California Golden Blogs - Cal v. Arizona 2013 Gameday StreamThe OG CGB team moved to WriteForCalifornia.com. Cal Golden Bears coverage by SBNation.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48267/cgb-fave.png2013-11-05T07:30:09-08:00http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/rss/stream/48220232013-11-05T07:30:09-08:002013-11-05T07:30:09-08:00Jared Goff not improving as season progresses
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<figcaption><a href="http://calbearsonline.com" target="new">Cal Bears Online</a></figcaption>
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<p>Although the Bears seem to be improving, the Cal quarterback situation still seems stuck in neutral.</p> <p><b>What were the biggest negatives to take from Cal's loss to Arizona?</b></p>
<p><b>LeonPowe: </b>That we keep losing. <br><br><b>Vlad Belo: </b>Losing itself is the biggest negative. This program needs a win over an FBS opponent in the worst way. Coach Dykes has talked about changing the "culture" in the program; that's all well and good and I appreciate that. But it would sure be nice if the hard work and buy-in to the culture change were rewarded with a victory. <br><br>As far as negatives besides the scoreboard, I am disappointed that Cal did not do more to seize the opportunity to win the game when they had a chance. When Cal got the ball back down only one score late in the third quarter, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/162538/jared-goff">Jared Goff</a> threw the interception that led to an Arizona TD to put us behind by two scores again. And then we couldn't finish the job on the drive where Goff threw the pick in the end zone with the score 33-21 and still 10:27 left in the game. Maybe it's the lack of experience generally or lack of experience being in tight game situations specifically, but Cal certainly didn't look like a team that was ready to go out and take what was there to be taken.</p>
<p><b>Sam Fielder:</b> I didn't think that Goff looked great. He was decent, but there were some great catches made by the WRs on some iffy throws. The other huge negative for me is that we still can't defend a running QB. FRUSTRATING.</p>
<p><b>Leland Wong:</b> The most disappointing development from the Arizona game is, for lack of better term, a continued limiting of the offense, which is the opposite of what one would expect as a team has more experience in running a system. Arizona would routinely rush three and drop eight into coverage, leaving lots of open field in front of the quarterback. We might have had some success with the quarterback running more readily, like Goff scrambling (which he did once for a big ten-yard gain) or even using the Boehmcat in select situations. We might have been able to sneak Lucus Gingold out in the flat for a solid gain in all that empty space. On that note, I'd love to see us run out of the Grizzly for some more power and balance rather than the shotgun, which resulted in a safety against the Wildcats. I'm calling this limit placed on the offense because we've seen these packages used in the past, but they've essentially disappeared since then.</p>
<h4>More from California Golden Blogs:</h4>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2013/11/5/5065808/a-golden-spotlight-on-cal-vs-arizona?utm_source=californiagoldenblogs&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">A Golden Spotlight on Cal vs. Arizona</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2013/11/4/5067958/two-cal-players-fight-one-sent-to-hospital?utm_source=californiagoldenblogs&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Two Cal players fight, one sent to hospital</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2013/11/4/5066830/cal-olympic-sports-week-in-review-the-week-with-a-bunch-of-splits?utm_source=californiagoldenblogs&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Cal Olympic Sports Week in Review: The Week with a Bunch of Splits</a></li>
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<li><a href="http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2013/11/4/5063420/this-week-in-the-pac-12-go-oregon-week?utm_source=californiagoldenblogs&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">This Week In The Pac-12: GO OREGON WEEK</a></li>
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https://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/cal-vs-arizona-2013/2013/11/5/5067852/california-golden-bears-football-2014Avinash Kunnath2013-11-04T07:30:07-08:002013-11-04T07:30:07-08:00What were the positives of the Arizona loss?
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<figcaption><a href="http://calbearsonline.com" target="new">Cal Bears Online</a></figcaption>
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<p>Cal showed some significant strides in playing it pretty close with Arizona.</p> <p><b> What were the biggest positives to take from Cal's loss to Arizona?</b></p>
<p><b>Sam Fielder:</b> Improvement and fight. After watching last season's team fall apart down the stretch (I mean the whole season was a disaster but still...) it was nice to see Cal come out and not sleepwalk through this game and actually keep it close (Geez, moral victories really suck). Both sides of the ball showed improvement over what we've seen lately and there was even a lead! Hopefully this is the trajectory that remains, with continued improvement.</p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p><b>TwistNHook: </b> I love our WRs. If we can get consistent QB play, we're going to have the best WRs in the Pac-12 We may already. The Cal offense has been stagnant for several years now, so I'm really enthusiastic about the WR play going forward.</p>
<p><b>Vincent S: </b> I thought we were going to get destroyed - I honestly did. After what <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/136464/bishop-sankey">Bishop Sankey</a> did to us, I thought that Ka'deem Carey was going to run wild for at least 5 touchdowns. I was so incredibly pleasantly surprised by our performance that I think we have a shot next week against the Evil Empire.</p>
<p>I also came away thrilled with the crowd. Although it wasn't full, the people who did show up were into the game. From the magical moment when the entire West Side erupted following <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/162510/kenny-lawler">Kenny Lawler's</a> one-handed TD catch, to the atmosphere after every defensive stand, I was impressed.</p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p><b>Norcalnick</b>: Kenny Lawler will obviously and deservedly get the headlines, and the idea that Cal will have at least four exciting talents returning to catch passes is a wonderful though. But he was hardly the only standout. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/207285/khalfani-muhammad">Khalfani Muhammad</a> had a strong game returning kicks and caught a touchdown. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/207269/cameron-walker">Cameron Walker</a> had another good game and showed improved tackling ability. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/162540/hardy-nickerson">Hardy Nickerson</a> is reading the game so much better than earlier in the season. Big V Moala has continued his stellar play.</p>
<p>All of these players will be back next season, and will have another four games of experience once September 2014 rolls around. I can't wait.</p>
<p><b>Ruey Yen: </b>This was the most competitive game in awhile. I think most of us KNOW in our heart that the team has not quit but it is great to have that evidence on the scoreboard. Like Sonny said to Pete Carroll in the latest episode of The Drive, Cal has receivers. It was great to have another guy, Kenny Lawler, step up in such a big way.</p>
<p><b>LeonPowe: </b>That we haven't given in and this team is still fighting - and the defense is improving.</p>
<p><b>Leland Wong:</b> We have a run game again! Daniel Lasco has been impressing me since roughly around the Oregon game, so it was great to see him back in the blue and gold and running hard. The ability to run the ball will punish defenses that focus solely on our passing game. I know Sonny got his start from the Air Raid coaching tree, but "Bear Raid" is more than a cute little moniker. Dykes and Franklin are looking to build a balanced attack, not the pass-heavy offense we've seen all year. If defenders don't respect our running game, they can drop more men into coverage and smother our receivers.</p>
<p><b>Berkelium97: </b>Our run game was actually working, for once. We managed 5 yards per carry, a tremendous accomplishment in a year when we had only once exceeded 4 ypc (and that was skewed by a long Muhammad run in garbage time). Sure, our improved production and efficiency were due to Arizona's pass-focused 3-3-5, which only had 5 or 6 defenders in the box on most plays. But it's good to see <i>some</i> semblance of a running game. We had difficulty converting third and short with the running game, and we did not tally a rushing TD, but I'll take what I can get.</p>
<p>I was also very happy to see a productive red zone offense. We scored 3 TDs in 4 trips, our largest number of red zone TDs against an FBS foe this season. That Goff threw all these TDs is even better, after his recent performances had plenty of yardage and few TDs to show for it.</p>
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<h4>More from California Golden Blogs:</h4>
<ul>
<br><li><a href="http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/cal-vs-arizona-2013/2013/11/3/5060140/cal-bears-arizona-wildcats-recap-2013?utm_source=californiagoldenblogs&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">So you're saying there was a chance? Cal falls to Arizona, 33-28</a></li>
<br><li><a href="http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2013/11/3/5054860/golden-nuggets-california-bears-arizona-wildcats?utm_source=californiagoldenblogs&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Golden Nuggets: Cal's "hard-fought loss" to Arizona</a></li>
<br><li><a href="http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2013/11/3/5059600/cal-vs-arizona-postgame-notes?utm_source=californiagoldenblogs&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">More postgame notes from Cal-Arizona</a></li>
<br><li><a href="http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/football/2013/11/2/4677330/11-2-13-cal-vs-arizona-post-game-open-thread?utm_source=californiagoldenblogs&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Fill out your Cal-Arizona report cards!</a></li>
<br><li><a href="http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2013/11/3/5063628/cal-football-recruiting-commit-kamryn-bennett-peoria-centennial?utm_source=californiagoldenblogs&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=blogs">Kamryn Bennett commits to Cal!</a></li>
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https://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/cal-vs-arizona-2013/2013/11/4/5063590/california-golden-bears-2013Avinash Kunnath2013-11-04T03:00:05-08:002013-11-04T03:00:05-08:00Cal vs Arizona postgame thoughts
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<p>Progress is not always linear.</p> <p>Both section grades were a bit of a struggle to figure out, seeing as both technically played well enough to win, but were marred again by spurts of inconsistency. Such is the nature of youth, I suppose.</p>
<p>The scale, as always: Outstanding, Exceeds Expectations, Acceptable, Poor, Dreadful, Troll.</p>
<p>Let's get into it.</p>
<h3>In which we discuss the offense</h3>
<h4><span>Unit grade: Acceptable-</span></h4>
<p>Nobody better exemplified the above note on Saturday than Goff, who alternatively fluctuated between fantastic and infuriating.</p>
<p>Between 8:12 of the first quarter and 11:21 of the second, Cal went three and out four times and gave up a safety on its only other drive.<b> In that timeframe, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/162538/jared-goff" class="sbn-auto-link">Jared Goff</a> was 1 of 10 passing for -4 yards</b>.</p>
<p>Here are those plays in question:</p>
<ul>
<li><span>8:12, first quarter - 1st and 10, Cal 20 - Goff has plenty of protection, but can't find anyone open down field on <a href="http://smartfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Leach-Six.jpg">four verticals</a>. Because the Air Raid version of this play allows receivers to modify their routes on the fly, you see both Treggs and Harper on the outside turn around after six yards and then go back deep. That doesn't fool anyone, though. Bigelow and what looks like <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/135665/richard-rodgers" class="sbn-auto-link">Richard Rodgers</a> do not get free either. An attempted dumpoff pass to <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/135651/darren-ervin" class="sbn-auto-link">Darren Ervin</a> hits the dirt.</span></li>
<li><span>7:41, first quarter - 3rd and 5, Cal 25 - Same drive, a deep shot to Rodgers on a wheel route falls incomplete. Arizona has only one deep safety here and plays what I believe is Cover 1, with man across the board. The idea behind throwing deep to Rodgers here is because one, you think he'll beat his man, which he does, and two, with only one safety in the middle of the field, you think that the throw gets there before he can. Just a bit strong there. Punt. </span></li>
<li><span>5:35, first quarter - 1st and 10, Cal 9 - Goff drops back out of the Bone formation, no pressure at all, but can't get it in to Treggs on a hook/curl. </span></li>
<li><span>5:32, first quarter - 2nd and 10, Cal 9 - Bad snap, Goff does the veteran move and manages to throw it incomplete, preventing a safety. No help from the refs here, who, in their incompetence, nearly rule it a safety anyway.</span></li>
<li><span>5:25, first quarter - 3rd and 10, Cal 9 - Three man rush, Goff steps up but has the pass batted away on a crossing route to Rodgers. Arizona dropped eight here, and it was unlikely to be a first down anyway. Punt. </span></li>
<li><span>0:39, first quarter - 1st and 10, Cal 22 - Quick three step drop to Treggs on a hitch is read the whole way by the Arizona defensive end <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77402/justin-washington" class="sbn-auto-link">Justin Washington</a>, who swats it down. </span></li>
<li><span>0:36, first quarter - 2nd and 10, Cal 22 - <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/207285/khalfani-muhammad" class="sbn-auto-link">Khalfani Muhammad</a> rushes up the seam for a perfectly thrown pass, but he can't hang on. This one's all on Khalfani.</span></li>
<li><span>0:31, first quarter - 3rd and 10, Cal 22 - Empty back field and five wide, Jared Goff scrambles right and tosses a little lob pass to Rodgers, who can't hang on. Defensive back got in there with a hand, as well. Catchable, but not nearly as much as the previous play. Punt.</span></li>
<li><span>12:45, second quarter - 1st and 10, Cal 25 - Quick throw out to Bigelow, who is tackled for a loss. Bondurant hangs onto Bigelow's shoe to allow for help to get there. </span></li>
<li><span>12:22, second quarter - 2nd and 14, Cal 22 - Goff trying to hit Rodgers on the seam, but the ball is knocked away. Rodgers is bracketed here, with a defender above and below him. Announcers are quick to point out that this is a pretty odd decision as well. </span></li>
<li><span>12:14 second quarter - 3rd and 14, Cal 22 - Not a throw, but there's 10 yards on the Jared Goff scramble, who didn't see anybody open. Good for him to pull the trigger on the run. Keeps them off guard a bit, at least.</span></li>
</ul>
<p>All in all, there were two drops that should have been caught in this sequence, and a couple other plays that probably shouldn't have been made. Frustrating, to be sure, but inconsistency is to be expected from a freshman quarterback. He's young. He will get better, not to mention this was the worst stretch of the entire game for him.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Goff: "I can't throw interceptions if we're going to win. We had it there. Had a chance there."</p>
— Cal Rivals (@CalRivals) <a href="https://twitter.com/CalRivals/statuses/396781990805901313">November 2, 2013</a>
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<p>If you remember the bye week post about freshman quarterbacks, he still leads the other two statistically. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/214473/baker-mayfield" class="sbn-auto-link">Baker Mayfield</a> has not played for a month now, having sat with a knee injury, but racked up a majority of his statistics against far worse competition than Goff has played.</p>
<p>A side note, regarding Goff's leadership:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><i>"You guys were talking about the mood on the Cal sideline, and let me tell you - after that last touchdown, there was reinvigoration of energy. Jared Goff was pumping up his teammates, jumping up and down, giving everyone high fives, saying 'we can win this, we are in this game to win this.' Then he turned to the student section, waved his hands in the air and tried to get them to go louder. This speaks exactly to what Sonny Dykes told us yesterday, Ted - that he wants Jared Goff to be a leader and he's looking for leaders no matter what class they are. [Goff's] showing that right now." </i></p>
<p>-Drea Evans, sideline reporter.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Kind of hoping that puts the whole GOFF ISN'T A GOOD LEADER thing to rest a tad.</p>
<p>And yes, the second interception was a killer. Without it, the Bears might have strolled out with a much needed win. The first was definitely a mix-up in communications, as Harper and Goff clearly were expecting different things from the other. The second, though, probably didn't need to happen, especially with the team needing only a yard for the first. The camera angles make it hard to tell what's going on, but I think he just didn't see the guy there waiting in robber zone.</p>
<p>Still too many three and outs though. Hope this is something that we get away from next year with another offseason full of reps.</p>
<p>A lot of attention is going to be made about how improved the line looked, and while I agree with that assessment, it's important to realize that it occurred only to an extent. A 5.0 YPC is fantastic considering that number has middled along in the mid 3's all year, but to say they were <i>significantly </i>better in pass protection is a tad deceptive. Jared's mobility was probably better against Arizona than it had been all year, which helped prevent some sacks all by himself.</p>
<p>Still, to see good protection and some actual threat posed by our backs was very, very encouraging. A year or two from now, when this front five comes back with more experience, we might actually have something. Maybe. Everybody is young as hell here.</p>
<p>Offensive lines rely very heavily on game action and returning starts, which we'll have a bunch more of those in the future. Remember, we opened with three brand new starters. Of those three new starters, only one - Moore - is still standing.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/135661/jordan-rigsbee" class="sbn-auto-link">Jordan Rigsbee</a> is probably not going to be our center next year, though. His snapping isn't particularly reliable, although I respect the effort he plays with all the time, as well as the fact that he is moving there on the fly.</p>
<p>New wrinkles this week: a lot of trips bunch - I don't know if that's the technically correct name for it, but we lined up with three wide receivers very close together a good amount of the time, with some variations on which guy would be on the line of scrimmage. Yes, we have several 3x1 sets, but this was the first time I can remember those three wide receivers being squeezed in together, rather than spread out as usual.</p>
<p>Also new: one play out of the Oregon "stack" formation, which was a handoff to Muhammad. More on that from <a href="http://fishduck.com/2012/10/chip-kelly-reveals-the-double-stack-play-to-usc/">FishDuck</a>.</p>
<p>Also new: Richard Rodgers lined up as a traditional tight end, with his hand on the ground a few times. I believe we've seen this look previously, but can't remember for sure. Anyway, this showed up first on the opening drive, and he caught a ball for a gain out of the formation. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/38710/hunter-hewitt" class="sbn-auto-link">Hunter Hewitt</a> informed me that this occurred more than once, which I didn't notice, so all credit to him.</p>
<p>One immediate advantage I can think of with this formation is that he won't have to try to get his hands on someone significantly faster than him, which may help reduce holding calls.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/AGuyNamedNam">@AGuyNamedNam</a> He lined up there several times throughout the game</p>
— Hunter Hewitt (@HunterHewitt) <a href="https://twitter.com/HunterHewitt/statuses/397122911401570304">November 3, 2013</a>
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<p><a href="https://twitter.com/AGuyNamedNam">@AGuyNamedNam</a> Yeah it was an interesting wrinkle. Saw it on some run plays, too. Notably the safety...if I remember correctly</p>
— Hunter Hewitt (@HunterHewitt) <a href="https://twitter.com/HunterHewitt/statuses/397124649856679936">November 3, 2013</a>
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<p>We've shown the throwback only once or twice this season, to devastating effect both times.</p>
<p>Kenny "The King" - there, you happy, Ric? - Lawler called his one handed catch routine for him, and he's not wrong. Throughout spring and fall, he showed off a lot of what we've been seeing this season, particularly with the same impressive hands and body control. His lengthy frame has come in handy a couple times as well. With Chris Harper out during the spring, a lot of people thought he would be a factor this year - myself included - and while that hasn't been <i>exactly </i>true due to superior depth ahead of him, he is certainly rounding into a solid player. We haven't seen much of <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/162549/james-grisom" class="sbn-auto-link">James Grisom</a> lately, which I assume is in part related to Lawler's growth. Bahgawd, have yourself a game, kid!</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Lawler's one-handed TD catch No. 8 on ESPN's Top 10 Plays of the Day. Check it out! <a href="http://t.co/Gy1wdEUmzD">http://t.co/Gy1wdEUmzD</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23espn&src=hash">#espn</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23calfootball&src=hash">#calfootball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23gobears&src=hash">#gobears</a></p>
— Cal Football (@CalFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/CalFootball/statuses/397049310002442240">November 3, 2013</a>
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<p>Which brings me to another wide receiver related point - of all the disappointingly wrong things with this season, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/135635/brendan-bigelow" class="sbn-auto-link">Brendan Bigelow</a> has to be atop the list. Since moving to inside receiver a couple weeks ago, his role has gradually increased, with Arizona being his largest amount of action to date. Even so, he did little of note, getting smothered nearly immediately on each catch. Some of that can be blamed on the blocking, sure, but Bigelow has played this way essentially all season, rarely able to make any man miss at all. Baffling.</p>
<p>It could also be argued that Bigelow hurt the comeback effort more than anything. You probably know about the penalty he drew late in the fourth quarter for trying to punch an Arizona defender, and while he was held, he's gotta be smarter than this. On the play immediately before, he was <i>already jawing with the same guy</i>. Just unacceptable.</p>
<p>That same defender - Grandon - intercepted a pass intended for Bigelow. Perhaps it went back further than what I noticed.</p>
<p>I am convinced that the staff was attempting to run a trick play on 3rd and 1 early in the fourth quarter. This came out of one of the aforementioned trips bunch sets, with Harper coming underneath for a quick pass, but he dropped it. Live, you could see Bryce Treggs continuing to run a route far down the field - it looked to me like a set up for some sort of wide receiver pass.</p>
<p>A few plays after this, they did run a trick play, with Harper on a reverse. Bigelow had a very nice block to spring him for the first down.</p>
<p>Wondering if at some point the staff might want to move Harper inside in place of Bigelow, and start Lawler out at Z. Still, this position group continued to do what it has all season, which has carried the offense.</p>
<p>Welcome back, Daniel Lasco. Very clearly the best back Cal has had all year. Wondered earlier this year about why he couldn't be the starter - and now we know he damn well will be.</p>
<p>Game ball still goes for Lawler, though.</p>
<h3>In which we discuss the defense</h3>
<h4>Unit grade: Acceptable-</h4>
<p>Once again, some good stuff, some bad stuff, and a long stretch where they were not helped by the offense at all, same as against UCLA and Washington. They get an A- here - and to be clear <i>ATOMS</i>, not a standard A-, but an Acceptable- - because it was a pretty decent performance. Arizona's yardage came very much due to the amount of plays they ran and save for one 60 yard mistake, the Bears did a fantastic job limiting big plays of any kind.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/135337/b-j-denker" class="sbn-auto-link">B.J. Denker</a> very clearly favors his left side, and Arizona designed their passing game to accentuate that, giving him many easy reads there, particularly with curls and hitches. You might have noticed this yourself - with Kam Jackson playing not to get beat deep, the Wildcats had repeated success attacking this area of the field for short gains.</p>
<p>Still, Andy Buh isn't blind - noticing this tendency, he freely sent pressure to try to force Denker right and to keep him contained. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/135639/jalen-jefferson" class="sbn-auto-link">Jalen Jefferson</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/162540/hardy-nickerson" class="sbn-auto-link">Hardy Nickerson</a> were two of the players he regularly threw at Denker from that direction. This worked to a pretty decent degree. Also saw him call some zones where the outside backers would drop right into the flats, trying to swallow up those hitches/curls that Denker so favored.</p>
<p>Following up on that previous point, I believe this is the most aggressive and blitz-heavy the defense has played all season, which is certainly encouraging. Decent pressure from the ends, especially Camporeale.</p>
<p>On one of those occasions - 2nd and 9 with about 8:30 to go in the 4th - we forced Denker right as intended, but lost containment of the cutback lane, which allowed him to rush for 17. That totally sucked. Luckily Arizona ended up punting on that drive.</p>
<p>Didn't like the way the defense unfolded right before the half, which might have been a tad too conservative. We basically allowed a free field goal attempt because we were so worried about getting beat deep.</p>
<p>There have been a bunch of games this year when Hardy Nickerson has very clearly struggled - not struggled in an "oh, he's hopeless and will never get better" kind of way, but struggled in a "young player who is being pressed into early service" kind of way. Saturday did not fall in either category for the younger Nickerson, who played tremendously, as he did against UCLA. Two tackles for loss among his eight, plus several pressures. Perhaps uncoincidentally, those are two of the better games this defense has played all year.</p>
<p>Still not great in pass coverage, though. That PI hurt.</p>
<p>I was pretty impressed with <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/207269/cameron-walker" class="sbn-auto-link">Cameron Walker's</a> tackling this week, as he was much more decisive coming up on edge runs. No, he's not perfect there, but he looks more comfortable at safety for sure. In fact, the defense held up relatively well in the back end, between Lowe's multiple passes broken up and Walker's tackling. Hats off to those guys. If it weren't for one or two missed tackles on the screen to Miller, the secondary's play would have just been tremendous overall.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Walker's 13 tackles sets career high for fourth straight game and ties most by a Cal player this year.</p>
— Cal Rivals (@CalRivals) <a href="https://twitter.com/CalRivals/statuses/396768970658689024">November 2, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
<p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/162513/cedric-dozier" class="sbn-auto-link">Cedric Dozier</a> was probably the best replacement corner we trotted out there this year. Don't ask me why it took so long for him to play. I don't know. He didn't really catch my eye in camp, but was substantially better than Lapite and about on par with Lee.</p>
<p>Though Kadeem Carey ran for 152 yards, he was relatively contained in comparison to last week's <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/136464/bishop-sankey" class="sbn-auto-link">Bishop Sankey</a> related disaster. No, it wasn't that great, but it was a lot better than last week, and in fact, giving up only 4.8 yards per carry <i>to </i>Carey makes it one of the best performances any team has had against him this year. Give the two tackles - Moala and Coleman - a bunch of credit for that.</p>
<p>Heartbreaking final touch for Carey, though. Nobody is able to get a hand on him. Lopa dives and misses, Hardy is blocked, and that's the ball game.</p>
<p>Watching the game live, I thought that this was the best I had ever seen out of Viliami Moala, who even showed a little athleticism in getting out to the flats on a screen. That definitely made me laugh.</p>
<p>A lot of defensive end looks with our guys standing up.</p>
<p>Sarcastic applause for three and outs makes me feel bad. There was also at least one paper-bag wearing fellow in QQ yesterday, to which I would like to say - <i>really? </i>It's too fucking early in the Sonny Dykes era for your bullshit.</p>
<p>Despite all the positives I named up top, it wasn't enough. A handful of moments would be the difference, as it usually is with young teams, who lose focus just briefly or make one mistake that proves too costly. Think back to the Northwestern game for proof of that.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Sonny said he was pleased with Dozier's performance & also complimented Jackson's physical play</p>
— GoldenBlogs (@GoldenBlogs) <a href="https://twitter.com/GoldenBlogs/statuses/396780023018844161">November 2, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<h3>In which we look more closely at some defensive things and at B.J. Denker</h3>
<p>I don't have a way to create gifs since the game isn't on Youtube or anything, so crappy photos taken from my DVR'd copy of the game will have to do. As per usual, I don't usually break down tape since Liffey and Scott do that better than me, but here we go anyway.</p>
<p><b>The first Denker touchdown run in the first quarter came on what I believe is a zone bluff, or Samurai. </b> More on that concept <a href="http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9508313/after-offseason-searching-nfl-coaches-know-how-defend-read-option" style="background-color: #ffffff;">from Chris Brown, here.</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9508313/after-offseason-searching-nfl-coaches-know-how-defend-read-option" style="background-color: #ffffff;"></a>Found out later after putting this all together that the game announcers did break down this play, but screw it, here it is anyway for people who want a little more depth or didn't catch the broadcast. I spent a good half hour on this, I'll be damned if I'm not gonna use it!</p>
<p>Here's how the play begins, with Arizona in "11" personnel, meaning 1 TE (#18), 1 RB (#25, Kadeem Carey), 3 WR. I have also denoted relevant Cal defenders to this play - #14 Cameron Walker, #11 <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/114109/khairi-fortt" class="sbn-auto-link">Khairi Fortt</a>, and #43 <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/77651/dan-camporeale" class="sbn-auto-link">Dan Camporeale</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1896853/RcNTkmO.png"><img src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1896853/RcNTkmO_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Rcntkmo_medium"></a></p>
<p>If you don't feel like reading the whole article, in essence, the zone bluff is the zone read, with one added wrinkle - the quarterback has a blocker who "arcs" around to blow up any defender trying to get a clean shot on him. Those are denoted in yellow.</p>
<p>Denker reads an unblocked Camporeale here and decids to pull the ball, which was the correct call on his part. Camporeale crashes down the line of scrimmage - his assignment is to attack the running back, which is the red portion of the play.This means that the threat of a running Denker - the yellow section - falls to the other defenders.</p>
<p>That leaves two guys to the offense's two - Khairi Fortt and Cam Walker versus Denker and his blocker, #18, Terrence Miller. In theory, this should work.</p>
<p>Except it doesn't, and here's why - whether by the play's design or by his own instinct, I cannot tell, but Khairi Fortt <i>also </i>goes into the box, which leaves him too far inside to help out on Denker.</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1896865/rtr8QHk.png"><img src="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1896865/rtr8QHk_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Rtr8qhk_medium"></a></p>
<p>Now Cam Walker is stuck in a difficult situation - with Fortt too far inside to help, the freshman has a massive tight end barreling down on him, plus a two on one disadvantage, to boot. It would take a tremendous individual effort to both beat this block and tackle Denker, so to expect that he will is a bit unreasonable.</p>
<p>Fortt and Camporeale try to get back outside, but it's already too late. Touchdown, Wildcats.</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1896877/ZsR6iKT.png"><img src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1896877/ZsR6iKT_medium.png" class="photo" alt="Zsr6ikt_medium"></a></p>
<p><a href="http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:9918379">Denker's touchdown to open the second half</a> is a zone read off the right side, this time. Khairi Fortt - who looks like he's responsible for the outside gap - is blocked out by the tight end, forcing Michael Lowe to head back outside at a very, very difficult angle. He can't make the play, and Denker gets in for the score. Really good block by Miller, though. Fortt had nowhere to go.</p>
<p><a href="http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:9918661">Third Denker rushing touchdown is another zone read</a> with some pass options built in. Denker chooses to keep the ball with Campo crashing, and then sneaks around <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/37415/kyle-kragen" class="sbn-auto-link" style="background-color: #ffffff;">Kyle Kragen</a>, a play that most assuredly wouldn't have happened with either <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/135654/chris-mccain" class="sbn-auto-link" style="background-color: #ffffff;">Chris McCain</a> or <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/135643/brennan-scarlett" class="sbn-auto-link" style="background-color: #ffffff;">Brennan Scarlett</a> still in the picture. Alas, that is what you lose when your most athletic defensive end is dismissed for conduct detrimental, and the other to a lingering hand issue. Cam Walker can't get over to make the play in time either.</p>
<h3>In which I wonder if I am cursed</h3>
<p>Maybe the problem isn't with the defense or anything. Maybe it's me. I started realizing this during the 15 minutes in which we went without a first down Saturday, as it occurred pretty much as soon as I arrived from my teaching exam.</p>
<p>This led me to do some digging, and you won't like what follows.</p>
<p>2011, our year in AT&T Park, was the first time I ever started going to games. Since then, I have missed no home games, and when I have been in the building, Cal is a total of<b> 7-15</b>, <b>with four of those victories occurring in 2011. </b>This includes three road trips - one at Ohio State, this year at UCLA, and the 2011 Big Game. [The football record is even worse when you count games I've watched, which is every single one since Colorado in 2011.]</p>
<p>So, um, sorry if I am at all involved.</p>
<p>It's not any better for basketball, either. The Bears were 1-5 in games I went to last season, although the one we won was pretty awesome - Valentine's Day against UCLA.</p>
<h3>In which we talk about the game next week</h3>
<p>I found out the hard way that it is unpopular to say this, but screw it.</p>
<p>Beating USC matters a whole lot more to me than beating Stanford does, and in my mind, next week's home finale remains incredibly, incredibly important, despite the dismal 1-8 record.</p>
<p>Yes, everything indicates we should be completely and thoroughly beaten, as it has too often in recent Cal - USC matchups.</p>
<p>I do not care.</p>
<p>It has been far, far too long since we emerged victorious over the red and gold wearing heathens from down south - the last time was September 27th, 2003, a date that has lived a decade in isolation. Year after year since then, our Cal Bears have tried in vain to duplicate the efforts of that triple overtime epic, falling short by blowout and heartbreaker.</p>
<p>Months ago, I felt very, very sure that 2013 would be the end of the Streak, and I was planning to dedicate a longer column this week justifying those thoughts. Granted, the arc of this season has admittedly made me less confident of that than I was before, but I still think it is very much possible that we get the job done anyway.</p>
<p>This year's Trojan team remains talented as ever, but is certainly not invulnerable, headed by Ed Orgeron, a defensive coordinator who has struggled with stopping spread attacks, and of course, questionable depth everywhere. They will bring with a quarterback much less talented than the one we have behind center now, although his targets are probably a shade better than ours.</p>
<p>With Sonny Dykes still looking for a signature win for his first season, this is a good - and probably the best - place to try to get it, given the rest of the schedule. Beating USC would quell a lot of ill will and provide more definitive proof that the team is progressing from rock bottom. They've gotten better in recent weeks and continue to do so, but wins would help the case much more strongly.</p>
<p>God, I hope we win. I hate USC.</p>
https://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2013/11/4/5061676/cal-vs-arizona-postgame-thoughtsNam Le2013-11-03T19:00:00-08:002013-11-03T19:00:00-08:00Cal vs. Arizona: Postgame Notes
<figure>
<img alt="Kenny Lawler with one of his 3 TD catches" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/3f3PDrUuhEbyvbMuvKqOQmjPDjY=/0x198:599x597/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/22346575/lawler.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kenny Lawler with one of his 3 TD catches | Cal Bears Online</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Cal lost to Arizona 33-28, in a close game that was competitive until the end. Several young players - including WR Kenny Lawler, DB Cedric Dozier, DB Cameron Walker, and RB Daniel Lasco - all made significant contributions in the hard-fought loss. Let's take a look at some game notes, stats, and selected tweets.</p> <p><a href="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/3505475/Cal-Ariz-info.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Cal-ariz-info_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/3505475/Cal-Ariz-info_medium.png"></a> <br id="1383526008206"></p>
<p>Despite Saturday's tough loss [infographic courtesy <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CalAthletics">Cal Athletics</a>] there were a number of encouraging signs. CGB's own Vlad Belo summarized it well in his <a href="http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/cal-vs-arizona-2013/2013/11/3/5060140/cal-bears-arizona-wildcats-recap-2013">game recap</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>In the end, it was a loss, and losses never feel good. But for a Cal team that was uncompetitive in most, if not all, of the losses during the current losing streak, being in the game with a chance to win was a refreshing change.</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Stats (PDF) <a href="http://t.co/UOihWMy44e">http://t.co/UOihWMy44e</a> | Highlights <a href="http://t.co/DJXGopHcSQ">http://t.co/DJXGopHcSQ</a> | Notes <a href="http://t.co/0GD52YaPkP">http://t.co/0GD52YaPkP</a> | Quotes <a href="http://t.co/yWVGaBpdx3">http://t.co/yWVGaBpdx3</a></p>
— Cal Football (@CalFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/CalFootball/statuses/396845712681361409">November 3, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
<p>The Bears played hard all game and were competitive from the start. The opening drive touchdown - on an 11-yard pass from <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/162538/jared-goff">Jared Goff</a> to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/207285/khalfani-muhammad">Khalfani Muhammad</a> - gave Cal its first lead since the Portland St. game:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Cal FINALLY scores on an opening drive: Goff completes it to Muhammad - TD Bears!!! Cal leads 7-0.</p>
— GoldenBlogs (@GoldenBlogs) <a href="https://twitter.com/GoldenBlogs/statuses/396725293877964801">November 2, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>It's been about 364 game minutes since Cal last lead in a game (2nd game of the season) - thanks <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanMcGrady">@RyanMcGrady</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23GoBears&src=hash">#GoBears</a></p>
— Michael Yam (@Mike_Yam) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mike_Yam/statuses/396726865173295104">November 2, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
<p>Cal kept it close through late in the 4th quarter - with <a href="http://blog.sfgate.com/cal/2013/11/02/cal-football-lawlers-career-day-doziers-first-start-additional-notes/">significant contributions</a> from <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/162510/kenny-lawler">Kenny Lawler</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/135646/daniel-lasco">Daniel Lasco</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/207269/cameron-walker">Cameron Walker</a>, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/162513/cedric-dozier">Cedric Dozier</a> - but the Bears <a href="http://blog.sfgate.com/cal/2013/11/02/cal-drops-seventh-straight-game-in-33-28-loss-to-arizona/">couldn't come away</a> with a W at the end:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>[Kenny] Lawler finished with six catches, 72 yards and three touchdowns, all career-highs.</p>
<p>After missing the last two games with a shoulder injury, Daniel Lasco returned Saturday and rushed 12 times for 71 yards. ... Lasco leads Cal with 47.3 rushing yards per game.</p>
<p>Cameron Walker led Cal with a career-high 13 tackles. He has set a career-high in tackles in the last four games.</p>
<p>Cedric Dozier, a redshirt freshman, started at cornerback. He was the sixth different cornerback, 11th different defensive back and 45th different player to start a game for the Bears this season.</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>Despite an early 7-0 lead and a valiant 60-minute effort, Cal dropped its seventh straight game in a 33-28 loss to Arizona in front of an announced crowd of 41.874 fans at Memorial Stadium.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Lawler was indeed Cal's breakout performer, and his 3 TDs - including a <a href="http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2013/11/2/5059382/video-kenny-lawler-ridiculous-one-handed-touchdown-catch">highlight reel catch</a> - earned him a <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/pac12/post/_/id/64683/pac-12-helmet-stickers-week-10-2">helmet sticker</a> from <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPN_Pac12blog">Uncle Ted</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>So who deserves a helmet sticker for a job well done? ...</p>
<p>Kenny Lawler, WR, California: Lawler only caught [six] passes for 72 yards in the Bears loss to Arizona, but he accounted for three touchdowns, one of which was an absolutely spectacular one-handed grab.</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>This is worth a look if you like spectacular football plays. <a href="http://t.co/Bp8LkgJG8K">http://t.co/Bp8LkgJG8K</a></p>
— ESPN Pac-12 (@ESPN_Pac12blog) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPN_Pac12blog/statuses/396802361840001025">November 3, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
<p>Lawler's touchdown receptions were the <a href="http://www.insidebayarea.com/sports/ci_24443146/california-golden-bears-defense-offensive-line-make-strides">first of his career</a>, and his one-hander made ESPN's Top 10 plays:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><span><span>Redshirt freshman Kenny Lawler had touchdown receptions of 17, 3 and 29 yards to become the first Cal player with three TD catches in a game since <span class="sbn-auto-link">DeSean Jackson</span> in 2006. They were the first three touchdowns of Lawler's career.</span></span></p>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Lawler's one-handed TD catch No. 8 on ESPN's Top 10 Plays of the Day. Check it out! <a href="http://t.co/Gy1wdEUmzD">http://t.co/Gy1wdEUmzD</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23espn&src=hash">#espn</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23calfootball&src=hash">#calfootball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23gobears&src=hash">#gobears</a></p>
— Cal Football (@CalFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/CalFootball/statuses/397049310002442240">November 3, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
<p>During the postgame <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA9psB4VlZc">press conference</a> [<a href="http://www.calbears.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=749425&SPID=126513&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=30100&ATCLID=209297180">quotes here</a>], Coach Sonny Dykes and QB Jared Goff both complimented Lawler for his efforts:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Dykes said he just had a good conversation with Lawler in the locker room. "Some of the things he can do are pretty special."</p>
— Cal Rivals (@CalRivals) <a href="https://twitter.com/CalRivals/statuses/396779429671624705">November 2, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>re: Lawler - "Kenny has the chance to be pretty special, need him to keep develop(ing), shows flashes like you saw today"</p>
— GoldenBlogs (@GoldenBlogs) <a href="https://twitter.com/GoldenBlogs/statuses/396780757034618881">November 2, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Goff & Lawler up next: Jared says "Kenny really stepped up today and did a great job"</p>
— GoldenBlogs (@GoldenBlogs) <a href="https://twitter.com/GoldenBlogs/statuses/396781395776765953">November 2, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Goff on who's catch is better: <a href="https://twitter.com/K_Law2nice">@K_Law2nice</a> or <a href="https://twitter.com/mauriceharris3">@mauriceharris3</a> : 'Uh, jeez, uh, I can't answer. They're both incredible one-handed catches."</p>
— Ryan Gorcey (@RGBearTerritory) <a href="https://twitter.com/RGBearTerritory/statuses/396782115703910403">November 2, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
<p>Per Cal's official <a href="http://www.calbears.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=749425&SPID=126513&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=30100&ATCLID=209297170">postgame notes</a>, Goff marked a new career-best with 4 TD passes - despite 2 costly INTs - and is now one spot behind a Cal legend on the single-season passing list:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Jared Goff ended the day 34-for-56 for 289 yards and a personal-best four touchdown passes. In addition, Goff was not sacked once. Now with 2,881 passing yards this season, Goff ranks fifth on Cal’s single-season top-10 list for passing yards. Aaron Rodgers is fourth (2,903 in 2003).</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Photos <a href="http://t.co/EFqwe7CILQ">http://t.co/EFqwe7CILQ</a> | Press Conference Interviews: Dykes <a href="http://t.co/Ve4xhWUHqg">http://t.co/Ve4xhWUHqg</a> | Goff and Lawler <a href="http://t.co/4vGmwShQil">http://t.co/4vGmwShQil</a></p>
— Cal Football (@CalFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/CalFootball/statuses/396846091418607616">November 3, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Press Conference Interviews: Nickerson <a href="http://t.co/xyWBFI2hAl">http://t.co/xyWBFI2hAl</a> | Cumulative Stats: HTML <a href="http://t.co/ZJy0dVP4re">http://t.co/ZJy0dVP4re</a> | PDF <a href="http://t.co/EbaO9jmjS1">http://t.co/EbaO9jmjS1</a></p>
— Cal Football (@CalFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/CalFootball/statuses/396846438048493568">November 3, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Coach Dykes also had good things to say about the secondary and the defense in general:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Sonny at podium now, looks spent & is hoarse: "hard fought loss... defensively we did some good things, didnt make enough plays offensively"</p>
— GoldenBlogs (@GoldenBlogs) <a href="https://twitter.com/GoldenBlogs/statuses/396778492898988032">November 2, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Sonny said he was pleased with Dozier's performance & also complimented Jackson's physical play</p>
— GoldenBlogs (@GoldenBlogs) <a href="https://twitter.com/GoldenBlogs/statuses/396780023018844161">November 2, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>They did their best. Solid. RT <a href="https://twitter.com/CalRivals">@CalRivals</a>: 17 players played on the <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Cal&src=hash">#Cal</a> D today. Only subs: Barton, Kragen, Hunter, Ragin, Lapite, and Lee.</p>
— GoldenBlogs (@GoldenBlogs) <a href="https://twitter.com/GoldenBlogs/statuses/396778347654426624">November 2, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
<p>Sonny remained optimistic while giving a candid assessment on the team:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Dykes: "I think that they want to see tangible results. The fact that we played better together, shows them we're making progress."</p>
— Cal Rivals (@CalRivals) <a href="https://twitter.com/CalRivals/statuses/396778566160887808">November 2, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>he mentioned 2 turnovers & inability to convert short yardage situations... but said (Cal) players expect to win & credit to their character</p>
— GoldenBlogs (@GoldenBlogs) <a href="https://twitter.com/GoldenBlogs/statuses/396779026108256256">November 2, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
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<p>Definitely an improvement, Dykes says, but "our goal is to win the ballgame."</p>
— Ryan Gorcey (@RGBearTerritory) <a href="https://twitter.com/RGBearTerritory/statuses/396778643273162752">November 2, 2013</a>
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<p>This season's been difficult so far, but like our players, our fans - including Chancellor Dirks - haven't quit:</p>
<p><a href="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/assets/3506347/Cal-Ariz-fans.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Cal-ariz-fans_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/assets/3506347/Cal-Ariz-fans_medium.png"></a></p>
<p><a href="http://cdn3.sbnation.com/assets/3506363/Cal-Ariz-sonny.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Cal-ariz-sonny_medium" class="photo" src="http://cdn0.sbnation.com/assets/3506363/Cal-Ariz-sonny_medium.png"></a> <br id="1383533169766"></p>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>One last picture. <a href="https://twitter.com/UCBerkeley">@UCBerkeley</a> Chancellor Dirks and <a href="https://twitter.com/rallycomm">@rallycomm</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23GoBears&src=hash">#GoBears</a> <a href="http://t.co/ck0UVsHT0j">pic.twitter.com/ck0UVsHT0j</a></p>
— Cal Bears Online (@CalBearsOnline) <a href="https://twitter.com/CalBearsOnline/statuses/396886585007808512">November 3, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
<p><br><script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
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<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
https://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2013/11/3/5059600/cal-vs-arizona-postgame-notesEugene Choo2013-11-03T03:00:05-08:002013-11-03T03:00:05-08:00There was a chance: Cal loses 33-28 to Arizona
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<figcaption>Cal Athletics</figcaption>
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<p>On Saturday, Cal lost for the seventh straight time. This one, however, did not follow the script of the previous six losses. There are no moral victories. But if there were, perhaps this was one. </p> <p>The losing numbers are ugly, so we'll just get them out of the way in the beginning. The California Golden Bears fell 33-28 on Saturday to the Arizona Wildcats in front of 41,874 at Memorial Stadium. The loss was Cal's 13th straight to an NCAA FBS opponent, the longest such active streak for any member of a BCS conference. The loss was also Cal's seventh straight this season and dropped the Bears to 1-8 overall (0-6 Pac-12) with only three games remaining in the regular season.</p>
<p>Those are the basic ugly truths. But for those who have followed Cal football this season, Saturday gave us something different than we have had in far too long. The difference between Saturday's loss and the previous six defeats was evident from Cal's first possession. The Bears received the opening kickoff and marched 75 yards in 12 plays, capping the drive with a Jared Goff-to-Khalfani Muhammad 11-yard touchdown pass to give Cal a 7-0 lead. The significance? It was Cal's first lead in a game since the Bears defeated Portland State on September 7. The Bears were playing ahead for a change.</p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/kEMG2LOFzH0"></iframe> <br id="1383453763647"></p>
<p>Some things stayed the same, however. After the Cal touchdown, the Wildcats scored on their opening possession, shredding the Cal defense with a 73-yard touchdown drive. (Arizona was aided by a 15-yard personal foul penalty called on Kameron Jackson for a shoulder-to-shoulder hit on Arizona's Samajie Grant. Yeah, I didn't understand it either.) It marked the eighth time in nine games this season that Cal's opponent scored on its first offensive possession of the game. This time, at least, the Bears found themselves tied rather than behind.</p>
<p>But fall behind the Bears would. Cal gave back the momentum of an emotional goal line stand by giving up a safety when Darren Ervin could not get out of the end zone after taking a deep handoff. Arizona eventually built a 19-7 lead midway through the second quarter. At that point, the question crossed Cal fans' minds: would the game get away at that point like others this season? Or would the Bears circle the wagons and find a way to stay competitive?</p>
<p>Cal did the latter, thanks in no small part to Kenny Lawler. The redshirt freshman wide receiver caught the first of his three touchdowns on a well-executed bubble screen to bring Cal to within 19-14 in the second quarter. Then after Arizona went ahead 26-14 in the third quarter to threaten to break the game open, Lawler dazzled the crowd and television viewers with <a target="_blank" href="http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:9918573%20">an absolutely ridiculous one-handed touchdown grab</a>, reaching behind him to gather in a pass from Goff in the right corner of the south end zone. Suddenly, Cal was behind only 26-21 with 3:34 left in the third quarter. If it wasn't already, it was official at that point: Cal had a chance to win a football game for the first time in eight weeks.</p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/vA9psB4VlZc"></iframe> <br id="1383453824618"></p>
<p>Alas, the victory we have been pining for was not to be. Arizona took a 33-21 lead after capitalizing on a Goff interception late in the third quarter. Arizona held onto that lead with 10:27 left in the fourth quarter when Goff threw another pick, this time in the end zone when trying to hit Brendan Bigelow on a 4th-and-2 play from the Arizona 22 yard line. Although Goff connected with Lawler for a 29-yard touchdown on a beautifully executed pass-and-catch with 1:42 remaining to pull Cal to within 33-28, the Bears' fate was sealed by a poor onside kick recovered by Arizona and 17-yard run by Ka'Deem Carey to give the Wildcats a game-clinching first down.</p>
<p>In the end, it was a loss, and losses never feel good. But for a Cal team that was uncompetitive in most, if not all, of the losses during the current losing streak, being in the game with a chance to win was a refreshing change. And Cal showed some things that could be characterized as improvement, if one is willing to allow oneself to look for small nuggets of encouragement in an otherwise lost season. The much-maligned Cal defense yielded 448 yards of total offense to the high-powered Arizona attack, but gave up only 3.7 yards per carry rushing. Though Carey, the nation's leading rusher, got his yards (152 of them on 32 carries), Cal did not let him run as wild as Washington's Bishop Sankey did a week ago. Cal also held Arizona quarterback B.J. Denker to 44 rushing yards just a week after Denker ran for 192 yards against Colorado. If you are looking for small signs of improvement for the Bears, there's a start.</p>
<p>On offense, there was Lawler. The redshirt freshman caught six passes for 72 yards and the first three touchdowns of his Cal career. Apart from the numbers themselves, Lawler showed the skill and athleticism that should put him in the mix to be a vital part of the Cal offense. On the ground, Cal got 72 yards rushing from Daniel Lasco and rushed for 137 yards as a team on 26 carries (5.0 ypc). Those rushing numbers, combined with the fact that Cal did not yield a sack, suggests that Saturday was the season's best performance for Cal's embattled offensive line.</p>
<p>Yes, it was another losing Saturday for Cal football, something that is becoming all too familiar. But as we play out the string, those of us who fanatically follow Cal football have to be encouraged by the fact that we had a chance to win a game against a Pac-12 opponent. In a season where there's been a lot of nothing, that is something.</p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/cS1bcqym8ho"></iframe> <br id="1383453863499"></p>
<p>
<script src="http://player.espn.com/player.js?playerBrandingId=4ef8000cbaf34c1687a7d9a26fe0e89e&adSetCode=91cDU6NuXTGKz3OdjOxFdAgJVtQcKJnI&pcode=1kNG061cgaoolOncv54OAO1ceO-I&width=576&height=324&externalId=espn:9918115&thruParam_espn-ui[autoPlay]=false&thruParam_espn-ui[playRelatedExternally]=true"></script><a target="_blank" href="http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/california-golden-bears-vs-portland-state-vikings-2013/2013/9/7/4705568/cal-portland-state-football-2013-score-update"><br id="1383436807471"></a></p>
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https://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/cal-vs-arizona-2013/2013/11/3/5060140/cal-bears-arizona-wildcats-recap-2013Vlad Belo2013-11-02T16:54:06-07:002013-11-02T16:54:06-07:00Watch Kenny Lawler's ridiculous touchdown
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<img alt="This wasn't the catch he made today. The one he made was better." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/AI0XIrlTPhYjbO2vOfgO_cTubWU=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/22325165/20130914_ajw_se9_099.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>This wasn't the catch he made today. The one he made was better. | Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><a href="http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/california-golden-bears-vs-portland-state-vikings-2013/2013/9/7/4705568/cal-portland-state-football-2013-score-update">Maurice Harris has competition for catch of the year.</a></p> <p>Cal lost to Arizona, but possibly found themselves yet another star wide receiver to line outside and make big plays. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/162510/kenny-lawler">Kenny Lawler</a> hasn't had a big season up to this point (16 catches on the season, six coming against Ohio State), but with Arizona focusing their attention on <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/162509/bryce-treggs">Bryce Treggs</a> and Chris Harper, Lawler managed to have himself a game. Lawler led the team with six catches and 72 yards, including three touchdown catches.</p>
<p>The catch above is right up there with Maurice Harris's one-handed snag, as it helped put Cal right back into the thick of things. In fact, all three of Lawler's touchdowns helped cut Cal's deficit from two scores to one and put the Bears right back in the thick of things.</p>
<p>Here's his first touchdown.</p>
<p><script src="http://player.espn.com/player.js?playerBrandingId=4ef8000cbaf34c1687a7d9a26fe0e89e&adSetCode=91cDU6NuXTGKz3OdjOxFdAgJVtQcKJnI&pcode=1kNG061cgaoolOncv54OAO1ceO-I&width=576&height=324&externalId=espn:9918115&thruParam_espn-ui[autoPlay]=false&thruParam_espn-ui[playRelatedExternally]=true"></script><a target="_blank" href="http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/california-golden-bears-vs-portland-state-vikings-2013/2013/9/7/4705568/cal-portland-state-football-2013-score-update"><br id="1383436807471"></a></p>
<p>Here's his third touchdown.</p>
<p><script src="http://player.espn.com/player.js?playerBrandingId=4ef8000cbaf34c1687a7d9a26fe0e89e&adSetCode=91cDU6NuXTGKz3OdjOxFdAgJVtQcKJnI&pcode=1kNG061cgaoolOncv54OAO1ceO-I&width=576&height=324&externalId=espn:9918850&thruParam_espn-ui[autoPlay]=false&thruParam_espn-ui[playRelatedExternally]=true"></script><br id="1383436759333"></p>
<p>The development of Lawler adds yet another weapon to the Bear Raid. His ability to line on the outside should give more ability to place Chris Harper everywhere on the field while limiting the involvement of the ineffective Brendan Bigelow. Cal just has to find a win somewhere.</p>
https://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2013/11/2/5059382/video-kenny-lawler-ridiculous-one-handed-touchdown-catchAvinash Kunnath2013-11-02T16:05:51-07:002013-11-02T16:05:51-07:00Submit your report cards as Cal loses to UA, 33–28
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<figcaption>Cal Athletics</figcaption>
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<p>Report card inside</p> <p>Well, the underdog effort came up short as Arizona was able to hold on for the 5-point victory, 33<b style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px;">–</b>28.</p>
<p>How do you think we did against our second wildcats of the season? Hold your cursor over the survey to scroll down or <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1yAEgLVee0gkRAPK3PrUcbqBXmu38WuMDPO03gQbbDFo/viewform" target="_blank">click here to fill out the report card</a>.</p>
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https://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/football/2013/11/2/4677330/11-2-13-cal-vs-arizona-post-game-open-threadTheBuckeyeBear2013-11-02T15:22:36-07:002013-11-02T15:22:36-07:00Cal vs Arizona Q4 Thread: Cal down 33–21
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<figcaption>Thearon W. Henderson</figcaption>
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<p>GO BEARS!</p> <p>This one's a nailbiter as Cal seems to have a decent shot at breaking its FBS-losing streak. Arizona scored in the last minute of the third quarter on a run by QB B.J. Denker, bringing the score to 33<b style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19.1875px;">–</b>21, Wildcat lead.</p>
<p>Is the 4th quarter ours? GO BEARS!</p>
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https://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/football/2013/11/2/4677432/11-2-13-cal-vs-arizona-4th-quarter-open-threadTheBuckeyeBear