By CHRIS NGUON
Contributing Writer
If there is one thing Cal fans have learned about Jeff Tedford, it's the fact that the two-time Pac-10 coach of the year can't stand his running backs fumbling the ball. No matter who it is, what situation it is, or when it is, a ball carrier who fumbles under Tedford's watch shouldn't expect to see himself on the field very long. Tedford has benched J.J. Arrington in the past for fumbling. Tedford has benched Terrell Williams in the past for fumbling. That pattern held true again Saturday during the Bears' sloppy 23-20 loss to Oregon State, as sophomore Marshawn Lynch sat on the sideline the entire second half after giving away the pigskin twice earlier in the contest. Normally, Tedford would be completely justified in benching Lynch. However, this was one game in which Tedford needed to make an exception. He didn't, and it cost Cal the game. It's probably nitpicky for anyone to criticize Tedford's game-day-related decisions, especially considering the success he has had over the years in bringing the Bears program back from extinction. But this was one game where Tedford's need to teach a player a lesson about the consequences of fumbling came back to bite him, and the entire Cal team, in the butt. Beavers linebacker Andy Darkins stated it perfectly afterwards when he said, "We felt the whole week that if we stop Cal's run game and make Ayoob throw the ball we would win." Well, Darkins was right. The OSU defense stacked the box and made the happy-feet Joe Ayoob have to throw the ball. The Beavers went home with a win because of it. Making Darkins' prediction easier was the fact that Tedford helped OSU stop the run by keeping Lynch on the sideline. Granted, Justin Forsett has been a man-child in Lynch's absence so far this season. But, considering how ineffective the Bears' offensive line was against the Beavers' defensive front seven Saturday, the only semblance of a running game would've come from Lynch. Lynch's strength and grit that was so prevalent in the memorable first-down catch and run "Money" produced a week ago against UCLA-when he dragged seven Bruins defenders six yards-is exactly what Cal lacked Saturday. Because OSU knew it could stack the box and put a halt to the Bears' running game-something that by the way hasn't been done in almost three seasons-the Beavers forced Ayoob to win the game. As highly touted as he was, coming into the Cal program as a leader and junior college comeback king, Ayoob does not have the experience or arm strength right now in his career to put an offense on his back. Of course, the injuries and average play of the offensive line didn't help Ayoob, nor did the numerous dropped passes Saturday. But, keeping Lynch in the game would've kept Ayoob from having to constantly throw. Tedford was vividly upset afterwards, blaming everything from the players to the coaches to his own game plan as to why his team has now dropped two consecutive games for the first time since the 2003 season. The normally calm and collected Tedford was so upset that he even let out one of those naughty four-letter words at a reporter who asked about the Bears uninspired special teams play Saturday. But it all could've easily been prevented had the quarterback guru himself kept Lynch in the contest, even with the risk of him fumbling again.
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