(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
1. It may not have shown up in the games that counted, but Cal's backfield speed was on full display on Saturday against a clearly overmatched Washington State defense.
Shane Vereen, Jahvid Best, and Isi Sofele were used in a variety of ways to perfection: motions at the line, fly sweeps, wildcat (bear?) formations, reverses, screens, and flanked out wide as receivers.
The result? Keeping the Cougars guessing to the tune of 7.9 yards per rush and nearly a first down (9.3 yards) per play.
2. Speaking of Jeremy Ross, I have thought for some time that he needed to be the one returning kicks in order to be utilized properly, and I guess Tedford finally took my hint. Ross had nearly 220 all-purpose yards on Saturday, including a 51-yard kick return to set up Cal's first score, and a 76-yard punt return for a touchdown.
He may not have the most reliable hands, but (like so many of the Bears' weapons) he's electric in the open field. Not every game will be against the Cougars, but on Saturday, Ross provided a spark in the return game that Cal has not had for most of the season.
3. Three first quarter passes for Kevin Riley. Three touchdowns. Get out the history books, because I can't remember that feat happening too often. Keep that up, Kevin, and I may just forgive that awful interception later in the game. Maybe.
How's this for a way to solve your team's third down troubles? Cal didn't face a single third down situation until the second quarter.
4. Another well-timed feature by the Daily Californian . Last week, it was on Mychal Kendricks, who returned an interception for the game-sealing score against the Bruins. This week, the lead story was about receiver Marvin Jones, who ended up catching a 37-yard score against Wazzu.
They haven't done anything noteworthy, but maybe the paper should run one on the kickoff unit?
5. Or maybe on the defense? Because it seems California has become the team that struggling quarterbacks and offenses face to get their groove back—the pass defense has been that porous.
After helping Jeremiah Masoli come out of his early season touchdown-less funk, the Bears have now allowed nearly 300 passing yards per against three freshman quarterbacks.
The latest was the Cougars' Jeff Tuel, who threw for 355 yards and two scores in the second quarter to get Washington State back in the game. The red and white gained 299 yards in the first half against Cal after averaging 266 total per game.
Saturday marked the fourth consecutive game in which the Bears have surrendered 400 yards of total offense. Yikes.
6. On a positive note: While shutting out the Cougars for the entire second half may not be considered an achievement, Cal has allowed just one second half touchdown in three games.
7. Overall, a divergent trend seems to be occurring for the Bears' defense and the offense. Cal has a knack for getting on the board first (and in bunches), having delivered the opening score in all but one contest.
On the other hand, the defense seems to get off to slow starts—in games and in individual drives—before settling down a bit. But it begs the question: What if a nightmare scenario occurs again where the offense doesn't find its groove early to bail out the team?
8. Defensive coordinator Bob Gregory certainly deserves some heat for the recent play of the secondary (albeit one that has not had Syd'Quan Thompson at full strength), but give him some credit for adding a four-lineman wrinkle to put some pressure on Tuel.
Sure, the Bears didn't get the six takedowns they had against Maryland; nor did they match Arizona State's ridiculous 12 sacks against the Cougars. But getting some Blue and Gold jerseys in the backfield on a consistent basis was much needed—particularly to kill Washington State's opening second half drive.
9. Interesting discussion that Joe Starkey had on the radio. With a team this short on talent, should Washington State really be running a hurry-up offense that has the chance to give the ball back to the opponent so quickly?
Or should Paul Wulff run the system he knows best? For the second quarter at least, it looks as if the latter was the right answer.
10. First Lavelle Hawkins, then Jeremy Ross, then even offensive lineman Mike Tepper; now Covaughn Deboskie-Johnson has gotten into the act of hurdling defenders for the Bears. Can you believe an act so entertaining used to be a penalty ?
On a personal note, I had by first official Tightwad Hill experience after losing my student ID the night before.
Very fun times watching the game; but getting up there? Not so much. Only after I arduously climbed up (ruining my clothes and scratching up my hands in the process) did I realize there was an easier route through the back of the Stadium.
Everything is a learning experience, I suppose.
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