Everyone-coaches,
players, fans-on both sides of the wall expect their team to win this
game. Rick Neuheisel and Mike Yam both
said it is a must win for each side. Both
squads are playing for six wins and that elusive bowl game, which comes with
fifteen added practices, but it is all but impossible to envision either team
reaching that goal without winning this game.
Each offense has shown the ability to rack up yards and points, while
each defense has been inconsistent, looking strong at times but giving up their
share of big plays and scores. The Buffs won big last year at home but that doesn’t
mean a whole lot today. Although the
Bears are riding a 15-game conference losing streak, they are much improved
over last season and are playing at home. However, the wild card is how this
young teams responds coming off a heartbreaking hail mary loss to Arizona on
the road last week.
§ Line: Cal opened as 10 point favorites
and it has gone up to 11.5
§ Depth Chart moves/Burn the Redshirt: There were no new redshirts burned or any
substantial player moves. Brady Daigh
played well in relief of Gillam, Jonathon Huckins played one series for Kawai
Crabb, and George Frazier saw his role increased with his first carry and his
first TD reception, while still racking up a couple of tackles on defense.
§ WR
Lee Walker has been banged up and is no longer listed as a “substitute” on the
depth chart, likely redshirting and leaving Jay MacIntyre as the only other
true frosh listed who might still play this year.
§ I
find it interesting that Elijah Dunston has not gotten on the field for even
one offensive snap, or even special teams for that matter (as far as I can
tell).
§ Injuries: DEs Markeis Reed and Garrett
Gregory are still out, but could back for Oregon St.
§ Addison
Gillam is day-to-day and likely a gametime decision after a concussion early in
the Hawaii game.
When the Buffs have the ball:
§ The
offense has put up over 400 yards in three straight games and is beginning to
click. Sefo still shows his youth with
some ill-advised decisions, telegraphing his intent (usually Nelson Spruce) and
still-too-frequent overthrows, but he has a stable of weapons and spreads the
ball around when he isn’t getting it to Spruce (who has way too many awesome
stats to list).
§ Do
everything George Frazier had his biggest role in the offense (while playing
15-20 snaps on each side of the ball) and that should continue as he seems to
be a better receiving option than either TE.
§ Former
WR Griffin Piatt has had an interception in each game, but the Cal secondary
definitely showed some weakness against Arizona and will need to be exploited
for the Buffs to succeed. They gave up a
lot of big plays to Arizona and I would expect even the conservative
play-calling duo of Lindgren and MacIntyre to dial up some long passes early.
§ Cal’s
defense was stout early but has little depth and cracked late, giving up 36
4th quarter points in the choke loss to Arizona. In general the Bears start fast and the Buffs
will need to keep plugging away and be patient.
§ The
running back committee is still not settled and it is difficult to gauge how
the coaches decide playing time. Four
backs seems like too many for anyone to find a rhythm. I personally like what Powell and Lindsay
have to offer and Tony Jones has been very reliable, which would leave the
underperforming but supposed “starter” Micheal Adkins the odd man out. The offensive line has not been good at
opening holes for any of them. It would
be extremely helpful to the effort if the team could grind some yards and clock
on the ground and keep the Bear Raid off the field.
§ LB
Jalen Jefferson leads the team in tackles and is the heart of the defense.
When the Bears have the ball:
§ Cal
has started fast in every game, jumping out to leads with big plays (14-0 vs.
Arizona after only four offensive plays), so the Buffs need to be ready from
the outset. They spread it out and often
line up fast Oregon-style.
§ QB
Jared Goff is much improved and more efficient than his impressive campaign,
even if the numbers are not quite as big.
He still loves to throw the ball and has a speedy crew of five receivers-
Darius Powe, Chris Harper, Bryce Treggs, Kenny Lawler and Trevor Davis-with at
least 8 receptions and over 100 yards, and all can take it to the house. This group will throw the ball all over the
field and will present a serious challenge to a Buff secondary, who although
they are coming off their best game, it was against a much less talented team
and QB.
§ S
Tedric Thompson has been the surprise standout on the defense, leading the team
in tackles with the team’s only two interceptions. CB Kenneth Crawley is much improved opposite
Greg Henderson, who has been a rock since giving up the losing TD in the
opener. However, Crawley is also one of
the team leaders in tackles, and it is never a great sign to have your DBs
involved in so many tackles.
§ John
Walker has been pretty good in the nickel slot and will be on the field most of
the day. We will likely need to see some
other DBs since Cal spreads it around so much and plays a speedy game with a
lot of deep shots. T-Fr. S Evan White
has impressed whenever he gets on the field and Marques Mosley has played some
as well, but we have not seen any of senior captain Terrell Smith on defense,
not any Yuri Wright.
§ The
CU defensive line will need to get some pressure but Goff is pretty good at
getting rid of the ball. The Buffs
probably need to blitz as well but Baer has been reluctant to do so at times,
fearful of giving up the big play. They
have tried a series of corner blitzes, but even Hawaii was picking up on that
and exploited it a few times.
§ Both
Cal RBs, Daniel Lasco and Khalfani Muhammed, have had some success this year
and have the ability to bust a big play.
§ If
Addison Gillam is not able to play, it will be key for Brady Daigh to step up again
in the middle of the field. He is more
suited to a run-stopper but is not as fast to keep up with all the Cal
weaponry. I wouldn’t be surprised to see
something different here as well, like Olugbode moving to the middle and
someone else as the second LB (Rippy?) besides Daigh or Greer, especially if
things don’t go well early.
Special Teams:
§ Darragh
O’Neill is still stellar; Wil Oliver is solid and was booting kickoffs out of
the endzone at home, but we will see what he does on the road at sea level,
especially as the game rolls on. Phillip
Lindsay is a weapon on kickoff returns and Spruce catches punts well. It would be nice to get a big play in this
phase.
§ The
team appears to have solved coverage problems, but this will be the fastest
team they have faced and Oliver will have a harder time on kickoffs.
§ Overall, each side needs to and expects to win against their easiest
foe of the conference schedule. It
should be a high-scoring affair but the Buffs will match Cal punch for punch
and win a thriller something like 43-39.
§ If
you need some more:
Stuart’s
TIPS: http://www.cuatthegame.com/2014/cu-at-california-a-preview/
Rumblin’
Preview: http://rumblinbuff.blogspot.com/2014/09/2014-cal-football-preview.html
PacificTakes
take: http://www.pacifictakes.com/2014/9/26/6849305/colorado-vs-california-preview
Plati’s
CU Game Notes: http://www.cubuffs.com/fls/600/gameday/cal14/cunotes.pdf
Cal Game
Notes: http://www.cubuffs.com/fls/600/gameday/cal14/calnotes.pdf
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