LOOKING TO IMPROVE DESPITE 4-0 START
By Jay Heater
Knight Ridder
The statistics all look good, but for Cal Coach Jeff Tedford, the feel isn't quite right. ``I'm still trying to figure that part out,'' said Tedford, who has figured things out enough to post a 29-13 overall record in leading the Golden Bears. No. 12 Cal (4-0, 1-0 Pacific-10) hosts Arizona (1-2, 0-0) today at Memorial Stadium, and Tedford is hoping that his team puts together that complete effort he is seeking. The team is scoring 43.2 points per game and allowing just 13.2, yet it is evident Cal needs some fine-tuning to be successful in the Pac-10. ``It might feel a little different because we are running more than we have,'' said Tedford, who is breaking in a new quarterback in junior Joe Ayoob. As Ayoob continues to get comfortable with the offense, things will balance out, Tedford said. ``Joe is throwing with more authority and confidence,'' Tedford said. ``He is getting more of a feel for the process.'' Arizona Coach Mike Stoops says that his quarterback, sophomore Richard Kovalcheck, has acquired that comfort after struggling in 2004. Stoops said his team finally has a passing attack. In addition to Arizona's capabilities through the air, Tedford is concerned about tailback Mike Bell. ``We have to avoid the big plays throwing over the top,'' Tedford said. ``We have to stop Bell from breaking big plays. We have to make them earn everything they get.'' The Bears realize they will have to continue to raise their level of play to be successful in the Pac-10, rover Donnie McCleskey said. ``We need to tackle better and we have to eliminate those big plays,'' he said. ``And we have a lot of respect for Mike Bell. He has great vision and he keeps his feet going. He can hurt you.''
Kovalcheck has been hurting the Wildcats' opponents as well. He has thrown for 793 yards and completed 58.3 percent of his passes. Although the Bears have 10 sacks in four games, pressuring the quarterback appears to be an issue. ``You always need more pressure,'' McCleskey said. ``But I think, so far, our pressure has been great.'' McCleskey said that this season's defensive unit, which has seven new starters, has a chance to be even better than the 2004 version that helped the team to a 10-2 record. ``Our defense is a lot different'' in terms of personnel, McCleskey said. ``But we're faster and more athletic.'' Cal's defense will be without senior defensive end Tosh Lupoi, who should be back soon from a sprained knee. Sophomore Phillip Mbakogu is scheduled to start in Lupoi's absence. Arizona, which has allowed 202 yards rushing per game, will have to deal with Cal tailback Marshawn Lynch, who is expected to return today after missing two games because of a broken left hand. Cal's offense also gets a boost with the return of junior right tackle Andrew Cameron, who missed two games because of a concussion.
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