UC-Berkeley gets ready for '05 season

By Chris Nguon Daily Californian
Berkeley, CA (U-WIRE) -- After blasting through the Southern Mississippi defense for 261 yards in the 2004 regular season finale, former Cal football running back J.J. Arrington shocked reporters after the game by saying what was on many people's minds-he deserved the Heisman Trophy.
The shocking part was not that Arrington's comment was too bold, but rather that the humble, soft-spoken stud had said publicly what fans around the Bay Area had been thinking for months.
Fast forward to this year, and the Bears might be faced with a similar predicament, as they open their season at 2 p.m. Saturday against Division I-AA Sacramento State at Memorial Stadium.
Although there is little doubt No. 19 Cal has the ability to come away with a win considering the talent difference between the two programs, the game could begin to answer several questions-how should the Bears promote Marshawn Lynch, whose name has appeared on several Heisman watchlists, and how much should they use him against the Hornets?
After last season concluded, despite being the nation's only 2,000-yard rusher, Arrington, now with the NFL's Arizona Cardinals, was not named a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.
Cal coach Jeff Tedford admitted this year the school made a mistake by not marketing and publicizing Arrington more last season.
This year, Tedford will likely have a chance to make up for the blunder. Lynch, a dynamic sophomore who complemented Arrington spectacularly last season as his backup, is now penciled in as the starting running back. Tedford recently called Lynch, who averaged 8.8 yards per carry last season, "possibly the best player I've ever coached." It is not far-fetched to suggest Lynch, who will play behind one of the country's most experienced and talented offensive lines, could match Arrington's 2004 performance.
However, Lynch's coming-out party may have to wait, as Tedford may not want to fully unleash his latest star running back against lowly Sacramento State, a team predicted to finish last in the Big Sky Conference this year.
The Hornets seem to lack the defensive strength to get in the way of Lynch and the Bears' massive front five. Cal's offensive line outweighs the Hornets' defensive front by an average of 66 pounds per player.
"I am very impressed with their offensive line and their run game," Sacramento State coach Steve Mooshagian said. "I know Jeff-he's very methodical. He's got this whole thing planned out on what he wants to see and what he wants to accomplish. It is a great challenge." Saturday's matchup will also provide Tedford a chance to field test the two quarterbacks vying to become the heir to Aaron Rodgers.
Tedford named redshirt freshman Nate Longshore the starter Monday but said City College of San Francisco transfer Joe Ayoob will also see playing time against the Hornets. "For anyone to get better, they will have to go through some adversity-that's why we won't be a two-quarterback system," Tedford said. "Once we find the guy who is going to be our guy, then he's going to be our guy. If he struggles a little bit, he'll play through it, and learn from adversity and not have to be looking over his shoulder to see if he gets pulled from the game every time he makes a mistake."
While the offense will likely be garnering most of the attention Saturday, the contest will also be important for the Bears' defense. Rover Donnie McCleskey, who earned All-American honors as a sophomore two years ago, is back and 100 percent healthy after playing with a nagging shoulder injury last season.
Additionally, senior defensive end Tosh Lupoi, who was a starter in 2003 when Cal upset USC, returns after injuring his foot last season.
Tedford said he expects the return of Lupoi and McCleskey to ease the pain of losing eight starters on defense from last season's squad. "The area we haven't seen play is our defensive ends," Tedford said. "Some of those guys, it will be their first time out there."