Can Bears Keep roaring?

Bruce Adams, Chronicle Staff Writer
Thursday, September 1, 2005
After taking major steps toward becoming an elite program each year under coach Jeff Tedford, Cal faces the challenge of continuing that climb without many of the players so key to last year's 10-2 record and season-long national rankings.
The Bears lose five starters on offense and eight on defense.
On paper, the numbers appear devastating. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is gone after throwing 24 touchdown passes. Tailback J.J. Arrington is gone after running for 2,018 yards. The team's top six tacklers, led by safety Ryan Gutierrez with 79 stops, are gone.
Tedford, however, doesn't pay much attention to those numbers. He'll fill in the blanks on the depth chart and go forward in seeking his fourth winning season in four years.
"Every year you plug new guys into the positions," he said. "At the end of the season, the numbers could change. Who knows?"
It helps to sign recruiting classes that include more blue chippers each year.
The star of last year's class, sophomore Marshawn Lynch, is poised to take over the starting-tailback job that was Arrington's. Lynch averaged 8.8 yards per carry as a freshman. The stars of this year's class, junior college All-American Lavelle Hawkins and high school All-American DeSean Jackson, each will start at wide receiver, bringing the Bears unprecedented speed.
This year's team certainly will be different, but it will be built in the Tedford mode on offense: with balance between running and passing.
"We don't have to change our philosophy," Tedford said. "It's so broad we can pick and choose from the different guys depending on what we emphasize."
He said that emphasis is likely to change game by game, depending on the matchups offered by opponents. The overall strategy, however, will be governed by the talent at hand. "It wouldn't be wise for us to force something that doesn't match our personnel," Tedford said.
Despite the turnover, the Bears' offense will have the benefit of experience at some critical positions. Four starters return on the offensive line, led by All-American center Marvin Philip. And the fifth, guard Erik Robertson, does have some starting experience. Fullback Chris Manderino and tight end Craig Stevens also are proven players.
"We've started gelling, started understanding each other better," said redshirt freshman Nate Longshore, who'll make his first start at quarterback Saturday against Sacramento State at Memorial Stadium.
On defense, the Bears will feature even more new faces. It's not unexpected. Personnel losses were anticipated and the Bears planned for them in recruiting.
"Having continuity on our staff, we know what we're looking at for offense, defense and special teams," Tedford said. Recruits again will play key roles, with junior college All-Americans Desmond Bishop at middle linebacker and Nu'u Tafisi as defensive end.
True freshmen Zack Follett and Anthony Felder also are certain to be in the rotation on a linebacking crew anchored by returning starter Ryan Foltz. And there's more experience on the defensive side than is apparent at first glance. Donnie McCleskey returns full-time to his position at rover after being hampered by shoulder and knee injuries last year, and end Tosh Lupoi is back for a sixth year of eligibility after missing last year with a broken foot.
Turnover on Cal's defense has become an annual rite, according to McCleskey. "People had the same questions last year," he said. "They will have the same questions next year, and the same questions in three years. We'll be fine. "
Tedford has another thing going for him as he attempts to keep the success going at Cal: He met with UCLA basketball coach -- and dynasty builder -- John Wooden in the offseason.
Tedford said he has read Wooden's books and is schooling this year's team on Wooden's renowned Pyramid of Success. "We talk to the team about the building blocks of his pyramid, beginning with enthusiasm and hard work -- the two cornerstones," he said.
The lessons will continue. And if the players need a reminder they can look to the walls in the football offices. On this year's official poster, the players are posed in the shape of a pyramid.