cameron Colvin in 2007 where he jarred the ball loose for a touchback and preserved the win for Cal.

Marcus Ezeff preserving the win for Cal

At 5-11 219 pounds, Ezeff is a technician at safety who always seems to be in the right position and plays with perfect fundamentals. He has very good range and can close down space in a hurry. The Santa Rosa (CA) native has become more of a vocal leader during the off-season, and he will look to close out his career with another productive campaign.

The other starting safety will be hard-hitting senior Brett Johnson. After two seasons on special teams, Johnson started nine games last season, finishing with 43 tackles, two interceptions, three pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one punt block (against Michigan State).

At 6-1 194 pounds, Johnson is a solidly built athlete with good speed (sub-4.5) and leaping ability (39 inch vertical). He’s a powerful tackler who can be an intimidating presence in the secondary, and also possesses the size and skill set to help against the run. The Las Vegas (NV) has been battling some minor injuries in fall camp, but he should be ready for the season.

Pushing Johnson for time at safety will be sophomore Sean Cattouse. Cattouse enjoyed a successful redshirt freshman campaign in 2008, finishing with 13 tackles, three interceptions (tied for 2nd on team), and five pass breakups in 11 games (two starts). At 6-2 206 pounds, he possesses good athleticism and a ball-hawking mentality.

Some around the Cal program believe he will supplant Johnson as the starter at some point this season, but he should see plenty of action even as a backup. The Chicago (IL) native has taken reps with the first team in fall practice (while Johnson recovers from injury), and looks like the future at safety for the Bears.

Experienced junior Chris Conte enters the season as another top reserve at safety after switching from cornerback this off-season. Last year, Conte played CB in 12 games (one start) and finished with 28 tackles, one interception, one tackle for loss, and seven pass breakups. Two years ago, Conte earned honorable mention Freshman All-American in his debut season with Cal (32 tackles, one tackle for loss).

At 6-3 205 pounds, Conte blends safety size with cornerback speed (4.4) and quickness. He may be the most versatile defender in the secondary, and could end up playing all over the place this season. Rivals.com gave him 4-star recognition during his prep career at Loyola High School (CA). The Los Angeles (CA) native has been excellent this fall, and he should be the Bears best utility DB in 2009.

Other players competing for time are: juniors Charles Amadi and Jesse Brooks, sophomores D.J. Campbell and Chris Moncrease, and freshmen Steve Williams (fast riser during fall camp, 4-stars from Rivals and Scout), Alex Logan, Tyre Ellison, Josh Hill, and Vachel Samuels.

My Take

Kudos to DBs coach Al Simmons for the job he has done with this secondary. Many of the players believe he was largely responsible for the Bears sixth rated pass defense last season. Since Simmons return to Cal (served as DBs coach from 1998-2000 and returned in 2008) the level of play at the third level has been absolutely outstanding, and he seems to have turned very good players into great ones.

As mentioned earlier, this defensive backfield deserves to be mentioned with the best in America, especially if you consider that there’s even more talent present within the unit this year.

Syd’Quan Thompson could conceivably be playing pre-season games in the NFL right now, as he was very close to entering the draft last season. Fortunately for Bears fans, his return is one of the major reasons that a Pac-10 title is a realistic possibility. If Thompson has the kind of season that most are expecting, I think he will have a great chance to be a first round pick this April.

Hagan proved last season that he is a reliable number two corner. With teams looking to avoid Thompson, he played exceptionally well, and I expect another productive season in 2009. After Hagan, there is quality depth, with Nnabuife, Anthony and others capable of contributing (which is why a stud like Steve Williams can probably redshirt).

At safety, Ezeff should continue to be rock solid in the back, and Johnson is a quality veteran as well (although I see Cattouse making a hard charge for that job).

Bob Gregory’s defense looks scary from front to back, and this secondary should be especially difficult for opposing offenses to navigate in 2009.