California Golden Bears Ready to Contend in the Pac-12 North

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.