Every Yard?  Yes!  They count!  Every Hit?  OH HECK YUP!  They totes count.

I didn't think at the start of the year that every game would count.  I figured they might take a few and throw em out.  Like the way Rishi is with Jahvid Best's stats when comparing them to Quizz's stats.  "Hey, Best ran really well against UW, let's hold that against him!"

But, stunningly, every game did count.  Just as this prophetic video foretold.

So, now that the regular season is over, let's take a look at some of the games this year.  The dizzying highs.  The crushing lows.  The creamy middles.

Continue reading this post »

I see fellow Cal blogger SDGldnBear has beaten me to the punch, nevertheless, here's my take...

We all know what this post is going to talk about.  So let's just jump right in.

The play was first called an "ineligible receiver down field."  Later after the game, ABC news said the refs clarified it as an "illegal formation."  I tended to agree with the call upon first thought.  But now that I look at the play more and more, I think Pete Carroll might have convinced the refs that it was an illegal formation when the refs weren't going to call it.

So here's the play (above).  Cal needs at least seven men on the line of scrimmage (LOS).  I'm pretty sure you can have more than seven men on the LOS.  This is probably a question for Ragnarok to answer since he's the rules guru around here.  Are there at least seven men on the LOS? 

Well, we'll assume all the five offensive linemen are on the LOS.  Technically they can be flagged for not lining up on the LOS.  I've seen it happen like once in the 8 years or so that I've been watching football.  But we'll just assume all the OL guys are on the LOS. 

So that means we need two other players on the LOS.  Specifically, one of those players needs to be Tucker on the bottom of the screen, and either Ross or Boateng at the top of the screen.  Ross and Boateng both can't be on the LOS otherwise Ross would be covered up and when Ross heads downfield he'd be an ineligible receiver down field.  So it must be either Ross or Boateng but not both.

Is Tucker on the LOS?  It appears so.  He could probably be up a few more inches, but for the most part he seems to be on the LOS.  If you notice, Tucker's front foot is on the same yardline (the 28 yardline) as Cal's right tackle's front foot and body.  Thus, it truly does seem like Tucker is on the LOS. 

Is Boateng or Ross on the LOS?  First off, Ross is in the slot, and Boateng is on the outside.  Ross, relative to Boateng, looks to be off the LOS, and Boateng looks to be on the LOS.  But if you look at Ross' front foot, it's on the same yardline as Tucker's front foot (the 28 yardline).  So Ross certainly seems to be on  the LOS.  That makes Boateng like really on the LOS.

Continue reading this post »

As you can tell from these photos I took, it was hard to observe much of anything.

I've never sat up there for a game, but I feel pretty confident that Tightwad Hill has a comparable view of Cal Football to what I had in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Saturday night.  Anyway, Hydro has already covered much of what I would have to say about the game, but here are a few thoughts of my own:

 • Phantom Touchdown II?  I couldn't say for sure.  I don't know what you guys who watched the game on TV were able to see on the reply, but I'm sure it was a darn sight better than what I could see from my seats.  And I've got better than 20/20 vision, so I really feel for all the people sitting near me without excellent eyesight.

I can say that the in-stadium replay angle wasn't really conclusive; I remember it being mostly behind the receiver, where his body shielded us from seeing whether the ball hit the ground or not.  It was definitely questionable, and I would have liked to see some other angles, but if that's all the evidence Tedford had to go on if he was deciding to challenge, I can see where he might have hesitated.  Of course, by the time I got a text from a friend watching back home saying "Totally not a catch on that TD...", the extra point had long been kicked.

I will commend the LA Coliseum staff for consistenty showing replays in the stadium, even after questionable calls where the home team might have benefited from an oversight.  I've been to more than a couple stadiums that refused to show a replay precisely when the visiting crowd wanted to see it most (Arizona comes immediately to mind), and their accomodation was much appreciated, especially given my distant vantage point.

Continue reading this post »

Or, perhaps more appropriately, Shivering in Victory.  The associated press calls this game "Berkeley's worst game-day rainstorm in a decade."  I'm not sure if it was any worse than last year's USC game, which was definitely colder, but it was close.  Regardless, I feel a lot better now than I did after USC last year, and I doubt any Cal fans are complaining about the win.  And besides, RemorsefulBruinBabe reports that the ESPN crew gave a nice shout out to those of us who toughed it out in the rain: "If you are still in the stands right now [~45 seconds left in the game], you are a great fan."

There were 8 turnovers in the game, not including a snap out of the endzone for our long coveted safety (finally!  it seemed impossible that the refs could call anything else, but I was holding my breath and looking for a flag).  It was a pretty volatile game with a number of rapid, intense swings, especially in the second quarter as the teams tried to out-turnover each other.  Yet the biggest play of the game wasn't one of our four (!) lost fumbles, or even Worrell's huge interception at the end of the second half.  In a game full of huge plays, the biggest was a 5 yard false start.

via www.dkimages.com

He's no Ed Hochuli

Continue reading this post »

via imgs.sfgate.com

CBKWit did his post game thoughts.  And Twist started his usual photo essay.  Here are my post-UCLA game thoughts written the night of the game:

(1) Riley

If only Riley had played this well all season.  Then we wouldn't have had this QB controversy.  Fans wouldn't be at each other's throats.  CaliSeth wouldn't be on his self-imposed ban from the blog.  Olsonist and I wouldn't be arguing left and right (instead, we might even be friends! Imagine that!).  We'd all be happy, and the team would possibly be 7-0 (and ranked! oh noes!!!)

Today, in my opinion, Riley played pretty well.

[HydroTech addendum: A few days after the game I see that not all Cal sports bloggers are in agreement on how well Riley performed.  (See The Bear Will Not Quit explaining that "there is no reason why Riley shouldn't remain the starter if he practices and plays like this the rest of the way."); (Cf. Oski Talk explaining that "the killer part of the game was once again the poor play of the offense, including the QB, Kevin Riley."); (Cf. Bears With Fangs explaining that "Riley didn't set the field on fire ... and continued to misfire on a number of facets.").]

He had his mojo back.  He had a swagger.  I saw more energy, life, and confidence in his whole demeanor against today than I've ever seen from him before.  Perhaps this whole "QB controversy" was the push he needed - sort of a wake-up call.  The roles of Riley and Longshore are switched this year.  Last year Longshore was the starter whose job was at risk.  This year it's Riley who is the starter and job is at risk.  Riley appears to be responding well to the possibility of him not starting. 

Riley was "only" 11/22 today.  But there were definitely some catchable balls which were dropped no matter whether they were dead on target or slightly off target.  I think I can remember at least 3 which should have been caught regardless of the throw.  Add 3 to 11 and you get 14.  A completion percentage of 14/22 is just under two thirds and is good. Riley also had a solid 7.0 yards per attempt today.

In previous weeks we've talked about how Longshore changed a lot of plays at the LOS (such as against ASU).  Today, we saw Riley change tons of plays at the LOS.  When I saw Longshore's changes at the LOS against ASU, I said he had the requisite knowledge.  I think the same conclusion applies here to Riley now that we've seen Riley do extensive play selection at the LOS.  

After the ASU game, I was beginning to think that perhaps Riley hadn't been given the green light to do as many changes at the LOS as Longshore.  But after seeing today's game, that notion appears incorrect.

The ability for the QB to change plays at the LOS gives the Cal offense diversity - diversity which was slightly lost in the Dunbar year.  The QBs in the Dunbar offense had the ability to change the play at the LOS, but it didn't appear to be so built-in into the offense as it did with Tedford's offense last year, and what we seem to be seeing in Cignetti's offense this year.

Continue reading this post »

"If you multiply Tha1 by any integer, you get that integer."  via www.fearthebeard.org

Well, we've taken a look at many teams' stats over the past few weeks.  With the bye week, it seemed prudent to take a moment and actually LOOK at Cal's numbers.  There's been a lot of perception of stats, so let's see what the stats actually are. 

Continue reading this post »

After seeing Cignetti's playcalling after 5 games, what are your thoughts?  Is it too early to tell if Cignetti is a good hire or a bad hire?  Or are you ready to conclude he's incompetent?  CGB reader Jiggets seems to think Cal's offense is vanilla.  CGB reader RickySanchez brought up a few good points regarding the offense, namely pointing out how perhaps Cignetti wasn't adapting to take advantage of what the Maryland defense was doing.

So while doing my Reviewing Cal @ Maryland: What Happened to Cal's Running Game? post, I came across a cool playcall that I thought I might share.

Here's the situation.  Cal is at Maryland's 5 yardline.  It's second and goal.  Cal has 11 personnel on the field (3 WRs, 1 TE, 1 RB).  There are two WRs to the offense's left; and one WR and one TE to the offense's right (see picture below).

Continue reading this post »

PreGame

For the OSU game last year, I went onto the field for pre-game warm ups.  Snapped some good photos and potentially jinxed my beloved UC Cal (GO FIGHTING GOLDEN UC CAL!).  So, I was nervous returning to the scene of the crime.  What if the team lost in emotionally devastating fashion again?  I even wore the same shirt that I wore for the OSU game.  WHAT WAS I THINKING!?!?!?!?  Besides, yknow, that for some insane reason "My off the field actions can affect on the field action." 

But I did it for you, the reader.  I was willing to jinx the team and potentially cause myself to cry all to bring back some photos for you guys, SO YOU BETTER LIKE THEM.  Triple Los Sigh!

Honestly, you don't even have to get onto the field to get close to the team.  If you stand by the North Tunnel, players are running in and out all the time.

Continue reading this post »

We've got a lot of stuff coming up. Yellow Fever works his culinary magic.  We've got a Q+A with House of Sparky and a preview of ASU.  So, keep your eyes locked here. 

Before we get to the YTT, we've been posting a lot recently.  So, if you missed anything, look at our Post CSU thoughts, our CSU photos, photos, and more photos, the Fantasy Week In Review, and our debate over Top 25 rankings.  Also, the Roundtable.  And now back to the regularly scheduled Conspiracy post from HydroTech:

Let me preface this post by saying the purpose of this post is not to advocate any one QB over the other.  Personally, I just want wins and if that's Riley, then fine, if Longshore, then fine. 

The purpose of this post is to dispel some of the conspiracy theory talk floating around on why Tedford has started up the QB competition again mid-season.  I want to dispel some of these conspiracy theories because they really are getting out of hand and ridiculous. 

I know a lot of pro-Riley Cal fans are looking for some sort of way to explain why Tedford could put Riley's starting job at risk by opening up the QB competition again but let's stay grounded in reality here.  Some of these theories are really far out there.  Some of them are really grasping at straws.  I merely want to try and bring some reality and reasonableness back to the conversation.   

So let's get started with some of these "conspiracy theories..."

Continue reading this post »

Well, Addicted To Quack is organizing this whole Pac10 Roundtable thing.  8 out of 10 of the Pac10 teams (Boo Stanford and Arizona!!) have blogs that get together to discuss the news of the day. This week, it's at the ASU blog.  He has this to say:

"...the Ducks and Sun Devils are the only teams that has the moxie and across-the-board talent to legitimately challenge for the Pac-10 Title."

Firstly, note my awesome use of ellipses.  Secondly, what the Dorrell is going on here?  What team has more moxie than Cal?  Kevin Riley invented moxie in the early 20s, then went forward in time to help teach a young America how to love again.  He's the crown prince of moxie!

"Nobody drinks more moxie than Kevin Riley.  NOBODY!"  via www.metrocast.net

Oregon State will be represented by Building the Dam.  The Washington schools chime in with The WSU Football Blog and our newest SBN blog, UW Dawg Pound.  Conquest Chronicles and What's Bruin, Dawg? corner the SoCal market.  Finally, Pitchfork Nation comes to us from the hot state of Arizona.

Behind the fold, find the questions.  Also, interestingly enough, the answers.  GO BEARS!

Continue reading this post »