No. 21: Cal to rely on running game as QBs develop

By WENDELL BARNHOUSE
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
No. 21 CALIFORNIA
Conference: Pacific 10.
Coach: Jeff Tedford, 25-13 in three seasons.
2004: 10-2, 7-1 in Pac-10.
Bowl: Lost to Texas Tech 45-31 in the Holiday Bowl.
Why California is No. 21: The Bears must replace their top quarterback, rusher, wide receiver and eight defensive starters from last season. However, a talented class of recruits and a soft schedule should keep Cal near the top in the Pac-10.
Best-case scenario: Tedford can work his magic again and develop a productive quarterback. The defense, which has to replace some key playmakers, doesn't make it more difficult on an offense that might not be as explosive as last year.
Worst-case scenario: Sophomore running back Marshawn Lynch, who was productive as a backup last season, is unable to handle the heavy workload as the No. 1 tailback.
Starters returning: 6 on offense, 3 on defense.
Key players: Sophomore RB Marshawn Lynch, senior FB Chris Manderino, junior QB Joseph Ayoob, redshirt freshman QB Nathan Longshore, sophomore WR Robert Jordan, senior OT Ryan O'Callaghan, junior DT Brandon Mebane, senior safety Donnie McCleskey.
Cheers: The Bears' 10-1 regular-season record was the school's best since 1952.
Jeers: Cal's kicking game needs improvement. Sophomore kicker Tom Schneider won't keep his job if he can't do better than last year's 9-of-16 effort on field goals. He was 1-of-six between 30 and 39 yards.
It all means: Cal has steadily improved under Tedford but matching last season's 10 victories could be a stretch. Still, the schedule is kind and if a stellar recruiting class contributes, the Bears should again be dangerous.
Datebook: The Bears open the season against three teams that were a combined 7-26 last season. It's not unreasonable that Cal will be 5-0 headed into a pivotal Pac-10 game at UCLA on Oct. 8. The unbalanced Pac-10 schedule means that Cal doesn't play Arizona State. Most Bears fans are awaiting Nov. 12. That's when Southern Cal comes to Memorial Stadium. Cal is the last team to defeat the Trojans and it happened in 2003 in Berkeley.
It figures: Cal averaged 6.05 yards per rushing attempt and allowed 2.69 yards per rushing attempt (second in Division I-A last year). That differential of 3.36 yards was the largest in I-A.
Extra points: The quarterback job is a battle between Ayoob, a junior-college transfer, and Longshore, a redshirt freshman. Ayoob struggled learning the system during spring practice and Longhsore enters preseason practices with a slight edge. . . . Because of his scrambling ability, Ayoob was nicknamed ``the white Michael Vick" by a teammate at City College of San Francisco. . . . While coaching at Fresno State, Oregon and Cal, Tedford has helped the following quarterbacks reach the NFL: Trent Dilfer, Akili Smith, Joey Harrington, David Carr, Kyle Boller and Aaron Rodgers. . . . Tedford has been selected Pac-10 coach of the year in two of his three seasons at Cal. . . . In conference games last season, the Bears outgained their opponents by 158.5 yards per game and outscored them by 23 points per game. . . . Interest in Cal football is at an all-time high. When season tickets for 2005 became available, the school sold more than 5,000. That doubled the number sold on the first day in 2004.