Comments on: Best update

By: curtis birch

curtis birch — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 06:41:00 +0000

i tend to agree with Rookie in that we have seen so much wishy-washiness with regards to the quarterback decisions. that is definitely a leadership thing. tedford stuck with nate too long–and maybe the heat that everyone was throwing around about his questionable decision to give nate so much rope finally got to him. now he is quick to backtrack on his decision with riley. or is he? i tend to think that it’s a balancing act to date, bringing nate in for certain situations, that has kind of worked. i don’t really see nate winning the job back. but maybe this will light a fire under riley. it will be interesting to see what happens. i also agree that nate, when he has missed this year, has been much scarier than riley. there were indeed a couple of close calls against C State. don’t even want to talk about MSU. a badly timed interception agains ASU could be the difference in the game. remember that the riley scramble has provided some incredible 3rd down conversions. that’s the stuff that takes cal to the next level. i also agree with those who say it is going to be a tough battle so i tend to think that strong tedford leadership is going to be key, along with continued team leadership and team play. going back to nate too quickly, especially if it costs a game, could be disastrous. i would tend to think that sticking with riley until it is really proven that riley is totally ineffective might be the smarter call. surely, it’s easier to pontificate from the armchair than down on the field. look forward to the game and a bears victory with a strong showing from the running game!

By: covinared

covinared — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 01:48:55 +0000

I agree that the losses of Guarnero and Davis may be more significant than Best. Any average running back can produce with a good offensive line, and few, if any, can produce without. Davis made a huge difference last year and this the times he played, but is injury prone. Cal’s DB’s pass defense needs a good rush to get the job done. They are especially vulnerbable in the middle. Hopefully the new linemen will step up.

By: Big D

Big D — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 01:35:49 +0000

Nobody has really seen Slocum, so we’ll find out on Saturday what he can/can’t do. Don’t worry folks.

By: Goldiebear

Goldiebear — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:43:56 +0000

Slocum is third on the depth chart as would be many Pac-10 starting RB’s if they played on a team with Best and Vereen. That doesn’t mean he isn’t a good player. Maybe not in the class of Best and Vereen but he has been effective so far on this limited carries. I think he’ll do just fine.

By: rookie

rookie — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 22:55:50 +0000

I think the team will be fine with Best out… I think at times Tedford relied on him too much… leading to the offence looking unbalanced. For example on Saturday it seemed like you would have a all run series and then an all pass series. Maybe we will see a more balanced game this week.

As for the QB situation. I really think it is more of a reciever situation… how many times did Riley hit guys in their fricken hand only to have a WR drop the ball. Yes Riley made a few bad throws, but at least the ones that were not caught were not placed where they could be picked off. Longshore on the other hand had a couple of close calls on Saturday.

I know Tedford likes Longshore, but I hope he does not let that distract him from what is important. Riley is a leader, Longshore isnt. Sure let the guy play when you get a big lead like he did on Saturday, but for the sake of leadership, and a healthy team, just keep with Riley.

By: Gregg

Gregg — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:07:25 +0000

Chris Guarnero is a way bigger loss, for the simple fact that no one is going to come close to replacing his presence. Best is awesome, but without a hole, even he wouldn’t be effective. If we can continue to dominate the line like we have (Maryland excepted), Vareen will be just fine.

By: Tyler M.

Tyler M. — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:55:59 +0000

Macdaddy, Cal was alone in first place in 2006 when USC lost to Oregon St. in Week 9. Cal’s reign ended two weeks later with a still-painful loss to Arizona.

By: macdaddytms

macdaddytms — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 19:47:52 +0000

JO – If USC, Cal, & UW win this weekend, the Bears will be all alone in first place. Someone told me Cal has not been all alone in 1st, since the early 1950′s. I was able to go back through the 1970′s & verify that Cal has not been singularly in 1st place at least the past 38 years. Can you get your crack-research team to work and find out the last time Berkeley stood alone on top. Thanks

By: Steve W

Steve W — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 19:40:06 +0000

The ASU game is going to come down to one matchup: Zack Follett versus Rudy Carpenter. Carpenter folded up his tent the last time he was in Berkeley when he got knocked around a few times by the D off the pass. It will hurt with Rulon Davis out of action, but Follett has the ability to change the game by a few well placed helmet shots to Mr. Carpenter’s ribcage. Also, did anyone notice how UNLV ran it down ASU’s throat in the fourth quarter of that shocking upset? If we keep the kickoffs in the field of play, I’m predicting a Cal win.

By: Gerson_Bakar

Gerson_Bakar — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 19:13:41 +0000

Hi MoreNCs! C’mon! chin up

So what if Sanchez wilted like a little flower and the secondary made the blooper highlight of the decade! — Sanchez is better than Carpenter, the Trojan WR’s are better than the Sun Devils!

Man, the loss of norm chow and subsequent yearly choke jobs (aka most humiliating loss of the season 3 years and running) has affected your love of the trojans…

But PLEASE don’t deny yourself the pleasure of sticking your face up the trojans butts(what else would you do with your time? and what else would make me laugh every day?)

So get back on the trojan bandwagon ASAP! Because without you and your daily efforts, the Trojan nation…..um….does the same thing?