Daily Cal: Offensive Line Develops Depth Against Vikings

BY Stephen Chen

Guard Erik Robertson said at the beginning of the season that he was excited to see how the offensive line would develop.   After losing three players to the NFL Draft, the unit came into the season with several question marks. But while the No. 21 Cal football team lost a bundle of talent and experience, Robertson said the team may have gained some depth.  Three games into the season, the depth is being utilized.  Already with senior Andrew Cameron unavailable due to a sprained ankle, fellow-seniors Scott Smith and Robertson both sustained injuries during Cal's 42-16 win against Portland State on Saturday.  Robertson hyper-extended his back when he hit the ground in the second half, but he said he should be fine for next week's game against Arizona State.

"It kind of knocked the wind out of me. I was good after that, I would have been able to play after that, I just didn't," Robertson said.   Tedford said Smith appears to have an MCL injury and will be reevaluated during the week.   Despite all the substitutions, the line was able to create openings, particularly in the second half. The Bears rushed for a total of 193 yards, including 65 from senior tailback Marcus O'Keith on just eight carries.

"I owe it all to my front line. O'Keith said. "They did a good job up there blocking."  Early on, however, the Bears were unable to penetrate the Portland State defensive line. Cal totaled just 36 rushing yards in the first quarter. The Bears thus turned to the aerial game, with DeSean Jackson and Robert Jordan both reeling in 24-yard passes on Cal's second drive of the game.

"We weren't getting the edges blocked," Tedford said. "Our backs didn't have anywhere to go, but you have to give (the Vikings) credit, they're a good defensive line."  The Portland State defense came into the game having not allowed a touchdown. It returned three of their four most productive defensive linemen and added three transfers who previously played for Division I-A schools.  "Their D-Line is underrated, they're really good, really aggressive," said left guard Mike Tepper, who found out he was making his first career start the morning before the game.

Tepper redshirted his first year and missed all of last season with an injury. He said the biggest adjustment was getting used to the speed of the game. Nonetheless, the line provided solid pocket protection for most of the game, allowing just one sack on the day.  "We had a couple guys go down, but their backups are just as adequate," Longshore said. "We're pretty deep and all of them do a great job when they're in there. Each one brings a different attitude and a different style of play, but they all get the job done."