Comments on: Football: Training camp ends (again)

By: CalBear

CalBear — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:05:01 +0000

ok, ok …I missed editing out “was” after Gregory. But this comment is about those who feel Vareen (who will NEVER be Javid) is going to be the highlite star this year. I believe the rushing yds/per/carry and, maybe even yds/after/catch will go this year to the second string tailback. While he will have less than 500yds, and less than 10 handoffs per game, the downfield threat of Isi will surely be applied by Ted, particularly in the 2nd halves. With his 20+ additional lbs, he will no longer be in the slot, but, “hidden” as a deep-threat tail back, running Best routes on second and short for very long gains.

By: CalBear

CalBear — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:48:28 +0000

Meep, can I buy whatever u are smoking? I went to the Oregon game, and left with my son and two others thru “the walk of shame” back to the bus. Gregory was should have been fired that day. He made NO half-time adjustments, and should have been blitzing the weak side safety or corner the whole game. Did u ever see Masoli throw a pass more than 12 yards? Why did we need safeties 30 yds down the field? Watch what happens to Boise State this year. Their AD must be rolling the same stuff u have.

By: NorCalScott

NorCalScott — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:12:09 +0000

“Bears” you are correct. I firmly believe that Vareen will have a VERY, VERY good year. He is as good as Best. Just look at what he did after #4 went down in the OR State game.

3 Keys to the March to Victory:
1) Riley has a career year
2) The Defense lives up the the “Aggressive” hype
3) Special Teams: FG’s & Kick-off field position killed us last year.

By: Bears

Bears — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:52:08 +0000

Jahvid is a sick player and great at Cal but Shane is not chopped liver. He could have a big big year. The yards Cal gained on the ground last year were not a miracle. I think what they do as an offense this year could be special.

By: BlueNGold

BlueNGold — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:07:51 +0000

Calduke- he and Gabe King were cleared by the NCAA to play (see JO’s comments above).

By: Calduke

Calduke — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 21:59:21 +0000

What’s the news about Wilkerson??

By: Meep.

Meep. — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:28:36 +0000

BlueNGold – Gregory’s defensive style wasn’t necessarily bad per se, it was just highly dependent on star play. We’ve always had great safeties and defensive backs, so no one really noticed this until we lost our pass rush and Sydquan was the only guy we had in the back. Pendergast’s schemes focus a little more on blitzing through different schemes to confuse the QB and the offensive line. That’s a good thing, but it also usually puts our DB’s into man coverage because it’s too easy to get burned in the zone. We’ll really have to just wait and see if our defense gets better.

As for Kevin Riley… he’s not bad. I’ve seen him miss open targets, but I think that’s more of a case of his internal clock being completely haywire than it is him “sucking”. The offensive line could not protect him last year and it was a miracle that we somehow managed to have a great running game (the miracle’s first name is Jahvid). The result was that even when Riley did have time, he was rushing things and overthrowing wide open receivers. The first step to better QB play is always better O-line play.

By: BlueNGold

BlueNGold — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:38:21 +0000

P.S.- Good news about Wilkerson!

By: BlueNGold

BlueNGold — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:35:11 +0000

This morning’s (8/30) CCTimes carried Jon Wilner’s ‘College football kickoff’ feature, which does not seem to have made it to this website. Under ‘Breaking Down The Pac-10′, Wilner predicts Cal to finish in 7th place, but opines “The potential for an upside surprise is high, but only if QB Kevin Riley elevates his game and the defense stops impersonating a turnstile”.
My question to JO or anyone else who cares to offer any constructive (i.e., that disqualifies you, moron) comments, as training camp ends and the season is upon us, is there any sense that either of these two improvements might actually happen? Also, regarding the defense, was his criticism aimed at Gregory’s strategy and/or coaching style, or is Wilner saying that the defensive unit itself last year was inept and played like it?

By: Calduke

Calduke — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:24:49 +0000

I believe so.

Didn’t everyone?