Friday, August 22, 2008

Dr. Bob's Preview of Cal Football 2008

Note from blogger: Last year the Wall Street Journal had an article on a former Cal classmate of mine who runs a very successful sports handicapping website. (He led my fraternity's IM football team, as QB, to a crushing defeat of the SAE's.) You can read the article here, and check out his website here. Here’s his analysis of Cal Football 2008:

Cal Preview
California went from the verge of the #1 ranking after their upset win at Oregon to losses in 6 of 7 games before coming back from a 0-21 deficit to win their bowl game against Air Force behind sophomore quarterback Kevin Riley. The Bears weren’t as good early in the season as their 5-0 start suggested, as they were lucky to win at Oregon (+4 in turnovers in that game while being out-gained 400 yards to 497 yards) and were a combined +11 in turnover margin in those 5 games. Starting quarterback Nate Longshore injured his ankle in that victory and the Bears lost the very next week at home to Oregon State with backup Riley getting his first collegiate action. Riley played well until trying to run with time running out rather than throwing the ball away and setting the Bears up for an easy game tying field goal attempt. Time ran out, Cal lost, Longshore returned the next week and the Bears’ spirit was destroyed with a close loss to UCLA. Longshore played the rest of the season on a bad ankle and his inability to step into his throws led to 11 interceptions in the final 6 regular season games - after throwing just 2 picks in the first 5 games. The only difference between Cal’s 5-0 start and their 2-6 finish was turnovers, as their compensated yards per play numbers were about the same in both sections of the season. For the first time in recent years the Bears are flying under the radar and there are plenty of indications that this will be a good season for Cal.

Longshore’s interception issues while injured got him on the wrong side of the Cal fan base and that sentiment was exaggerated after Riley came off the bench in the Armed Forces Bowl and led Cal to 6 consecutive touchdown drives after the Bears fell behind 0-21 early in the 2nd quarter. Riley’s 16 for 19, 269 yards and 3 TD pass performance sparked an open competition for the quarterback spot this summer, which probably won’t be decided until just before this game. While Longshore is the villain according to most Cal fans, it was Tedford that decided to keep sending him out there to play on a bad ankle when it was pretty obvious that he wasn’t right. When Longshore was healthy in 2006 and at the start of the 2007 season he was being hailed as a possible 1st round NFL draft choice and I don’t see how things are any different now if he’s healthy (unless last year’s failures have damaged his confidence). Riley’s attributes are pretty apparent too (552 yards on 60 pass plays for an incredible 9.2 yards per pass play), but Longshore was one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the nation in 2006 (7.6 yppp against teams that would allow 5.7 yppp to an average QB) and early in 2007 despite an injury to star receiver DeSean Jackson that led to multiple dropped passes. Tedford has hinted that both quarterbacks will see action early in the season and whoever is in the game will be throwing to a brand new receiving corps. Most pundits see the departure of wide receivers DeSean Jackson, Lavelle Hawkins and Robert Jordan as a huge problem with this year’s team, but that trio – while outstanding in 2006 – didn’t play very well last season (especially Jackson with his early season hand injury and generally selfish attitude). Jeff Tedford has had great passing attacks with less talented receiving corps in the past and the young receivers filling the void this season will not be as much of a drop in talent as you might expect. Florida transfer Nyan Boateng has incredible talent that hasn’t been harnessed due to a lack of work ethic, but Boateng has worked hard this off-season, has shined in practice, and could be All-Pac 10 receiver by season’s end. Redshirt Freshman Michael Calvin, sophomore Jeremy Ross and true freshman Marvin Jones have all looked good too. The new crop of Cal receivers is not only fast, but they are far more physical than the finesse group the Bears have had in recent years. Cal’s pass attack went from +1.9 yppp in 2006 to just +1.0 yppp last year and I don’t see that number dropping this season considering that the Bears’ average pass rating in 6 years under Tedford is +1.3 yppp (most of those without DeSean Jackson). Cal also lost top running back Justin Forsett, who ran for 1546 yards at 5.1 ypr, but his graduation may enhance the Bears’ rushing numbers given that Jahvid Best is waiting in the wings to take his turn as Cal’s 1000 yard rusher. Best was one of the nation’s top rated running backs coming out of high school (and California’s 100 meter high school sprint champion) and he averaged an eye popping 7.6 yards per rush in limited duty last season before injuring his hip late in the season. Best is fully recovered from that injury and has looked great in camp, so I don’t see any drop in production. This scenario is very much like 2005, when Cal had to replace star runner J.J. Arrington, who ran for 2018 yards in his senior season at an incredible 7.0 ypr. His backup that year was Marshawn Lynch, who averaged 8.8 ypr, so it was pretty obvious that losing Arrington would not be an issue (and it wasn’t). It’s too early to tell if Best will be as good as Lynch, but Forsett was certainly not as good as Arrington was so Best doesn’t have to be as good as Lynch was to avoid a drop in the rushing numbers. All-American C Alex Mack returns to lead another great Cal line, so Cal could improve on last season’s impressive rushing numbers (5.3 yards per rushing play against teams that would allow 4.4 yprp to an average team, sacks are not including in rushing in my stats) – although I’ll call for them to stay steady for now. The Bears were 1.0 yards per play better than average offensively last season and I expect them to be about the same this season – and they could be even better if the inexperienced receiving corps is as good as I think they can be.

While Cal’s offense figures to be about the same as it was last season (although with fewer interceptions), the Bears’ defense looks like it will be improved. Cal was pretty good on defense last season (5.2 yppl allowed to teams that would average 5.8 yppl against an average team) and the Bears lost just one impact player in leading tackler Thomas DeCoud while 8 starters return. Cal has perhaps the 2nd best set of linebackers in the Pac-10 (aside from USC) with Zack Follett, Worrell Williams, and Anthony Felder all being potential All-Pac 10 candidates this season. The secondary looks about the same with Chris Conte or Darian Hagan stepping in for the marginal Brandon Hampton at the cornerback spot opposite star Syd’Quan Thompson and the defensive front should supply more of a pass rush as long as DE Rulon Davis stays healthy. Davis has been hurt in each of the last two seasons, but he has shown the ability to get after the passer when he has been on the field. The line should once again hold up well against the run (4.6 yards per rushing play allowed last year to teams that would average 5.3 yprp against an average defense) with a solid defensive tackle rotation returning and sophomore end Cameron Jordan showed signs of brilliance in training camp and adds another pass rushing dimension on passing downs. The key for the Bears to become better defensively is an improved pass rush (just 22 sacks last season) and they should get that this season with Davis and Jordan in the mix up front. Cal has the potential to be much better defensively this season, but I’ll just call for a slight upgrade until I see evidence on the field. Cal’s special teams has been great in recent years, thanks in large part to having Jackson returning punts (he ran back 6 of his 38 career returns for touchdowns), but the Bears probably won’t be as good in special teams this season. Cal has found a very good young punter in Bryan Anger to replace the consistently good Andrew Larson (37.6 net) and Jahvid Best is said to be a candidate to return kickoffs this season despite being the starting running back (he returned 15 kickoffs for 27.0 yards per last season), so the Bears will still be better than average in special teams – just not as good as the last couple of years.

Overall, the Bears look like an underrated team after being overrated last season. People see a team that lost 6 of their last 8 games and losses 3 top receivers and a 1500 yard tailback and figures such a team can’t be improved. Those people would be wrong. Cal is going to be in the hunt for the 2nd spot in the Pac-10 behind USC.

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