ANG Newspapers: Special teams just one area that worries Cal's Tedford

By Dave Newhouse, STAFF WRITER
BERKELEY — Cal didn't have enough weapons — or even the correct number of players — to beat UCLA in the Golden Bears' first major test. So where must Cal improve to match last year's 10-2 record? "We need to play more consistently in different phases of the game," coach Jeff Tedford said. "Right now, that would be special teams. But we have to play more consistently as a team, and eliminate key penalties, play more mistake-free football, and come up with plays." And understand simple addition. On UCLA's fake punt that set up a fourth-quarter touchdown in the Bruins' 47-40 comeback victory, Cal had only 10 players on the field, Tedford revealed Tuesday. The 11th would have lined up on the same side where Jarrad Page broke off a 38-yard run. "One of our players on the field yelled 'get back' to the sideline, so we wouldn't get penalized," said Tedford. "(The 11th player) thought ('get back') meant he had to get off the field, and so he did. He's a young player. But we have to do a better job of coaching." Tedford absolved assistant Pete Alamar of full blame for Saturday's poor showing by Cal's special teams. "We're all in this together," Tedford said. "The coaches take it very hard, and we have to support one another. Pete has a good attitude and is really anxious to improve on what we did last week." Oregon State coach Mike Riley watched the Cal-UCLA game as the Beavers had a bye week, and he felt UCLA's special teams won the game. "It's a big challenge when you look at Cal as far as their running game is concerned," he said. "They have a good offensive line, and their runners are really good. Marshawn Lynch is scary. And you can't discount the plays that some of those receivers are starting to make.
"Their defense is not talked about much, but is really a strength of their football team. They're playing well, disciplined, hard, and they really fly to the football. It all fits together pretty well."
Oregon State (3-2, 1-1 Pac-10) has a year's worth of revenge stored up for Cal (5-1,
2-1) after the Bears rolled 49-7 in Corvallis last October, when the Beavers were booed off the field. "That was the low point," Riley said. "It's hard to forget that." The Beavers then won five of their last six games before defeating Notre Dame 38-21 in the Insight Bowl. This year, they beat Boise State 30-27, then were routed by Louisville 63-27 and Arizona State 42-24. Oregon State next came from far behind to beat Washington State 44-33 just before the bye. Riley hopes that win will provide the incentive for another second-half surge, since OSU doesn't have to play USC. "I would describe Oregon State as growing," Riley said. "I don't know exactly who we are yet. We've had some rough moments and some good moments. But I like the spirit of this team. We prepare hard and play hard." Oregon State ranks fifth nationally in passing offense. But Tedford also is concerned about the Beavers' rush defense, which is yielding 120.4 yards a game. With Cal averaging 271.2 yards on the ground, fifth in the country, Saturday will be strength against strength in the pit.
Speaking of which, Cal's massive offensive right tackle, Ryan O'Callaghan, broke his wrist against UCLA. He fractured the same wrist last year, and his arm was back in a cast Tuesday. "He'll be fine," said Tedford. In relative terms, the coach might have added. O'Callaghan has had five surgeries since coming to Cal, and none involving the wrist. His medical chart: four shoulder operations and another on his left hand. And he hasn't missed a game or even a single play. That's football.