Daily Californian: Bears' First Test Comes in Pasadena

By CHRIS NGUON

Contributing Writer

Moments after the No. 10 Cal football team netted its first shutout of the year last Saturday against Arizona, Daymeion Hughes knew what was coming.  As he got dressed, stepped out of the locker room and walked into the press room, the junior cornerback looked around for a moment, then almost on cue, let out a big sigh as the hoard of local and national reporters covering the game started to gather his way.  In the midst of his two-interception performance, which earned him Pac-10 defensive player of the week honors, Hughes knew his team had gotten the job done.  However, before any question was posed to him, a reporter jokingly asked, "So uh, I guess you guys are ready for your season opener next week, huh?"  Although the question might have been a little far-fetched, its meaning is clear.  The Bears' opponents this season have so far complied a meager 5-19 record. Although Cal has performed well, winning its first five games by almost 30 points per contest, it remains to be seen how the Bears will react against a ranked opponent.  All questions should be answered Saturday, as Cal (5-0, 2-0 in the Pac-10) visits No. 20 UCLA at 4:30 p.m. at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.

From early reports, the contest will be a sellout, meaning there will be over 90,000 fans in attendance for the nationally televised game.  "We always want to do well no matter where we are at in the season," Hughes said. "But it's the Pac-10 now, and we know we have to turn it up."  Along with Hughes, the entire Cal defense shined last Saturday against the Wildcats.  For the first time all year, the Bears' defensive line consistently put pressure on the quarterback, which in turn allowed Cal's athletic linebackers and experienced secondary to roam around the field.  The Bears are currently in the best defensive stretch of the season so far, as they have not given up an offensive touchdown in 10 quarters.  "There are things (the defense) can always improve, but I think they are playing very, very well," Cal coach Jeff Tedford said. "The secondary is playing well, our linebackers are flying around and our defensive line is playing physical. There is always room for improvement, but they are doing a good job."  The Bears' offense also has been improving over the last five games.  With the return of running back Marshawn Lynch last week from a broken left little finger, Cal showed off the balanced rushing attack that was so prevalent last year when the Bears were statistically one of the leading ground offenses in the nation.  The one-two punch of Lynch and Justin Forsett has given opponents fits, and Cal currently boasts the conferences top rushing offense.  "If Marshawn is in there and gets a little gassed, we will get him out and put Justin in," Tedford said. "It just reaffirms that our depth at running back is pretty strong and there is not a lot of drop-off when anyone comes out."  But, as well as his team is playing, Tedford admits that all cylinders will have to be clicking for the Bears if they hope to come out away from southern California with a win Saturday.  After posting back-to-back shutouts against Arizona and Arizona State last season, Cal saw UCLA come into Memorial Stadium and hang 28 points on the scoreboard, highlighted by Bruins quarterback Drew Olson's 20-for-36, 299-yard, four touchdown performance.  UCLA (4-0, 1-0) heads into the contest Saturday with a year more experience in coach Karl Dorrell's system, and the team's comfort level has shown in its explosive offensive capability so far this season.  "This season has really been a breakthrough on a number of ways for us," Dorrell said. "Overall as a team we are more confident this year. A lot of it has to do with experience and the fact that our players are more familiar with how we want our program to be run."  Along with Olson, the Bruins feature junior running back Maurice Drew and tight end Marcedes Lewis, both of whom will probably battle for all-conference honors at the end of the season.  Last season, Lewis set a school record with seven touchdown receptions, the most ever for a Bruins tight end. This year, the junior has already complied 22 catches for 296-yards and two touchdowns.  "When you have a tight end that can get down the field and who can break away from linebackers, it creates a great match-up for them," Tedford said.  Drew, a product of De La Salle High School in the Bay Area, has emerged as a versatile threat, able to run in between the tackles as well as catch passes out of the backfield.  "He's big in their screen game," Tedford said. "Once he gets you in open space, he is very difficult to tackle one-on-one."

Cal Football 2005

Kickoff: Cal takes on UCLA tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.

TV: TBS

Radio: KGO 810 AM

The Opponent: The Bruins (4-0) beat Washington 21-17 last week at home.

Series: UCLA leads 47-26-1. The Bears beat the Bruins 45-28 in 2004 at Memorial Stadium.