If history has taught us nothing else about Cal football, it is that low expectations generally breed success (and, of course, that high expectations generally lead to disappointment).
The facts are:
'$C will be down (Mark Sanchez was a surprising disappointment last year, and gone is their fearsome D-line -- probably the best in college ball last year); their receivers still suck.
Oregon will be way down
ASU has LOTS of problems and is still a couple years away from getting Erickson's "student athletes" largely in place.
UCLA is scary, but will be basically starting from scratch.
So I think, with the UCLA game at Cal, and the big nonconference games against Michigan State and Maryland, the Sched is very favorable.
Jahvid Best will be Heisman-like, O-line will be very solid and experienced, Riley's a gamer who will win games all on his own, linebackers will be phenomenal, and the receiving corps could be replaced with a foursome of Cameron Morrah (vastly underused last year and due to break out), Jeremy Ross (speedster), Michael Calvin (big with sick talent), and Nyan Boateng (big with insane talent).
So I say keep those expectations low (and keep NL on the second string) and we could be in for a very fun ride this year.
RickySanchez
I may as well be the only one to say it, but why not? If things go Cal's way: Riley is the QB we all think he's capable of being; Javid Best is healthy and stronger, Michael Calvin and Jeremy Ross emerge with Calvin being one of the nation's best recievers, the top 3 linebackers are seniors and each have career years and the D line has that solid rotation.
Oh, and Nate Longshore doesn't play in the fourth quarter of ANY game.
I agree with previous comments above. 7-5 / 8-4 will be good given the fact that: 1) we have untested game-playing receivers--no matter how good Riley becomes in fall practice, he will still have no one with game experience to throw to early on, 2) outside of Javid Best (not your everydown back), we have untested game-playing RBs that have not played/lasted a full season, 3) we have a new OC (Cignetti)--so his philosphy (whatever that is) will take some time to understand and mature, 4) we look to be incorporating more a 3-4 look defensively (which I agree with given our personnel), but it will take some time to implement this through the course of the season. Lowered expectations should be the norm, and if we outperform them, this year will be considered a success.
BTW, made a quick visit inside Memorial yesterday, and those frickin people are still up in those trees--unbeliveable!
The fact is that Cal was *loaded* with talent -- experienced and otherwise -- last year and could do no more than slightly above break even. This year, Tedford will have considerably less tested talent at WR and RB, so odds are he doesn't do as well as last year's 7-6 . Tedford has been outcoached by just about everybody in the league and I don't see it getting any better this year so ANY conference victory would be a bonus . Prepare for 4-8 or 5-7. (wins in 2 OOC's, WSU, UA and *maybe* Furd). Of course, KR could improve the record a lot but the odds of Tedford playing him are slim to none, IMHO...he might as well not even exist on the roster. Hope I'm wrong about everything here, but I don't believe that I am
I'm thinking the philosophy goes back to something similar to Teddy's first. He's going back to being head coach, working on discipline and team chemistry. It's true our QBs are a question but who knew how good Boller would be back then? I think he'll surprise and with the help of the seniors, put together a team that could cause some havoc if nothing else.
Now that UCLA's out of the picture, who do we have to beat besides $C away? Perhaps Oregon State late in the season away. I think we'll do fine in conference. I'm most worried about Michigan State as the first game. The fans will be tentative--I doubt we sell out--and Michigan State has a history of doing exactly the opposite of what everyone expects them to do to.
I'm sure Riley is wishing Spring was a few weeks longer. Sounds like he's starting to get his stride. Hope he spends the next 3 months tossing bombs to the wide outs in the park.
I'm thinking worse case scenario is 9-3 (losses to Michigan State, $C and Oregon State) and best is a 12-0 run to the Roses.
Posted on Thu, 04/17/2008 - 13:19 — by mbz81
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2
Luck you will need...... If NL gimps through the games, LOTS of luck... Building season 6-6, or 7-5
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 14
If history has taught us nothing else about Cal football, it is that low expectations generally breed success (and, of course, that high expectations generally lead to disappointment). The facts are: '$C will be down (Mark Sanchez was a surprising disappointment last year, and gone is their fearsome D-line -- probably the best in college ball last year); their receivers still suck. Oregon will be way down ASU has LOTS of problems and is still a couple years away from getting Erickson's "student athletes" largely in place. UCLA is scary, but will be basically starting from scratch. So I think, with the UCLA game at Cal, and the big nonconference games against Michigan State and Maryland, the Sched is very favorable. Jahvid Best will be Heisman-like, O-line will be very solid and experienced, Riley's a gamer who will win games all on his own, linebackers will be phenomenal, and the receiving corps could be replaced with a foursome of Cameron Morrah (vastly underused last year and due to break out), Jeremy Ross (speedster), Michael Calvin (big with sick talent), and Nyan Boateng (big with insane talent). So I say keep those expectations low (and keep NL on the second string) and we could be in for a very fun ride this year. RickySanchez
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6
I may as well be the only one to say it, but why not? If things go Cal's way: Riley is the QB we all think he's capable of being; Javid Best is healthy and stronger, Michael Calvin and Jeremy Ross emerge with Calvin being one of the nation's best recievers, the top 3 linebackers are seniors and each have career years and the D line has that solid rotation.
Oh, and Nate Longshore doesn't play in the fourth quarter of ANY game.
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 10
I agree with previous comments above. 7-5 / 8-4 will be good given the fact that: 1) we have untested game-playing receivers--no matter how good Riley becomes in fall practice, he will still have no one with game experience to throw to early on, 2) outside of Javid Best (not your everydown back), we have untested game-playing RBs that have not played/lasted a full season, 3) we have a new OC (Cignetti)--so his philosphy (whatever that is) will take some time to understand and mature, 4) we look to be incorporating more a 3-4 look defensively (which I agree with given our personnel), but it will take some time to implement this through the course of the season. Lowered expectations should be the norm, and if we outperform them, this year will be considered a success.
BTW, made a quick visit inside Memorial yesterday, and those frickin people are still up in those trees--unbeliveable!
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 24
The fact is that Cal was *loaded* with talent -- experienced and otherwise -- last year and could do no more than slightly above break even. This year, Tedford will have considerably less tested talent at WR and RB, so odds are he doesn't do as well as last year's 7-6 . Tedford has been outcoached by just about everybody in the league and I don't see it getting any better this year so ANY conference victory would be a bonus . Prepare for 4-8 or 5-7. (wins in 2 OOC's, WSU, UA and *maybe* Furd). Of course, KR could improve the record a lot but the odds of Tedford playing him are slim to none, IMHO...he might as well not even exist on the roster. Hope I'm wrong about everything here, but I don't believe that I am
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 22
I'm thinking the philosophy goes back to something similar to Teddy's first. He's going back to being head coach, working on discipline and team chemistry. It's true our QBs are a question but who knew how good Boller would be back then? I think he'll surprise and with the help of the seniors, put together a team that could cause some havoc if nothing else.
Now that UCLA's out of the picture, who do we have to beat besides $C away? Perhaps Oregon State late in the season away. I think we'll do fine in conference. I'm most worried about Michigan State as the first game. The fans will be tentative--I doubt we sell out--and Michigan State has a history of doing exactly the opposite of what everyone expects them to do to.
I'm sure Riley is wishing Spring was a few weeks longer. Sounds like he's starting to get his stride. Hope he spends the next 3 months tossing bombs to the wide outs in the park.
I'm thinking worse case scenario is 9-3 (losses to Michigan State, $C and Oregon State) and best is a 12-0 run to the Roses.