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Around SBN: Africa Cup Of Nations Semifinal: Black Stars Ripe For Upset?

Cal as Rush First Offense?


What was exciting to me about the Big Game, other than winning of course,  was the dominant performance of the rush offense.  Reading the recent posts of YPC for the Tedford era, I was not math major but if you average more than 5 yards per carry - wouldn't that lead to a first down every two or three downs if you just consistently ran?  Obviously, those stats are bolstered by the big play homerun runs that Best and Vereen have been so prolific at breaking but pounding the rock consistently increases the odds of having more of those - doesn't it?  Having felt the highs and heartbreaking lows of Air Levy, Air Ayoob, Air Longshore, and now Air Riley, I personally long for putting our hopes with the best Cal players on the field and the QBs ain't them. 

During this Big Game for the first time maybe since Aaron Rodgers waited in the draft green room too long, I felt confident that the offense was going to consistently move the ball on a quality opponent (i.e. not Washington St. or CSU.)  The heavy dose of Wildbear mixed in with some other run plays in different formations and the short passes with Riley rolling out and making simple reads or running seemed unstoppable.  The offense actually matriculated the ball down the field with over 9 play drives that ate up seemingly whole quarters, physically wore down the opposing defense, kept the other offense off the field, kept the Bear defense fresh, and deflated the morale of the opposing team.  This, I believe, is what made OSU and Stanford successful the past couple of years (especially against SC) and it is immensely less risky than relying on a less than stellar QB and inconsistent WRs that often 3 and out and places a heap of pressure on the defense (given that you can rely on Alamor's Special Teams Coverage to give up a huge play at least once per game - please Ted, please one time!). This approach has been somewhat of a trend in the NFL with the two-back sets of Tennessee and Carolina who have RBs with game breaking speed.       

Is this approach going to be an anomaly or the new Bear black?

The opinions expressed in a FanPost are, in every way, reflective of the opinions of every California Golden Blogs Marshawnthusiast. Moreover, they are reflective of every employee of SBNation, including Tyler "Blez" Bleszinski.

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well...Tedford has always liked

balance.

so while we might be a run first sort of arrangement, we are always gonna throw plenty as well.

Go Bears Go

by Rocksanddirt on Nov 25, 2009 12:32 PM PST reply actions  

Tedford has always been run first since he first arrived at Cal. As good as Rodgers was, JJ Arrington was even better that year. Over 2,000 yards! 10th best total in NCAA history and 2nd best in Pac-10 history! As rocksanddirt said, Tedford likes balance – establishing the run is what makes the whole offense work.

by Missing Barry on Nov 25, 2009 1:35 PM PST reply actions  

This. There’s a great rusher almost every year under Tedford.

by sec119 on Nov 25, 2009 2:45 PM PST via mobile up reply actions  

You make it sound like Tedford wants to rely on a “less than stellar QB and inconsistent WRs.” This simply isn’t the case. But I think you made that comment to say that relying on passing only is not advisable due to the sub-par QB play and inconsistent WRs. Unfortunately, Cal’s running game is not strong enough to just run the ball every down and thus Cal must rely on the “less than stellar QB and inconsistent WRs.” Nevertheless, as so many others have pointed out, Cal has always been a run-first team.

www.californiagoldenblogs.com

by HydroTech on Nov 25, 2009 1:57 PM PST reply actions  

Nothing new here

As others pointed out, Tedford is definitely a “Rush sets up the Pass” guy. I think it’s part of the philosophy of minimizing the risks of passing, while not being afraid of it.

And, the fact that EVERY STINKING YEAR (with the possible exception of this one) that he’s been here, we’ve had a 1,000 yard rusher. Not even SC can say that.

Whose Axe?

OUR AXE!

by SoCal Oski on Nov 25, 2009 2:48 PM PST reply actions  

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