Cal vs Weber State: Previewing the Wildcats offense

For an FCS team coming off a record setting 76-0 win there sure isn’t a lot of information available on this team. The Weber State Wildcats come to Berkeley on the heels of one of their most dominant wins ever. They play the role the Bears played last week, a team with much to prove hoping to unseat a major favorite.

Player to Watch

Andrew Vollert, Tight End

Vollert has a well deserved axe to grind with the Cal Bears. He wasn’t recruited by the Bears in any of his three stops in high school, junior college or college. Now he is an all american FCS player looking to exert his revenge on a school that passed over him multiple times. Rusty Simmons did a great profile on what this matchup means to Vollert as he comes to Berkeley.

Vollert led the team in receiving last year, collecting over 800 yards and 7 scores in twelve games played. Vollert finished the first game of the season with 50 yards and a score. Expect him to be featured often in the passing game on Saturday.

What to expect come Saturday

Weber State averaged near 26 points per contest last season and significantly outperformed that average last week. Weber State will lean heavily into their run attack against the Bears and try to wear down Cal’s defense. Weber state scored eight of their ten touchdowns last week through their ground attack and that figures to be their approach on Saturday.

The Wild Cat offense is resetting at quarterback but Stefan Cantwell was extremely efficient in his debut last week, throwing for 163 yards and two touchdowns. He also added to the ridiculous collection of rushing scores Weber State had in their first game. Head coach Jay Hill focuses on playing clean games so it will be on the Bears to force the Wild Cat into mistakes.

This should be a very exciting matchup for the Cal defense as they can be slightly more loose with their game plan against the Wild Cat offense than they were against North Carolina. I would count on an increased number of blitzes coming early in the game, attempting to force Weber State to turn the ball over. The speed and athleticism of the Bears defensive line will give Weber State nightmares throughout the day and fans at Memorial Stadium should be welcomed to a very fun game for the Bears home opener.