BearTalk

The Butkus Award announced its 12 finalists today, and Cal linebacker Mychal Kendricks wasn’t on the list. Kendricks was on the preseason watch list for the award. Kendricks ranks third in the Pac-12 with 7.9 tackles per game.

We had our usual Thursday chat with defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast today, and he had some fairly revealing stuff to say.

First, he said true freshman linebacker Brennan Scarlett and cornerback Kam Jackson are going to start playing. Pendergast will have to pick his spots, but it sounds like Scarlett will spell fellow freshman Chris McCain on first and second down when needed. Pendergast wants to get Jackson some experience because he is now the first cornerback off the bench with Marc Anthony out and Stefan McClure starting.

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• Jeff Tedford’s offense is a complex one, but it isn’t unreasonable.
• More on Isi Sofele’s showdown against his hometown team.
• The Utes hope to get a boost at tight end.
• The Bears will have their hands full with Utah DE Derrick Shelby.

Don’t forget, I’ll be conducting a live chat today from 1-2 p.m. Hope to see you all there.

• Cal running back and Salt Lake City native Isi Sofele has been looking forward to this game ever since Utah joined the Pac-12.
• Cal and Utah find themselves in similar situations.
• A Salt Lake notebook takes a look at Zach Maynard’s inconsistencies.
• Gee, this sounds familiar: Red zone problems for the Utes.

Jeff Tedford approached reporters for his daily Q&A with the media today when he saw a reporter wearing a St. Louis Cardinals jersey.

Tedford asked him about the Cardinals status, and the reporter informed him that Game 1 was tonight. Tedford looked puzzled.

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• LBs Mychal Kendricks and Dave Wilkerson graduated to yellow jerseys today, which is a sign they are on the mend. Looks like both will be playing Saturday.
• CB Marc Anthony still in a red jersey, looks like he probably is still out.
• RB Brendan Bigelow is now practicing without his knee brace. “I think he’s pretty much past it now,” coach Jeff Tedford said.
• LB Nick Forbes will redshirt the season, according to Tedford.

Here’s the link to participate in Thursday’s live chat, from 1-2 p.m.

As Cal moves forward to Saturday’s game against Utah, there is increasing talk about the challenge the Bears will have against the Utes stingy defense. Utah has a very strong front seven, and it shows in its run defense which is ranked 13th nationally (94.5 yards allowed per game). During last week’s 26-14 win at Pittsburgh, Utah held Ray Graham, then the nation’s second-leading rusher, to just 46 yards on the ground. that was 103 yards under his average.

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• LB Mychal Kendricks is out of the sling, but still didn’t practice today.
• LB Dave Wilkerson didn’t practice today or Sunday.
• CB Marc Anthony is out of his sling but still not practicing.
• QB commit Zach Kline has been selected to play in the Under Armour All-American Game in January.
• LB commit Hardy Nickerson Jr. has been picked to play for the U.S. Under-19 National Team, which will play in the International Bowl on Signing Day in February.