Remembering The Seniors: Kevin Riley

by TwistNHook on Apr 11, 2011 10:30 AM PDT in California Golden Bears Football

BERKELEY, CA - OCTOBER 09: Kevin Riley #13 of the California Golden Bears passes against the UCLA Bruins at California Memorial Stadium on October 9, 2010 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

[We are remembering the contributions of our senior footballers. We've already looked at Cameron Jordan. Today, we look at Kevin Riley]

TwistNHook: Well, this should be fun. Kevin Riley is a microcosm of everything Cal football from 2007-2010. Of knee jerk fans. Of ups. Of downs. Of everything.

Solarise: I will remember Riley13 fondly. Not just because the way his career ended, But because he always competed and stayed even-keeled through the up and downs. Arm Forces Bowl 2007 was Riley's signature game, leading Cal back from from 21-0 to victory. The Bears fans had high hopes after. Unfortunately things never quite worked out for Kevin.

Berkelium97: I'll remember Kevin as a fighter. He had some of the lowest lows of any QB during the Tedford era, but he kept battling back. OSU fiasco in '07? No problem, says Kevin Riley after leading Cal back from a 21-point deficit in the Armed Forces Bowl. After sustaining a concussion against Oregon in 2008, the medical staff had to take away his helmet to stop him from trying to continue playing. Then after his season-ending injury against OSU, he kept telling himself he'd be able to come back in and play. During the post-game press conference he said:

Especially coming off [the field], when I was like, `Oh, let me walk. I can walk, I'm fine. I'll go back in the game.' And then I put a little bit of pressure on it more, and I was like, `No way.' [Then, once on the bench on the sideline] I tried to walk again and say, `I'm fine, just strap me up'

He was the kind of guy who kept fighting, no matter how grim things looked. He was always trying to do what he could to help the team.

Despite being one of the most scrutinized QBs of the Tedford era, he put together a solid senior season before sustaining the knee injury. After a mediocre '08 season and an okay '09 season, he delivered a solid line in 2010: 60% completion, 2:1 TD-int ratio, and 7.5 yards per attempt. That's a pretty good set of stats considering he was behind the worst O-line of the Tedford era.

It's a shame he wasn't able to finish the season. He would have helped the Bears notch an upset over #1 Oregon, would have generated enough offense to hold off UW, and might have ended his Cal career on a high note with a Holiday Bowl win over a lethargic Nebraska. Instead, he'll always be remembered for "what could have been..."

Hopefully he gets a shot at some form of professional football. The NFL is a long shot, but he might have a chance in the CFL. After all he gave to us Cal fans, he certainly deserves it.

HydroTech: I think Riley was a victim of his own early "success" and from being the always-loved backup QB. I put the word success in parenthesis because I'm not sure if there was a lot of early success. I believe a lot of Cal fans perceived there to be a lot early and easy success for Riley. Most Cal fans will think of how Riley almost led a comeback in the 2007 Oregon State game, and his lights out play in the 2007 Armed Forces Bowl when the team couldn't get anything going with Longshore as the QB. But what Cal fans usually fail to remember is that Riley was just average throughout most of the Oregon State game. And while Riley's performance in the Armed Forces Bowl was undeniable lights out, Riley was aided by the return of Robert Jordan, Desean Jackson, and Thomas Decoud who were all suspended for the first quarter when Longshore was the QB. Since those facts where overlooked by most fans, they merely saw Riley as a superior quarterback to the ailing and failing Longshore.

After 2007, Riley was clearly the fan favorite QB on the roster. It was understandable, although perhaps not truly justified. Riley eventually won the starting QB position to start 2008, but then lost it half way through the season. Fans adored Riley so much they refused to blame him for any of the errors which occurred. I remember reading the fan boards that season. It was always Tedford's fault for trying to make Riley something he's not. Or it was Tedford's fault for not letting Riley run. Or it was Tedford's fault for making Riley stay in the pocket. It was Tedford's fault for benching Riley when he wasn't doing well, starting Longshore instead, and shattering Riley's confidence. Or it was Tedford's fault because Tedford was being overly loyal again.

That was the storyline the entire year. I have no doubt that it hurts when a QB gets benched, but Riley had his chances and unfortunately he didn't perform well enough to keep his starting job. In what might be the big ironic twist of fate, these same fans who once adored Riley would begin turning on him in 2009 and 2010 when Riley struggled. No longer did you hear people blaming Tedford for Riley's errors like you did in 2008, but instead it was just "Riley sucks." People started calling for the backups to start instead of Riley. Oh, how ironic. Riley, the ever-loved backup QB who fans wanted to see start, was now the hated starting QB who needed to be benched for a backup. In essence, Riley was now Longshore. Riley was now the QB that the fans hated.

I do think that if Riley hadn't ended his career by suffering a season-ending injury, that the level of venomous disdain for him would be much higher. As much as you may not have liked Riley as a QB, it's always heart-breaking to see a kid's dreams of playing football shattered when his knee gets hyper-extended backwards, and he falls to the ground in obvious excruciating pain. That injury right there rehabilitated Riley's image in the mind of a lot of Cal fans.

I will always be a fan of Riley. I don't hate him for Oregon State 2007. Everyone makes mistakes -- even when the coach just told you 1 minute beforehand to not get sacked or run with the ball. To me, he was a kid who went through the highest highs, and the lowest lows. He improved over the past few years. I think he grew more mature as a person and a player. He stayed out of trouble. He gave effort and wanted to win. That's all I ask for from the Cal Football players and he met all those expectations. I appreciate his play and effort for Cal Football.

TwistNHook: In some ways, Riley both under and yet over achieved at Cal. Very odd.

LeonPowe: I also think two more things marred the image of Riley - living up to Aaron Rodgers and even Nate's 2006 performances still relatively fresh in fans minds.

Me, I loved riley，but any QB who runs around looking for someone to block on runs and someone who clearly played with a lot of enthusiasm ("he's just like a kid out there!") and he always had a good attitude.

TwistNHook: The concern I always had was that his excitement and enthusiasm caused him to force throws when throwing it away might have been the better option.

Where do you see Kevin Riley's career taking him?

Solarise: I've asked around. Coaching is in Kevin's genes since his dad is a coach @ Beaverton. Kevin might bounce around the CFL/NFL for a couple of years. Someday he could make a terrific coach shaping young men's character & desire to succeed.

Yellow Fever: To the AFL for two years and then a career in insurance sales.

Seriously though, I don't think there's any room for him in the NFL, as a developmental quarterback or otherwise. His accuracy issues are pronounced and the sample size is definitely large enough that it's clear he's just not an accurate thrower. If he couldn't complete in the mid-55% range in college, what hope is there seriously for him to do better in the pros?

He might be able to spend some time in the AFL or AFL2 (whose tagline should be, so easy, even Joe Ayoob can do it), but there's roughly 0% chance he lands in a NFL training camp later this year. Assuming there are any training camps later this year.

OhioBear: To somebody's training camp in the NFL (if and when the lockout ends) and maybe on somebody's practice squad. Beyond that, I see too much inconsistency and accuracy issues to believe that Kevin will be a pro quarterback. And since the Arena League puts a premium on accuracy, I don't see him there either. I want to be wrong, however, because I like Kevin and appreciate his dedication to the Cal program.

His dad, Faustin Riley, is a legendary high school coaching figure in Oregon. I wonder if the coaching bug will rub off on him.

Solarise: Just checked. Faustin Riley is the head coach @ Sunset High in Portland after his stint as the offensive coordinator @ Beaverton. Kevin seems well positioned to get a shot @ coaching w/ his dad and perhaps someday w/ Tedford.

HydroTech: Unfortunately, I'd have to agree with YellowFever. I don't see Riley making an NFL roster. Competition at the QB position is so fierce in the NFL. Even college QBs with much better stat lines than Riley don't get drafted or even make it through training camp. I would find it pretty surprising if somehowRiley did. Don't me wrong though, I'd love to see it happen and I'm rooting for him, but I just think it's pretty improbable right now.

TwistNHook: And that wouldn't be a Faustian Bargain!

I'll show myself out.

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Comments

he always competed

True, though I’d prefer a QB who always completed. It certainly was an….interesting….run for Riley.

by Missing Barry on Apr 11, 2011 10:47 AM PDT reply actions

I liked Riley

After 2008. I liked Longshore before that.

Guess I’m the total opposite of the (BI) fans.

In other words, Go Bears!

by royrules22 on Apr 11, 2011 11:00 AM PDT reply actions

I’m with you here, though I was always pulling for Nate to have a solid end to his career

"Remember the Maine! TO HELL WITH STANFORD!"

by CruzinBears on Apr 11, 2011 11:04 AM PDT up reply actions

Yeah, I appreciated both Nate and Riley for what they were, but it was frustrating to see Tedford keep trotting out Nate when he clearly wasn’t healthy.

California Golden Bears: 2nd place is nothing to sneeze at!

by atomsareenough on Apr 11, 2011 12:03 PM PDT up reply actions

This.

"Remember the Maine! TO HELL WITH STANFORD!"

by CruzinBears on Apr 11, 2011 1:21 PM PDT up reply actions

I don’t know about that….if I remember correctly, on BI half liked Longshore and half liked Riley… we’d have running battles on the both of them endlessly…..I think Riley was a warrior but after awhile he seemed to “think” too much which got him in trouble…..Longshore pre-injury was probably a much better QB…I agree that Riley battled for everything though….can’t fault his heart

by Cal_Fan2 on Apr 11, 2011 12:19 PM PDT up reply actions

I don’t know if it was 50-50, but what I remember is that the pro-Riley camp was vitriolic in its anti-Longshore view and many took it the extra step of believing that Coach Tedford was somehow anti-Riley himself and put his personal agenda above winning football games.

Yes, I am an Old Blue. Now get off my lawn.

by Ohio Bear on Apr 11, 2011 12:43 PM PDT up reply actions

haha…..I think it still is about 50-50 actually….it comes in waves….I don’t think anyone hated Longshore but after his injury, he blew several games and people were clamoring.. but you are right about Riley…there are some people who HATE him with the passion of a 1,000 suns….I was critical of him at times I admit but never hated the guy….sigh…yes, there are some posters who think Tedford is the anti-Christ at times…..shaking head....

by Cal_Fan2 on Apr 11, 2011 12:49 PM PDT up reply actions

I think lots of people would have had a better view of Longshore if it weren’t for those crushing fourth quarter picks.

California Golden Bears: 2nd place is nothing to sneeze at!

by atomsareenough on Apr 11, 2011 2:24 PM PDT up reply actions

this.He had horrible 4th quarter stats

http://www.youtube.com/user/HANDSOMElifeOFswing - Cal Football Highlights+ More Bay area sports

by 4Ever Golden on Apr 11, 2011 2:40 PM PDT up reply actions

i think his TD-INT ratio was like 1-3 in 4th Quarter.

by JustBear on Apr 11, 2011 3:40 PM PDT up reply actions

I cant find the complete stats

but as of November 2007, 1 TD, 11 interceptions in the 4th quarter in his career at Cal.

http://forums.tigerfan.com/pro-sports-forum/62627-nate-longshore-worst-late-game-qb-ever.html

by JustBear on Apr 11, 2011 3:44 PM PDT up reply actions

I was all for Riley to start in 2008

But who wouldn’t? after seeing Armed Forces Bowl performance.
We got nothing out of the offense with Lonshore in the first quarter, he basically looked like Mansion. But as Hydro noted, Nate didn’t have DeSean and RoJo. But by camp, I had forgotten about that. All I remembered was Riley leading us to win vs. AF.

I still loved Longshore though. But who wouldn’t? He was a great QB in 2006 and first half of 2007.

by JustBear on Apr 11, 2011 12:51 PM PDT up reply actions

I wanted Longshore in 2008

In other words, Go Bears!

by royrules22 on Apr 11, 2011 10:46 PM PDT up reply actions

Above average quarterback that certainly wasn’t handed the greatest hand – a QB battle with Longshore, erratic line play, and medicore receivers. As for his professional prospects, I don’t see the NFL as a possibility.

It'll be just you, me, and Peter Nincompoop.

by BeastMode on Apr 11, 2011 1:33 PM PDT reply actions

Kevin took a lot of heat on and off the field and ALWAYS responded with CLASS!

Good luck with everything that comes your way Kevin!!! Go Bears!!!

Bring back the Pac-10!!!

by calas on Apr 11, 2011 1:50 PM PDT reply actions

Would have been nice to see what he could’ve done with the starting job in ’08 with no close #2…might have been a different career for Riley.

"We lose to Stanford in many sports, but if you want to make a Cal team quit, bring a weapon."
--Coach Clark

by carp on Apr 11, 2011 1:55 PM PDT reply actions

"knee jerk fans"

too soon?

by Oski4Heisman on Apr 11, 2011 2:04 PM PDT reply actions

i cannot forgive october 13th 2007, but i will forgive him.

by neodarksaver on Apr 11, 2011 3:15 PM PDT reply actions

Before I give my impression

I have to acknowledge that I haven’t met the young man. I also feel that for 18-22 year olds, these guys are under a lot of pressure and scrutiny.

With that said, I got the impression that Kevin was somewhat immature- and not even necessarily immature in a bad way (like getting into trouble), but just lacking the ability for self reflection. And that is probably true for many kids at his age, so I’m not trying to say he is inherently a bad person in any way. I got that impression form his interviews, interviews with Tedford, and just watching him walk off the field after a poor play. I always seemed like his was defensive or over-confident. It seemed like he just needed to say to himself and others when he made a mistake. (After clearly a mistake on his part, he would always be on the sideline arguing with Tedford, trying to defend himself, rather than just saying “I screwed up. I’ll try to do better next time.”

He seemed like a good guy who wanted to try his hardest, he just needed some more maturity for dealing with walking the line between confidence and recognizing his short-comings.

by JoeCarr on Apr 11, 2011 4:30 PM PDT reply actions

“I always seemed like his” → It always seemed like he

by JoeCarr on Apr 11, 2011 4:32 PM PDT up reply actions

Riley’s problems were exacerbated by issues with the OL and receivers but there were plenty of times where he screwed the pooch and made excuses. I think you assessment is fair but Riley matured over the years and figured out that playing QB for Tedford takes a lot of blood, sweat, and tears.

by Cali49a on Apr 11, 2011 6:10 PM PDT up reply actions

I still think Kevin should have started at UCLA in 2007

In my gut of guts I think things would have been different had Kevin started against UCLA.

It would have done him a world of good to get the OSU game behind him.
UCLA was clearly not a good team (we should have beat them handily.).
The Rose Bowl is probably tied with Stanford’s Circus Minimus as least intimidating venue in the PAC 10, so a great place for a young QB to get his first road win. And we all know Nate was still hurting.

I believe we would have won that game, and with Riley as QB we would have won the next week at ASU. Another game we “should” have won, particularly how it started with the D getting key turnovers and stops but we were only able to score 13 points, 7 of those by the defense (and a PAT). We could have easily been up 21 – 0 and that would have been the end of that game as it would have TOTALLY deflated ASU and their crowd.

At the very least, starting Riley against UCLA (and then ASU) would have given Nate much needed rest for his injury (whether that would have helped is anyone’s guess).

I think not starting Riley against UCLA was Tedford’s biggest miscalculation. But, then again, what do I know…

by fiatlux on Apr 11, 2011 4:45 PM PDT reply actions

I don’t disagree with this assessment at all. Even if Riley is just handing off and throwing safe passes with a limited gameplan, I think that helps us more than a gimpy Nate.

by LeonPowe on Apr 11, 2011 6:59 PM PDT up reply actions

Okay you two. Don’t take this personally but I think this is a great example of how Cal fans probably only remember the pick-6 in the 2007 UCLA game.

Did you remember that Longshore was 8/9 in the first quarter?
Did you remember that Longshore was 8/10 in the second quarter?

I bet you guys didn’t remember that, huh? I GUARANTEE you guys weren’t complaining about how it was such a mistake that Riley wasn’t starting that game when Longshore was lighting up the UCLA defense.

Longshore was even a lowly 5/9 in the third quarter. In the end, Longshore finished the day 22/34 with a 6.8 yard ypa. These stats aren’t bad at all. He did have three interceptions on the day, but it was actually more like two because the final INT was just one of those desperation hail marys.

I’m not putting this comment here to crap on Riley or to single you guys out, but I think you two are just perfect examples of how 99% of Cal fans probably remember the 2007 UCLA game — they only remember Longshore struggling in the second half (which is not entirely even his fault because the WHOLE Cal offense started having problems in the second half), and Longshore’s pick-6.

Anyways, if you guys could hop in a time machine and go back to the first half of that game, I bet you would see yourselves all happy and not questioning one bit that Longshore was starting that game. Hindsight is 20/20.

www.californiagoldenblogs.com

by HydroTech on Apr 11, 2011 8:32 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs

Yes, that pick-6.

But apart from that, what did you think of the play Mrs. Lincoln?

And yes, he did struggle in the second half… including two terrible passes on our first possession, after UCLA had scored a TD… and on the ensuing possession killing a drive with a bad INT.

And of course the pick-6. Just a terribly thrown ball / decision.

My point is not how Nate played, it’s that I would have preferred Kevin, for a variety of reasons.

by fiatlux on Apr 11, 2011 9:05 PM PDT up reply actions

Our biggest issue in the UCLA game was not at QB

Our defense gave up nearly 200 rushing yards and 23 points to a pretty putrid Bruins offense, one on a gadget play. Our running game managed a grand total of under 70 yards, and Forsett fumbled the ball in the red zone once. If Riley had been “handing off the ball” with a safe gameplan as was suggested here, we would probably have lost by an even wider margin. Longshore tore apart those coverage schemes for most of the game with Jackson and Hawk, but he received very little help from his teammates.

We also missed a field goal which ended up drastically changing the outcome of the game. We would’ve definitely been leading on the pick-6 possession and Longshore would’ve never had to force that throw.

Football is a team game, and a quarterback often shoulders too much of the credit and too much of the blame. True for Rodgers, true for Longshore, true for Riley.

Email: bearsnecessities@gmail.com

by Avinash Kunnath on Apr 12, 2011 12:11 AM PDT up reply actions

Gregory!!111

"We lose to Stanford in many sports, but if you want to make a Cal team quit, bring a weapon."
--Coach Clark

by carp on Apr 12, 2011 10:48 AM PDT up reply actions

What HydroTech said

is basically how I recall and saw about Riley’s career.

by Cali49a on Apr 11, 2011 6:01 PM PDT reply actions

I liked this article, and the comments as well, I really feel that Riley’s career at Cal is the ultimate Rorschach test for Cal fans; what you see in it reveals more about who you are as a fan, than anything about Riley.
I have friends who are more of the BI type, and they would bitterly complain about Riley’s play. I always said that (and still feel) that Riley wasn’t the problem. We had O-line issues, receivers who were aleregic to catching the ball, iffy special teams, etc. On the other hand, he wasn’t the solution either; he was not a lights out, other worldly accurate QB able to elevate the whole team with his play. But he was a gamer, and played for Cal to the best of his abilities; I wish him well.

Am I known as Cugel the Clever for nothing?

by Cugel on Apr 12, 2011 8:08 AM PDT reply actions

I had tons of friends NOT on BI that complained about Riley…..I agree about the OL and WR’s but he still missed a lot of easy screens etc, throwing over someone’s head….like someone else said, he was simply not consistent enough to be anything more than an average QB. Riley was certainly part of the problem for sure…..the coaches were also part of the problem

by Cal_Fan2 on Apr 12, 2011 7:59 PM PDT up reply actions

Well true, which is really what I was saying, he wasn’t that great. But do you really feel that in 2009-10 we would be contending for the NCG if we just had a better QB? Sure he could have been better (and that would have been nice), but then are we world beaters? I don’t think so.

Am I known as Cugel the Clever for nothing?

by Cugel on Apr 12, 2011 9:29 PM PDT up reply actions

I've never seen people react to a QB's throws like they did Riley...

If Riley didn’t put the throw in the receivers #s, perfectly in stride, with a feather touch, people would complain about the pass. It was ridiculous, particularly on some of the other boards. The number of passes that hit receivers in the hands and either went for an incomplete or an INT was amazing. Of course he had over and under throws and made some bad decisions… but every QB does (even Aaron Rodgers). A couple of times I did a play by play assessment and it was amazing how many times the receivers simply failed.

In any event, I like Riley. He had a great mindset. And contrary to what an above poster wrote, I remember Riley almost always taking responsibility and NOT making excuses. I think he deserved better.

by fiatlux on Apr 13, 2011 11:18 AM PDT up reply actions

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