SF Chronicle: Bears' rover a hard-hitter once again

Bruce Adams, Chronicle Staff Writer

Rover Donnie McCleskey is back, a force to be reckoned with in Cal's secondary. Just like old times.  Two years ago, McCleskey led the team in tackles with 102. He earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors. And even though he only was a sophomore, he was one of the team's undisputed leaders.  Then last year, he just wasn't himself. He chose to play with shoulder and knee injuries that required surgeries in the offseason. He had to adjust to an easier, softer way of tackling -- and that just wasn't his style. Playing mostly as a reserve, he had 38 tackles.  "It was very frustrating," McCleskey said, "but it taught me a lot more about the game, more about our defense and understanding all the different aspects. It was actually beneficial."  He's playing with his old abandon at rover, a hybrid position that is part safety, part cornerback and part linebacker. He is No. 4 on the team with 23 tackles, two of them for losses.  "I had no doubts," he said. "With my training over the summer, mentally and physically, I was the most prepared I've ever been in my life."  "It's like night and day," said J.D Williams, defensive secondary coach, referring to a healthy McCleskey.

McCleskey probably shouldn't have played at all last year, but he had a choice, and he chose to play through the pain.  "He played a real inspirational role," cornerback Tim Mixon said.  This year, McCleskey is going beyond the traditional team leadership role. He is the dominant leader on defense. "If you mess up, he'll let you know," Mixon said.  McCleskey's also a team spokesman, an elder statesman.  "He's taken it to a new level," Mixon said.  "People look to him for guidance," coach Jeff Tedford said. "He is an ambassador for the team."  Williams calls McCleskey the ultimate team player, an individual who is embarrassed seeing his likeness on gigantic posters outside the stadium.  "It's always non-self," Williams said. "The team, then Donnie."  McCleskey is on his fourth team at Cal, and he's quick to point out that each has a distinctive personality -- including this year's team that is known for its collective youth.

"When we went to the Insight Bowl (two seasons ago), we were young then, too," he said. "It's the same thing now, but we have more of an atmosphere of people knowing we can win as long as we play together.  "What's different is we all have beliefs," he added. "Everybody is hungry and all we want to do is excel."  The team also has taken on a reputation for not yet nearing its potential, even though the Bears are unbeaten and ranked No. 12.  "We're still rising," McCleskey said. "We're still learning new things about us. And that's the greatest part because we're not near complacent. Even though we're 4-0, we're still working like we haven't won a game this season."  McCleskey was one of the more highly recruited players in Los Angeles following an all-state senior year at Bishop Amat High in La Puente (Los Angeles County). He chose Cal -- a team coming off a 1-10 year -- on faith.  "It was just a feeling," he said.  He was recruited by defensive coordinator Bob Gregory and Williams. Then the head man came to seal the deal.  "When coach Tedford came to my house and talked to my mother and me, he said, 'We're going to win,' " McCleskey said. "And I believed him."  McCleskey is aware that the winning has brought high expectations.  "That's great," he said. "That's what you live for."

 

Daily Review: Members of UC Berkeley football team may be witnesses

By Kristin Bender, STAFF WRITER 

OAKLAND — On the day Christopher Hollis appeared in court on charges of murder , UC Berkeley's head football coach confirmed that a group of his players was on the street and talking with the victim in the minutes before her shooting.

"A few of our student-athletes were there and witnessed it," Berkeley's head football coach, Jeff Tedford, said Tuesday. "They've been very cooperative all along with the situation. None of our players have been implicated in any wrongdoing. I want to reiterate that it is very sad and tragic, and we are doing everything that we can to be cooperative through the investigation."  Tedford said Doxy, 18, a red-shirt freshman, lived in a College Avenue dormitory that held a dance the night of the shooting and was standing on the street with five to eight other players when the shooting occurred. Tedford said Doxy's injury was minor.  Gray, 21, a red-shirt junior, also was present. He had been arrested last December on weapons charges stemming from a fight outside a San Francisco nightclub. Charges in the San Francisco case were never filed.  Hollis is accused of shooting Willis-Starbuck a few blocks from the University of California, Berkeley campus in the early-morning hours of July 17. Police say Hollis' friend, Christopher Larry Wilson Jr., drove the getaway car. Wilson turned himself into police a few days after the slaying and is free on bail. He will be back in court next week.

Police say Hollis was on College Avenue that night at the request of Willis-Starbuck, who called him on her cell phone after an argument with a group of university men, who authorities now say are the football players.  The men had reportedly used foul language against the group of women, calling them "bitches" at one point, friends of the victim said after the slaying.  Police said the quarrel between the two groups appeared to be over when a car drove up and a man got out and sprayed the crowd with bullets.  Willis-Starbuck, a 19-year-old sophomore at Dartmouth, was shot in the chest and died about 15 minutes later.  Oakland attorney John Burris, who is representing Hollis, said he does not foresee criminal charges being filed against either Doxy or Gray.  "But I am interested in the culpability of the football players because I think (the argument) sent a message..." he said.  Tedford said he was "fully aware" of players' involvement in the shooting from the beginning. Their involvement wasn't revealed until this week, following Hollis' arrest and the Alameda County District Attorney's decision to file criminal charges against him. Police spokesman Joe Okies said investigators did not learn of a second victim until a few weeks after the slaying.  Asked Tuesday why the Bears did not issue a statement about the players' involvement, Tedford said, "I was never asked a question about it, and the university was controlling the investigation or the media or whatever. ... It was in the university's hands."

Earlier this week, a university spokesman declined to comment on the issue of the football players.  This is the third time since December that members of the nationally-ranked football team have tarnished the Bears squad.  In March, Cal receiver Robert Jordan and a freshman teammate, defensive back Bernard Hicks, were suspended by Tedford for their arrests during a traffic stop in February.  Hicks was charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession after Berkeley police found several bags of the drug in his car. Jordan was arrested for possession of a concealed weapon when police say they found a dagger hanging around his neck. He was never charged.  On Tuesday, Hollis appeared briefly in Alameda County Superior Court for an arraignment. The proceedings were continued until Oct. 5, when he will return for a bail hearing and to enter a plea. He is being held at Santa Rita jail without bail.  Wearing a red jailhouse garb over two T-shirts, Hollis smiled and laughed at the crowd of supporters and news reporters in the courtroom. He spoke in whispers with Burris and never addressed Judge Winifred Smith.  Hollis was arrested in Fresno on Friday after eluding police for 21/2 months. Fresno police stopped him and his girlfriend late Thursday when the 33-year-old woman ran a stop sign. Both gave police false names, but when Hollis' fingerprints came back, officers found he was wanted for murder and tracked him to a Fresno apartment.   Burris said Hollis was in shock and disbelief the past two months and "traumatized by the events that took place. ... Now I think he is resigned to the fact that there are criminal charges pending and he needs to face that."

 

AP: Tedford Unhappy With Jackson's Celebration

PUTTING HIS FOOT DOWN: California coach Jeff Tedford was quick to voice his displeasure over freshman receiver DeSean Jackson's celebration of a touchdown against New Mexico State.  The Golden Bears, playing in Las Cruces, were on national television and Jackson was admittedly pumped after the 41-yard TD reception in the first quarter.  But the revelry, with teammate Robert Jordan, cost Cal a 15-yard penalty. As a result, David Lonie had to kick off from California's 20-yard line -- and New Mexico State's Chris Williams fielded the ball and ran it back 94 yards for an Aggies touchdown.  It was the first kickoff return for a touchdown against Cal since 1995.  "I talked to the whole team about it yesterday," Tedford said Tuesday. "Not only him, but the whole team. You can never put your team in the position to kickoff from the 20-yard line."  Still, Cal went on to win Friday night, 41-13. Next up for the No. 12 Golden Bears (4-0, 1-0) is Arizona (1-2, 0-0) at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley.

Contra Costa Times: Opportunity knocks for wide receiver DeSa

BERKELEY -- The time has come for Cal sophomore wide receiver Sam DeSa to make his move. DeSa, from Monte Vista High School, has struggled to get snaps. After redshirting due to hamstring problems in 2003, DeSa caught just one pass for 3 yards in 2004. But with sophomore wide receiver Lavelle Hawkins hobbled with a sprained ankle, DeSa will play a more prominent role Saturday against Arizona at Memorial Stadium. "Sam practices very hard, and he is much more consistent now," coach Jeff Tedford said. "He is catching the ball better than he did last year, and he is a great young man." Tedford said DeSa would be the first to admit that he wasn't consistent last season catching the ball in practice.

"And last year, we had him switching positions (between slot and flanker) and that was not smart on our part," Tedford said. DeSa already has shown this season that he can stretch the field. He has two catches for 68 yards. "Sam is doing great," quarterback Joe Ayoob said. "He is a very smart player and he is working his butt off."

On the 'Cats

Arizona is only 1-2 this season, but the Wildcats have lost close games to Utah (27-24) and Purdue (31-24). "They have made great progress, and that comes as no surprise," Tedford said. "They fly around and play with passion. (Quarterback) Richard Kovalcheck has more experience now, and Mike Bell has been one of the best running backs in the conference." Arizona coach Mike Stoops agrees that Kovalcheck is a big reason for his team's improvement. "Our quarterback play is much more solid than it was at any time last year," Stoops said. While Arizona's offense has improved, it has struggled on run defense, allowing 202 yards per game. However, Arizona gets back key starters such as defensive end Copeland Bryan (ankle injury) and linebackers Dane Krogstad (pulled hamstring) and Randy Sims (ankle). "Their defense is very physical," Ayoob said. "I think they will be looking to stop the run and, hopefully, they will stack it up so it leaves one-on-one coverage."

Special teams

Tedford said one of Cal's players on the kickoff unit got knocked out of his lane during New Mexico State's 94-yard return for a touchdown. Cal also had an extra point and field goal attempt blocked. "They stressed us in a certain spot," said Tedford, noting the Aggies sent multiple bodies at one player. "It was something they hadn't done before." Tedford said Bears place-kicker Tom Schneider wasn't to blame for either block.  "They were not low kicks," Tedford said.

End run

Cal starting left tackle Andrew Cameron and starting right guard Aaron Merz have returned to practice and could be in the lineup against Arizona. Both missed the past two games after suffering concussions against Washington. ... Cal's Oct. 8 game against UCLA will begin at 4:30 p.m. and will be shown on TBS. ... The Cal-Arizona series is tied 11-11 with two ties. ... Cal's current regular-season winning streak of 11 games is third to Virginia Tech (12) and USC (23). ... Cal has had a 100-yard rusher for 16 consecutive games.

 

Arizona Daily Star: Wildcats get back to basics in drills

By Charles Durrenberger

ARIZONA DAILY STAR

With two weeks to prepare for their Pac-10 opener, the Wildcats are, in a sense, starting over.  Arizona (1-2) spent last week's open date returning to basics, tailoring workouts around blocking and tackling drills.  UA coach Mike Stoops has accepted the fact that his team's inability to stop the run effectively, and its habit of surrendering big plays, are keeping the Wildcats out of the win column.  "Big plays have really prohibited us from being a good defensive team," Stoops said. "We continue to give up big chunks of yardage. We'll play 40-50 plays the way we're supposed to, and then give up two or three big plays.  "We do some decent things and play well at times, but we're just very inconsistent."

Against Purdue, the Wildcats gave up a 55-yard touchdown run and a 46-yard pass that set up a score.  "You can't arm tackle," UA cornerback Antoine Cason said. "That's something we worked on all last week."  The open week also has allowed some of Arizona's walking wounded to get healthy.  Defensive end Copeland Bryan and linebacker Dane Krogstad are expected back for Saturday's game at No. 12 Cal (4-0, 1-0 Pac-10).

Bryan suffered an ankle injury in the first series of the season opener. Krogstad sat out Arizona's 31-24 loss to Purdue on Sept. 17 with a stinger in his shoulder and neck area.  Middle linebacker Ronnie Palmer still is sidelined with a broken foot, and outside linebacker Randy Sims still is nursing a sore ankle.  "Our linebackers haven't been in there as a group, and it's hard to overcome losing both of your starting defensive ends," Stoops added.

Stoops Press Conference Quotes

By Brad Allis Cat Tracks Editor

Date: Sep 28, 2005

The Cats had two weeks off to prepare for Cal. The Bears are really running the ball, while the Cats have been inconsistent on the ground. Stoops addressed those on a rare Wednesday press conference.  On the need to be better against the run:

Mike Stoops: “Defensively our inability to stop the run has been a problem. Obviously going into this game with the way cal rushes the football we nee to be much improved.”

On Cal QB Ben Ayoob:

Stoops: “He is definitely becoming more comfortable through playing time. You can’t just throw him out there and expect him to be able to execute everything that you want them to. You need game experience. He definitely has gotten better every time he has stepped on the field.”

On the difference between Cal’s rushing attack and the schemes of Utah and Purdue:

Stoops: “They are more of a lead and power team with a fullback and play action. They are multiple in their attack. They will run at you very well.

We need to tackle better. the secondary has to be n position. We get out of position a lot. If they break the line they shouldn’t break big plays if we are in the right position.  Big plays really have prohibited us from being a very good defensive team. We give up big plays in big chunks of yardage. We will play 40 or 50 the way we are supposed to. You can’t give up the big plays. That is where we are at defensively. We do some decent things and play well at times, but we are very inconsistent.”

On the challenges in facing Cal:

Stoops: “There are a bunch. Getting them one dimensional, trying to. That is going to be a tall task. We need to play better up front. We need to play more physical and run down hill. We need to play better un defense. If you are going to win you can’t give up 200 yards per game rushing.

Offensively we have to control the football and not give them a bunch of opportunities. We would like to control the ball and limit their touches.”

On the lack of playing time of JC DT’s Ricky Parker and Byron Smith:

Stoops: “You would have liked it (seeing them play more). Rickey has practiced well and is getting in shape. He has never been in great shape. That comes from playing and not being in the system. It is difficult for junior college players to come in and make a huge impact early on. It usually takes them half a year to get acclimated to the process of developing into a player. it is very difficult. Junior college is higher than high school but still not the level that you move up to a pac-10 school. Michael Johnson ahs adapted well. Adam Hawes is a guy we are really happy with. We are happy. I think those are all quality players. we need to get min get in shape and get stronger.”

On the Arizona running game:

Stoops: “Our running game is not what it has needed to be but that is why we are putting a lot of numbers in there. They are putting guys there to stop the run and that is why we are able to throw the ball. I am kind of disappointed Chris has gotten off to such a slow start, but we keep trying to work him in there. Hopefully he will have the opportunity to runt eh ball in there. All three should get carries. I think we have missed holes this year. overall, I am not pleased with the way we have run the football. We have had opportunities and not converted on big play opportunities.”

 

 

Arizona Daily Wildcat: Cats rested and ready, await Golden Bears

By Charles Renning

Arizona Daily Wildcat

Thursday, September 29, 2005

After a few extra days of practice and rest for Arizona football because of its bye week, head coach Mike Stoops said his team is as healthy and prepared as he could expect.  "I think we should be mentally and physically ready to go," Stoops said yesterday at his weekly press conference.

The Wildcats open their Pacific 10 Conference season Saturday at 4 p.m. when they take on No. 12 California at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, Calif.  Arizona is expecting to get a couple key contributors back for the undefeated Golden Bears.  Stoops said he is hopeful that senior defensive end Copeland Bryan and sophomore linebackers Dane Krogstad and Spencer Larsen will return to the lineup 100 percent.  "We'll be as close to full strength as we're going to be defensively," Stoops said.  Bryan injured his ankle in the team's season-opening loss at Utah, while both Larsen and Krogstad were hurt in the team's loss to Purdue Sept. 17.

Offense a year older, wiser

In Arizona's first three games, the Wildcats have out-passed their opponents in every contest, with redshirt sophomore quarterback Richard Kovalcheck setting career-highs in passing yards each week.  Stoops said a lot of that has to do with Kovalcheck's growth, his familiarity with the offense and the team's flexibility.  "I think we understand how we attack people," Stoops said. "You see us evolving and becoming much smarter."

Stoops added that offensive coordinator Mike Canales is doing a better job of calling the right plays to exploit defenses' weaknesses and allow the quarterbacks to make changes at the line of scrimmage.

More production needed out of running game

While the Wildcat passing attack has shown improvement, Stoops said, many opposing defenses have loaded up on the line to stop the run. The team needs to counter that with an improved rushing game, he said.  "Our running attack hasn't been what we need it to be," he said. "I think we've missed holes this year, and I think, overall, we're not real pleased with how we run the football. We have to run it better."

Senior Mike Bell has accounted for 264 of the running backs' 318 rushing yards, and Stoops said the team needs more production out of senior Gilbert Harris and sophomore Chris Henry.  Henry has started the year with three fumbles on just 11 carries and gained 21 yards.

"I'm kind of disappointed that Chris has gotten off to a slow start, but we keep trying to work him in there," he said. "Hopefully, him and Gilbert will have an opportunity to run the football."  Stoops said the opportunities for big run plays have been there this season but that the team has been unable convert those chances.

Juco players working into roles

The Arizona roster is dotted with junior college transfers, and Stoops said he expects those players to continue to improve and work more into their roles as the season goes on.  "It's very difficult for junior college players to come in and make a huge impact early on," he said. "It usually takes them half a year to get acclimated to the process of developing into a player. Junior college is higher than high school in level of competition, but it is still not (Division I) level."  Junior tackles Byron Smith and Rickey Parker have both seen considerable playing time coming out of junior colleges, and Stoops said he's been pleased with the production of safety Michael Johnson and offensive lineman Adam Hawes.  "Those are all quality players," Stoops said. "They just need to get in shape and get stronger."

 

 

ESPN: Running game, surprising depth spark Bears

By Ted Miller

Special to ESPN.com

It's a testimony to California's depth, fortified by coach Jeff Tedford's outstanding recruiting, that a team with just 11 returning starters from 2004 can have eight starters out with injury and not miss a beat. And it appears the Bears are getting healthy as they hit the Pac-10 schedule. Tailback Marshawn Lynch, who has missed two games with a broken pinky finger, will return for the Arizona game, while offensive tackle Ryan O'Callaghan and guard Aaron Merz are expected back to block for him.

Not that they were missed terribly. Sophomore tailback Justin Forsett rushed for 234 yards against New Mexico State, the fourth-best performance by a Cal running back. Forsett has 421 yards in four games, and the Bears' 16-game streak with a back running for over 100 yards remains intact. Forsett was headed to Notre Dame two years ago before his scholarship was yanked. "We're very fortunate he slipped through the cracks," Tedford said. Despite Lynch's injury, Cal ranks sixth in the nation in rushing (275.8 yards per game) and is the only Pac-10 team producing more yards on the ground than in the air.

The passing attack may have a question mark this weekend. Receiver Lavelle Hawkins sprained his ankle against New Mexico State and may have to sit out. If he can't go, Sam DeSa would step in. Hawkins' loss may not hurt much because true freshman DeSean Jackson appears on the cusp of breaking out after hauling in nine receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown last weekend. Jackson, one of the most highly recruited prospects in the nation last winter, didn't thrill Tedford, however, with his planned celebration of a 41-yard touchdown pass with fellow receiver Robert Jordan that earned a 15-yard penalty tacked onto the ensuing kickoff. That kickoff from the Bears' 20-yard line was returned for a 94-yard touchdown instead of sailing into the end zone, the typical destination for a David Lonie boot. "I don't think you'll see him do that again," Tedford said of Jackson's touchdown dance.

 

 

Arizona Republic: Wildcats gear up to stop run

TUCSON, Ariz. - Arizona has not been able to stop opposing teams on the ground, and that is No. 12 California's strength. The combination has Wildcats coach Mike Stoops concerned about visiting the Golden Bears on Saturday. "Our ability to stop the run has been a problem," Stoops said Wednesday. "Obviously, going into this game with the way Cal rushes the football, we need to be much improved." Breakaways have hurt the Wildcats (1-2), who had last weekend off after beating Division I-AA Northern Arizona.   "You can't give up the big plays," Stoops said. "We do some decent things and play well at times, but we are very inconsistent." The Wildcats rank 100th nationally in run defense, allowing 202 yards per game.

Cal (4-0) is averaging 276 yards rushing (sixth), even though starter Marshawn Lynch broke his hand in the second game. Marcus O'Keefe and Justin Forsett stepped in to reach the century mark. O'Keefe gained 103 yards against Washington, while Forsett had 235 against New Mexico State last week. "We have to play a lot more aggressive and physical," Arizona cornerback Antoine Cason said. "We just can't come up there and arm tackle these guys." Arizona does face a different type of running attack than that used by spread-option teams like Utah, which gained 226 yards, and Purdue, which ran for 239. Cal is more traditional with an I-backfield or fullback formation.

Sacramento Bee: Cal report: Bears might have to scratch, claw for wins after mauling opponents

BERKELEY - There might be no such thing as a gimme in college football - just ask UC Davis and Stanford - but it's pretty clear Cal's schedule is about to become tougher. No. 12 Cal is 4-0 after victories over Sacramento State, Washington, Illinois and New Mexico State, which have a combined record of 3-13. The Bears' average margin of victory is 30 points.  Cal starts the meat of its Pacific-10 Conference schedule Saturday at 4 p.m. when it hosts Arizona. The Wildcats are 1-2 but are coming off a one-touchdown loss to No. 12 Purdue two weeks ago and feature the conference's stingiest passing defense at 164.3 yards a game. "It will be much more competitive, much more physical," Cal coach Jeff Tedford said of his team's seven remaining games, all against conference foes. "The Pac-10 is just always that way. Each and every week is a dogfight out there. Our players know that this week."

Tedford apparently forgot about last year's 38-0 victory at Arizona, 49-7 win at Oregon State, 41-6 victory over Stanford and 27-0 win over Arizona State. Tedford will have one more weapon this week in tailback Marshawn Lynch, who has missed two straight games with a broken left little finger. Tedford said Lynch "absolutely will play" but doesn't know how much. Arizona's passing defense might give quarterback Joe Ayoob trouble, but the Wildcats have yielded a conference-worst 202 yards a game on the ground. Even without Lynch, the Bears have averaged 275.8 rushing yards a game, sixth in the country. Justin Forsett has filled in nicely for Lynch, collecting 511 yards and four touchdowns. Lynch's injury, along with injuries to four other starters, has made the Bears' first 4-0 start since 1996 a little more difficult. The way Cal has handled those setbacks has impressed Tedford. "The key is how they handle the adversity and keep playing," Tedford said. "They have proven that they will do that." Valley watch - The injury bug keeps spreading, and Stockton's Lavelle Hawkins is the latest player to take a hit. The wide receiver from Edison High School has not practiced this week and is wearing a boot on his left ankle after getting injured in last week's win over New Mexico State.

• Cal quarterbacks have been sacked just four times this year, thanks in part to the solid play of center Marvin Philip of Cameron Park.

 

 

SportsNetwork: Arizona (1-2) At (12) California (4-0)

By Brian Mason, College Football Staff Writer

GAME NOTES: Coach Jeff Tedford's 12th-ranked California Golden Bears will try to get off to their best start in nearly a decade when they host the Arizona Wildcats this Saturday in Pac-10 Conference action from Memorial Stadium. Mike Stoops' Wildcats are just 1-2 coming into this contest, but their two setbacks have come by a combined 10 points. They opened the year with a 27-24 loss to Utah on the road and nearly pulled off a major upset two weeks ago, falling to then 12th-ranked Purdue, 31-24, in Tucson. Stoops is now just 4-10 at the helm for the Wildcats, who are going to have to battle top-ranked USC next weekend in Southern California. As for the Bears, they have won their first four contests including a 41-13 trouncing of New Mexico State last week on the road. This is the first time that Cal is off to a 4-0 start under Tedford and the first time since the 1996 campaign, when current Detroit Lions coach Steve Mariucci was calling the shots in Berkeley. A win today would give the Bears just their fifth 5-0 beginning to a campaign since 1950. In terms of the all- time series between these two schools, it is all tied up at 11-11-2. However, the Bears have won the last two contests, including a 38-0 triumph last season in Tucson.

Richard Kovalcheck paced the Wildcats in their loss to Purdue, throwing for 283 yards, three touchdowns and one interception on 23-of-40 passing. Brad Wood was Kovalcheck's main target, finishing with five receptions for 96 yards and two scores. While the passing attack had a solid showing against a very good Boilermakers' defensive unit, the running game was woeful and finished with just 13 yards on 24 attempts (0.5 ypc). Mike Bell finished as the team's leading rusher with a mere 43 yards and it led to Arizona converting just 4- of-15 third-down chances. The Wildcats are now averaging a mere 101.3 ypg rushing the ball this season and Bell (264 yards) is the only player on Arizona with more than 33 rushing yards. Despite the team's struggles running the ball, they have found a solid signal caller in Kovalcheck. The improving quarterback has completed 58.3 percent of his passes for 793 yards and seven touchdowns.

Opposing squads have found running the ball to be the best way to attack Stoops' defense, running for 202 ypg and five touchdowns thus far. However, the Wildcats have stood up well against the pass, allowing just 164.3 ypg and two scores through the air. The secondary is headlined by Darrell Brooks, who leads the team with 24 tackles. Dane Krogstad has also been outstanding, registering 23 stops, a team-high three TFLs, a sack and a fumble recovery. Akin Akinniyi and Brooks both finished with seven tackles in the losing effort, while Marcus Hollingsworth had five stops, two TFLs, a quarterback sack and the team's lone interception. Hollingsworth now has 14 tackles and a squad-best three broken up passes to his credit this season, while his interception was the first of the year for Arizona.

The Bears have been without the services of star tailback Marshawn Lynch the last two games because of a hand injury, but Justin Forsett has been outstanding in his absence. Forsett had the fourth-best rushing performance in school-history last Friday, running for a career-high 235 yards against the Aggies of New Mexico State. His play helped the Bears tally 311 rushing yards and 595 total yards of offense. Joe Ayoob also had a superb outing for the Bears, completing 17-of-26 passes for 284 yards and a touchdown, while running for three touchdowns as well. Freshman DeSean Jackson tallied a game-high nine receptions for 130 yards and a score, after posting a mere three catches for 58 in the team's first three games. After starting very shaky under center, Ayoob has looked much more comfortable under center with six touchdown passes to just one interception. Lynch is expected to return to action this Saturday, giving the team a potent three-headed rushing attack with Forsett and Marcus O'Keith (238 yards, three touchdowns) joining him in the backfield.

Cal's defense continues to be one of the most feared in the nation, surrendering just 13.2 ppg, which is leading the Pac-10, and 105.8 rushing ypg. The Bears have also given up just two rushing touchdowns already and have allowed only 13 second-half points all year. Desmond Bishop is currently tops on Cal with 32 tackles and two TFLs, while Ryan Foltz has 26 stops to his credit. Donnie McCleskey missed all of last season due to an injury but has proven to be completely healthy with his 23 tackles and two TFLs thus far. While McCleskey has been a force in the secondary for the Bears, Brandon Mebane has been vital to the squad's success in the front seven. He ranks sixth on the team with 14 tackles and his 4.5 TFLs and four sacks are both team-highs.

The Bears are controlling opponents on both sides of the ball and this Saturday should be no different. Cal's dominance on the ground has helped Ayoob progress at quarterback, which makes this squad once again a major contender in the always competitive Pac-10.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: California 43, Arizona 10

CalBears.com: Jeff Tedford Press Conference Quotes

Sept. 27, 2005

Below are quotes from head coach Jeff Tedford from his weekly press conference Sept. 27. The Golden Bears host Arizona Saturday, with kickoff set for 4 p.m. The game will be televised nationally by TBS and can be heard on the Cal Football Radio Network (Flagship: KGO AM 810, San Francisco).

On Arizona's improvement this year:

"Great progress. They are much improved, and it comes as no surprise. I knew that coach Stoops would get those guys playing hard together, and they really do play with the passion. They fly around and they are doing better on offense. Their defense is always physical and very well coached. In both those games that they lost, they could very well be 3-0 right now. They are a very good football team, and we are going to have to play our best to have a chance to compete and win."

On Arizona's offense being better this year compared to last year:

"I think they are. (Quarterback) Richard Kovalcheck is more experienced now. Mike Bell has always been one of the premier backs in the conference. They have had a chance to work for a year under the same system, and any time you can do that and gain experience in a system you are going to be better. He was a young quarterback a year ago, and now he has more experience, so he is going to be better. They normally have speed outside, I know that (wide receiver) Syndric Steptoe is very fast and is a big-play guy; they have the capability to make plays on you."

On Arizona's defense:

"Two of the teams they have played this year have been shotgun option-type teams - Utah and Purdue. I think Utah had two 60-yard runs against them. They've got people out in space where they have really made some plays. But they are very physical, you are not going to stand there and pound guys all day long because they are a very physical group. It was just a matter of Utah and Purdue making some big plays with the option."

On Cal's defense giving up so many yards last weekend:

"I definitely think it seemed that way because of ball control. They (New Mexico State) made a lot of little first downs on third and three and third and one, those types of things. They did a pretty good job of keeping themselves out of real long-yardage situations. It seemed like they controlled the clock a little bit. If you would have asked me after the game, I would have totally been wrong because I was so upside down with them. I thought they probably had a lot of passing yards, time of possession, first downs. We had many more than they did in all of those things, but for some reason it didn't feel that way. It felt that they were on the field a long time. When you get teams that are so spread out like that, you have to mix things up with coverage, with pressure, with disguising three-man fronts, four-man fronts. You can't just give them one thing or they will get you."

On the schedule becoming more competitive now:

"There's no question that the conference is very competitive. It will be much more competitive, much more physical. Pac-10 play is just always that way. Each and every week is a dog fight out there. Our players know, not that they went into the first four games feeling like they weren't going to be competitive, but Pac-10 brings a little something extra."

On designed running plays for quarterback Joe Ayoob:

"I think he would be able to do that. He ran for three touchdowns last week. One of them was a quarterback sneak, one of them was on a quarterback draw and one of them was on a bootleg. In the Washington game, he did a nice job of breaking big plays. I think we were third-and-20 or 17, and he broke out of there and ran for a first down in that game. He has done a couple things running, but right now, we don't have a lot of designed runs for him in the game."

On the team not reaching full potential yet:

"I feel like our players have played really hard. The effort has been great through the first four games. Being a young football team, there is bound to be some adversity here and there. The key is how they handle the adversity and keep playing. They have proven that they will do that. I know that we all look for perfect games, but I haven't been around one yet. There are going to be times when things happen, and it's how we bounce back from it. I have been pleased with the way we have done that so far."

On the mistakes that special teams made last week:

"We tried to avoid and we got knocked out of a lane on the kickoff cover. They ran a little deception play, so they have you spread out all over the field. If one guy gets knocked out of a lane, we got knocked wide there. On the extra point and the field goal, they stressed us in a certain spot, that is something we need to do a better job of coaching and going over. That is something new that they hadn't done before to stress a certain area."

On tailback Marshawn Lynch:

"Marshawn will play, he absolutely will play. How much I don't know. It is still early in the week, we will see how he practices throughout the week. He looked fairly fresh yesterday. It is nice to see him running around out there again. I think the finger will be fine, I don't think that is going to be an issue."

On offensive tackle Ryan O'Callaghan:

"I think Ryan has gained a lot of confidence in his ability and because of his knowledge of the offense. There is no question about his athletic ability and his physical nature. I think he is finishing better this year, he is finishing blocks better this year, which makes him a real dominant player."

On O'Callaghan being the best offensive linemen in the league:

"I think he is one of the best offensive linemen in the league, there is no question about it."

Contra Costa Times: Three-man line just one option for Cal

By Jay Heater

CONTRA COSTA TIMES

BERKELEY - Cal coach Jeff Tedford had a hard time understanding the numbers. It just wasn't what he saw. After the Bears' 41-13 victory over New Mexico State on Friday night in Las Cruces, N.M., Tedford expected to see that the Aggies had rolled up lots of yards against a Bears defense that often utilized a three-man defensive line. Instead, he saw that New Mexico State had thrown for 164 yards and had accumulated 342 yards. Those were quite acceptable numbers. "I would have been totally wrong," Tedford said. "I just didn't feel that. I definitely thought they had the ball longer in terms of time of possession, but we had it three minutes longer." Part of the reason Tedford might have had a different feel could have been defensive coordinator Bob Gregory's decision to go primarily with a three-man line, a scheme that bucks Gregory's image as a guy who prefers an attacking, aggressive style of play.

Gregory usually goes with two defensive tackles and two defensive ends. When he switches to the three-man front, he takes out a defensive end and adds a defensive back. The result Friday was more of a bend-but-don't-break style of play that allowed the Aggies' spread offense to move the ball with short passes and runs but pretty much wiped out any threat of a big play. In the end, Cal's defense didn't allow a touchdown. "The three-man line gives you better coverage but less pressure on the quarterback," Gregory said. "I like it at the right times. It gives you good pass coverage and allows you to blitz." However, Cal had just two sacks in a game that featured 39 passes by the Aggies. The linebackers who did blitz often ran into offensive linemen who weren't occupied.

"That's the dilemma," Gregory said. "You are going to get good coverage but less pressure. And I think what hurt us on Friday was a few times when the quarterback scrambled."

It's doubtful that Gregory will go with the three-man defensive line very often on Saturday against visiting Arizona's more conventional offense. However, he said he will break out the strategy on occasion. The scheme probably would be utilized more against a team such as Oregon, which uses a version of the spread offense. "You just have to pick and choose the times you use it," Gregory said. "We looked at Texas Tech last season and that was a team that gave up just seven sacks all year. You think, 'We're not going to get to him anyway.' "We all love three-and-outs, but it's not always going to be that way. And if you look at the long drives that New Mexico State had, about four of them were kept alive by our own penalties on third down." When Gregory goes to a three-man defensive line, he often moves tackle Brandon Mebane out to defensive end. Mebane doesn't have the speed off the edge that ends usually possess, but Gregory said the switch causes problems for offensive tackles. "Brandon is such a different kind of player than what they usually see," Gregory said. "And he is such a load." Mebane had seven tackles, double what he had in the first three games combined.

"I like playing defensive end," Mebane said. "It's a good experience for me, especially if somebody goes down and I need to switch." However, Mebane knows that Cal has less muscle up on the front line when Gregory goes to the three-man front. "It's tough," Mebane said. "But our goal is to keep pushing through." The Bears have been doing just that so far. They lead the Pac-10 in scoring defense (13.2 points per game) and are second in overall defense (309.2 yards per game).

Tri Valley Herald: Arizona's improvement isn't lost on Bears

Wildcats offense makes strides in Mike Stoops' second season

By Dave Newhouse, STAFF WRITER 

BERKELEY — Tucson isn't too far from Tombstone, and what Cal did to Arizona in the desert last year was comparable to what the Earps did to the Clantons at the OK Corral.  The Bears stomped the Wildcats 38-0, as Mike Stoops stood dumbfounded on the sideline, knowing that sitting on cactus couldn't hurt him any worse.  This is Stoops' second season as Arizona's coach, and the turnaround has begun. His recruiting class was ranked 11th nationally and second in the Pac-10. The Wildcats are 1-2, but they lost 27-24 at Utah and 31-24 to Purdue.  "They could very easily be 3-0," said a concerned Cal coach, Jeff Tedford, who faces Arizona on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.  Cal is a 16-point favorite, which is 22 points fewer than its one-sided win last fall, and its smallest predicted margin of victory this year.  "They are much improved," Tedford said. "They play with a passion, they fly around. Arizona is very physical. You're not going to pound on them all day."  Cal pounds on everyone with its running attack. The Bears rank first in the conference and sixth nationally in rushing offense with 275.5 yards a game. Tedford must be referring to Arizona's offense, not its defense, as the Wildcats are yielding 202 rushing yards a game, last in the Pac-10.  And Tedford confirmed Tuesday that tailback Marshawn Lynch (broken/dislocated finger) will see action Saturday after a two-week absence.  "Marshawn definitely will play," Tedford said. "We don't know how much. The finger won't be a problem."  Arizona is coming off a bye, thus has had two weeks to prepare for Cal. Both Tedford and Stoops believe quarterback Richard Kovalcheck has been a major catalyst in Arizona's improvement.  "He was a young quarterback  last year. He has more experience," Tedford said.  "Richard has gotten much better," Stoops agreed. "And our receivers are getting better."

Cal nemesis Mike Bell is back, too. Two years ago he rushed for 182 yards against the Bears. Last year, he had 99 yards. Cal is grateful that the 6-foot, 215-pound Bell now is a senior.  "Bell always has been one of the premier backs in the conference," Tedford said.  Stoops is more concerned about Cal's ground game.  "It's their ability to run the ball with those three backs," he said of Lynch, Justin Forsett and Marcus O'Keith. "You've got to tackle those three guys — they're very quick."  Stoops wouldn't differentiate between Lynch and Forsett, who has rushed for 422 yards in the two games Lynch has been sidelined.  "It's just the system," Stoops said. "They make you gap-conscious, then their backs move around. Jeff doesn't change plays; he changes the look, which confuses the defense. Cal's physical up front, and you can see their quarterback (Joe Ayoob) growing more comfortable."  Kovalcheck isn't the only reason why Arizona has made significant strides since last year, when the'Cats lost by 17 to Utah.  "We're starting to play more consistently," Stoops said. "Our speed is better, and we're more explosive.  "But I'm a little bit displeased with our run defense."

Because Arizona ranks No.1 against the pass in the Pac-10, its defensive rush explains why Cal is a heavy favorite.

 

Daily Cal: Will Play, May Not Start Against Wildcats

By BRIAN BAINUM

• After being sidelined for nearly 10 quarters with a broken little finger on his left hand, Marshawn Lynch will see playing time Saturday in the Cal football team's game against Arizona.

How much playing time, however, remains to be seen.  Bears coach Jeff Tedford confirmed the status of Lynch's health Tuesday at his weekly press conference.  "He will absolutely play," Tedford said. "How much? I don't know, we'll have to see how he practices through the week. He looked fairly fresh yesterday. It's nice to see him back running around out there."  Tedford did not say whether Lynch or fellow sophomore Justin Forsett will start Saturday.  Forsett, who rushed for a career-high 235 yards in Friday's win over New Mexico State, leads the team in rushing on the season with 511 yards. The sophomore's name is starting to appear on the national scene-he is averaging 8.2 yards per carry, a mark second only to Arkansas back Antonio Warren.  Forsett's 127.8 yards per game average places seventh in the nation as well.

• Tedford said offensive linemen Andrew Cameron and Aaron Merz have been cleared to play in Saturday's game versus the Wildcats.  The pair has missed the last two weeks due to concussions.  "They both dressed yesterday and practiced hard," Tedford said. "They felt fine afterwards."  Scott Smith and Bryan Deemer played in place of Cameron and Merz against Illinois and New Mexico State.  Meanwhile, the status of wide receiver Lavelle Hawkins, who injured his ankle after catching a 33-yard pass from quarterback Joe Ayoob on Friday, is still uncertain.  Tedford said Sam DeSa will see more playing time if Hawkins' ankle keeps him from competing at full strength.  "He backs up Lavelle at those positions," Tedford said. "He has worked hard in practice and is much more consistent this season.

• In Friday's win, David Lonie booted all but one of his kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks. Tedford said he was pleased with Lonie's kicking but added that the setting in Las Cruces, N.M., probably contributed to Lonie's success.  "The elevation will do that for you," Tedford said. "That's why all of his kickoffs were going out of the end zone. Hopefully he can do that at home."

 

SF Chronicle: Running vs. 'Cats may not be so easy

CAL NOTEBOOK

Bruce Adams, Chronicle Staff Writer

With Arizona having the lowest-rated run defense in the Pac-10 and Cal having the highest ranked rushing offense, Bears coach Jeff Tedford could be forgiven for licking his chops. But he's not.  Tedford said Tuesday that the Wildcats' ranking is skewed by their having given up big running plays in their two losses: 27-24 at Utah on Sept. 2 and 31-24 against Purdue on Sept. 17.  Those plays came out of the sometimes difficult-to-defend spread-option offense that is the trademark of Utah's system and a staple at Purdue, with a running game based on misdirection and deception.  "It was just a matter of Utah and Purdue making some big plays with the option," Tedford said.  No. 12 Cal (4-0) hosts Arizona (1-2) on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.  "Their defense is always physical and very well coached," Tedford said. "They've been in both those games they lost. They could very easily be 3-0 right now. ... You're not going to stand in there and pound those guys all day long."  Second-year Arizona coach Mike Stoops has a well-deserved reputation as a defensive innovator. He served as defensive coordinator for his brother, Bob Stoops, at Oklahoma from 1999 through 2003, including coaching on the Sooners' 2000 national championship team.  Cal is averaging 275.8 rushing yards a game,. Arizona is allowing 202 rushing yards a game.  

Lynch to play: Tailback Marshawn Lynch will play against Arizona.  Lynch broke the little finger on his left hand in Cal's win at Washington, and has missed the last two games.  In his absence, Justin Forsett has rushed for 422 yards in the two games. Plus, Marcus O'Keith ran for 103 against Washington.  Still, there's no doubt who the centerpiece of Cal's offense is.  "Marshawn is our guy," Tedford said.

Coaches won't know until later in the week how Lynch will react to returning to practice full time, and what his role might be against Arizona.  "Marshawn will play, he absolutely will play," Tedford said. "How much, I don't know."  Lynch ran for 147 yards in the season-opening win over Sacramento State and gained 46 before leaving the game at Washington early in the second half.  Hawkins hobbled: Wide receiver Lavelle Hawkins sprained his ankle in Friday night's win at New Mexico State, and Tedford said he appears to be on the mend. If Hawkins can't play Saturday, Sam DeSa could get extended playing time.  "He practices very hard," Tedford said, praising DeSa for improving over last year. "He's much more consistent."  Hawkins, who did not play in the first game because of a transfer-eligibility issue, has three receptions for 51 yards. DeSa has two catches for 68 yards.

 

Tucson Citizen: Football: Dancing Bears may trample Wildcats

JOHN MOREDICH

Tucson Citizen

Cal's Justin Forsett will be a key for the Golden Bear running game.   The University of Arizona football team is out to do something Saturday it has not done much of this season: stop the run. The Wildcats have been exploited on the ground in their opening three games, allowing an average of 202 yards. That ranks 100th nationally among 117 Division I teams. Utah rushed for 226 yards, and Purdue gained 239 yards against the Cats with their spread-option approaches. Now comes California, a team ranked sixth nationally in rushing average (276) with a trio of tailbacks all capable of going for 100, even 200 yards, in any game. That's the challenge Arizona faces when it plays at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley at 4 p.m. in front of a nationally televised audience on TBS.

"It just gets down to tackling. If we are going to have success, we have to tackle better than we have all year," Arizona coach Mike Stoops said. "We have not tackled very well in the secondary. That has been a concern. We are not doing well in run defense. We are going to be challenged in a big way." The Wildcats will have starting defensive end Copeland Bryan back, along with linebackers Randy Sims and Dane Krogstad. All are returning from injuries, having missed action against Purdue. Bryan has been out of action with a foot injury since the season opener. Everybody will be needed against the Bears, who have transformed themselves from a passing to a running machine.

It does not matter who is behind quarterback Joe Ayoob. Marshawn Lynch was the preseason starter to replace last year's 2000-yard ball carrier, J.J. Arrington. Lynch had a career-high 147 yards against Sacramento State before breaking a bone in his left hand in the next game against Washington. Instead of fretting, the Bears got a 103-yard outing from Marcus O'Keith against the Huskies. Then came Justin Forsett and his 187-yard game against Illinois and a 235-yard performance last week against New Mexico State. Lynch is expected to be back in the starter's role this week. "Marshawn is a beast. Have you seen him?" Arizona safety Darrell Brooks asked. "They have talented backs. They create mismatches but Marshawn is a physical guy. Like, wow! He runs so hard. They all have different abilities and have different characteristics, but they all make plays and put up big yardage." Lynch is a stocky 5-foot-11, 215-pound sophomore, O'Keith is a 6-1, 190-pound junior and Forsett is a 5-8, 180-pound sophomore. They add up to big numbers.

Contra Costa Times: Cal's Lynch expected to play

With Cal sophomore tailback Marshawn Lynch about ready to return to the field, coach Jeff Tedford was asked how he planned to divide time between Lynch and sophomore Justin Forsett, who has gained 422 yards rushing in two starts since Lynch broke a bone in his left hand against Washington. Tedford never hesitated. "Marshawn is our guy," he said. "It's nice to know we can keep him fresh, but we already knew we had quality backs." Although his status for Cal's home game on Saturday against Arizona won't be evaluated until Thursday, Lynch said he expects to play. "My hand is feeling good," he said. "What I haven't been able to do is switch the ball to my left hand. By game time (on Saturday) I will." Lynch explained the team's medical staff would cut down the cast on his left hand to allow him to handle the ball. Last Friday against host New Mexico State, Lynch warmed up with a huge pillow-like wrap that covered his cast. He said the wrap for this Saturday would be much smaller. Told that Tedford had said he was the starter, Lynch said he wasn't concerned about how many carries he would get. "We have too much talent to see it wasted," he said. Confined to the bench two consecutive games, Lynch said he wasn't depressed. "It was fun," he said. "(Forsett) is the man. He's awesome. It was fun watching him."

The right time

Although Tedford said he is glad his future non-conference schedule includes tough opponents such as Tennessee and Minnesota in 2006 and Tennessee and Colorado State in 2007, he believes the 2005 lineup of Sacramento State, Illinois and New Mexico State worked well for a team under construction. "I thought it was a great mixture of teams," Tedford said. "It's done a lot for us. With all our injuries, we played a lot of reserves. We got some very young guys into the lineup.

"With this young team, our schedule worked out fine. We've learned a lot." Cal (4-0) has looked sloppy at times, but Tedford said that's part of the process. "We have got to keep everything in perspective," Tedford said. "We are not going to be perfect. There will be adversity. It's just a matter of how we respond to it."

Injury report

Tedford said senior defensive end Tosh Lupoi's sprained knee has shown quite a bit of improvement but he said Lupoi, who has missed two games, would be a long shot to play against Arizona. Sophomore wide receiver Lavelle Hawkins, who was hurt against New Mexico State, has a sprained ankle and didn't practice on Monday. His status for the Arizona game is questionable, although Tedford said Hawkins was moving quite well. Bears sophomore linebacker Greg Van Hoesen, who sat out the past two games with a sprained ankle, practiced on Monday.

End run

Reports have surfaced that Cal freshman defensive back Gary Doxy, out of Long Beach Poly High School, and junior tight end David Gray of Richmond were at the scene when a 19-year-old woman was shot to death near the Cal campus in July.

Meleia Willis-Starbuck, a Dartmouth student who was visiting her home in Berkeley, was killed on July 17. Police arrested a 22-year-old man, Christopher Lester Hollis, on Friday and he was to be arraigned today in connection with the shooting that took place on College Avenue. The Times reported in July that Willis-Starbuck and her friends were arguing with a group of men on the sidewalk when a man approached and fired several shots into the crowd.

Tedford wouldn't give any information about whether or not Doxy or Gray were in any way involved with the incident, referring reporters to the university's public information office. Tedford said neither player was facing any disciplinary action from the team and both players practiced on Monday evening at Memorial Stadium. "We talk to our players every night about being at the wrong place at the wrong time," Tedford said.

 

Tucson Citizen: UA Football: Breakout Star

Sabino product Brad Wood has 4 TDs in 3 games as a UA tight end this season.

ANTHONY GIMINO

Tucson Citizen

UA tight end Brad Wood scores a touchdown against Northern Arizona on Sept. 11.   Anyone sitting in Section 207 of Arizona Stadium this season likely has heard multiple shouts of "That's my boy!"  The man making those cries of joy, Scott Wood, has been a UA season-ticket holder off and on for almost 20 years, and he used to take his pre-kindergarten son Brad to games. Brad is still coming to games, too, but he is far away from the east side upper deck of Arizona Stadium. The junior is a tight end for the Wildcats, the team's breakout star during the non-conference season. "That's my boy!" "Seeing him on the field, in that uniform, it's an awesome feeling," said Scott Wood, who owns a commercial printing business. "It's almost shocking, really." "Shocking" might be too strong a word to describe Brad Wood's play this season, but "surprising" certainly will do. Dear ol' Dad has helped elevate Wood's popularity - and perhaps production - with a sign that hangs from the upper-deck facade: "Build This House With Wood." "It was just something to give him a little bit of support, to let him know he has family and friends who are pulling for him," Scott said. Said Brad, "It gives me encouragement to work hard." Hard work has paid off with 12 receptions for 180 yards and four touchdowns this season. Those three-game totals already exceed what Wood did as a sophomore.

"I didn't even have any," Wood said of his expectations for this season. "You try to work hard and hope for the best." At 6 foot 2 and 228 pounds, Wood isn't a classic-sized tight end, but coaches move him around to get matchups against linebackers, who aren't necessarily used to covering a player who has the skills of a wide receiver.  With UA's leading wideouts being 5-8 Mike Thomas and 5-9 Syndric Steptoe, Wood essentially is filling the big-receiver role expected to fall to junior college transfer B.J. Vickers, who never played a down at Arizona because of problems with his JC transcripts. "(Wood) has a knack for making plays and getting open and running good routes," UA coach Mike Stoops said. "He has great hands." His blocking skills have come the furthest in a short time, and he said he was in for 68 plays against NAU, requiring plenty of blocking for running back Mike Bell and others. "There is no favoritism when it comes to run blocking or running routes," Wood said. "If all I'm going to do is run-block ... as long as the team wins, I don't care." Wood, who was only moderately recruited out of Sabino High School, said that four-year schools that were interested always decided to take a junior college recruit instead. Arizona, then coached by John Mackovic, declined to offer a scholarship.

 

 

Arizona Daily Star: UA football team's big concern: defense

By Greg Hansen

ARIZONA DAILY STAR

Six weeks ago, on UA football media day, Mike Stoops said the question he was most asked in the off-season was about "the ineptitude of our offense."  And why not? The UA finished No. 116 of 117 NCAA teams in scoring last season, and No. 112 in total offense.  In an attempt to fix those numbers, receivers B.J. Vickers, Mike Jefferson and B.J. Dennard were considered the UA's most likely big-play receivers. Tailback Chris Henry appeared so talented that the Wildcat coaching staff could not keep him off the field.  Instead, Vickers left school, mired in a mess connected to his junior college academic transcripts. Dennard has not caught a pass, and rarely has been on the field except to cover and return kicks. Jefferson has not been productive (one reception), and Henry, with three fumbles, has gained 33 net yards.  To multiply a bad situation, the UA offensive line has been overpowered by Utah and Purdue, and intimidated at times by the Boilermakers.  Yet somehow, through industrious coaching and the emergence of tight end Brad Wood and freshman receiver Michael Thomas, the Wildcat offense has jumped to 64th in NCAA scoring and 61st in total offense.  The problem is defense. Arizona has allowed 366 yards per game, and the perceived leaders of that group, defensive backs Darrell Brooks, Lamon Means and Antoine Cason, have not matched their productive performances of 2004.  Such is the 1999-2005 misfortune of UA football. Whatever can go wrong, does.  This is a program with all the signs of another 3-8 season, culminating with a loss at Arizona State. If not, if the Wildcats can play .500 football and somehow finish 5-6, Stoops should be on many coach of the year ballots.