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Tackles, Tackles, And More Tackles! Cal Linebackers In 2011

TwistNHook: Be honest here. How much are we going to miss Mychal Kendricks and D.J. Holt? They seemed especially key to our defense this year!

Atomsareenough: With the play of our young OLBs McCain, Wilkerson, and Whiteside this year, not to mention guys like Brennan Scarlett, Jason Gibson, and Jalen Jefferson coming up the pipeline, I'm pretty bullish about depth on the outside. The major concern is, as Twist pointed out, how to replace Kendricks and Holt on the inside. Last year, the worry was replacing Mike Mohamed at the key middle linebacker position, but the experienced and talented Mychal Kendricks gamely moved in from outside linebacker. Fortunately for the Bears, Kendricks was more than up to the task, earning Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year honors, and he and Holt turned out to be a huge strength and source of stability for the Cal D. It seems likely that juniors JP Hurrell and Robert Mullins, who have the most game experience, will continue to see the field next year on the inside, but will they be the starters, or will well-regarded but unproven underclassmen such as Nick Forbes or Nate Broussard earn starting roles? With the depth we have on the outside, could Wilkerson move back inside and start for the Bears? Will Fanua and Krebs be able to contribute? I feel like there are way more questions than answers at this point.

NorCalNick: To me, replacing Kendricks and Holt is the biggest concern of the off-season, potentially only surpassed by replacing Mitchell Schwartz. They were the rocks on defense - with injuries to the secondary and outside linebackers, and a rotation on the d line, they were the few players who played pretty much every snap, and they were awesome.


They were so awesome that I don't really recall seeing much action for inside linebacker back-ups. As a result I have no idea what to expect on the inside next year. Atoms talked about all of the choices - veteran backups, up-and-coming youngsters, guys with OLB experience - nothing would surprise me, which makes it really hard to speculate.

Star-divide

Kodiak: This year, I had assumed that we'd be solid in the middle with Holt and Kendricks, but take our lumps on the outside. It wasn't too surprising to see the trio of McCain, Wilkerson, and Whiteside struggle a bit early. But, they really seemed to make steps towards the middle of the year. It was unfortunate that both McCain and Wilkerson were injured right when they were finding their way.


Holt was a bit overshadowed because the other guys were the ones making the big plays, but a case could be made for him as the defensive MVP. He did everything well and was rock-solid consistent.

Kendricks was incredibly versatile. Although he had to make some adjustments to different coverage responsibilities early in the year, his ability to play inside or out and stick with wide receivers in our nickel package really helped take pressure off of our secondary.

Right now, I don't see anyone who can easily duplicate what Holt or Kendricks brought to the field; at least, not on an every down basis.

Moving forward, we have speed and athleticism, but we're going to be short on experience. Worst-case, it's a situation similar to when we lost Follett, Felder, Bishop, and young - even though the players replacing them were theoretically faster, they didn't have the same instincts or play-recognition. If we're allowed to pump some sunshine, I'm not sure if we've ever been able to fill our linebacking depth chart with guys who were AAs in high school.

If I had to guess, it would be McCain and Whiteside on the outside, and Wilkerson will move back to his natural spot at one ILB. The other ILB spot will be up for grabs between Forbes, Mullins, Fanua, or Hurrell. Right now, I'd give the edge to Mullins on experience; he was the one who subbed in when Kendricks was out. It might be a situation like this year with Campo/Davis giving way to McCain/Wilkerson/Whiteside with Mullins starting and eventually sharing more snaps with Forbes or another youngster.

Realistically speaking, we're probably a year away from having a dominating linebacking corps. It'll still be fun to see who eventually wins playing time, however. We might give up more than our fair share of play-action passes to the flat, or tight ends down the middle, but we'll hopefully be able to offset those with some TFLs and sacks. Once the young guys figure it out, I wouldn't want to play against our defense. The pieces are in place (dominoes!) for an absolutely nasty unit.

LeonPowe: In making a mistake I've always made, I feel fairly comfortable about replacing losses because we've been able to do it consistently before. From des bishop to the Williams felder follett trio to Miley mo to Kendricks/Holt we've had decent to good linebacking for what seems like forever. (why I didn't give Sofele the benefit of the doubt with Gould is another matter) I think we'll be golden at backer for years to come, praise Tosh.

Avinash: Kenwick Thompson deserves a lot of credit. The linebackers had plenty of hiccups this season, but it's hard to get everything right fundamentally in such an aggressive scheme Pendergast employs. Those type of defenses are always subject to various counterattacks by the offense to exploit weaknesses in gaps, so it's hard to get it right at the beginning (and at times you can look really, really bad).


But they shaped up. The difference between their play in September and October is significant, and it only got better in November. Credit Thompson for finding players who could run the scheme even when depth got hit late in the year. Hopefully over the next season or two depth will become less of an issue.

OhioBear: When a unit has the Pat Tillman Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, that's nothing to sneeze at. I was surprised that Mychal Kendricks won the award, but the more I replayed the games in my mind's eye and looked at the statistics, I can't say that it was undeserved. Kendricks had a very, very good season. There were numerous games (none more than the Big Game) when it seemed like the dude was EVERYWHERE .


That said, we will miss Kendricks. And we will miss D.J. Holt, probably more than we know. Losing those two guys will hurt, but I somehow remain confident in the guys that are left. I am excited about what Chris McCain gives this defense in terms of an outside speed rusher. I thought Cecil Whiteside did some good things, too, in the time he saw the field. David Wilkerson is also a guy I expect to really step up.
Poll
What's your view on the backers?
Pain Train 2.0! We're really going to miss Holt and Kendricks
113 votes
Looking OK, hoping some of the young guys step up
104 votes
Was really hoping for more out of them this year
8 votes

225 votes | Poll has closed

Comment 26 comments  |  0 recs  | 

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Side note really quick.....

Chris Harper commits…..

ItsChrisHarper Christopher Harper
RT @danielsong89: @ItsChrisHarper “I will be attending the University of California, Berkeley” -Chris Harper, 12/14/2011

by Cal_Fan2 on Dec 15, 2011 8:03 AM PST reply actions  

Per Biggins
Wide out Chris Harper (Encino, Calif./Crespi) committed to SMU two weeks ago on an official visit. He still tripped to Cal over the weekend and when the Bears put an offer on the table during the visit, the receiver jumped on it.

"Cal is kind of like a dream school for me," Harper said. "I visited in the summer with Bryce [Treggs] and fell in love with the place. They recruited me all year, but I had no idea if they were going to offer me or not.

"On Saturday, I talked to Coach Tedford, and he told me they were offering me a scholarship and he wanted me to be a Bear. I couldn’t believe it. I was seriously blown away. I wanted to commit right there on the spot, but I knew I had to talk to my dad first. When I told him I wanted to switch to Cal, he wasn’t too happy at first, but we discussed it again Tuesday night and decided Cal was just too good of an opportunity to pass up."

Biggins

by Cal_Fan2 on Dec 15, 2011 8:33 AM PST up reply actions  

Let's see...

Cal…SMU…
Cal…SMU…
Cal…SMU…

by HeyAlumniGo on Dec 15, 2011 8:41 AM PST up reply actions  

Mullins is not returning next year. I believe he will be done with school and moving on.

by Cali49a on Dec 15, 2011 9:30 AM PST reply actions  

…so there will be even less depth at ILB. :-/ I hope Nick Forbes is ready to contribute in a major way.

"i, for one, welcome our new atomic overlords" - GoldBlooded

by atomsareenough on Dec 15, 2011 9:32 AM PST up reply actions  

What!? Where did you hear this? This sucks

In other words, Go Bears!

by royrules22 on Dec 15, 2011 10:40 AM PST up reply actions  

I’m indifferent about it.

by Cali49a on Dec 15, 2011 6:52 PM PST up reply actions  

I think you guys covered most of what needed to be said about the 2012 LBs. Spring ball will be much needed this year.

We all know that Kendricks and Holt will be missed but I’m more worried than you guys. There’s lot of talent in the wings but there’s going to be a major dropoff in experience at ILB spots in 2012. The consistency and production that Holt and Kendricks brought is not going to be replaced easily.

by Cali49a on Dec 15, 2011 9:36 AM PST reply actions  

Who do you think the starters are going to be? Wilkerson and Forbes?

"i, for one, welcome our new atomic overlords" - GoldBlooded

by atomsareenough on Dec 15, 2011 9:44 AM PST up reply actions  

I honestly have no idea. We saw how somebody of Kendricks’ talent and experience initially struggled adjusting back to the inside after Spring and Fall ball so I’m thinking it’s probably going to be equally as rough for Wilkerson to make the transition. Forbes has been banged up practically his whole time here and Scarlett went down as well this year and is young but tremendously talented. Broussard is young and unproven. Those are probably Cal’s most talented guys that can take over on the inside. Maybe Hurrell and Fanua can step it up but I really doubt that will happen based on what I’ve seen from them. However, I think we’ll see those two initially as starters during camps but I’m hoping (and thinking) that the other guys will surpass them sooner rather than later.

I don’t think bringing a JC LB is the answer here because Cal has not had much success with MLB/ILB instant impacts players from those ranks (unless they are Desmond Bishop caliber). Barton and Nickerson are too young imo and unless a rabbit gets pulled out of the hat, I don’t think Cal will be getting help on the inside from this recruiting class.

by Cali49a on Dec 15, 2011 10:19 AM PST up reply actions  

Jalen Jefferson’s name should be thrown into the mix, too, but I’m not sure what the staff has planned for him.

by Cali49a on Dec 15, 2011 10:25 AM PST up reply actions  

I’ve heard Tedford say good things about Fanua in the past, but I can’t say I really recall him making many noticeable plays on the field.

"i, for one, welcome our new atomic overlords" - GoldBlooded

by atomsareenough on Dec 15, 2011 10:25 AM PST up reply actions  

Does he ever say anything bad about his players? Very, very, very rarely does he say anything negative.

by Cali49a on Dec 15, 2011 6:33 PM PST up reply actions  

He usually doesn’t single people out for praise if they’re not deserving of it either, though. I remember him talking about Fanua as someone who was playing well. May have been in fall camp or something.

"i, for one, welcome our new atomic overlords" - GoldBlooded

by atomsareenough on Dec 15, 2011 10:14 PM PST up reply actions  

i think they’ll be our starters in the middle. but what do i really know?

by j.lee on Dec 15, 2011 1:35 PM PST up reply actions  

Who do you think the starters are going to be? Wilkerson and Forbes?

"i, for one, welcome our new atomic overlords" - GoldBlooded

by atomsareenough on Dec 15, 2011 9:45 AM PST up reply actions  

Who do you think the starters are going to be? Wilkerson and Forbes?

by JustBear on Dec 15, 2011 11:02 AM PST up reply actions  

There is no way to say this without being a dick

but Hurrell and Fanua are not the answers for the inside. Unless they have a breakout year (which I just don’t see happening) or there’s a major coup in recruiting over the next 1.5 months, there’s going to have to be some switching of positions and young guys currently on the roster that need to step up to fill the inside spots. My guess is that the struggles we saw at OLB this year will be similar to what we’ll see next year with the ILB spots initially.

by Cali49a on Dec 15, 2011 9:44 AM PST reply actions  

when Follet Felder Williams departed

Eddie Young and Mike Mohamed returned as starters (Mohamed wasnt a starter in 2008 but he played more snaps than anyone else). Senior Devin Bishop and Soph. Kendricks became new starters, but even with Kendrick’s talent, he didn’t play consistently and disappeared in the second half. Bishop stayed as starter all season.

I think next year, if they move Wilkerson to ILB, then the other ILB position will likely be given to Hurrell at first, seeing how Tedford usually likes to give veterans an edge for their experience. But eventually some young ones will start playing more minutes off the bench, and take over the starting position by mid-season.

And seeing how DJ Holt and Mychal Kendricks played a lot as sophomores but struggled at times, I would expect our new LBs, even with spectacular talent and potential, it will be a challenge to play at high level consistently.

by JustBear on Dec 15, 2011 10:56 AM PST up reply actions  

even with Kendrick’s talent, he didn’t play consistently and disappeared in the second half.

Did he disappear in the second half or the second part of the season? If you meant the former, then I have no idea what you are talking about. If you meant the latter, then people should know that Kendricks got injured in 2009 and played through pain midway through the season until the end of the regular season. That definitely affected his performances. He started again in the bowl game and was his usual self after being able to rest up for a few weeks.

Bishop did not start the whole season but he did for most of it.

Everything else you got I agree with.

by Cali49a on Dec 15, 2011 6:50 PM PST up reply actions  

i meant second half of season.

And yeah, I remember he got injured, but I didn’t think it was that bad of an injury since he played every game that year. Well, I think he has played in every single game since his true freshman season. What injury was it?

by JustBear on Dec 15, 2011 9:20 PM PST up reply actions  

It was bad because it was a shoulder and it kept lingering which affected how many snaps he saw.

by Cali49a on Dec 17, 2011 10:01 AM PST up reply actions  

Off topic, but

Just read that Tiger Woods will be the “Honorary Captain” for the Furd in their bowl game. Not enough that he did not graduate from there, I guess it worked out so well the last time (Big Game 2009) that they thought they would try it again. I thing Shane is still running over them.

by GoldenBear 77 on Dec 15, 2011 11:22 AM PST reply actions  

guess we should tell the okie st folks to booooo!!! him.

by j.lee on Dec 15, 2011 1:34 PM PST up reply actions  

Hunter Mahan and Rickie Fowler

both went to Okie State, and both have more tour wins than Tiger over the last three years.

by cjwethers on Dec 15, 2011 2:45 PM PST reply actions  

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