Flying around out there?
Real physical?
Fundamentally sound?
What in the name of Oski is this madness?
Besides basic competence, the key differences in the Kaufman-coordinated defense were supposed to be:
1) Simpler, instinctive scheme allowing younger players to play fast, think less
2) An emphasis on attacking and getting upfield penetration instead of read/react
3) Multiple personnel packages, 4-3, 4-2-5, 3-4, 3-3-5
Is this what we're seeing? Are we not entertained? Let's get to the tape:
:
It's Northwestern's first possession after watching Cal march down and shove seven down their windpipe. Up to this point, the Wildcats have preyed on soft zone coverage to move the chains. They come out with 21 personnel and line their "superback," Dan Vitale, out as a wing to the bottom of the screen. Cal is in a 3-3-5, but have all three linebackers (Davison #31, Barton #8, Jefferson #7) on the line of scrimmage threatening blitz. There. Are. No. Deep. Safeties. Doom?
Pre-snap, Vitale goes in motion from bottom to top. Cal's safety, Michael Lowe #5, follows him. This suggests man coverage. I repeat, doom?
After the snap, Vitale runs an out pattern, but is absolutely smothered in coverage by Lowe. All of Cal's linebackers blitz, along with Stefan McClure (#21)....but it's a zone blitz. Trevor Kelly (#91) drops back into coverage. Meanwhile, Cameron Walker starts off by picking up their slot receiver, then turns him over to the outside corner while switching to underneath coverage. It's a subtlety, but the seamless hand-off in coverage between outside/inside defensive backs is EONS ahead of where we were last year.
Jefferson, McClure, and Davison apply pressure to Northwestern's QB. Lowe (not seen) is inside Vitale's DNA at the top, Walker has taken away the crossing pattern to the bottom, the deep outside corner (probably Allensworth, not seen) has their go route blanketed. All that's left is a shallow cross picked up by Kelly (#91).
Expecting a defensive tackle to cover a wideout is a mismatch. The Cal blitzers don't get there in time, and NU hits the crossing receiver in stride. He heads towards the sticks. Lowe, however, hasn't fallen asleep. He's done his job, but quickly comes off his man...
...and makes a first down saving tackle by upending the receiver well short of the marker. Simply put, this is fantastic safety play from a guy who took his lumps last year.
This sets up a critical 4th down. Somehow, Coach Fitz receives a transfusion of courage and elects to go for it. We cannot confirm nor deny that he was breathing heavily into a paper lunchbag while someone who actually has balls made the call.
At the snap, NU's Oline tries to cut Jefferson. Cal's safety, McClure, quickly reads a power run through the left A gap.
Moose Jalil (#90) can't be blocked one on one. He gets into the backfield and trips up the NU running back. 'Think it makes a difference that Jalil couldn't go all of last year? Meanwhile, Jefferson(#7) evades the cut-block and McClure fills the A-gap.
Jefferson and McClure converge on the Wildcat tailback well short of the 1st down line. Moose's helmet comes off completely on it's own. There's no way that the NU lineman could possibly have been holding because helmets just do stuff like that. On their own. Turnover on downs and a huge momentum arrow to Cal. Later this year, we might look to this down as a key difference-maker for our team's psyche.
Cal's offense did their job, and NU has the ball back looking at their second series. Cal is a base 4-3 while NU is using a single back and four wide receivers. Pre-snap, they motion a receiver towards the QB. Uncle Ray Davison (#31), looks to be coming on a blitz with the deep safety shifting over to cover the slot receiver.
It's a fly sweep using the tailback as a lead blocker. Attacking the edge last year was easy money. Heck, a granny on dialysis with an oxygen tank and a walker could probably have picked up 3-4 yards on Buh's "D." But Kaufman's boys react immediately. Davison(#31) attacks and is met by their tailback. Barr(#41) drives past his man and forces the ball carrier to the outside. Meanwhile, Clark (#54) and Scarlett (#17) have disengaged and taken pursuit angles. The NU linemen try to get to the 2nd level to pick off Cal's LB's...
...but Davison destroys his blocker and keeps contain. Jefferson eludes the big ugly bearing down on him and closes quickly on the ball carrier...
It's a tackle for no-gain. The Cal defenders swarm on the ball. Jefferson makes the play, but Davison is right there with him. And you've got to appreciate the backside pursuit from Clark and Scarlett. Maybe he's undersized, but Clark has a serious motor. Nothing fancy here, but you can appreciate how fast Cal's linebackers triggered to the ball with support from the Dline. This isn't just one guy making a great play; this is a well-coached unit attacking, flowing, and blowing up a run.
Now it's 2nd down, and Cal goes with a 3-3-5 to counter NU's single back set w/ 4 wideouts. With two deep safeties, it almost looks like a basic Cover 2...
...but there's nothing basic or conservative about this look. At the snap, Dozier (#37) at the top of the screen comes on a corner blitz while the boundary safety shifts over in coverage. Davison (#31) blitzes creating a five-man rush. NU tries to take a page out of the Cal playbook and runs playaction; they pull a guard towards the bottom while having their tailback step up in pass pro towards the top.
Their tailback has picks up Davison while the LT and LG double-team Barr. But this leaves Dozier with a free run at the QB...
...Somehow, their QB slips away from Dozier. But Barr is relentless. He drives past two blockers and charges upfield...
...the NU QB freaks the heck out. And flings a "don't-hurt-me" pass to no one. It's called intentional grounding and sets up Coach Fitz for a gutless 3rd and long draw play. Silly rabbit. We INVENTED the draw on 3rd and long. (Spoiler Alert: They didn't get it.)
Just for fun, here's a play that stood out from Cal vs. Sac St. The Hornets have a single back w/ 4 wideouts. Cal is in their base 4-3.
At the snap, Davison (#31) blitzes instead of staying w/ the slot receiver. Cal's outside corner (Walker, #3) gets blocked by their wide receiver while the slot receiver drifts to receive a smoke screen. Meanwhile, Cal's deep safety(not seen) shifts over suggesting a Cover 3 look; Walker become responsible for the flat while the safety takes any receiver going deep. On the backside, they leave the DE (Todd Barr, #41) unblocked because all the action is headed towards the top.
Why did this play stand out to me? It's a simple WR smoke screen...the type that would go for 15-20 yards every time last year. Our CB's would get manhandled, couldn't fight off their blocks, and it would be an easy gain. Notice Walker show off his new 25 lbs of muscle (160 -> 185 lbs) and drive past the attempted blocker. This is probably a Cover 3 look where Walker is responsible for the flat; he doesn't hesitate at all driving past the blocking receiver. This forces the Hornet QB to pause and hold onto the ball...
...which is not a good idea with Mr. Barr in the vicinity. Great play by Barr to get the sack and force the fumble. Good head's up by Davison to get the recovery. But this play is made by Cam Walker refusing to get blocked.
As fun as this has been, the real test comes this week in the desert. 'Zona has a legitimately potent offense; their wideouts can all break a tackle and go the distance while uber-frosh Nick Wilson has proved to be a worthy replacement for Kadeem Carey. New Wildcat QB Anu Solomon has been hot/cold, so expect a game plan focused on stopping the run while making him beat us with his arm.
Go Bears!