California Golden Blogs - Cal defense stalwart in 35-7 victory over San Diego StateThe OG CGB team moved to WriteForCalifornia.com. Cal Golden Bears coverage by SBNation.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48267/cgb-fave.png2015-09-15T17:41:57-07:00http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/rss/stream/90782762015-09-15T17:41:57-07:002015-09-15T17:41:57-07:00WATCH: Cal DL James Looney Mic'd Up
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<figcaption>John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Highly entertaining stuff.</p> <p>Some of the good tidbits to watch for in one of my favorite original video features from Cal Athletics yet. James Looney is a jolly big fella <a href="http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2015/8/10/9125663/california-golden-bears-jared-goff-kenny-lawler-trevor-davis-bryce-treggs-daniel-lasco">who has helped upgrade the level of defensive play this season</a> by helping plug the interior and stuff the run. He's been able to get pressure on the quarterback too. Looney has five tackles and one for loss in his first five weeks.</p>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li>Looney getting hyped in the locker room pregame (<a href="http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2015/9/15/9325859/california-golden-bears-jared-goff-keenan-allen-marshawn-lynch-aaron-rodgers-arielle-ship">Sonny Dykes is looking at something pensively</a>, but what is it?)</li>
<li>Looney realizing they mistook his #9 for the other more prominent #9 (<a href="http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2015/7/6/8903533/trevor-davis-california-golden-bears-paul-hornung-award-watch-list">Trevor Davis</a>) by the stadium announcer.</li>
<li>Looney reacting to many major Cal plays and touchdowns. </li>
<li>
<a href="http://www.sfgate.com/collegesports/article/Cal-cornerback-Darius-White-doesn-t-get-tired-6477348.php">Darius White and "I DON'T GET TIRED"</a> make an appearance a few (hilarious) times. </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/GoldenBlogs/posts/10153223639861939">Looney with the team singing "Fight for California"</a> after the game.</li>
<li>And quarterback Jared Goff makes a cameo at the end <a href="http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2015/9/13/9320133/college-football-opening-vegas-odds-lines-california-golden-bears-texas-longhorns">getting us ready for Texas</a>!</li>
</ul>
https://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2015/9/15/9334635/watch-james-looney-jared-goff-darius-white-california-golden-bears-highlightsAvinash Kunnath2015-09-15T10:30:03-07:002015-09-15T10:30:03-07:00Positives and negatives from Cal-SDSU
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<figcaption>John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>What looked good and bad on Saturday?</p> <h3>What are the positives to take from Cal-San Diego State? What makes you more confident in this team going forward?</h3>
<p><b>LeonPowe:</b> I thought all three levels of the defense looked solid. Got some pressure from the front four. Some good tackling at the second level. Lots of passes defended and a couple of picks from the secondary. Yeah, the first quarter didn't look good - but we knew our defense was starting from the bottom. And everyone said, if we can improve to average, we'll be a good team. I think the team was making plays.<br><br>In terms of offense, the running game looked pretty good running against the 3-3-5 - especially late, with Lasco and Enwere eating up the clock. The passing looked slightly below normal, but the two drives bracketing halftime were things of beauty.</p>
<p><b>KWBears: </b>We got another W and we won by a very large margin. That's all great stuff and things to be happy about. Our defense has been very impressive these past two games, and that's very encouraging for Cal fans moving forward.</p>
<p><b>Sam Fielder: </b>I think that one of the huge takeaways from this game as that the team didn't panic or fall apart when they fell behind early or struggled a bit on offense. Both sides of the all are finally good enough to make up for some miscues on the other side. An early hole doesn't mean immediate doom and a few misfires on offense doesn't mean we're all of sudden down 3 touchdowns. That's huge and makes me much more confident going forward.</p>
<p><b>Nik Jam: </b>Very solid defensive effort. It was nice to see them rebound from the easy touchdown they allowed in the first quarter. It was good to see the offense not panic and hold their heads down despite trailing for the most of the first half. Unlike Colorado 2014, where once the offense rebounded the game became a shootout; Once Cal took the lead, they were able to keep it for good.</p>
<p><b>Keegan Dresow: </b>Cal won with defense on a day when their opponent set the tempo early. San Diego State sought to shrink the game in order to keep it close, and accomplished that goal in the early going. Cal's offense was not in rhythm early. But the defense gained strength as the game wore on, allowing the offense to finally assert its will. It has been a long time since Cal enjoyed a defense led victory.</p>
<p><b>boomtho:</b> Positives: First, a win over a pretty good FBS team! Second, our defense carried the day. Like LeonPowe mentoined, all 3 units contributed - DL got pressure and disrupted the QB's, LB's were 'flying around, real physical' and the secondary had a number of nice plays. In addition, we were facing a likely NFL-caliber RB, so that makes the defense's performance even more impressive.</p>
<p>I also am glad to see our run game play well. Lasco averaged 6.5 YPC... and still averaged less than Vic!</p>
<h3><b>What are the negatives to take from Cal-San Diego State? How does this make you more worried about the team going into the future?</b></h3>
<p><b>LeonPowe: </b>Kickoff coverage was weak. The punts were fine, but the timeout miscues and running into the punter, and Anderson slipped on the the field goal, but special teams is worrying.</p>
<p>Offense never really got into a passing rhythm, aside from those two drives.</p>
<p><b>Berkelium97:</b> The special teams unit was a mess. We wasted two timeouts (one in each half) trying to get the punt unit set. We suffered some silly penalties like the kick-catch interference and a procedural one (false start?). The kickoffs were short and coverage was spotty, so SDSU's average starting position was the 33. Again Leininger couldn't break the 40-yard mark on his punting average. And why can't we ever return punts? It seems like we've fair caught 90% of our punts in the post-DeSean era. On one SDSU punt, Davis fair caught the ball as 5 SDSU players converged on him while not a single blue jersey was in frame. We didn't sell out to block the punt that time, so what happened?</p>
<p>I don't blame Sonny for spending so much time yelling at Tommerdahl on the sidelines on Saturday.</p>
<p>We've seen how special teams can turn the tide in a game (the botched onside kick against Arizona last year, our miraculous escape when WSU coug'ed the field goal). It's likely that special teams will again play a pivotal role in the outcome of one of our games. I hope we're not the ones adversely affected when that time comes.</p>
<p><b>KWBears:</b> Daniel Lasco getting a slight injury is not a good thing for us. Although our RBs have been fantastic so far, we need Lasco's size and experience to help take some pressure off Goff and his receivers.</p>
<p><b>Sam Fielder: </b>Like Berkelium said, the special teams are not good right now. That has got to change or it will cost us at least one game. I'm still not totally sold on the offensive line yet either. Texas is a huge test for them and we'll know much more next week at this time. But those two areas definitely worry me.</p>
<p><b>Nik Jam: </b>San Diego State didn't look like that great a team. They committed some sloppy personal foul penalties on offense as well, which helped our defense get off the field. So it still feels like we haven't really been tested. Plus, the offense could have still looked better. Special teams could be a liability.</p>
<p><b>Keegan Dresow: </b>The aforementioned offensive rhythm issues in the early going may be problematic against better opponents, though starting slow is normal and thus not a negative, per se. But it is unclear if Cal's defense can repeat this performance against the top offenses of the Pac 12, and Cal (obviously) does not want to spot those offenses big early leads.</p>
<p><b>boomtho</b>: Like everyone has said, the biggest negatives were definitely on special teams. Poor coverage, bad timeout usage, and a missed short FG... all not good. Also, and this is totally a negative only because Goff has set such an impossible standard for himself... Goff and the offense were definitely a bit off, especially in the first half. Goff missed a few people completely (Powe wide open on the eventually deflected incompletion before the missed FG), he underthrew Davis on what should have been a touchdown, he made a mental error on that pick... and yet still wound up 17/24 for 321 yards with 3 TD's. Dude is straight up incredible.</p>
https://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2015/9/15/9327713/california-golden-bears-jared-goff-daniel-lasco-sonny-dykes-sdu-azetcsAvinash KunnathLeonPoweKevin WuBerkelium97Sam FielderNik JamKeegan Dresowboomtho2015-09-15T03:00:03-07:002015-09-15T03:00:03-07:00Cal film room: Jared Goff & the screen game
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<p>Cal's throwback screen a weapon in the red zone.</p> <p>The field is condensed in the red zone, and defenses become more aggressive. As Bill Walsh once said: "...every defensive coach in the country is going to his blitzes about right there. The pass coverage, by and large, will be man-to-man coverage. We know that if they don't blitz one down, they're going to blitz the next down."</p>
<p>Of course, Tony Franklin knows the same. One of his favorite concepts in the red zone has become variations of his throwback screen (note: others may use different names for this screen...I will say throwback for simplicity's sake, but others may call it a solid, throwback, jailbreak, or rocket screen, and all refer to specific variations). Against a blitzing team such as San Diego State, it was no surprise that Franklin's throwback screen made another appearance in the end zone for Cal.</p>
<p>Why is the throwback screen valuable against the blitz? Simply put, a screen (of any sort) "wastes" defenders. If the defense rushes five or six men and the offense executes, those rushers will be too fast up the field, and will be "wasted" in pursuit when the ball is thrown behind them. The throwback screens adds even more misdirection; a defense that is in "red zone blitz mode" is more likely to chase fakes and pursue their first reads (necessitated by how close the offense is to the end zone and their man principles), thus potentially exposing themselves to misdirection.</p>
<p>The downside for the offense is that throwback screens are some of the hardest plays in football to execute. The quarterback is almost throwing blind (seeing his receiver at the last moment), the receiver must prepare himself to catch the ball in traffic, and the timing of the play (between the quarterback and receiver as well as among the linemen) is essential for success and difficult to master. If the defense reads the play and/or the offense does not execute well, it can lead to a big hit on the receiver or an interception with few offensive players available to stop the defender from scoring.</p>
<p>As we have seen, however, Cal is executing at a high level. Saturday's throwback screen was quick, crisp, and led to an easy touchdown.</p>
<p> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="GS on throwback screen 1" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/durAtScicjHclHEzkJ7ydArqVbE=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4058954/Golden_spotlight_on_throwback_screen_1.0.png">
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<p class="caption">Prior to the snap, we see what Franklin expected - signs of pressure. San Diego State has six defenders in rushing positions. The remaining five defenders line up over the five Cal receiving threats. Of course, San Diego State may be bluffing, but the throwback screen is a calculated risk. If San Diego State covers it well, <span>Jared Goff</span> can always throw the ball at <span>Maurice Harris</span>'s feet, stopping the clock with plenty of time for two more shots at the end zone. The two timeouts mean that Cal can run the play without risk of the clock running out if Harris is tackled before the end zone.</p>
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<p>Goff receives the snap and immediately looks to <span>Daniel Lasco</span>, who is running a swing to the right. <span>Raymond Hudson</span> breaks down as if blocking for a swing screen to Lasco. These fakes are quick, subtle, and effective. We see two San Diego State defenders move towards Lasco; they are another two defenders who will not be in position to stop Harris.</p>
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<p class="caption">As Goff turns to the throw back to Harris, we see the beauty of the play call. San Diego State ended up rushing five. Of those five, three are sprinting towards Goff, completely wasted on the play. The other two are still near the line of scrimmage, unlikely to make an impact on the play. When combined with the two players who have bitten on the fake to Lasco and the one defender who is covering <span>Kenny Lawler</span>, Cal has now rendered eight out of eleven San Diego State defenders meaningless.</p>
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<p class="caption">As Harris catches the ball, Cal has a four on two advantage at the point of attack. Spread offenses thrive on taking advantage of one on one matchups. They (as well as every other offense) become deadly when they can scheme a two on one advantage. As the gif below shows, it was smooth sailing for Harris into the end zone.</p>
<p><iframe src="http://gfycat.com/ifr/GiddyTautCub" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" width="640" height="360" style="-webkit-backface-visibility: hidden;-webkit-transform: scale(1);"></iframe></p>
<p>This isn't the first time that the Sonny Dykes/Tony Franklin led Golden Bears have found the end zone with variations of their throwback screen.</p>
<p>In the red zone to Kenny Lawler, against Arizona in 2013:<br><iframe src="http://gfycat.com/ifr/CharmingMeatyCygnet" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" width="640" height="360" style="-webkit-backface-visibility: hidden;-webkit-transform: scale(1);"></iframe></p>
<p>From near midfield to <span>Chris Harper</span>, against Ohio State in 2013:<br><iframe src="http://gfycat.com/ifr/ScaredForsakenBunny" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" width="640" height="360" style="-webkit-backface-visibility: hidden;-webkit-transform: scale(1);"></iframe></p>
<p>There are likely other examples as well.</p>
<p>Cal's execution of the throwback screen also pays dividends beyond the play at hand. Defensive coordinators know that Cal can and will execute such a screen near the end zone, and this can discourage those coordinators from bringing pressure. This, of course, leads to less pressure, which makes things easier for other elements of the Cal offense. Franklin thrives on putting defenses and defenders in conflict, and his throwback screen does the same to opposing defensive coordinators.</p>
<p><i>Keegan Dresow is the head coach of the Avedøre Monarchs of the Danish American Football Federation, the author of <a href="http://amzn.to/1EXCVpt" target="_blank" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">Offensive Football Systems</a> and <a href="http://amzn.to/1EXD0cY" target="_blank" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">Gridiron Cup, 1982</a>, and the operator of <a href="http://www.totalamericanfootball.com/" target="_blank">totalamericanfootball.com</a>.</i></p>
https://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2015/9/15/9322241/california-golden-bears-video-highlights-gamefilm-sonny-dykes-tony-franklinKeegan Dresow2015-09-14T18:11:03-07:002015-09-14T18:11:03-07:00WATCH: Cal vs. San Diego State sights & sounds
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<figcaption>John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>GO BEARS!</p> <p>As usual, the mini-documentary is out, and it's filled with all the good highlights you can want. Plenty of good little clips to check out here.</p>
<p></p>
<ul>
<li>Kenny Lawler getting hyped by the Cal Band as they get going pregame. </li>
<li>The Cal captains leading the way up the tunnel and onto the field and getting ready for the coin ceremony.</li>
<li>Jared Goff giving high fives to dudes in the student section with hard hats. And of course, plenty of gorgeous Goff spirals all over the place.</li>
<li>Cal running tough with Daniel Lasco and also on the Vic Enwere 4th down conversion where he wouldn't give up.</li>
<li>Wide shots of the field. </li>
<li>So much Joe Starkey. How many of you have missed listening to Joe Starkey on the radio at Cal games?</li>
<li>Plenty of closeups of the video highlights from on the field. </li>
<li>The Bear Territory chant which you can also watch here. </li>
</ul>
<p>Onto Texas! GO BEARS!</p>
https://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2015/9/14/9327505/california-golden-bears-jared-goff-sonny-dykes-video-highlights-sdsu-aztecsAvinash Kunnath2015-09-14T07:30:03-07:002015-09-14T07:30:03-07:00Listen to episode 3 of the CGB podcast!
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<figcaption>John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>We talk like we're Vandelay Industries; A little bit of this and that</p> <p>On this week's episode of the Bearcast, Rob and I went through a myriad of topics, covering the past game against San Diego State and the upcoming matchup with Texas. We also covered this past weeks slate of games in the Pac-12, and a quick recap of some other Cal sports.</p>
<p>We covered:</p>
<ul>
<li>A bit on maligned Cal LT Brian Farley</li>
<li>The contributions of Daniel Lasco and Vic "Spearmint Rhino" Enwere</li>
<li>How Arizona State almost lost to the powerhouse Cal Poly</li>
<li>The Fullmer Cup and how former WR coach Pierre Ingram won the Mike Haywood Leading by Example Award</li>
<li>Paul "don't call me Ann" Perkins, and how fantastic Parks and Recreation is. <br> </li>
<li>The set up of the second half touchdown to Trevor Davis that put the game a little more out of reach</li>
<li>Rob's dog, who is tiny.</li>
<li>Our predictions for the Texas game, and general thoughts on the weeks ahead.</li>
</ul>
<p>Give it a listen, let us know if you have any ideas for segments to be put into the show to make it better, and send us some tweets or emails. We want to hear from the general public, and any points you want to share help us get better. Thank you for listening, and Go Bears!</p>
<p> </p>
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https://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2015/9/14/9321081/audio-california-golden-bears-uc-berkeley-san-diego-state-aztecsTrace TraversRob Hwang2015-09-14T05:00:04-07:002015-09-14T05:00:04-07:00Erik Brown leaves team, plus Cal-SDSU press notes
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<figcaption>Ezra Shaw/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The redshirt freshman had yet to play a snap for Cal. </p> <p>Aside from the status of Cal running back Daniel Lasco, the other major news from Sunday night for the Golden Bears was the departure of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2013/11/20/5125928/four-star-wide-receiver-erik-brown-commits-to-cal">wide receiver Erik Brown</a>. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sfgate.com/collegesports/article/WR-Erik-Brown-leaves-Cal-football-team-for-6502580.php">Connor Letourneau of the San Francisco Chronicle reported</a> that it was personal reasons. Brown <a target="_blank" href="http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2015/7/30/9069825/california-golden-bears-fall-preseason-depth-chart-roster">has not appeared</a> on <a target="_blank" href="http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2015/8/25/9207977/california-golden-bears-dezhon-grace-stephen-anderson-kanawai-noa-griffin-piatt">any Cal fall depth chart </a>and it seemed like he wasn't going to make an impact this season due to reported academic issues. Now it appears if he wants to play Division 1 football, it'll have to be elsewhere besides Cal.</p>
<p>Brown was a four-star wide receiver commit at from Summit High in Fontana and one of the highest ranked commits from the 2013-14 recruiting class (a class that committed to the Bears after the tortuous 1-11 campaign), and he was the only wideout of that class. But Brown has already been passed by on the depth chart by true freshman like <a href="http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2015/8/11/9128275/cal-football-fall-camp-notebook-practice-4">Kanawai Noa</a> (who played in the season opener), Carlos Strickland and Brandon Singleton. With another big class of wideouts incoming, it seems like Brown decided that it wasn't going to work out at California (I do not know if he'll end up transferring or not).</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://m.sfgate.com/collegesports/article/Sonny-Dykes-still-wants-better-kickoffs-other-6502687.php">Additionally, Sonny Dykes was quick to mention that position battles will continue at many spots</a>. He's pretty comfortable with Darius White and Darius Allensworth at cornerback, but aside from that battles will continue everywhere else. Dykes was pleased with Ray Davison, who is trying to win snaps from Jake Kearney at the SAM position.</p>
<p>The thing to watch out for the most is left tackle. Dykes singled out Aaron Cochran as playing very well, which could be his subtle way of trying to light a fire under Brian Farley. Farley had the shakiest moments out of all the offensive linemen on Saturday.</p>
<p>For those who missed it, here are some quick notes from the Cal vs. San Diego State press conferences. Leland did all the reporting here, credit goes to him!</p>
<p><b>Sonny Dykes</b></p>
<p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_NwucBUvyXs" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li>Dykes calls the start "shaky". Says the team was steady--not panicked--in reaction to SDSU's early TD.</li>
<li>Dykes credits the team with "fighting through" the challenge. "Never got into a great flow offensively" and credits SDSU w/ that.</li>
<li>Dykes calls the 1st-half INT and scoring drive "critical". Very proud of the "great" defensive performance.</li>
<li>Dykes praises the backs for "running hard", even when SDSU was expecting the run. OLine was "physical".</li>
<li>Dykes says the offensive line was mostly good in pass protection and jokes about the old-timey style of running football.</li>
<li>Dykes is glad that we have the depth to stay fresh, especially in the defensive front.</li>
<li>Dykes says it's "fun" to run at will. Important to get in a rhythm and be fast.</li>
<li>To close the first half, Dykes didn't call a timeout because he wanted the SDSU defense to stay unsettled and on their heels.</li>
<li>Dykes: "Our guys like playing on the road". Like being together as a team.</li>
<li>
<p class="TweetTextSize TweetTextSize--16px js-tweet-text tweet-text" data-aria-label-part="0" lang="en">Dykes thinks the team would be split if choosing between a road or home game.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p class="TweetTextSize TweetTextSize--16px js-tweet-text tweet-text" data-aria-label-part="0" lang="en">Dykes calls Jared Goff "one of the great ones to ever play here." Dykes says it's hard to compared Goff to other QBs b/c game is different and offense is different. Wouldn't trade him for anyone in CFB.</p>
</li>
</ul>
<p><b>Jared Goff</b></p>
<p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ag9uapqJggY" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
<ul>
<li>On the Cal defense: "That’s the first look at the new and improved Cal defense." Mentioned how they responded after the first score.</li>
<li>On Texas: "Going to be a good game vs. Texas. Good Texas team, nationally televised, good test."</li>
<li>Goff credits Hudson with recognizing the defense that led to their big pass connection.</li>
<li>Goff on quick minute touchdown before halftime: Maurice Harris made a great play at end of first half. Coaches decision to run tempo.</li>
<li>Goff on the Cal passing record, only 15 yards away: Hopefully I can get it next game. Focusing on beating Texas.</li>
<li>On the Trevor Davis touchdown: Made a check at the line, looked for someone to be out there, saw Trevor wide open...</li>
</ul>
<p><b>Trevor Davis</b></p>
<p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1X2Dod2Hg0I" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
<ul>
<li>Wide receiver Trevor Davis was "rattled a bit" after UCLA injury.</li>
<li>Davis saw the safety come down, which opened up the field. "Weren't really looking at me while I ran the post".</li>
<li>Davis thinks being too open can make you nervous. "It's a lot better when it's contested b/c adrenaline pushes you through".</li>
<li>Davis says it's a "rush" to see so many takeaways from our defense. "Total change". INT means no punt and go straight into offense.</li>
<li>Davis and the team gets "pumped up" after takeaways.</li>
</ul>
<p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/f9sMeEokWVE" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
<ul>
<li>White credits defensive line pressure when it comes to his interception.</li>
<li>Barton calls it a "confidence booster" to finally show that the defense is better.</li>
<li>Barton: "We just did our job. We carried the game and the offense fed off our energy instead of the other way around."</li>
<li>Barton: "Pumphrey is a great RB" but the D "just stays calm and made adjustments to what they did. They came out w/ some different stuff".</li>
<li>Barton attributes the first SDSU TD to their new "gadgets". Right after that, they made their adjustments.</li>
<li>
<p class="TweetTextSize TweetTextSize--16px js-tweet-text tweet-text" data-aria-label-part="0" lang="en">Barton echoes Dykes's praise about not panicking.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p class="TweetTextSize TweetTextSize--16px js-tweet-text tweet-text" data-aria-label-part="0" lang="en">Barton says he and defense worked harder than ever this offseason. The defense grew closer. White agrees.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p class="TweetTextSize TweetTextSize--16px js-tweet-text tweet-text" data-aria-label-part="0" lang="en">Barton also credits the 2nd year in this system and veteran leadership. "We know what we're doing" and are "synchronized".</p>
<span class="ProfileTweet-action--reply u-hiddenVisually"></span> <span class="ProfileTweet-action--retweet u-hiddenVisually"><span class="ProfileTweet-actionCount"><span class="ProfileTweet-actionCountForAria"></span></span></span> </li>
</ul>
https://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2015/9/14/9321987/sonny-dykes-jared-goff-trevor-davis-darius-white-michael-barton-interview-videoAvinash KunnathLeland Wong2015-09-14T03:00:03-07:002015-09-14T03:00:03-07:00Post Game Thoughts: San Diego State
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<img alt="Darius White makes us all smile." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Qp7CJcNtfJNiL2cAhDJ-vibtEs4=/0x682:2000x2015/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47179872/GettyImages-487956594.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Darius White makes us all smile. | Jason O. Watson/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Cal records a different type of win, and our reaction to that win is an indication of how far this team has come over the last 2+ years.</p> <p id="paragraph4">Before we get into the specifics, a few general thoughts about what was ultimately a satisfying win:</p>
<p>1. Cal won calmly and easily over an FBS team. Even better, an FBS team coming off a bowl appearance, and likely headed to another! There was some griping about the performance generally and offense/special teams specifically, but it's worth remembering that Cal hasn't had a comfortable win over this level of team since 2012 over 6-6 UCLA.</p>
<p>2. That said, you're not being greedy for wanting more. A few people have alluded to this, so I'll just go ahead and say it: This team is capable of doing something special (at least, relative to Cal's history over the last 55 years and particularly relative to the last 5 years or so). Early returns indicate that Cal is the ONLY team in the Pac-12 North better in 2015 than they were in 2014. I think there are scenarios, multiverses, in which Cal wins the Division. It might be a long shot, it might only happen 2.692% of the time, but I think it's in the realm of possibility. We want to see this team play to their full potential because the opportunity is there. They haven't reached that potential yet. They might not need it until week 6. They might need it next week. I hope they get there at some point.</p>
<h3>Offense</h3>
<p id="paragraph5"><b>Offensive MVP (Non-Jared-Goff-Division)</b></p>
<p id="paragraph6">First, the simple facts: Lasco gained 128 yards on just 19 carries, and he did that without an run longer than 19 yards, which tells you that he was consistently getting 5-6 yards on most runs. He was his usual self, consistently hitting the right hole, making solid cuts, and dragging defenders forward for extra yards. Now if only he could learn to stop hopping, jumping, and hurdling. On a side note, if there isn't a penalty for 'illegal helmet to the crotch,' there should be.</p>
<p>Lasco and the running game basically iced the game during a dominating 3rd quarter. At one point one of the announcers said that Lasco always seems to get stronger as the game goes on. That well may be, but I'd be inclined to credit Cal's line for getting stronger, and Cal's passing attack for shredding SDSU over the top a couple of times. Is it a coincidence that Cal's running game took over just after <span>Trevor Davis</span> streaked untouched into the end-zone for 75 yards?</p>
<p id="paragraph7"><b>Your weekly reminder that <span>Jared Goff</span> isn't of this world</b></p>
<p id="paragraph8">Early in the 3rd quarter, Cal faces a 2nd and 10 from the SDSU 34. The Aztecs show blitz, but end up rushing only 4 men. Still, the rush is concentrated to one side of the line, and it feels like Goff won't have much time to make a play. From my vantage point in the stands I'm hoping he either dumps the ball off to <span>Khalfani Muhammad</span> or spots Kawanai Noa running free on a 5 yard dig.</p>
<p>But Jared Goff (shocker!) has better field awareness than I do. He realizes that his line has the blitz handled and he has enough time to get more out of the play. He coolly sidesteps to his left and drops a perfect lofted ball to the sidelines over the defender and right into the chest of Ray Hudson. It's a big 32 yard gain and Cal scores 2 plays later.</p>
<p id="paragraph11"><b>Nifty play of the week</b></p>
<p id="paragraph12">Loved the WR screen to <span>Maurice Harris</span> on Cal's 2nd touchdown, particularly the picture perfect blocking from <span>Darius Powe</span> and <span>Dominic Granado</span> to make sure that Harris got over the line. This is one of those great confluences of a cool play called at the perfect time, executed brilliantly.</p>
<p><b>Analyzing failure</b></p>
<p>Cal had 11 drives before garbage time began, and scored 5 touchdowns. The other six drives ended in failure. Why? Let's find out!</p>
<p><b>Drive one</b>: A <span>Steven Moore</span> false start put Cal behind the 8 ball, but the Bears still might have converted if Goff delays a throw a split second or Darius Powe turns his head a split second earlier.</p>
<p>Verdict: Credit SDSU for bothering Goff a bit, but this was mostly Cal mistakes.</p>
<p><b>Drive two</b>: <span>Jordan Rigsbee</span> misses an assignment on the interior of the line, and <span>Vic Enwere</span> can't get over to slow down the rusher. Goff is sacked, but Cal still might convert if either an offsides OR a defensive PI is called on the ensuing long 3rd down attempt</p>
<p>Verdict: Equal parts credit to SDSU's rush, Cal protection failures, and ref iffyness.</p>
<p><b>Drive four</b>: The ultra rare interception that is entirely on Jared Goff. The announcing crew speculates that Goff misread the coverage scheme. Whether it was that, simply not seeing the CB, or badly underthrowing the ball, Goff has his first INT of the year that is actually his fault.</p>
<p>Verdict: SDSU did a good job here, but it's a throw you wouldn't ever expect Goff to actually attempt.</p>
<p><b>Drive five</b>: This one would have been a touchdown if <span>Trevor Davis</span> maintains his footing after getting tapped from behind - you could see how frustrated he was about not housing what would have been an 82 yard TD. But this drive ends in a missed field goal (more on that below).</p>
<p>Verdict: Should have been at least 3 points, credit to SDSU for stiffening in the red zone.</p>
<p><b>Drive eight</b>: This drive was probably going to be another TD until <span>Chad Hansen</span> is called for a very iffy offensive pass interference. I see why the refs called this one (if you extend your arm and create space from a defender, the flag is coming) but Hansen actually made mostly incidental contact. Tough break, tough to blame the ref as well.</p>
<p>A delay of game and a sack didn't help matters, either.</p>
<p>Verdict: Mostly a bit of bad luck.</p>
<p><b>Drive ten</b>: <span>Stephen Anderson</span> is called for a hold that negates what would have been a first down run. Cal is unable to make up the yardage lost on the penalty and punts</p>
<p>Verdict: Kudos to SDSU for stifling Lasco on 3rd and 1. You didn't get the sense that Cal was pushing to score at this point, as it was clear that the Aztecs weren't going to be scoring 21 points in the 4th quarter without unusual circumstances.</p>
<p>In total: Three times, Cal drives are derailed by penalties that put the Bears in 2nd/3rd and long situations. Some of the penalties are good calls, others aren't. The penalty mistake and a few other mental mistakes plus a generally fundamentally sound SDSU defense means that Cal's offense doesn't quite perform up to expectations.</p>
<p>It's also worth noting that, thanks to SDSU's ball control, slow offense, Cal has fewer possessions than usual. Getting five TDs and a field goal attempt out of 11 meaningful possessions isn't amazing, but it's hardly worrisome. The real question is if production like that would be good enough against a team like, say, Arizona State or UCLA.</p>
<h3>Defense</h3>
<p id="paragraph16"><b>Defensive MVP: <span>Darius White</span></b></p>
<p>This is always going to be a tough award to give (more on that below in the 'depth report' section) but White was the player who stood out positively on the most plays to my eyes. He looked the best in coverage, and he had multiple plays where he moved quickly and decisively to contribute to a tackle on plays in the flat.</p>
<p>But I really just want to talk about that interception because ooooohhhhhh man was that cathartic to watch on replay. SDSU ran a 15 yard dig route, and White was all over the intended receiver, in perfect position to jump on the ball. Hell, the throw wasn't even <i>that</i>bad - sure, the QB could have led his receiver a little, but the ball would have hit the WR in the chest if White weren't right there ready to step in.</p>
<p>For my money it was the best defensive play of the game in isolation. It was also the most important in context because it gave Cal the ball back in decent field position with time running out. Cal scored 3 plays later, and I doubt they score a TD if that pass simply falls incomplete and SDSU punts it away instead.</p>
<p id="paragraph17"><b>The power of being in the right place</b></p>
<p>Last year was about Art Kaufman teaching a bunch of young, wounded players where to be on the field. That painful year has paid dividends so far, and now the Bears are actually making plays.</p>
<p>San Diego State ran the ball (not counting sacks) 39 times. Only two of those runs went for more than 9 yards. San Diego State passed the ball 33 times, and only 3 passes went for more than 15 yards. One of those passes was deep into garbage time. Another was a perfect throw and the WR made a great catch with <span>Darius Allensworth</span> draped all over him.</p>
<p>Cal basically blew one play - when <span>Hardy Nickerson</span> failed to track the tight end and Demariay Drew didn't read that he needed to come over to cover the coverage gap. That play gave SDSU a 7 point lead and put Cal fans in a sour mood but it was the only significant defensive mistake.</p>
<p>How refreshing is it to have guys in the right position? Sure, sometimes they're going to miss a tackle, but sometimes they're going to snuff out a play or make a huge interception. By having guys in the right place, Cal picked two passes and should have picked two others. If the Bears had better hands on Saturday the defense very well might have outscored the SDSU offense.</p>
<p><b>Depth report</b></p>
<p>By my count, 23 different defenders registered on the stat sheet in some fashion, and nearly as many registered either in the stadium or during the re-watch. Art Kaufman wasn't joking when he said he was going to rotate heavily. It's reasonable to conclude that rotation contributed in part to Cal's increasing defensive success as the game wore on.</p>
<p>It's worth noting WHERE the rotation is happening: Primarily on the line and at linebacker. The starting secondary played most of the way through the competitive portion of game, particularly the cornerbacks (Stay healthy, Dariuseses!). On the other hand, backup linebackers like Broussard, Barton and Downs and back-up linemen like Johnson, Manley and Barr all got plenty of playing time. Even better, they're all making impactful plays. So far, we're not using depth just for the sake of it.</p>
<p><b>Apportioning credit/blame, and a reminder of how good we have it</b></p>
<p>I don't know about you, but I was very, very unimpressed with San Diego State's offense pretty much all the way around. And so, early in the year, we must ask: How much of that was the Cal defense being good vs. the SDSU offense being bad?</p>
<p>On the plus side, <span>Donnel Pumphrey</span> looked pretty good, and Cal did a generally solid job of preventing many after contact yards. On the downside, SDSU's quarterbacks looked generally overmatched and inaccurate, their skill players didn't seem particularly athletic, and their offensive gameplan was almost as predictable as a <span>David Shaw</span> gameplan. Even when they were down 21 points SDSU still ran on most 1st and 2nd down plays, all while letting the clock run. Yeesh.</p>
<p>You can only play what's in front of you, and the Bears were well prepared to take care of business. But we're still left wondering exactly how good this defense can be when truly challenged.</p>
<h3>Special Teams</h3>
<p id="paragraph29"><b>More kick off concerns</b></p>
<p>I think we all know what we have at kicker: <span>Matt Anderson</span> is capable (at sea level) of kicking the ball somewhere between the goalline and the 5 with consistency. That's not amazing, but it's not disastrous either. Just don't kick it out of bounds, please.</p>
<p>What we don't know is what we have from the coverage team. Not counting the squib kick to end the first half, SDSU's average starting field position after a Cal kickoff? The 33 yard line. If it's going to be like that all year, Cal would be better off kicking out of bounds just to assure the opponent doesn't get a touchdown return.</p>
<p>Now, SDSU was a solid return team last year (<a href="http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/feist2014" target="_blank">35th in FEI kickoff returns last year</a>) and returned a kickoff for a touchdown last week. This was a legit test for Cal, and they didn't completely fall on their face, even if <span>Matt Anderson</span> did have to make a tackle.</p>
<p>One thing is clear: Sonny Dykes recognizes the issue:</p>
<blockquote>
<p dir="ltr">Cal worked on kickoff coverage for 30 minutes in tonight's practice, Dykes said.</p>
— Connor Letourneau (@Con_Chron) <a href="https://twitter.com/Con_Chron/status/643241512197865473">September 14, 2015</a>
</blockquote>
<p><b>What we know so far</b></p>
<p>Kick off defending: Problematic, needs work, coaches working on it.</p>
<p>Kick off returns: Incomplete, Cal defense selfishly not allowing enough field goals or touchdowns to get fair evaluation.</p>
<p>Punting: Just fine, assuming we can get the play off. Cal had to use another time out prior to a punt (and another prior to a punt return).</p>
<p>Punt returning: Solid, if unspectacular. Limited opportunities because Grambling's punter couldn't get the ball downfield enough for a return, and SDSU's punter got solid hangtime. If nothing else, I fully trust our bevy of WRs to catch the danged ball.</p>
<p>Field Goals: Incomplete, but early data is about as alarming as you would expect. If the offense is great and Dykes is aggressive, it might not matter. Oregon is ex. #1 of why having good kickers doesn't matter most of the time if you're smart about it.</p>
<h3>Game Theory Errata</h3>
<p id="paragraph36"><b>Time outs? Who needs 'em?</b></p>
<p>I was pretty loudly calling for a timeout from the stands when SDSU gained just 1 yard on a 2nd down run late in the 2nd quarter. Not using one of the two timeouts Cal had left allowed SDSU to run 40 seconds off the clock. Luckily, SDSU threw an interception on the very next play, giving Cal much better field position than they might have had after a punt. Then the offense did its thing, scoring in three plays and 53 seconds. Wow.</p>
<p>I still think the timeout made sense, though. You can't assume an interception, and so need to be thinking about having to drive 80+ yards rather than 65. Plus, Cal had to be perfect to score a TD on that drive, and little we had seen from the offense so far suggested that they would be. In the end, Cal left 2 timeouts unused. I'm just glad it didn't end up hurting them.</p>
<p><b>Just how aggressive should this team be on 4th down?</b></p>
<p>When Cal sent out the field goal team facing a 4th and 5 from the 18, I groaned. Partly that's because Cal had been so close to scoring the play before, partly because I was hoping Cal would run the ball on 3rd down in anticipation of going for it on a 4th and 1 or 2, and partly because I was starting to think that the risk calculus made a conversion attempt reasonable even with 5 yards to go.</p>
<p>This was probably a mildly irrational reaction. I don't know the exact numbers, but I'm pretty sure that college kickers make 35 yard field goals more frequently than teams convert on 4th and 5. But then Matt Anderson missed the field goal, and a 64 yard drive netted zero points.</p>
<p>Some have been saying that Anderson slipped either on his approach or his plant. I didn't really see anything on the replay that suggested a slip. Regardless, I was very, very pleased when Sonny opted to go for it on 4th and 2 from the 14 rather than attempt a 31 yard field goal. Cal scored a touchdown two plays later and the game was functionally over.</p>
<h3>Big Picture</h3>
<p id="paragraph38">Cal nearly doubled SDSU's per play production (8 yards/play vs. 4.3) before you even consider things like penalties and turnovers, which also went in Cal's favor. Honestly, this game wasn't as close as the score indicated, in part because Cal shut it down in the 4th quarter when it was clear that SDSU had given up. If Trevor Davis isn't tripped up from behind, if offensive PI isn't called/if defensive PI IS called, if Nathan Broussard or <span>Caleb Coleman</span> hold onto their interceptions and take them back to the house . . . this easily could have been something like 45-7.</p>
<p>That it wasn't illustrates that Cal has things to clean up. For now, we get to spend a week wondering how much better Cal needs to be to beat Texas. Cal was favored by ~13 last week, and it's already moved to around 7, which means if Cal were at home, they might be favored around as much as they were against SDSU. Texas obviously has much more raw talent than SDSU, but they are younger, less disciplined, and significantly less stable.</p>
<p>That whole 2004 thing has been <a href="http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2011/12/9/2622842/cal-texas-holiday-bowl-rose-bowl-2004-mack-brown" target="_blank">beaten to death already</a>. Jeff Tedford and <span>Mack Brown</span> are gone, and all of the players that will play next Saturday were in elementary school when our <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/rose-bowl">Rose Bowl</a> hopes died. This isn't about the past, this isn't about revenge. This is about a young, exciting team trying to live up to their potential by entering hostile territory and emerging with a win. A win that should be expected.</p>
https://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2015/9/14/9317855/california-golden-bears-sdsu-aztecs-texas-longhorns-recap-analysisNick Kranz2015-09-14T02:23:42-07:002015-09-14T02:23:42-07:00WATCH: Cal sing 'Bear Territory' after SDSU win
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/4LzQhXHQONFC67h8rSaBz_4oB9c=/0x0:3253x2169/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47180492/usa-today-8799531.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>GO BEARS!</p> <p>Never gets old.</p>
<p>YOU KNOW IT!<br><br>YOU TELL THE STORY!<br><br>YOU TELL THE WHOLE DAMN WORLD THIS IS BEAR TERRITORY!</p>
https://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2015/9/14/9322053/california-golden-bears-locker-room-video-bear-territory-chantAvinash Kunnath