Cal @ Washington State Open Thread - 1st Quarter
Welcome to the first of 4 open threads for today's game at Washington State. I hope you've all found some place to watch the game, but if you haven't, we'll be liveblogging the game in the comments section, so relax and hang out.
****** Programming Note ********
If you can't see the game, you might be able to see it webcast. Try this: http://www.channelsurfing.net/
Scroll down to find: NCAA Football – Washington State vs Cal 7:30PM EST 9/6
Currently it’s showing some ads and a soccer game. Hopefully by 3:30 we’ll see some Cal ownage.
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Before we get to the game, though, I want to empty the notebook from the Michigan State game. If you've been around this site awhile, you know that I'm a stats guy almost to a fault. So when I got home from the game and saw that Michigan State had amassed 321 passing yards, I was definitely both disappointed and intrigued. Sure, we gave up some big plays, but I didn't remember our secondary being that porous. With the mindset of 'what gives?', I went to review the play-by-play to see what I could find.
Unlike HydroTech or CBKWit, I'm not looking at any game film when I'm writing these things. They're better at that sort of analysis anyway. I'm looking for effectiveness; namely, when Brian Hoyer dropped back to pass, how effective was Michigan State's offense? This means that I will be counting plays like pass interference, sacks, interceptions, and QB scrambles. I won't differentiate between Darian Hagan almost intercepting the ball and a wide-open MSU receiver simply dropping a pass; I'm concerned with results here -- did our pass defense get the job done, or do those 321 passing yards suggest we have reason to worry up in the Palouse today?
So, here's a drive-by-drive analysis of Michigan State's passing attack vs. our defense:

1st Quarter
Drive 1 : 10 plays, 18 yards, 3 1st downs (2 passing, 1 offsides penalty), punt.
2/6 passing for 7 yards.
In essence, you could call this first Spartan drive a microcosm of their offensive effort on the day. They were minimally successful running the ball, and when forced to go to the pass, they were only sporadically successful; big plays did happen, but not often enough, and mistakes ultimately doomed MSU to failure.
Hoyer starts out passing well, hitting 2 of his first 3 passes for 11 yards each and a couple first downs. But good coverage on 1st and 25 causes offensive pass interference, putting MSU into a 1st and 40 situation, and passes on 2nd and 3rd and 30 both fall incomplete.
Drive 2 : 3 plays, -4 yards, 0 1st downs, punt.
0/2 passing for 0 yards.
Here the pass defense holds, as passes on 2nd and 3rd and long both fall incomplete. The ensuing punt is blocked and returned for a touchdown.
Drive 3 : 5 plays, 18 yards, 1 first down (passing), punt.
Drive 4 : 3 plays, 7 yards, 0 1st downs, punt.
2/3 passing for 15 yards.
The third drive starts out well, as Hoyer hits a 12 yard pass for a first down, but then it's run-run-pass-punt. Drive 4 is more of the same, as Hoyer can't convert on third and long.
1st Quarter Totals : 4/11 passing, 22 yards, 3 passing 1st downs.
2nd Quarter
Drive 1 : 9 plays, 40 yards, 3 1st downs (1 rushing, 1 passing, 1 face mask penalty), missed field goal.
2/4 passing for 31 yards.
Like their first drive of the game, this one starts out well, with the first two passes being completed for 9 and 22 yards, but once MSU picks up 1st and Goal, a couple incomplete passes kill the drive, and the Spartans settle for a field goal attempt, which they miss.
Drive 2 : 3 plays, -8 yards, 0 1st downs, punt.
0/3 passing for -8 yards.
Hoyer begins the drive by running backwards and fumbling. He recovers, but throws two more interceptions. The epitome of ineffectiveness.
Drive 3 : 7 plays, 69 yards, 4 1st downs (3 passing, 1 pass interference), interception.
4/7 passing for 55 yards and an interception.
With time running out in the half, MSU goes almost exclusively to the air, and they have quite a bit of success. (Note, I counted the pass interference as a 15-yard complete pass.) Unfortunately for the Spartans, all those yards are for naught as the defense eventually gets to Hoyer, forcing him to throw up a dying quail that Syd'Quan Thompson easily picks off.
2nd Quarter Totals : 6/14 passing, 78 yards, 5 passing 1st downs, 1 interception.
1st Half Totals : 10/25 passing, 100 yards, 8 passing 1st downs, 1 interception.
Really not a very impressive 1st half through the air. Almost all of Michigan State's 1st downs came via the pass, but the completion percentage was pretty terrible, which ended up killing most of the Spartans' drives. The interception, some dumb penalties, and a missed field goal helps the defense pitch a shutout in the first half.
3rd Quarter
Drive 1 : 4 plays, 12 yards, 1 1st down (rushing), touchdown.
0/0 passing.
A blocked punt gives Michigan State a short field, and the Spartans simply give it to Javon Ringer, who needs 4 plays to punch it in.
Drive 2 : 5 plays, 21 yards, 1 1st down (pass interference), punt.
2/3 passing for 17 yards.
Again, these passing numbers include a 7-yard pass interference call against the Bears. Another drive stalls due to an incomplete pass on 1st down and a pass short of the 1st on 3rd down.
3rd Quarter Totals : 2/3 passing, 17 yards, 1 passing 1st down.
4th Quarter
Drive 1 : 14 plays, 97 yards, 4 1st downs (3 passing, 1 roughing the punter penalty), touchdown.
4/8 passing for 67 yards.
Michigan state finally puts together a long touchdown drive, though they can't take all the credit; this drive had already stalled (due to a couple of incomplete passes) when a stupid roughing the punter penalty gave it new life. The Bears gave up complete passes of 19, 24, 11, and 13 yards, yet they still should have stopped this drive at their own 39 yard line.
Drive 2 : 5 plays, 59 yards, 1 1st down (passing), field goal.
1/3 passing for 52 yards.
This was the drive with the simultaneous catch, accounting for the lion's share of the yardage. Of course, once in field goal range, MSU's passing game fails again, with a couple of incomplete passes forcing a field goal try.
Drive 3 : 8 plays, 64 yards, 2 1st downs (2 passing), touchdown.
4/8 passing for 64 yards and a touchdown.
With their backs against the wall (down by 14 with less than 5 minutes to play), MSU didn't even bother to run the ball. Though they still only completed 50% of their passes, this was the first and only long, sustained scoring drive that the Spartans would put together. Passes complete for 14, 5, 16, and finally 29 yards, this was their best performance of the day, and the Cal pass defense's worst. More drives like this and Michigan State would have been trouble.
Drive 4 : 5 plays, 21 yards, 1 1st down (passing), turnover on downs.
1/5 passing for 21 yards.
Of course, the results of MSU's next hurry-up drive aren't as good, as Hoyer throws 4 straight incompletions from midfield to ice the game. Much, much better defense this time.
4th Quarter Totals : 10/24 passing, 211 yards, 7 passing 1st downs, 1 touchdown.
2nd Half Totals : 12/27 passing, 228 yards, 8 passing 1st downs, 1 touchdown.
Game Totals : 22/52 passing, 328 yards, 16 passing 1st downs, 1 touchdown, 1 interception.
Not great numbers overall. A lot of yards, but over a lot of attempts, and a completion percentage well below 50%, which led to a lot of stalled drives. With nothing doing on the ground, MSU went to the pass almost exclusively when they needed a 1st (they ran just once of 3rd or 4th down), and if you're completing less than half of your passes, that's not a recipie for success.
Statistically, Cal's pass defense gave up a bunch of yards, but they didn't give up a lot of points. Whatever you want to say about the yardage, or the number of long completions they gave up (15 of 20 complete passes went for 10 yards or more), they got the job done, and in the end, that's what matter.
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Anyway, that's something to take a look at as the Bears try to contain WSU's Brandon Gibson. Consider this your 1st Quarter Open Thread.
Go Bears!!!!! Beat the Cougs!!!!
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Thin ice!
Thin ice!
"Save The Oaks: Overthrow Capitalism" said Dumpster Muffin sanguinely
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on
Sep 6, 2008 3:04 PM PDT
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0 recs
Interesting CougCenter thread about stopping Best and Vereen. Definitely worth a read!
"Save The Oaks: Overthrow Capitalism" said Dumpster Muffin sanguinely
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on Sep 6, 2008 3:05 PM PDT 0 recs
So if you're like me and can't watch the game on TV
Try this: http://www.channelsurfing.net/
Scroll down to find: NCAA Football – Washington State vs Cal 7:30PM EST 9/6
Currently it’s showing some ads and a soccer game. Hopefully by 3:30 we’ll see some Cal ownage
In other words, Go Bears!
by royrules22 on Sep 6, 2008 3:06 PM PDT 0 recs
I got that same "not authorized" message on channel 400
but they’re showing the “Cal Sports Highlights” thing on channel 99, so I think they might have the game there even though the guide says “local access programming”.
The A's colors are green and gold.
by mikeA on
Sep 6, 2008 3:14 PM PDT
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0 recs
second time today, need to read down...
The A's colors are green and gold.
by mikeA on
Sep 6, 2008 3:14 PM PDT
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0 recs
hmm
think it’ll show in berkeley too?
In other words, Go Bears!
by royrules22 on
Sep 6, 2008 3:07 PM PDT
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0 recs
if not, i can tell you where CBKWit lives…
So, basically, you gotta Go Bears!
by ragnarok on
Sep 6, 2008 3:08 PM PDT
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0 recs
Sweet Channel 99 showing Cal Sports report in Berkeley under Comcast!!
In other words, Go Bears!
by royrules22 on
Sep 6, 2008 3:10 PM PDT
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0 recs
Woohoo!
Thanks for th heads up
== Resident Point Tallier ==
by scottnak on
Sep 6, 2008 3:11 PM PDT
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0 recs
but missed the extra point. How many of those have we seen today, like 12?
by bearsglory on
Sep 6, 2008 3:09 PM PDT
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are they kicking PATs from the 40 yard line this year?
by bearsglory on
Sep 6, 2008 3:10 PM PDT
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0 recs
Locker: for every good play, he has 3 bad plays.
www.californiagoldenblogs.com
by HydroTech on Sep 6, 2008 3:10 PM PDT 0 recs
possible OT game if uw scores
www.californiagoldenblogs.com
by HydroTech on
Sep 6, 2008 3:13 PM PDT
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why doesn’t locker just keep the ball every time? why bother even passing?
So, basically, you gotta Go Bears!
by ragnarok on
Sep 6, 2008 3:13 PM PDT
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0 recs
Why don’t they just move him to running back and get someone who can throw an accurate pass?
by The Hombre on
Sep 6, 2008 3:13 PM PDT
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0 recs
great coverage by the byu db! He didn’t even look back for the ball! amaazing!
www.californiagoldenblogs.com
by HydroTech on Sep 6, 2008 3:14 PM PDT 0 recs
LOCKER??
"Save The Oaks: Overthrow Capitalism" said Dumpster Muffin sanguinely
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on Sep 6, 2008 3:15 PM PDT 0 recs
Whats the flag for?
"Save The Oaks: Overthrow Capitalism" said Dumpster Muffin sanguinely
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on Sep 6, 2008 3:16 PM PDT 0 recs
unsportsmanlike conduct
In other words, Go Bears!
by royrules22 on
Sep 6, 2008 3:16 PM PDT
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0 recs
BULLSHIT
"Save The Oaks: Overthrow Capitalism" said Dumpster Muffin sanguinely
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on Sep 6, 2008 3:16 PM PDT 0 recs
WORST PENALTY EVER
Seriously, I hate these unsportsmanlike penalties.
by Berkelium97 on Sep 6, 2008 3:16 PM PDT 0 recs
this is a terrible call
So, basically, you gotta Go Bears!
by ragnarok on
Sep 6, 2008 3:16 PM PDT
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0 recs
NCAA new rules suck balls
www.californiagoldenblogs.com
by HydroTech on Sep 6, 2008 3:16 PM PDT 0 recs
If they lose bc the 35 yard XP is missed thatd suck
"Save The Oaks: Overthrow Capitalism" said Dumpster Muffin sanguinely
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on Sep 6, 2008 3:17 PM PDT 0 recs
OH SHIT
"Save The Oaks: Overthrow Capitalism" said Dumpster Muffin sanguinely
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on Sep 6, 2008 3:17 PM PDT 0 recs
this is completey retarted
So, basically, you gotta Go Bears!
by ragnarok on Sep 6, 2008 3:18 PM PDT 0 recs
yeah, but it should never have come to that
So, basically, you gotta Go Bears!
by ragnarok on
Sep 6, 2008 3:19 PM PDT
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that kick was low anyways
www.californiagoldenblogs.com
by HydroTech on Sep 6, 2008 3:18 PM PDT 0 recs
that ball wouldn’t have made it over the OL anyways, that kick was a miss no matter what
www.californiagoldenblogs.com
by HydroTech on Sep 6, 2008 3:19 PM PDT 0 recs
yes, but he kicks it differently if it’s just a chip shot
So, basically, you gotta Go Bears!
by ragnarok on
Sep 6, 2008 3:20 PM PDT
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0 recs
he might have kicked it differently had it been a chip shot but that still doesn’t mean the kick would have been good.
www.californiagoldenblogs.com
by HydroTech on
Sep 6, 2008 3:23 PM PDT
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but atleast the refs dont call the game
In other words, Go Bears!
by royrules22 on
Sep 6, 2008 3:24 PM PDT
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But did the penalty affect the UDub Oline? They just collapsed. Yes, the kick was low, but thats bc it had to go 35 instead of like 8
"Save The Oaks: Overthrow Capitalism" said Dumpster Muffin sanguinely
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on Sep 6, 2008 3:19 PM PDT 0 recs
Worst ending ever
What an anti-climax. Fucking refs.
by BearsNecessity on Sep 6, 2008 3:19 PM PDT 0 recs
Bad call. Bad kick. Bad ending. Bad rules. Bad NCAA.
www.californiagoldenblogs.com
by HydroTech on Sep 6, 2008 3:20 PM PDT 0 recs
Tedford is on 400!
"Save The Oaks: Overthrow Capitalism" said Dumpster Muffin sanguinely
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on Sep 6, 2008 3:20 PM PDT 0 recs
Bull fucking shit call by the refs
Game BYU
In other words, Go Bears!
by royrules22 on Sep 6, 2008 3:22 PM PDT 0 recs
time to switch to the cal game
So, basically, you gotta Go Bears!
by ragnarok on Sep 6, 2008 3:23 PM PDT 0 recs
Sweet, even if I was crazy thinking it, I’m not alone!
by turkey on
Sep 6, 2008 3:26 PM PDT
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Mendenhall's acting like an ass
“The rules are the rules.” Ugh.
by BearsNecessity on Sep 6, 2008 3:24 PM PDT 0 recs
Yeah, that was a pretty crappy interview on his part.
by Berkelium97 on
Sep 6, 2008 3:25 PM PDT
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0 recs
What did Locker allegedly do, anyway? (Watching a Gamecast is not helpful for some things…)
by bearsglory on Sep 6, 2008 3:25 PM PDT 0 recs
he threw the ball up in the air afer scoring the touchdown
www.californiagoldenblogs.com
by HydroTech on
Sep 6, 2008 3:25 PM PDT
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0 recs
The TD run where he, yknow, nearly got tackled twice and capped off an 18 play drive of insanity!
"Save The Oaks: Overthrow Capitalism" said Dumpster Muffin sanguinely
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on
Sep 6, 2008 3:26 PM PDT
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0 recs
this year, yes, pretty much
www.californiagoldenblogs.com
by HydroTech on
Sep 6, 2008 3:26 PM PDT
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0 recs
NAKAMURA GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL
….doesn’t look like the cal game is going to be webcast
by rurata on Sep 6, 2008 3:26 PM PDT 0 recs
It’s a long shot but Japan may crash the BCS party.
by The Hombre on
Sep 6, 2008 3:29 PM PDT
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The site says 7:30 EST as the start time. Weird
Make me proud again Hen
by AndYourBirdCanSing on
Sep 6, 2008 3:35 PM PDT
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East Carolina's shoving it down
17-3 in the 3rd quarter, on their way to another TD.
by BearsNecessity on Sep 6, 2008 3:26 PM PDT 0 recs
wow, guess I was wrong. WVU is looking really bad right now.
by bearsglory on
Sep 6, 2008 3:29 PM PDT
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I mean, I know they are toughening up on the celebrations, but a game winner at the bottom of the 4th quarter? Talk about sapping the essence of the game.
by bearsglory on Sep 6, 2008 3:26 PM PDT 0 recs
Really what is it with punishing celebrations
I can understand punishing insulting other fans or players or stuff like that but celebrating a potentially game tying TD with your teammates should NOT be punished
In other words, Go Bears!
by royrules22 on Sep 6, 2008 3:28 PM PDT 0 recs
absolutely agree. the rules need to be adjusted.
So, basically, you gotta Go Bears!
by ragnarok on
Sep 6, 2008 3:30 PM PDT
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If I were a UDub fan I’d be looking to tear those refs in half.
by bearsglory on
Sep 6, 2008 3:30 PM PDT
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IT'S STARTING IN THE PALOUSE!
In other words, Go Bears!
by royrules22 on Sep 6, 2008 3:30 PM PDT 0 recs
Wake Forest to be upset?
Mississippi down only 6 with 4 min to go ball on the WF 22.
by Berkelium97 on Sep 6, 2008 3:31 PM PDT 0 recs


