Berkelium's on the trail hunting beavers or something, so I'm your GN host for today.
Ted Miller talks about what he believes will be the most uncertain position for the Golden Bears come 2010: secondary. You can watch the entire video here (which goes into detail about its failings last season and how it might improve this season). Here's the snippet focusing on the players themselves.
Now the Bears are replacing two starters from that unit, including standout cornerback Syd'Quan Thompson. In fact, it's fair to say that safety Sean Cattouse is the only sure thing to start next fall. Darian Hagan (who missed most of spring getting his academics in order), Bryant Nnabuife and Josh Hill each had decidedly mixed results at cornerback last year. In fact, redshirt freshman Steve Wiliams probably had the best spring at the position of the group.
After Cattouse at safety, there's Chris Conte, D.J. Campbell, Vachel Samuels, Chris Moncrease, and perhaps touted incoming freshman Keenan Allen, who's number one position is likely receiver.
In other words, there's some veterans, and there's some intriguing youth. But the vets didn't get it done last year, and you can't just assume youngsters, even touted recruits, or guys who are impressive in practice are going to produce on gamedays.
While I think Miller misses a key point (the lack of fundamentally sound linebackers made things much tougher for our secondary to adapt), for the most part he makes solid points that the secondary will be the toughest position to assess, especially with a new defensive coordinator entering the landscape.
What position are you guys most uncertain of going into 2010? Let us know in the comments! More links after the jump, discussing Mikey Mo, Nnamdi, and others.
Football
- Mike Mohamed is on the watch list for the Bronko Nagurski trophy (for the nation's best defensive player). Pac-10 players on the list include Chris Galippo (USC), Vontaze Burfict (ASU), Stephen Paea (OSU), Kenny Rowe (Oregon), Akeem Ayers and Rahim Moore (Ucla), and Thomas Keiser (Furd) (HT Ohio Bear)
- Great previews from Scout on the upcoming season: Comprehensive preview, offensive preview, defensive preview. Wasn't updated in time to analyze the loss of Chris Little though.
Basketball
- Max Zhang is still making his way onto the Chinese national team. All reports are indicating he survived the cut down to 16 members. Take a look at these photos!
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Emerson Murray will be playing for the U18 Canadian national team in FIBA's Americas Championship at the end of June in San Antonio.
Pac-10 Expansion
- More takes from Jon Wilner (who believed Larry Scott was the big winner), Coug Center (ditto), and Bears With Fangs (not as bullish, but admiring of his bold move)
- Stupid article from ESPN being critical of Scott. I think.
Bears in the Pros
- Nnamdi Asomugha received the Jefferson Award in Washington DC, otherwise known as the "Nobel Prize for public service."
Olympic Sports
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Rising senior Megan Jesolva talks about her trip to Germany as part of America's U23 squad in women's soccer.
- Kevin Grimes (men’s soccer coach) and Neil McGuire (women’s soccer coach) talk about the World Cup.
- Mark Matusak (1500 m), Steve Sodaro (3000 m steeplechase), Mike Morrison (decathlon) will be competing at the 2010 USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships Wednesday through Sunday.
- Former Cal swimmer Dana Vollmer does well at Santa Clara Grand Prix meet, winning three golds.
- Cal women's tennis sophomore Jana Juricova and junior Marina Cossou Receive ITA All-America Honors
- Future Cal golfer Ben An finishes the 2010 US Open at Pebble Beach with 15 consecutive pars.