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Football: Tedford on Gregory
By Jonathan Okanes
Thursday, February 18th, 2010 at 9:42 am in Football, off-season stuff.
Here’s more of what Jeff Tedford had to say last night about the departure of Bob Gregory:
On Gregory’s reason for leaving
“He has young kids. I think he wants to spend more time with his kids and take a step back from coordinating. He’s been at Bosie before and likes the quality of life there. From what I know, it’s a step back to focus on his family.”
On whether he believes Gregory has head coaching aspirations
“I think he kind of goes back and forth with that. He’s entertained that thought before. I’m not sure now that he’s thinking so much that. People’s priorities change. His kids are at a time where it’s important for him to spend some more time with them.”
On not working with Gregory after spending 11 years together
“It’s going to feel odd because it’s a guy who I’ve totally entrusted with the defense, a guy who knows the ins and outs of what we do every day and how we do it.”
On whether Gregory left on good terms
“We all wish him well. He’s a great friend, a great person. We’ve worked together for a long, long time. There’s absolutely no animosity whatsoever. It’s completely healthy, friendly.”
On whether he still wanted Gregory to be his defensive coordinator
“Yes. I think Bob has done a great job. I would entrust him with the defense anywhere I would ever be. I know what kind of worker he is. He’s loyal, he’s great with the kids. He has great values. The philosophy that we have both on and off the football field, he totally believes in.”
On whether the new defensive coordinator will have any impact on staying with the 3-4
“We’re going to continue to do the 3-4 because that’s what we recruited to.”
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February 18th, 2010 at 9:55 am
“We’re going to continue to do the 3-4 because that’s what we recruited to.”
It’s called integrity. We are so lucky to have Tedford.
February 18th, 2010 at 10:18 am
I’m not trying to disagree with your point, WC. But Tedford doesn’t really have much of a choice, either. He has a ton of LB’s and fewer down linemen options. A 4-3 guy would likely feel compelled to run a 3-4 with the existing personell. It’s both integrity and practicality.
February 18th, 2010 at 10:43 am
why don’t we run the 2-5?
February 18th, 2010 at 11:11 am
Uh Oh, I, too, am not trying to be confrontational about it, because practicality is in play with Tedfords position on available athletes at this level, but was Chris Martin considered a top LB or a top DE? It was DE. We recruited him at LB because it is where he wanted to play.
If we switched to a 4-3, he would become a DL who occasionally lines up in a two point stance rather than the LB who occassionally goes to a 3 pt. When your top recruit is the one who’s position would change and thereby break your word when you recruited him, I call it integrity.
February 18th, 2010 at 11:19 am
While you’re at it Rollon, why not 1-6 ot 0-7?
February 18th, 2010 at 11:30 am
ballsy!
February 18th, 2010 at 11:42 am
Does this mean the 10 man scheme is out the window?
February 18th, 2010 at 12:03 pm
Wilcox invented and installed a 2-6-3 to throw at TCU in one month, completely baffling the high powered Horned Frogs. Get somebody aggressive, inventive/creative and fearless to run the defense.
February 18th, 2010 at 1:34 pm
Installing a defense you can practice for a month before a bowl season for one individual opponent is different than installing that as your base defense for the whole year.
Tedford has identified that our inability to apply pressure to the QB was a large issue last year. This is because we only rush 3 down-lineman and was ineffective in finding a good Outside Rush linebacker to replace the pain train. (Ryan Davis, and Jarred Price were JC guys brought in specifically for that role…RD reshirted and JP was largely ineffective). In addition, almost linebacker had gametime at the outside rush linebacker position to try to fulfill that spot.
We shuffled our guys around so much that oftentimes we only had 10 guys on the field due to substitution confusion (see UCLA game). Having said that, I don’t see us moving to a 2-5 anytime soon, which would create an even worse problem. Great against the run…but our secondary will get shredded (sound familiar?)
February 18th, 2010 at 2:26 pm
My point was not about installing a special defense for a bowl game. It is about finding someone who is creative, aggressive and smart. Wilcox’s defense was aggressive all year, they played to win, not to “not lose”. The fact that he invented a defense for a bowl game speaks to aggressiveness and creativity and smarts. Cal needs somebody that thinks like that and will coach like that. Enough bend but dont break, passive, predictable, soft, prevent-style all game zone defense.
February 18th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
maybe setencich will come back.
February 18th, 2010 at 3:24 pm
[...] only an insta-guess. We might gain more insight with time, and we might not. Update: Here are Tedford’s comments on Gregory’s departure to the CCT’s Jonathan [...]
February 18th, 2010 at 3:26 pm
BTW – did I read somewhere that Cal is getting a
‘walk-on’ kicker
February 18th, 2010 at 4:08 pm
How do you recruit a defensive coordinator at the last moment??
Want Ads?
Employment Agency?
February 18th, 2010 at 5:29 pm
You’re right Calduke. The timing isn’t good. That may lead to promoting someone from within.
February 18th, 2010 at 5:45 pm
You’re wrong, Duke. Ludwig was hired on February 20th with the same initial start of spring practice, then delay due to the change. One could think that the offense suffered at least partially, but Ludwig didn’t install anything new beyond that silly play.
That walk-on, Jed Barnett is a preferred walk-on, and he isn’t a savior on kickoffs, yet. He does have the body of a LB, though. However, he is kicking it to the 5 yard line, and it reads like he is practicing directional kicking. Yes, it is the same kicking scheme that Alamar was gunho about. I hope Coach Genyk changes that with a phone call to Jed.
Go BEARS!
February 19th, 2010 at 9:28 am
Clancy Pendegast is new DC for Cal football??? Can anyone confirm?
February 19th, 2010 at 10:10 am
Clancy Pendergast. It seems confirmed- it’s all over the wires, his wikipedia page is updated. Hello JO… can you confirm or deny??
What a disappointment this move is. How visionary of Tedford. He was the Cardinal D coordinator for 5 years- when they mostly sucked- and was fired and spent last year as the Raiders secondary coach- they sucked too.
I’d have rather have seen Tosh Lupoi promoted into the role. Justin Wilcox proved that a young guy can be a great coordinator, but clearly Tedford doesn’t believe that.
If this hire is true, I just continue to be disappointed in Tedford. Other than the recent recruiting class (which hasn’t done a thing yet), he continues to not do what it takes to be an agggressive visionary and change the outdated, passive predictability that has symbolized this team the last few years. DISAPPOINTING!
February 19th, 2010 at 10:21 am
i sort of agree, but he’s an nfl secondary coach, our secondary was our biggest weakness, and namdi’s a pro-bowler, so that’s not all that bad.
February 19th, 2010 at 10:23 am
Dan,
Yeah it looks like it is all locked up… Just a correction on your post though, Clancy was KC Cheifs’ DC last year, he was hired on at Oakland but never actually did any work with them…
I’ll keep a wait and see attitude about this guy, neither the Cards nor the Cheifs had great defensive personnel, and hopefully he is the type that is better at the collegiate level. Tosh, although a grteat recruiter, does not have the defensive coaching experience to be a DC yet, hopefully some day, but he can’t be entrusted with the whole D after just one great recruiting class…
I’d hold your judgement on a disappointment, he could be a very good fit for Cal, and the players are going to like that he has NFL experience (esp the new highly ranked recruits that all have achievable goals of the NFL).
There isn’t much information on Clancy that I have been able to find. Hopefully he installs a new, more aggressive scheme.
Tedford said he was going analyze all facets of the program… So far, higher ranked defensive recruiting, new special teams coach, new DC with NFL experience, offered a preferred walk-on spot to a very talented kicker/punter (who had received scholly offers, but wanted the education Cal provides)…
So far I’d say they are doing a good job… Obviously we will find out if these were good moves in about a years time… I do like the quick turn around (2 days?) to get some one in the program and working with the team ASAP…
I’ll stay glass half full for the time being…
Go Bears!
February 19th, 2010 at 10:25 am
actually, he was only with oakland for a week. oops. but still. doesn’t look all that bad.
February 19th, 2010 at 10:51 am
Cruzin- I commend your positivity. That is the better approach no doubt. That is a mature, balanced way to be.
As you can tell, my frustration level is high, given the Bear’s under-achieving the past few years, and given the terrible losses this past year. The Bears hoops pathetic effort (again) last night hasn’t helped my mood today.
I believe Tedford has gotten way off track, and I am waiting to see what he is really going to do differently to step it up. He has made some changes, but I don’t see any of them as being a sure thing or earth shattering. But some or all could certainly improve the program.
Im my opinion, the biggest thing he could change is quit being a wuss on both sides of the ball on ganeday. Quit being predictable and conservative, and start playing with a no fear, aggressive, unpredictable, play to win approach. He did that early on at Cal, and he has lost his way. I believe the players would love it, they would embrace the increased confidence the staff was showing in them, their confidence and play would reflect that.
Other teams have figured how Cal will play, that they’ll usually run on first and second down, that they’ll rush 3 or 4 guys on most plays and will drop into soft, risk averse zones. Regardless of any staff changes, if he still wants to play that way, I don’t think the results will be drastically better. I strongly believe that Gregory’s passive defense was desirted by Tedford. I beleive that if Tedford had told Gregory to take the training wheels off, that Gregory would have gladly done that. So I never slammed Gregory as many have.
But again, I commend your positive, optimisitic attitude. I will take a wait and see, but skeptical, approach. Tedford needs to show me as this is not the first season or first time we have had a head scratching season. It’s not the first time he has admitted a disappointing season and promised changes. The results have not improved- they’ve gotten worse in a sense.
What’s that saying? Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. I know it’s not about fooling anybody, but’s for me it’s about the proof will be in the pudding- man, that’s probably enougbn cliches for ine post. Anyway, that is where I am at.
Thanks again Cruzin. I appreciate the fact that though you have a different attitude and thoughts about this,, that you made your points in a classy manner.
February 19th, 2010 at 10:59 am
Ah Dan, you really should take a chill pill, and while you have every right to be frustrated, please try and look at the fact that out program is NOT sitting in a NCAA violations meeting, or our starting RB didn’t just get arrested.
Look at the upside for once, and you don’t know how hard it is to find a DC so late in the offseason that will run your scheme, so let’s have a wait and see attitude with Clancy.
February 19th, 2010 at 11:08 am
Wait and see, but skeptical is probably the best way to approach any of these situations… I had not known this, but after Gregory left I learned he had complete control over the defense, and Tedford had very little say as he “completely entrusted” him with that side of the ball…
Changes have come, and there is absolutely know way to tell which will pan out for the Bears… My biggest questions going into 2010 are now:
New DC: Will he install a more aggressive scheme as requested by Tedford (and fans)? Will his coaching resemble his early success with AZ or the more recent struggles with AZ in 07/08 and KC (which is KC, so how much can one expect)
New ST coach: Will we be able to cover on kicks and punts? Will this new kicker/punter earn a scholarship (to be the second scholly kicker on the team, out of 4) over summer and start helping the BEars D by having them start on the 20 (for once).
Second year with Steve Marshall as OL coach: Big set backs in 09 after losing JM to Oakland, Marshall comes in and installs very complex blocking schemes that seemed to dumb found many of our OL players. Will the 2nd year, with more experience help provide more protection?
Better QB play?: Broken record much? Hopefully the above OL question is answered and who ever starts at QB gets enough time to make good decisions/throws.
WRs: Will new faces lead to early contributions? Will Jones, Lagerman, and Calvin continue to develop and start breaking open in coverage?
Who steps up as Vereen’s back-up?: Is Debo going to continue to develop into an every down back? Does Yarnway make a contribution with a healthy season? Who else emerges from the slew of RB talent on the roster?
There are probably more questions I am forgetting… I like that changes are being made, and sometimes the best choices don’t appear to be so at initial glance (i.e. PC hired at U$C in 01)
Go Bears!!!
p.s. I agree on the pitiful showing of the b-ball team last night… They need to clean it up (and likely sweep) for the rest of the season if they want to dance in March