Tri Valley Herald: Arizona's improvement isn't lost on Bears

Wildcats offense makes strides in Mike Stoops' second season

By Dave Newhouse, STAFF WRITER 

BERKELEY — Tucson isn't too far from Tombstone, and what Cal did to Arizona in the desert last year was comparable to what the Earps did to the Clantons at the OK Corral.  The Bears stomped the Wildcats 38-0, as Mike Stoops stood dumbfounded on the sideline, knowing that sitting on cactus couldn't hurt him any worse.  This is Stoops' second season as Arizona's coach, and the turnaround has begun. His recruiting class was ranked 11th nationally and second in the Pac-10. The Wildcats are 1-2, but they lost 27-24 at Utah and 31-24 to Purdue.  "They could very easily be 3-0," said a concerned Cal coach, Jeff Tedford, who faces Arizona on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.  Cal is a 16-point favorite, which is 22 points fewer than its one-sided win last fall, and its smallest predicted margin of victory this year.  "They are much improved," Tedford said. "They play with a passion, they fly around. Arizona is very physical. You're not going to pound on them all day."  Cal pounds on everyone with its running attack. The Bears rank first in the conference and sixth nationally in rushing offense with 275.5 yards a game. Tedford must be referring to Arizona's offense, not its defense, as the Wildcats are yielding 202 rushing yards a game, last in the Pac-10.  And Tedford confirmed Tuesday that tailback Marshawn Lynch (broken/dislocated finger) will see action Saturday after a two-week absence.  "Marshawn definitely will play," Tedford said. "We don't know how much. The finger won't be a problem."  Arizona is coming off a bye, thus has had two weeks to prepare for Cal. Both Tedford and Stoops believe quarterback Richard Kovalcheck has been a major catalyst in Arizona's improvement.  "He was a young quarterback  last year. He has more experience," Tedford said.  "Richard has gotten much better," Stoops agreed. "And our receivers are getting better."

Cal nemesis Mike Bell is back, too. Two years ago he rushed for 182 yards against the Bears. Last year, he had 99 yards. Cal is grateful that the 6-foot, 215-pound Bell now is a senior.  "Bell always has been one of the premier backs in the conference," Tedford said.  Stoops is more concerned about Cal's ground game.  "It's their ability to run the ball with those three backs," he said of Lynch, Justin Forsett and Marcus O'Keith. "You've got to tackle those three guys — they're very quick."  Stoops wouldn't differentiate between Lynch and Forsett, who has rushed for 422 yards in the two games Lynch has been sidelined.  "It's just the system," Stoops said. "They make you gap-conscious, then their backs move around. Jeff doesn't change plays; he changes the look, which confuses the defense. Cal's physical up front, and you can see their quarterback (Joe Ayoob) growing more comfortable."  Kovalcheck isn't the only reason why Arizona has made significant strides since last year, when the'Cats lost by 17 to Utah.  "We're starting to play more consistently," Stoops said. "Our speed is better, and we're more explosive.  "But I'm a little bit displeased with our run defense."

Because Arizona ranks No.1 against the pass in the Pac-10, its defensive rush explains why Cal is a heavy favorite.