Golden Nuggets: Arizona Week Press Conference

Breaking: Colorado will join the Pac-12 next year! This means Cal needs two OOC games next year since @Colorado is now a conference game.

At today's press conference Marvin Jones and Kevin Riley joined Tedford to discuss the loss to Nevada and the upcoming matchup against Arizona.  One of the biggest factors to the Bears' success will be the ability to withstand the Arizona pass-rush and open holes for Shane Vereen.  Here's a look at what Tedford and Riley said about matching up against the Arizona D. First, Tedford:

On the challenges Cal's offensive line faces against Arizona's defensive line

"If you watch the Iowa game and watch how - they're relentless in their pass rush. The two defensive ends can really get after you and put a lot of pressure on your tackles. And then inside they're very powerful and tenacious with their rush as well. And then they have a nice blitz package. They're a goof front and we're going to have to protect and try to stay out of situations where they're obvious passing situations."

On whether the offensive line has played well so far this season
"Yeah, actually, they have. The couple of sacks that we had last week early in the game, when we were backed up there, one was on the tailback and one was on the tight end. It wasn't on the offensive line, but anytime you get sacked, it's the offensive line's fault. There's other people involved in pass protection."

Riley:

On Arizona's pass rush
"Obviously they're a sound team all around, but defensively, their D-ends are just workers. They're not huge guys, but they kind of remind me of Oregon State's D-end Victor Butler a couple of years ago and things like that, how they're always coming full speed on every play. They're just good. At the end of the game [such as when Arizona recorded sacks on four straight plays against Iowa], you know it's different, because you know you're throwing the ball, and they came after him, and they weren't even bringing pressure, really. It was just the guys up front, and those things happen, but they're a good team, so we're going to have to be ready."
...
On how he rates the offensive line going into perhaps its biggest test so far this year at Arizona
"I think they've done a good job. I think they've gotten better every game. I think this week will be the biggest test and I think they're up for it. They're working hard. You've got to stop a lot of [the Wildcats'] twists that they do, because the D-ends are just coming. They just kind of crash with force in there and try and open up holes. We're going to have to be ready, that's for sure, because they can get after you."

After the jump Arizona opens as a 7-point favorite, the Wildcats hope to avoid another letdown against Cal, injuries may limit the running and passing game for the 'Cats, and the Bears talk about the loss to Nevada.  Meanwhile, Cal's other sports put together a solid weekend of competition.

Football

• The Daily Cal did a livechat with Marvin Jones this afternoon. Find out what his favorite food joint is, what he thinks of Andrew Luck, and some good stuff on the receivers and the team dynamics.
• Arizona opens as a 7-point favorite over the Bears.  Mike Riley's team gets no respect, as they are 17-point underdogs to Boise State.
• We've seen it before: Arizona rides a three-game win streak and a national ranking into the Cal matchup while Cal limps into the game following a demoralizing loss.  Once again, the Wildcats are hoping to avoid a letdown against Cal this year.
• Arizona will play without starting fullback Taimi Tutogi and possibly without star receiver Juron Criner.
• After several years of disappointment, has Mike Stoops finally turned around the Arizona program?
• Tedford and Mohamed provide more insight into the team's reaction to the loss to Nevada.
• The defense is eager to get back out on the field to prove that they're better than how they played last weekend.
• One game has not ruined Cal's season, says Ted Miller.  The Bears--and Kevin Riley--still have the opportunity to put together an impressive year.
• Cal has dropped to seventh in Ted Miller's Pac-10 Power Rankings.
• Andrea Adelson predicts a Cal-Georgia Tech Sun Bowl while Mark Schlabach sees the Bears taking on TCU in the Las Vegas Bowl.
• Mike Mohamed had to make a choice between sitting against Nevada and playing the rest of the season or playing against Nevada with the chance of aggravating his toe injury.  Mohamed should return to practice this week.  Allen will practice at 100% this week after sitting last week.  Tedford has decided not to disclose injury information for the rest of the season.
• Shane Vereen and DJ Holt were nominees for this week's Pac-10 Players of the Week.