Predictions for 2016

Calhoopfan · Mar 30, 2016

Let's get them on the record.

Some facts:
- We will return a very low number of returning starters, I'd guess bottom 25% in the country and perhaps worse in the Pac 12
- However, we will have a lot of returning letterman, plenty of depth here that have played meaningful snaps
- Offensively, we bring back 4 of 5 OL and our top three RBs (in terms of carries/yards last season) and lose our other starters
- Defensively, assume a base 4-2-5, we lose Jalil, Kragen, Jefferson/Barton, White and Mcclure. We bring back six starters and 80% of the two deeps
- Year four for Dykes where almost the entire team is made up of kids he has recruited and/or developed
- We've gone from 3 wins prior to Dykes to 1 win to 5 wins to 8 wins. We have yet to beat the big 4 in the Pac 12 under Sonny
- Our last four recruiting classes have ranked as follows in the Pac 12 (Rivals):

2013 = 5th (32nd nationally)
2014 = 8th (46th)
2015 = 6th (29th)
2016 = 4th (27th)

Last year, I thought we'd get to 9 wins. We didn't make it. IMO, Sonny against the important (but not only metric) measure of wins, barely got over the hump with 8 wins to keep his job (at least in my mind). Funny story, I was a guest of the Chancellor for the ASU game to end the regular season. Miserable, cold weather at Memorial (Perhaps the coldest game I can remember at home), thankfully we were able to run back and forth to the suite from the outside to keep warm (given I did not dress appropriately). Anyways, it's almost halftime and things look bleak - Cal is getting beaten badly. The tenor and energy in that room full of donors was not positive and lots of grumblings were going on as it related to Dykes. Dirks leaves at halftime and though he said nothing specifically about Dykes, his body language and my inference from what he did not say was that he was VERY unhappy. My wife and I both remarked that this could be Sonny's last game at Cal. It looked like we were going to lose, ending a promising season on a low note. 2 hours later and the world changed with a fantastic comeback and then a bowl bid and victory.

So what do you think will happen in 2016? I'll have a more nuanced (though not necessarily more accurate view midway through Fall Camp) and right now I see us winning 7 or 8 games. You?

Socaliganbear · Mar 30, 2016