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Football: No Tepper, no Guarnero, no Teofilo. … No Rose Bowl
By Jonathan Okanes
Friday, November 21st, 2008 at 10:20 pm in Mid-week.
Quick question: What has been Cal’s major shortcoming during its two-game losing streak?
Yes, there were special teams breakdowns against Oregon State, and yes the quarterbacks continue to be inconsistent. But it seems pretty clear that the Bears’ inability to protect the passer is what ultimately felled them in their losses to USC and Oregon St.
So just for the sake of making grandiose statements on the eve of the Big Game, how about this for a hypothesis? If the Bears could have stayed healthy along the offensive line this season, they’d be headed to the Rose Bowl.
Cal entered the USC game controlling its own destiny in the Pac-10_ keep winning and take home the conference title. Clearly, the Bears were in the game the entire evening against the Trojans. Cal’s defense was up to the task, holding USC to just 10 points until just a few minutes remained.
The offense sputtered. Why? Well, especially in the second half, because there was no continuity in the passing game. The primary reason for that was the lack of protection. That’s why coach Jeff Tedford made the switch from Nate Longshore to Kevin Riley in the first place, because he wanted Riley’s mobility against the Trojans’ pressure. If the Bears could have protected the passer even just a little bit better, you get the feeling they could have put together a couple of drives and or maybe hooked up for a big play here or there. That would have been enough for a victory.
It was even more obvious against the Beavers. Yes, Jacquizz Rodgers ended up getting some yards against the defense and obviously special teams let the Bears down. But Cal was still right there in the game, with chance after chance after chance for the offense. But once again, there was simply no way to get the passing game going with the lack of protection. The few times Riley was able to throw the ball down field, it seemed to open up the running game. After the long pass that was dropped by Verran Tucker, there was suddenly more room to run because OSU’s safeties had to be a little more concerned with the passing game. Just imagine if there was some time to throw and Riley started completing some more of those passes with some consistency. Again, it would have been enough for a victory.
The Bears may look back at this season at some point and wonder what might have happened if Mike Tepper didn’t’ miss the season with a pectoral muscle injury, if Chris Guarnero didn’t go down after the third game with a torn tendon in his toe, if Chet Teofilo didn’t have season-ending ankle surgery, if Noris Malele didn’t miss all but one series against USC.
Donovan Edwards, Mark Boskovich, Mitchell Schwartz and Justin Cheadle are all young and will be better off for the experience they are getting this season. But as center Alex Mack told me the other day, you want to have your best players on the field. The injured players were starters for a reason, because they were Cal’s best linemen. Not having that projected starting line from the beginning of the season just may have cost the Bears a chance to go to the Rose Bowl for the first time in 50 years.
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November 22nd, 2008 at 12:48 am
I think this assessment hits the nail on the head. Calls for Tedford’s head are unjustified; injuries happen, and our recruiting doesn’t get us the depth that SC has. Hopefully this’ll change when the SAHPC gets built.
November 22nd, 2008 at 1:08 am
Agreed, Tedford is doing the best he can with the resources he’s been given. New facilities and a solid win over USC might turn some recruits’ heads, but for this year, it’s all about finishing strong and as some have mentioned, showing that the program has not plateaued.
November 22nd, 2008 at 5:03 am
Two of Cal’s highly regarded line recruits are also injured. They are inexperienced but probably more talented than the guys that have had to play.
If the Bears can win today and next week to finish 8-4 it will have been a good season given the injuries on the line. This is still a young team that should be better next year.
November 22nd, 2008 at 6:57 am
JO – in the interest of fair journalistic practices I believe the other side of the story should also be told. YOu say…
Cal entered the USC game controlling its own destiny in the Pac-10_ keep winning and take home the conference title. Clearly, the Bears were in the game the entire evening against the Trojans.>>>>>>>> USC controlled the game the entire time. Pete Carroll was waiting for your offense to self destruct which it did early and often in the first half except the refs were robbing us.
Cal’s defense was up to the task, holding USC to just 10 points until just a few minutes remained. >>>>>> We have also had many injuries through the season which has hurt the continuity and flow of our passing and running game.
The offense sputtered. Why? Well, especially in the second half, because there was no continuity in the passing game. The primary reason for that was the lack of protection. >>>>>>> And why was there no passing game? It is because USC had the best defense this year in the 7 years PC has been our coach! Give credit to where credit is due. The USC defense led by bone crunching hits by Taylor Mays could not be handled by your best offensive team.
November 22nd, 2008 at 7:05 am
JO – Was it your Offensive Line that gave up 40 points to lightly regarded Maryland and Arizona. Was it your OL that gave up 150 yards in rushing to an unknown running back named Antolin down inthe desert?
Two words will show where the real problems lie with your team: Toby Gerhardt.
Two more words will show where the real problem lies with your program: No tradition. The SF Chronicle quoted one of your players as saying they never think about BCS bowl games and wining championships. That is precisely why you program is one of the 9 dwarfs. USC goes into every season (and game) thinking a BCS bowl game and the NC. Because we think this way we play this way. We aren’t resigned to thin anything less. The last time your program went tothe Rose Bowl is wasn’t even in color TV. The last time you won at the Rose Bowl there was no TV. Think like losers play like losers.
November 22nd, 2008 at 7:11 am
JO – your article is eerily reminiscent of the trashing that Texas Tech put on UCB in the 2004 Holiday Bowl. After the game, it was widely believed that a #4 rated team could have been destroyed and embarassed by a lightly regarded opponent like Texas Tech. The reason given was that UCB had no WRs. Was it your WRs that gave up 600 yards of total offense to Texas Tech? Was it your WRS that gave up over 500 yards in passing and not once laid a hand on the Tech QB? The Tech QB was mediocre and only one of their WRs even got a look by the NFL. That wasn’t a very good team. Programs with a winning tradition find ways to win inspite of adversity.
November 22nd, 2008 at 7:54 am
My my. Fans of LA’s only professional football team are certainly bitter that they can’t put together a clean season in the Pac 10. Year after year, all that depth of talent and USC just can’t get it done. Perhaps Pete Carrol isn’t all he’s cracked up to be?
November 22nd, 2008 at 8:00 am
Can someone explain to me under what grounds someone can be removed from our message boards? This joker has been on long enough.
November 22nd, 2008 at 8:27 am
get that trojan arrogant hemorrhoidal puke off this website pls, he is sickening!!
November 22nd, 2008 at 8:47 am
MoreNC’s- I’m assuming your an SC fan? Why don’t you post on their boards?? It’s so convenient that your an SC fan posting on Cal boards. Let me guess your also a fan of the: NY Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, Kansas Jayhawks, im sure there is a little part of you that loves LSU football, don’t forget about Fresno St. baseball, Boston Celtics, and of course the Detroit Red Wings. You front runner get a life!!
November 22nd, 2008 at 9:12 am
MoreNCsarecoming Says:
Two more words will show where the real problem lies with your program: No tradition. The SF Chronicle quoted one of your players as saying they never think about BCS bowl games and wining championships. That is precisely why you program is one of the 9 dwarfs. USC goes into every season (and game) thinking a BCS bowl game and the NC. Because we think this way we play this way. We aren’t resigned to thin anything less. The last time your program went tothe Rose Bowl is wasn’t even in color TV. The last time you won at the Rose Bowl there was no TV. Think like losers play like losers.
Was USC thinking BCS when they played Oregon State? What’s USC going to get this year a Fiesta Bowl game against Ohio State again! Wopee! Your BCS thinking is BS!
November 22nd, 2008 at 10:11 am
NC: Why do feel so threatened by Cal. Anybody who feels the need to write so negatively and get so out of touch is obviously responding to severe, paranoid internal stimuli. Get some Haldol, dude!
November 22nd, 2008 at 10:11 am
Moronscoming CAN’T post on the SC boards because he/she/it has been banned. Amyethical, 9dwarves, et. al., as well.
November 22nd, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Yeah — Moron has been totally neutered. THe only way he can post now on SC boards is to totally hide his personality.
Be careful what you ask for, Amy.