Modesto Bee: QB Ayoob remains a 'work in progress'

By RON AGOSTINI

BEE SPORTS COLUMNIST

BERKELEY — "A work in progress" was coach Jeff Tedford's assessment of quarterback Joe Ayoob five games into his Division I-A career. This alone tells you a lot about the Golden Bears' leap up college football's food chain.

Here is Cal, 5-0, ranked 12th in the nation and the owner of an efficient 28-0 blanking Saturday of Arizona. Years ago, back when the Bears groveled for mere first downs, an unbeaten record and national ranking would be cause for rollicking fraternity parties up and down Bancroft Avenue. But today, Tedford sees his offense — the side of the ball on which he's built his entire career — as hit-and-miss. By the way, he's right. The gaudy numbers do not exactly match up with the performance. He knows Cal's silky soft schedule lies at the core of his team's success. Now the hammer pounds down on the Cal season. The Golden Bears step up in class next week at UCLA with a quarterback who's more exciting than lethal. It's time for Ayoob, Tedford's handpicked successor to Aaron Rodgers, to do more clicking than whiffing.

Because Cal's margin for error suddenly shrinks next weekend in Pasadena. "There is no question that to compete for a conference championship, we have to make more plays in the passing game," Tedford said. Later, when quizzed about the importance of nailing that home run ball vs. the Bruins, Tedford said, "That type of throw we need to make against everybody." You can envision Tedford almost willing Ayoob to better form during mid-week practice sessions. All that's riding on him, of course, is Cal's already anticipated shot at No. 1 USC in November. Tedford, the QB guru, needs to coax more progress from his latest prodigy. Cal's quarterback situation has stammered and stumbled almost since 2005's opening kickoff. Nathan Longshore, the QB who beat out Ayoob for the job, didn't reach halftime of Game 1 (broken ankle). Suddenly, any thought of nursing Ayoob onto the field was aborted. Ayoob has grown in some areas and remained a "work in progress" in others. His legs without question have helped the Bears more than his arm. Twice on Saturday, he missed open receivers running post patterns deep down the field — Sam DeSa during the first quarter and Robert Jordan after halftime. Airmailing open pass catchers has been a constant problem for Ayoob. Only during the first half at Washington (Sept. 10) has he displayed the promise Tedford envisioned.

Then again, Ayoob teases observers with impressive spasms of talent. When a play breaks down and demands a Plan B, Ayoob excels. His 12-yard improv set up Cal's first touchdown. His 39-yard touchdown bomb to Jordan was another example of his feet buying time, a roll right-scramble to the left leading to an on-the-run toss to Jordan alone beyond the coverage. Before it was over, Ayoob tacked on another touchdown pass to fullback Chris Manderino. Ayoob delights and torments Cal fans, sometimes on the same play. Perhaps everyone should just scale down all expectations and accept Ayoob for who he is — a swashbuckler in the mold of winning performers like ex-Bears Mike Pawlawski or, to dip into the Bears' archives, Joe Kapp. On 4th-and-a foot from the goal line during the first half, Tedford gave Ayoob a huge vote of confidence. In his words, Tedford "never gave it a thought" about kicking a field goal. He called for Ayoob to run an option to the left, and his quarterback quickly darted into the end zone for Cal's second touchdown. So there is a good Ayoob and a bad Ayoob. One problem: Tedford always wants it done right, a fact not lost on Ayoob. Cal's longest pass play during the first half netted only 9 yards, which is not close to passing muster in Tedford's classroom. Tedford even theorized that Ayoob's scatter-gun long throws are the result of the Bears' practice field being too short. Simply, he requires more room to air it out.  "You can't beat teams by just throwing it 5 yards," Ayoob admitted. "I'm confident me and the receivers will get on the same page." It would be just in time. There are no Sacramento States or New Mexico States left on the schedule. Airmailing the Bears' young and explosive receivers won't work against the Oregons, UCLAs and USCs of the Pacific-10 Conference. Point is, we're measuring the Bears against what's to come, rather than what we've already witnessed. So far, we've learned that — other than their maul-a-minute offensive line — they're young, better than good but largely untested everywhere else. That will change soon. "Each game he (Ayoob) is making strides and is becoming a leader," said Modesto's Byron Storer, one of Cal's special-teams stars. "If you don't rely on your quarterback, you won't do well. We have the utmost faith in him." One month into the season, the Bears have no other choice. Their chances for a modest bowl game appear good, but greatness depends on their "work in progress" at quarterback.