 "Photo: Salgu Wissmath/The Daily Californian")
After just missing a top-25 ranking in the last Associated Press poll of the 2008 season, California should like where it sits in this preseason poll, at No. 18.
Last season the Golden Bears barely squeaked out a 24-17 win over Miami in the Emerald Bowl at AT&T Park — less than 15 miles from Cal’s Berkeley campus. The go-ahead touchdown for California came after Zack Follett sacked Miami quarterback Jacory Harris, forcing a fumble that Cal recovered and later converted into a game-winning touchdown.
That was the story of Cal football last year. Behind one of the nation’s best defenses, the Golden Bears racked up 24 interceptions, forced 34 total turnovers, and capitalized by scoring 122 points off other teams’ mistakes.
But with the loss of starting linebackers Follett, Anthony Fielder and Worrell Williams to graduation the task at hand for defensive coordinator Bob Gregory is to prevent a huge slide in defensive production.
“I hope there’s not a drop-off, but maybe we won’t get 24 picks,” Gregory told ESPN.
Helping to try and keep those numbers high will be Michael Mohamed, the only starting linebacker from last year’s defense. Mohamed was the team’s second leading tackler with 87 tackles. With his versatility, he looks to be the one Gregory will turn to anchor Cal’s 4-3 defense.
“We’re not quite as bare at all at linebacker as it looks based on what is gone,” Gregory said. “Case in point is we have maybe our best overall linebacker back. Michael Mohamed backed up every position, so he can play anywhere.”
Providing some much needed back up to the young linebacking group will be the secondary, which, unlike the linebackers, is returning all four starters — most notably senior cornerback and All-American hopeful Syd’Quan Thompson. Combine that secondary with likely future NFL linemen Tyson Alualu and Cameron Jordan, and Gregory has a good feeling about his defense in 2009.
“The thing is, in terms of creating turnovers, when the guys up front are so good in creating pressure and causing problems, it doesn’t matter how good the secondary is — you’re going to have interceptions,” Gregory said.
On the other side of the ball, the Golden Bear faithful should be happy knowing the Pac-10 is having to face arguably the league’s best back, Jahvid Best. Best, an early Heisman contender for 2009, recorded 1,580 yards of turf last season, and that doesn’t include the game he missed against Arizona State due to injury. The junior averaged over eight yards per carry and has yet to fumble the ball in his collegiate career.
What is less of a sure thing on offense is the quarterback position. Despite having one of the best head coaches for a quarterback in Jeff Tedford, Cal’s passing game has been mediocre at best. Heading into this season, Kevin Riley has the edge over Brock Mansion and Beau Sweeney, and with the valuable experience Riley gained last year as the starter for most of the season, Mansion and Sweeney are facing an uphill battle if they want to dethrone him.
Team name: California Golden Bears
Head coach: Jeff Tedford
Conference: Pac-10
2008 record: 9-4
Players to watch:
- Jahvid Best — Junior — RB
2008: 1,580 yards rushing / 15 touchdowns
Looks to break into the triumvirate of Colt McCoy, Sam Bradford, and Tim Tebow to make it a quartet of finalists in New York for the Heisman presentation.
- Syd’Quan Thompson — Senior — DB
2008: 70 tackles / 2 sacks / 4 INTs
Thompson, a likely All-American at season’s end, anchors a secondary that returns all four starters from last year’s defense, which ranked third in the nation in interceptions.
Game to watch: Oct. 3 vs. USC
Cal will finally be able to break through in the Pac-10 if they can beat the dominant team of this decade. Having this game at home is a big help, especially since the Trojans like to blow one Pac-10 game per season.
The word on Cal: The Golden Bears need to learn how to win away from home. Last season Cal went 1-4 on the road (bowl game excluded), with their only road win coming against pathetic Washington State.
Be the first to comment on this article!