Real Football 365 Picks Cal as 25th

JR's Top 25 - #25 California
By J.R. Hopwood ; 08/01/05
#25 - The California Golden Bears

My, what a difference a year makes. Aaron Rodgers is gone, JJ Arrington is gone. Only eight total starters return from last year’s team. But let’s go back a year and take a quick look at a season that might have been:
It was first and goal on the USC 9 with 1:47 left. Aaron Rodgers looks to WR Noah Smith - incomplete. Second and goal and Rodgers takes the snap - sacked back at the USC 14. Third and goal comes up now and Rodgers throws incomplete to McArthur. One final play would decide the fate of both USC and Cal’s seasons. INCOMPLETE!

The California Golden Bears were that close to a Rose Bowl berth last year, but hindsight is 20/20. This year’s version will be hard pressed to match last year’s stats because of the losses, but there are some bright spots if you look down deep. RB Marshawn Lynch is as capable as Arrington and will run behind a very experienced O-line, which should start all upper classmen. Head Coach Jeff Tedford brings in a JUCO transfer at QB in Joseph Ayoob, who threw for 55 touchdowns and completed 62% of his passes in 2 years at the lower level. Four of the top five receivers are gone from last year, but there are some capable guys waiting in the wings.

The defense returns only three starters and loses their top 6 tacklers. There is some experience peppered throughout the defense and there is a lot speed at several spots, but this year’s defense may not be able to match last year’s squad that had 24th overall ranked defense in all of college football.

I expect Cal to surprise here and there, so the Golden Bears could easily finish second in the Pac-10. I see only two or three losses all year.