BearTalk

Cal didn’t just switch its base defense to the 3-4 this year because of the depth they had at linebacker. The Bears also made the move to help recruiting.

Defensive coordinator Bob Gregory said it’s harder to find big-time defensive lineman than big-time linebackers. The physical specimans like Rulon Davis only come around once in awhile.

So the Bears focused much more on linebackers than down lineman this recruiting season. They brought in two defensive linemen and four linebackers.

“You definitely have to recruit to the 3-4,” Cal coach Jeff Tedford said. “You have to start recruiting more linebackers than defensive linemen. We have found that there are more linebackers available than big-time defensive ends. It has matched our recruiting efforts as well, but also schematically it’s taking advantage of what we want to do.”