Daily Cal: DeCoud Likely to Miss Oregon State Contest

Safety Out With Twisted Right Knee, Brandon Hampton Is Probable Replacement

Stephen Chen and Steven Dunst

Starting safety Thomas DeCoud is doubtful for the No. 20 Cal football team's game Saturday against Oregon State after injuring his knee in the first quarter against Arizona State. He twisted his right knee on the second possession and limped off the field. DeCoud did not return.

The injury was originally diagnosed as an MCL sprain pending further evaluation. Coach Jeff Tedford said Tuesday that the MRI results came up negative.  "He's day-to-day right now," Tedford said. "I would say doubtful for this week."  The team's leading tackler (21) through four games, DeCoud made the jump to the starting spot after serving as a special teams star the past two years, blocking a total of six kicks.   However, Tedford and the rest of the secondary do not anticipate a huge drop-off if DeCoud is unable to play against the Beavers in Corvallis, Ore.  Sophomore safety Bernard Hicks will try to fill the void at the free safety position after almost coming up with an interception against the Sun Devils and totaling 11.5 tackles on the year in spot duty.

Read the entire article here.

 

SF Chronicle: Longshore keeps earning honors

Rusty Simmons

Cal sophomore quarterback Nate Longshore was named Tuesday as the national Player of the Week by USA Today.  He was 18-for-26 for 270 yards and four touchdowns in the Bears' 49-21 victory over Arizona State on Saturday. The performance was also good enough to earn him Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Week honors for the second time in three weeks.  "I feel like I'm improving every week and our offense is improving every week," he said. "It's easy with the time I have to just sit back there and wait for our guys to get wide open."   He certainly has made it look easy the last three weeks. During Cal's three-game winning streak, Longshore has posted a 188.48 passer rating while completing 68.8 percent of his passes for 795 yards and 10 touchdowns.   "I'm not surprised at all," coach Jeff Tedford said. "This is what we were looking for. He's always shown promise and the potential to throw the ball very well."  It is, however, a far cry from what he showed in the season opener, a 35-18 loss to Tennessee. During that game, Longshore completed 11 of 20 passes for 85 yards and an interception while under consistent pressure.  "I'm impressed because he was having struggles early," senior cornerback Daymeion Hughes said. "We knew he would come around, and it's coming at the right time."

Manning the corner: Hughes, who is tied for the national lead with five interceptions, including two that he has returned for touchdowns, is drawing rave reviews.

Read the entire article here.

 

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Despite a rumor that is gaining fervor among Cal faithful, Comcast won't be televising the Cal-Oregon State game. Pac-10 associate commissioner Duane Lindberg said his office hasn't been petitioned for a waiver to air the game.

Salem StatesmanJournal: Beavers update: Cal provides the real test for Oregon State

“It would be easy to look at Oregon State’s 38-0 win Saturday against Idaho and say that the Beavers have arrived. It also would be a mistake.

Sure, OSU came back from a disappointing loss at Boise State to dominate coach Dennis Erickson’s Vandals, but it was hardly a surprise. Idaho of the Western Athletic Conference is 1-3 and has been outscored 145-54. The Beavers’ other win this season, a 56-17 rout of Eastern Washington in the season opener, came against a Division I-AA school. The Eagles are 1-3 and have been outscored 139-53.  So don’t be misled by OSU’s 2-1 record. A more accurate indicator is the 42-14 debacle against Boise State. But the Beavers get another chance to show that they can be a Pac-10 contender instead of pretender Saturday against No. 20 California.   It is the Pac-10 opener for the Beavers and could set the tone for the remainder of the season. A victory would validate the Beavers and prove that they can play with the elite teams in the conference.  Anything less than an impressive performance in front of the home fans at Reser Stadium could erode confidence and place OSU in also-ran status.”

AP: California - Oregon State Preview

Thanks to a high-powered offense, California has bounced back nicely from a season-opening defeat.  The 20th-ranked Golden Bears will look to keep piling up the points against a tough defensive team when they visit Oregon State on Saturday.  Cal (3-1, 1-0 Pac-10) has scored 133 points and gained 1,442 total yards in its last three games, including last Saturday's convincing 49-21 victory over Arizona State. Quarterback Nate Longshore threw for 270 yards and four touchdowns on 18 of 26 passing for the Bears, who scored 42 first-half points - their highest-scoring half ever in a Pac-10 game.  Marshawn Lynch rushed for 124 yards on 17 carries for Cal, which also scored 42 points in the first half of their 42-16 win over Portland State a week earlier.   ``In coach (Jeff) Tedford's offense, anybody can come up and be the man at any time,'' said sophomore wide receiver DeSean Jackson, who caught a touchdown pass and returned a punt 80 yards for a score. ``You've just got to be ready to make a play. Everybody was ready today.''

The Golden Bears lead the Pac-10 with 37.8 points per game and rank second with 444.5 total yards per game. They have won each of their last three games by a margin of at least 25 points after a season-opening 35-18 loss at then-No. 15 Tennessee.   Longshore ranks second in the conference with 10 touchdown passes and Lynch ranks second in the league with 112.3 rushing yards per game. Jackson's seven total touchdowns scored lead all Pac-10 players.  However, the Bears could have a tougher time against Oregon State (2-1, 0-0), which is coming off a 38-0 victory over Idaho - its first shutout since a scoreless tie with Oregon in 1983. The Beavers forced six turnovers and held the Vandals to just 185 total yards of offense, bouncing back nicely after a 42-14 loss to Boise State in their previous game on Sept. 7.  The Beavers have allowed just one passing touchdown, rank first in the Pac-10 with 124.3 passing yards allowed per game and second with 239.3 total yards given up per game. However, they allowed Boise State running back Ian Johnson to run for 240 yards and five touchdowns.

``I just liked how we kind of took the last couple of weeks to heart defensively,'' coach Mike Riley said.  Oregon State sputtered a bit on offense, with quarterback Matt Moore completing 16 of 31 passes for 169 yards and an interception. Moore, a senior who played the 2002 and 2003 seasons with UCLA before transferring, led the nation with 19 interceptions in 2005 and has thrown two this season.  ``We started out nice, but I don't think we executed the way we should, me in particular,'' Moore said. ``Overall, it's good we won, but I think there are a lot of things we could be better at.''  Yvenson Bernard ran for 117 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 23 carries and is averaging 110 yards per game.  Cal's defense is tied for fourth in the nation with eight interceptions and looked imposing against Arizona State. Daymeion Hughes had two of his team's four picks against the Sun Devils and turned one into his second touchdown return of the season and the fourth of his career.  Riley was certainly aware of how Cal manhandled Arizona State.  ``They look like they have athletes all over the place and they have put up quite a few numbers,'' he said.

Nonetheless, Oregon State thinks it will be able to handle the Golden Bears.  ``I think we're ready for Cal,'' Beavers linebacker Derrick Doggett said. ``We've got to practice hard and pick it up a notch. We know they're going come in here and play hard.''  Cal leads the all-time series between the teams 32-26, but lost 23-20 in the last meeting on Oct. 15 last season.

Corvallis Gazette Times: OSU Senior Right Tackle Out for "Long Time"

The Oregon State football team is preparing for an extended period, maybe the season, without senior right tackle Josh Linehan.  Coach Mike Riley said he was highly doubtful for this week’s game against No. 20 California due to a knee injury suffered Saturday night against Idaho.  Trainers, doctors and Linehan were going over the options after Monday’s MRI exam. Riley wouldn’t be specific, but it usually means they are deciding on surgery now or later after he heals.  “He’s definitely doubtful (Saturday),” Riley said. “Other than that, I don’t know.”  Linehan, from Banks, has been in the lineup since his sophomore season, starting 25 of 26 games at guard or tackle.  Andy Levitre will start in his place. The 6-foot-3, 324-pound sophomore has been the backup at all offensive line positions since last year. He started a game last season against Oregon and at guard last weekend.  “The positive thing is Andy is a great player,” Riley said. “He does an excellent job in spot duty, and we have confidence in him. I’m hoping to get Josh back, but I have confidence Andy will do a good job.”

Read the entire article here.

Corvallis Gazette-Times: OSU QB Controversy?

Coach Mike Riley says there is nothing of the sort for the Beavers

By Cliff Kirkpatrick

Matt Moore is in a no-win situation. The Oregon State senior quarterback is playing ahead of the signal caller of the future in Sean Canfield, so every pass and read is scrutinized with a negative outcome predetermined. Even when the team puts up 38 points in a shutout, it’s not good enough.

Moore realized long ago he’s not the fan favorite. It reached the point of being harassed by his own student section during last weekend’s victory over Idaho. Moore didn’t want to elaborate, but said his classmates made it clear they want Canfield on the field. Even after hearing that he doesn’t let public opinion bother him, showing off that Southern California cool. “It’s kind of annoying, but I understand,” Moore said. “They were rooting for Sean. If that’s the way it’s going to go, that’s the way it’s going to go. I’m not worried about it at all. Fans are fans. It’s not a problem. I’ll keep my mouth shut.”

He went through a similar situation his second season at UCLA. After starting as a true freshman, a coaching change and an injury had him fighting for his position. The team lost its cohesiveness during the quarterback controversy, and the L.A. paparazzi wore him out. It ended badly for him as he left school to find a new team. “The magnitude is a little different,” Moore said. “It’s not as bad here, but I still hear about it, mostly from the fans. Fans though, so what does that mean? I’m sure a lot of them are football savvy. I’m a fan of other teams and I’m harsh on a guy. It’s tough. It’s tough to talk about something like this.” At UCLA Moore and Drew Olson’s relationship suffered from the scrutiny. Moore points out that is not the case here. Canfield and Moore are good friends, and are supportive of each other. Moore’s critics started last year when he threw 19 interceptions to 11 touchdowns, and the Beavers were only 5-5 in his starts. At the same time the smooth-throwing Canfield showed up to turn up the pressure during a redshirt season.

And when a team doesn’t win every game, the backup quarterback is the outside world’s favorite player. Moore has had a solid start to the season, leading the Beavers to a 2-1 record. The two wins were dominant over inferior opponents, and the blowout loss wasn’t one person’s fault. He has completed 56.5 percent of his throws with four touchdowns and two interceptions, for a passing efficiency rating of 129.69. His efficiency is up by more than six points from last season, and his general command of the game has improved. “We’d like to be up there above 60 percent,” Riley said. “But there have been passes that could have been caught but dropped. The first play of the last game was one. There was one to Joe Newton and one by Micah Strickland I can think of. There are others. Overall he’s done a good job.” Through the ups and downs of playing the high-pressure position, Moore still has the support of the players and Riley. The coach still believes he gives them the best chance to win and sees steady improvement in decision making.

Moore admitted last year he tried to force passes to make big plays. Now he’s not trying to do too much. “I think for sure he has the support,” Riley said. “I recognized him, and the players, as a good leader on this team. He’s come back and practiced hard and with good enthusiasm all season.”

What makes it tough on Moore is Canfield delivering strong performances each game. The outcomes were already decided, but the freshman’s potential always comes out. He’s completed 22 of 30 for two touchdowns and one interception, with a 166.23 efficiency rating. His one pick was partly attributed to being hit on the throw. “I’m excited about his development, and I’m pleased with the opportunity he’s gotten in the games,” Riley said. “He’s done a nice job. I think that all bodes well for the future; that’s a good thing for the program.”

The only thing that concerns Moore of Riley’s use of Canfield is if the coach forces him into a game in a crucial situation just to see if he’s ready. It hasn’t happened so far because games have been determined early. Moore has either settled into a rhythm in the two victories, or there wasn’t anything anyone could do in the loss. “To me that doesn’t make sense, but if coach Riley does that he’s the head guy and I respect it,” Moore said. “And Sean, the guy can play. He knows the offense and he’s going to move the ball. My point is if the game is tied 7-7 in the second quarter, and we see what he can do. That would be frustrating as a player. But if that were to happen, I’ll just respect it. Coach Riley knows what he’s doing.”

Oakland Tribune: Grizzled Bears like current cubs

Old-time players get together, watch romp

By Dave Newhouse

BERKELEY — Once they wore the blue and gold, but now they're generational, old Cal footballers with arthritis, limps and new body parts. But the current state of Golden Bears football has acted as a salve for their long-ago physical sacrifices inside Memorial Stadium.   "I think it's going fabulously," said Rick Bennett, a Cal fullback in the mid-1960s. "Coach (Jeff) Tedford and Sandy (Barbour, Cal athletic director) have taken Cal football back to where it was in the late 1950s."   The late 1950s represents Cal's last Rose Bowl appearance. Bennett thinks of where Cal has been on the gridiron and where it's going, while leaning on a cane from a recent hip replacement.   "What I admire most," he said of Tedford's Bears, "is how well-disciplined the players are — it's a year-round commitment. When I played, we had spring ball, but I ran track and Ed White and Jerry Woods put the shot."   Some 100 football alums attended a pregame function Saturday morning on Maxwell Field before Cal's 49-21 victory over Arizona State.

Read the entire article here.

Contra Costa Times: Cal's Jackson has knack for finding the end zone

By Jay Heater

BERKELEY, Calif. - Only four games into his sophomore season at Cal, wide receiver DeSean Jackson has found a home.   It's called the end zone.

The Bears' prized recruit of the 2005 class already has developed into one of the nation's top wide receivers as well as becoming a dangerous punt return specialist.  He is averaging a touchdown a game for his career, which spans only 15 games. He has scored seven touchdowns so far in 2006.

Jackson added two more touchdowns last Saturday in a 49-21 win over Arizona State, with one coming on an 80-yard punt return. He was so far clear that he did a little show-boating as he crossed into the end zone.   "I was talking to (teammate) Robert Jordan the other day," said Jackson, who signed with Cal out of Long Beach Poly High School. "I was telling him how I would rather score touchdowns than make a lot of catches. I would rather have 60 catches and 18 touchdowns than 70 catches and 13 touchdowns.

Read the entire article here.

ESPN: Recruiting Coast to Coast

Read the entire article here.

 

Player under the radar (offense)

Brock Mansion, Quarterback

Episcopal (Bellaire, Texas)

Verbal: California

Brock Mansion is one of the best quarterbacks in the country no one is talking about. Obviously Cal coach Jeff Tedford knows quarterbacks, and he has to feel good about snagging this Texas signal-caller out of the clutches of the likes of Texas, Nebraska and USC among others.  What makes Mansion so impressive is his outstanding size and arm strength. If you were to just take a look at him, you would think he is merely a pocket passer -- that would be a big mistake. Mansion is a great athlete for his size and has a unique ability to create plays on his own when things break down. He even runs the shotgun read-option and looks good doing it.  He has one of the most powerful arms in this entire class and can really drive the ball downfield with authority. Tedford will need to quicken his release and sharpen his mechanics, but the tools are all there and he fits well into their offensive system.

USATODAY NOMINATES LONGSHORE FOR PLAYER OF THE WEEK

NATE LONGSHORE IS ONE OF 5 PLAYERS NOMINATED…GO HERE AND VOTE.

 

Each week during the season, readers can select their pick for USA TODAY's Player of the Week. Choices will be made available on Sunday night. The fan vote, open through noon ET on Tuesday, will comprise one-third of the award with one vote also going to college football editor Erick Smith and Gannett columnist Mike Lopresti. USA TODAY will name its winner Tuesday.

 

 

“Nate Longshore— The California quarterback threw four touchdown passes in the Golden Bears' 49-21 defeat of 18th-ranked Arizona State. Longshore connected on 18 passes for 264 yards.”

 

Pac-10: Longshore Named Pac-10 Football Player of the Week

Longshore wins the award for the second time in the last three weeks.

Quarterback Nate Longshore of California has been named one of three U.S. Bank Pac-10 Football Players of the Week.  Longshore, a sophomore from Canyon Country, Calif., directed California's offense in the Golden Bears' 49-21 win against No. 18-ranked Arizona State. Longshore completed 18 of 26 passes (.692) for 270 yards and four touchdowns covering 9, 31, 23 and 8 yards with just one interception. All four touchdown passes came in the first half as California built a 42-14 halftime lead. It marks the second time this season Longshore has been named Pac-10 offensive player of the week having also been so honored after his performance in Cal's win against Minnesota.

 

Register-Guard: California heads into Reser on a roll after early stumble

By Bob Rodman

CORVALLIS - Oregon State is the only Pac-10 Conference team yet to play a league game.  In six days, that will change.   The Beavers, 2-1 after tossing a shutout at Idaho last weekend, draw a California outfit that seems to have fully recovered from its season-opening washout at Tennessee.

The OSU-California game is set for a 1 p.m. kickoff at Reser Stadium. No live or delayed telecast is scheduled.   "Cal is the best team we'll have seen so far this year," Oregon State coach Mike Riley said on Sunday. "They've got athletes all over the field - on special teams, offense and defense - and they can run.   "California is a very fast team, and they've got a great running back in Marshawn Lynch, a quarterback (Nate Longshore) who is a very good passer, is comfortable and playing well in their system, and some great receivers."

The Bears (3-1) have averaged more than 44 points per game in winning three straight - including last weekend's 49-21 dismantling of Arizona State - following a 35-18 loss at Tennessee to begin the season.   "The running game will be important for us," said Riley, whose OSU team pinned a 23-20 upset on Cal last season at Berkeley but was shelled by the Bears at Reser 49-7 in 2004.   Turnovers could be devastating against Cal, which recorded two defensive touchdowns against ASU and added another on a punt return.

"We have to take care of the football," Riley said. "But protection will be the real key for us. They (the Cal defense) really got to (ASU quarterback Rudy) Carpenter (with four interceptions)."   That protection took a hit with an apparent knee injury sustained by starting right tackle Josh Linehan, who was hurt near the end of the first quarter of the 38-0 win over Idaho when a pass by OSU quarterback Matt Moore was intercepted.

Linehan, a 6-foot-5, 307-pound senior, was scheduled to undergo an MRI today.   "We don't have a lot of ready-to-play depth," Riley said. "It never helps to lose any of those top six guys. I hope we haven't lost him."   Linehan's replacement would be Andy Levitre, a 6-3, 324-pound sophomore among the top six on Oregon State's offensive line depth chart.

Two other OSU players - linebackers Derrick Doggett (ankle bruise) and Keaton Kristick (knee bruise) - are expected to practice on Tuesday. Defensive tackle Curtis Coker, suspended for the Idaho game because of a violation of team rules, is expected to play against Cal. The Beavers' defense, which yielded more than 300 rushing yards in a 42-14 loss at Boise State, held Idaho to just 57 yards on the ground.  "The rush defense really improved, the tackling was different and the soundness on defense was different," Riley said. "And the punting game, in general, was much better."  Freshman punter Kyle Loomis, erratic with a long of 52 yards and a short of 18 against Boise, had four of his punts against Idaho drop inside the Vandal 20-yard line.

Corvallis Gazette Times: Oregon State Injury cause for worry

Beavers have room for improvement with Cal coming in

By Cliff Kirkpatrick

Saturday night’s victory was important to the Oregon State football team, but the Beavers didn’t go into the night wildly celebrating.  It was a dominating performance by the defense, shutting out Idaho 38-0, and the offense moved the ball well at times.   However, concern comes from questions about starting senior offensive tackle Josh Linehan’s knee injury, suffered against the Vandals. He’ll have an MRI done today with results expected back as soon as Tuesday. “I don’t know how it happened, but it was on a block after the interception,” coach Mike Riley said Sunday night after looking at the video. “It must have been how he twisted. The block wasn’t down low.” The Beavers (2-1) have some depth on the offensive line with Andy Levitre who can fill in for Linehan. He started for left guard Jeremy Perry, who eased back into the game after minor knee surgery during the bye, and took over for Linehan when he went down.

After Levitre, however, offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh hasn’t been confident with anyone else in pressure situations. “We don’t have ready-to-play depth,” Riley said. “We are developing some people. It’s hard to lose someone in your top six. I hope we haven’t lost him.” There were a few other minor injuries, but all the other players will be ready for practice this week, Riley said. Cornerback Keenan Lewis had cramps again, while linebacker Derrick Doggett has a bruised ankle and linebacker Keaton Kristick has a bruised knee.

Read the entire article here.

 

ASU Web Devil: Breakdown: ASU versus Cal

Carpenter fizzles, Torain sizzles

The Good: Buried beneath the horrific final result of its 49-21 loss at Cal, the ASU football team had one of its finer games rushing the ball in recent memory.  Junior college transfer Ryan Torain enjoyed a breakout performance, rushing for 191 yards on 24 carries. He emerged as the between-the-tackles running back ASU has yearned for since the departure of former New England Patriot J.R. Redmond after the 1999 season.  Backups Shaun DeWitty, a sophomore, and Dimitri Nance, a freshman, were also effective. DeWitty ran for 27 yards on six carries and Nance gained 26 yards on seven carries.  

The Bad: Quarterback Rudy Carpenter played by far the worst game of his career and one of the worst games by an ASU signal caller in years.

The sophomore threw 16 of 36 for 177 yards along with two touchdowns, four interceptions and lost a fumble. Carpenter very well could have had six picks on the day if not for a pair of drops by Cal defenders.  He also had another fumble that Torain had the presence to pick up.  With Carpenter calling the signals, ASU had no chance to win the game.   Quarterbacks often get too much credit for wins and too much blame for losses, but Carpenter should absorb every one of the jabs he receives from this one. And we won't even mention Sam Keller ... oops.

The Ugly: With ASU trailing 28-7 in the second quarter, the Sun Devils needed something, anything to get fired up about to stop the bleeding.

Read the entire article here.

Daily Cal: Defense Takes Center Stage With Big Plays

BY Steven Dunst

Tailback Marshawn Lynch, the preseason Heisman hopeful and the face of the No. 21 Cal football team, accumulated 157 total yards and scored a touchdown. His performance did not even earn him any interviews after the game.  Cal displayed so much speed and playmaking ability in their surprisingly easy 49-21 stomping of Arizona State Saturday that even Lynch-the same Lynch who is widely regarded as the most sensational offensive threat in Berkeley-got lost in the shuffle.  The defense and special teams combined for as many touchdowns as the Sun Devils managed the whole game, turning the offensive unit into gleeful spectators.

Cornerback Daymeion Hughes jumped in front of his man for his fourth interception of the season.  Linebacker Mickey Pimentel tipped a pass on a blitz and came up with an improbable pick of his own, taking it to the house.  Then there was Hughes again, bringing an interception back for a touchdown and stepping on Sun Devils quarterback Rudy Carpenter in the process.

Read the entire article here.

ASU Web Devil: Turnovers doom Devils in Berkeley

by Taylor Price

BERKELEY, Calif., - What was expected to be a heavyweight battle of Pac-10 contenders ultimately turned into a knockout in the middle of the second quarter. In a span of six minutes, the ASU football team gave up four touchdowns, opening the flood gates to an eventual 49-21 beat-down courtesy of the No. 23 California Golden Bears Saturday in Berkeley. "That six-minute period was it," ASU coach Dirk Koetter said. The No. 22 Sun Devils (3-1, 0-1) saw their 7-0 lead turned into a 35-7 deficit in the blink of an eye.  "You can't turn it over," Koetter said. "Four or five big plays in that six-minute stretch in the second quarter and that's the game."

ASU looked composed early, as sophomore quarterback Rudy Carpenter led the offense on a 12-play, 76-yard drive capped off by a nine-yard touchdown reception by junior Ryan Torain on a screen pass. Torain started the game because sophomore Keegan Herring was nursing an injured hamstring. Torain responded by rushing for a career-high 191 yards on 24 carries. "I knew I had to step it up, work hard, run hard and take what I could get," Torain said. Cal answered ASU's drive with its own 80-yard drive, with running back Justin Forsett catching a nine-yard pass from sophomore Nate Longshore.

Read the entire article here.

Daily Cal: Cal Stomps on Sun Devils

Fueled By Big Plays on Defense and Another Solid Game Through the Air, the Bears Cruise to Victory

BY Brian Bainum

Daymeion Hughes leapt over Rudy Carpenter in a single bound. Mickey Pimentel tried to somersault into the end zone. DeSean Jackson exploded for an 80-yard punt return that even had Jeff Tedford holding his breath with excitement. And for the No. 21 Cal football team, that wasn't even half of the highlight reel.  The Bears opened their Pac-10 season in grand style Saturday at Memorial Stadium, trouncing No. 22 Arizona State, 49-21, and big plays in all three phases of the game were the difference.  A little over nine minutes after the Sun Devils took the opening kickoff and drove 76 yards for a touchdown, Cal had scored on offense, defense and special teams, and led 35-7.

The Bears (3-1, 1-0 in the Pac-10) went into the locker room with a 42-14 lead, posting the highest point total ever in the first half against a conference opponent.  "Anyone can come in and be the man," said Jackson, whose six receiving touchdowns on the season trail only Georgia Tech's Calvin Johnson for the national lead. "Any spot, any position, you have to be ready to make a play."  Make plays they did.

Read the entire article here.

Contra Costa Times: Cal 'O' ahead of touted 'D'

Offense sizzling with new faces; fast defense has tackling troubles

By Jay Heater

BERKELEY — So if you are a Cal fan, are you more confident in the offense or the defense?  The defense was supposed to be the team strength, with All-American candidates at linebacker (Desmond Bishop), defensive tackle (Brandon Mebane) and cornerback (Daymeion Hughes). Combined with the assumption that the Bears had extraordinary talent, as well in linebacker Mickey Pimentel and defensive end Nu'u Tafisi, it looked as if the Bears would stifle opposing teams.  In comparison, the offense had to rebuild the line and find a quarterback.  After a 3-1 start, though, it appears that the offense might be a step ahead. Cal is averaging 444.5 yards per game, and offensive coordinator Mike Dunbar is mixing up his weapons so well that teams have been left dazed and confused.

Defensively, coodinator Bob Gregory has to be pleased with the 22.2 points a game his team is allowing, but the Bears are giving up an average of 164.8 rushing yards a game.  Cal coach Jeff Tedford, whose team plays at Oregon State on Saturday, was asked after Sunday's workout at Memorial Stadium if he was concerned with the amount of rushing yardage his team was allowing. "Absolutely," he said. "Stopping the run is something we need to do."  In its 35-18 loss at Tennesee in the opener, Cal allowed the Volunteers to ramble for 216 yards. Arizona State gained 237 rushing on Saturday, including 191 yards by tailback Ryan Torain.  "Our tackling was not what we are used to having," Tedford said about the Bears' effort on Saturday.  However, Gregory's defense scored two touchdowns and produced five turnovers against the Sun Devils.  That kind of effort has the players excited, whether or not ASU ran up rushing yards. "Our team speed is tremendous," Cal cornerback Daymeion Hughes said. "We can compete with anyone."

Read the entire article here.

 

 

SF Chronicle: DeCoud plans to be back

CAL NOTEBOOK

Rusty Simmons, Chronicle Staff Writer

Cal junior safety Thomas DeCoud, who is tied for the team lead with 26 tackles, said Sunday he sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee.  "I just got the MRI today, so they're still taking a look at it," he said, "but you know I'll rehab it and be back out there as fast as possible."

Coach Jeff Tedford, who had not gotten a report on DeCoud's MRI exam immediately after Sunday's practice, said further evaluation was still needed. The injury usually sidelines players for two to four weeks.  DeCoud, who made his name with six blocked kicks in his first two seasons at Cal, limped off the field after covering an overthrown deep ball in the first quarter of Saturday's 49-21 win over Arizona State, but the injury actually occurred a couple of plays earlier. After engaging a running back, DeCoud's knee buckled underneath him when a teammate was blocked into him.

Read the entire article here.

Cal Moves Up to 20th

Both the AP and USAToday polls have Cal ranked at 20^th.