This isn’t professional football where they have unlimited time to practice and watch film. You can’t expect college players to execute perfectly game in and out (which seems to be what JT’s coaching philosophy). This is why college teams run offenses like the pistol triple option, the no huddle spread read option, wildcat, etc. It gives them a tactical advantage. While you don’t have to run a “gimmick” offense to be successful when you have good athletes, occasionally you have to do something to break a tendency. Try play action pass on first down when there’s 8 in the box. Try no huddle at an unorthodox time to change the tempo. Run a different play out of a familiar alignment. Nevertheless, give Riley a chance to make plays. If he can’t do it after an honest effort give the next guy a shot. Lord knows this is what would happen at my office.

You nailed it. Going for FGs on 4th down wasn’t the problem in this game. It was running into 8 and 9 men fronts on several consecutive plays in a row setting you up with 3rd and longs. I don’t put this loss on Giorgio. Yes, he should have made some kicks, but Morton Anderson has missed some 40 yarders in his time too. FG kicking is like a jump shot or golf swing. Even the greatest miss a few (although I would call Giorgio great).

Bottom line – JT doesn’t seem to have a good feel for the game in crunch time. For some reason he doesn’t seem to understand potential upside vs downside. There is a reason the call it “settling for a FG”.

Difference is in the Big Game last year, Harbaugh followed it up with a bad decision of his own. They give the ball to Gerhart and the Cardinal likely wins the Big Game.

It’s funny to me how all the JT apologists are beginning to sound like him: “If only Tavecchio executed” , “If only Riley executed” , “If only the O Line did their job”

Enough already. The responsibility lies with Tedford and him alone for CAL’s loss last night and their losses the last 4 years. What about making a 1st DOWN?!? That wins the game too, right? Should I point out Nick Saban’s decision and Alabama’s win?!?

I understand not wanting to throw because an incomplete pass stops the clock, and maybe JT doesn’t want KR throwing. But how about some creative running plays? JT was not able to help the CAL offense orchestrate a 1st down all night. They were 2-12 on 3rd down!!! That’s 17%!! How are you going to win a game if you can’t get a 1st down?!? And how are you a QB/offensive guru if you can’t design plays to allow your players to succeed?

Yes, yes, I know. JT doesn’t call the plays. Ludwig does. So he’s to blame. But can’t JT get in Ron Gould’s ear or the O-Line coach’s ear before the second to last series and say, “Look guys go out and get a 1st down and we got it!!” He can’t get on those fancy headphones and tell Ludwig what he wants?

He’s the leader of the team he should take the blame. He’s the second highest paid coach in the Pac-10 and how have we fared the last few years? You know how the old saying goes, “The captain always goes down with his ship.” Unfortunately for us CAL fans, I think this is exactly where we’re headed.

Bench Riley isn’t a solution. Using all the guys on the team to be better could win some games. Few mention that Reggie Robertson was the last Cal QB to beat $C.

And would it kill us to run play action once in a while?

I can see Cal pass plays from Down, Set. Let Riley audible out when we run the same obvious plays that we have done for 5 years. That’s what made Rodgers so great.

Riley played well… for Riley. In the Pac10 you are not going to win a game when your QB goes 12/24 for about 125yds. He did not lose this game for the Bears unlike other games in the past. Wussy play calling in the stretch lost us this game. Strong & confident play calling would have made up for Ross’s catch of the punt on the 5yd line.

Daniel asked about Seawright- good question. He’s on the team, practices, tweets about all stuff Cal football, but I’ve wondered this also. It makes me think his previous injury is worse then Cal will acknowledge.

As painful as this loss was, the defense gains much confidence that it might have lost after Nevada. The defense could have played with many very good teams last night.

As much as some posters blame Riley for everything, I hope that Riley just maintains course. Riley played a good game. He placed the ball where his receivers could put two solid hands — not just fingertips — on the ball. There were at least a half dozen catchable balls dropped. Lagemann’s catch out of the end zone would have been a TD if Lagemann jumped forward and caught the ball with his hands near his face rather than jump backwards to catch the ball with his body near his chest. Lagemann heeds to know his location in the endzone. Riley’s interception was on Marvin Jones, who had two hands on the ball, but could not finish.

Riley’s actual stats are very respectable. If you count the dropped catchable balls as receptions, he would be a GREAT quarterback. No QB puts the ball on the receiver’s numbers all of the time. If the QB places the ball where the receiver can get two solid hands on the ball, the QB has done his job.

Applying the standards that some of you use to criticize Riley, Jake Locker and over 3/4 of the QBs on ranked teams would be benched. Get real.

I suspect many of you doomsayers are trolls trying to play mindgames. Real Bears do not quit. We will have a good season.