With UCLA up next Saturday at the Rose Bowl, Cal is facing its toughest opponent of the year. It should be a tough test for junior quarterback Joe Ayoob, who made some big plays with his running ability against Arizona on Saturday but is still ``a work in progress,'' according to Coach Jeff Tedford. ``I know I didn't call some of the plays right,'' Ayoob said after Cal's 28-0 victory. ``There were some miscues.'' Tedford said it's hard for the offense to look efficient with mental mistakes. ``Things were called the wrong way so we're not going to jell,'' Tedford said. ``Some of the plays got called wrong in the huddle. ``But more and more, Joe is getting more comfortable. Each week, he learns something different.''
Tedford's main concern is that Ayoob hit his wide receivers when they shake open downfield. He missed deep balls to freshman DeSean Jackson and sophomore Sam DeSa. ``We need to get better on our long balls, but it could be a situation of the way we practice on half a field,'' Tedford said. ``We might need to move to more of a situation where we have the chance to let it loose.'' Tedford was asked if Ayoob needed to complete those throws if Cal expects to beat UCLA next Sturday. ``Those are the types of throws that we have to make against anybody,'' Tedford said.
• For the second consecutive game, the Bears had special-teams blunders.
Arizona's Syndric Steptoe returned a punt 85 yards to Cal's 5-yard line in the first quarter, but a holding penalty nullified it. Instead, Arizona got the ball at its 15. In the third quarter, Steptoe returned a low David Lonie punt 33 yards to Cal's 19. That set up an inspired goal-line stand by the Bears. Cal also looked susceptible to giving up big gains during its kickoffs. ``We're giving up way too many kickoff return yards,'' Tedford said. ``We're going to evaluate that entire unit, all the personnel.''
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