Let's start with the overall demeanor of the team on Saturday at KO. We were flat, especially on offense. WSUs sideline was lit up, full of emotion and energy. Our Bears were flat. The omen that we were in for a rough day was clear when the Cal spirit squad prematurely celebrated the team coming onto the field, welcoming our kickers and punters with fireworks, a cannon shot and the full band breaking into the fight song. When the full team showed up? We had nothing.
On to the game tape. For the first (and hopefully the last time) this season, the opposing QB outplayed our own Jared Goff. Goff had a very good game statistically but that belied some easy throws missed and a strange absence of his normal poise. He was skittish in the pocket even when not rushed leading to short eyes and missed opportunities. Some of that is on the OL as Goff's been hit a lot his year (more on that later) but even early Goff didn't have his normal pocket presence. Still, Goff anticipated the pressure way too often for this offense to be running in high gear. On the other hand, Falk was pinpoint accurate all night and showed off very good feet and competitive fire. He held the ball too long too often but otherwise was near perfect.
Lots of discussion about subpar OL play coming out of the UW game and a questionable run game. Both concerns proved to be valid on Saturday. Our OL had their worst game of the year. Frankly, we miss Brian Farley. It's not that Cochran had a bad game (he had an "okay" game) but communication and missed assignments were up and the lack of the presence of the senior is clearly part of it. The other big factor is that Dom Granado is now going up against P12 Nose Tackles and DTs and is struggling. No one else was perfect either and in fact the group as a whole looks like it's lost a bit of its confidence and mojo. I can't remember watching a game where our OL missed more assignments than this one even going back to last year. Stephen Moore had a particularly strong first half and fell off about halfway through the 3rd quarter to have a disappointing 2nd half. Watching live at CMS, I noticed him limping and struggling to get up on a few plays. I believe he wore down yesterday. Jordan Rigsbee had a rough 2nd half in pass protection as well.
Tip of the cap to Art Kaufman with what he's done with the defense this season. Guys are playing faster, rarely do we see missed assignments, lots of play making especially in the secondary and we have a pass rush! And I want to call out that our tackling is miles better than it's been in years. Yet for the 2nd time in three weeks, I have to take umbrage with his schematic decisions. Our approach to Texas QB Heard was poor and this week his decision to rush only 3 men especially on 3rd down was down right idiotic. We rushed 3 men 12 times through the first three quarters. The first two times we had success with coverage sacks but after that we went two for 8, meaning 6 of the next 8 snaps where we rushed 3 men, WSU had a successful play. Twice we did it on 3rd and long and got roasted. Ridiculous. I also thought we over substituted in the secondary. Yes, we played a lot of snaps but too many of them went to Dozier and Rubenzer IMO. Big drop offs from the starters. Where was Albert?
Lots of call out to guys on defense who stepped up. Jalen Jefferson was superb. Drew and McClure continue to play well. Tony Mekari and Darius White were also playmakers for us. Looney continues to be very good. We miss Jalil who only played a handful of snaps. He single handedly stymied WSU on our near goal line stand.
Our running game had a couple of issues that I believe can be fixed. First, Franklin has got to lose his arrogance and stop going with jumbo packages on short yardage situations. We're seeing 11 men all out run blitzes which are very difficult to stymie especially when we're outmanned with Hudson and Anderson at TE. We need to run out of our best formation. Far higher degree of success. Secondly, Lasco had a rough game. He missed two HUGE holes on key run plays. That's rust and he will get better.
In general, I believe Cal can compete and beat Utah with three caveats. 1st, our OL has got to figure its shit out. Personnel wise, I would like to see Farley come back and the coaches need to consider Uluave replacing Rigsbee at guard and allowing to roll over to Center to get Granado out of the lineup. He was our weak link against WSU and UW. For all the criticism Adcock got last year, his play against the Pac12 was considerably better than what we've seen from Granado. The center position is so critical to the overall OLs coherence. Secondly, our coaches need to have stronger game plans both AK and TF. Third, Goff is going to have to be at his best.
It's imperative that our OL find itself and quickly. I've got to believe Goff will find his higher self at Utah
On to the game tape. For the first (and hopefully the last time) this season, the opposing QB outplayed our own Jared Goff. Goff had a very good game statistically but that belied some easy throws missed and a strange absence of his normal poise. He was skittish in the pocket even when not rushed leading to short eyes and missed opportunities. Some of that is on the OL as Goff's been hit a lot his year (more on that later) but even early Goff didn't have his normal pocket presence. Still, Goff anticipated the pressure way too often for this offense to be running in high gear. On the other hand, Falk was pinpoint accurate all night and showed off very good feet and competitive fire. He held the ball too long too often but otherwise was near perfect.
Lots of discussion about subpar OL play coming out of the UW game and a questionable run game. Both concerns proved to be valid on Saturday. Our OL had their worst game of the year. Frankly, we miss Brian Farley. It's not that Cochran had a bad game (he had an "okay" game) but communication and missed assignments were up and the lack of the presence of the senior is clearly part of it. The other big factor is that Dom Granado is now going up against P12 Nose Tackles and DTs and is struggling. No one else was perfect either and in fact the group as a whole looks like it's lost a bit of its confidence and mojo. I can't remember watching a game where our OL missed more assignments than this one even going back to last year. Stephen Moore had a particularly strong first half and fell off about halfway through the 3rd quarter to have a disappointing 2nd half. Watching live at CMS, I noticed him limping and struggling to get up on a few plays. I believe he wore down yesterday. Jordan Rigsbee had a rough 2nd half in pass protection as well.
Tip of the cap to Art Kaufman with what he's done with the defense this season. Guys are playing faster, rarely do we see missed assignments, lots of play making especially in the secondary and we have a pass rush! And I want to call out that our tackling is miles better than it's been in years. Yet for the 2nd time in three weeks, I have to take umbrage with his schematic decisions. Our approach to Texas QB Heard was poor and this week his decision to rush only 3 men especially on 3rd down was down right idiotic. We rushed 3 men 12 times through the first three quarters. The first two times we had success with coverage sacks but after that we went two for 8, meaning 6 of the next 8 snaps where we rushed 3 men, WSU had a successful play. Twice we did it on 3rd and long and got roasted. Ridiculous. I also thought we over substituted in the secondary. Yes, we played a lot of snaps but too many of them went to Dozier and Rubenzer IMO. Big drop offs from the starters. Where was Albert?
Lots of call out to guys on defense who stepped up. Jalen Jefferson was superb. Drew and McClure continue to play well. Tony Mekari and Darius White were also playmakers for us. Looney continues to be very good. We miss Jalil who only played a handful of snaps. He single handedly stymied WSU on our near goal line stand.
Our running game had a couple of issues that I believe can be fixed. First, Franklin has got to lose his arrogance and stop going with jumbo packages on short yardage situations. We're seeing 11 men all out run blitzes which are very difficult to stymie especially when we're outmanned with Hudson and Anderson at TE. We need to run out of our best formation. Far higher degree of success. Secondly, Lasco had a rough game. He missed two HUGE holes on key run plays. That's rust and he will get better.
In general, I believe Cal can compete and beat Utah with three caveats. 1st, our OL has got to figure its shit out. Personnel wise, I would like to see Farley come back and the coaches need to consider Uluave replacing Rigsbee at guard and allowing to roll over to Center to get Granado out of the lineup. He was our weak link against WSU and UW. For all the criticism Adcock got last year, his play against the Pac12 was considerably better than what we've seen from Granado. The center position is so critical to the overall OLs coherence. Secondly, our coaches need to have stronger game plans both AK and TF. Third, Goff is going to have to be at his best.
It's imperative that our OL find itself and quickly. I've got to believe Goff will find his higher self at Utah
