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Cal Texas Game

Calhoopfan

Active Member
Jun 26, 2001
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Looks it could be a nail biter.

What's the situation with the QB position for your horns? Starting the true frosh? Is Heard in the mix?

How about the OL? Lots of returning experience/continuity?

How did your defense evolve after our game? What do you expect to be its strengths and weaknesses this year?
 
Looks it could be a nail biter.

What's the situation with the QB position for your horns? Starting the true frosh? Is Heard in the mix?

How about the OL? Lots of returning experience/continuity?

How did your defense evolve after our game? What do you expect to be its strengths and weaknesses this year?

Welcome to the board, we haven't had many Golden Bears here yet. I'm sure more will come as that game gets closer.

At QB everyone is thinking that Shane Buechele (the freshman) will be the starter. Charlie Strong has been tight lipped about this but he made a few slip ups during B12 media days that made this seem even more likely. The official word is that there will be a continued QB battle into pre-season camp and likely nothing officially announced until 1 week prior to ND or the day off. If Shane starts, expect to see a power run look run by Swoopes and Heard used as a speed threat.

The o-line returns freshmen all americans Connor Williams and Patrick Vahe at Tackle and Guard. A true freshman (early enrollee) Zack Shackleford will start at center. The other guard and tackle position is still being ironed out. Brandon Hodges is currently at guard with Kent Perkins at Tackle. If another player can step up at tackle, Perkins (Senior) would move to guard. Alternatively, a Baylor refugee, Patrick Hudson, may overtake Hodges at guard. Overall, will be a solid group with decent experience at at least 3 spots. If freshmen start, it's only because they have been that impressive.

The defense will be similar in scheme as Charlie Strong is a defensive coach. The biggest change is that the many young players that played last year against Cal are now 1 year more experienced. DBs should be solid with two future NFL CBs in Davante Davis and Holton Hill. Safety will be a mix of experience and top end young talent. LB will be a strength with Malik Jefferson leading the way. The biggest question is the D-line. We have a group of 4 upperclassmen starters but will rely on youth for depth.

The biggest change for this year is 1 more year of experience for a lot of our players and the change in offensive scheme. New OC Sterlin Gilbert is from the Art Briles tree and will bring a Run-Pass Option Spread.
 
For people in TX going to the game, Berkley, CA will be a fun place to hang out. They like to call it beserkly. I was there once but it was 12 years ago and only for a few hours. But it's a pretty town and I've heard the Memorial Stadium is one of the great atmospheres for a fb game. For those that are going I"m sure you'll enjoy it.
 
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For people in TX going to the game, Berkley, CA will be a fun place to hang out. They like to call it beserkly. I was there once but it was 12 years ago and only for a few hours. But it's a pretty town and I've heard the Memorial Stadium is one of the great atmospheres for a fb game. For those that are going I"m sure you'll enjoy it.
I will be there with all UT on along with the family
 
Let me return the favor with an update on Cal:

Offense: The OL will be the foundation with a strong first 8 players all veterans including 89 starts between them. Three honors candidates including both tackles. Cal has moved away from the vertical set (a decision that was made late last season with great success) to kick slides. Phil Steele ranks the group as a top 20 unit nationally.

Davis Webb, the Texas Tech transfer, is the likely starter. A RS Frosh, Chase Forest, who tore it up in the Spring is his likely back up.

At RB, our top three rushers from last year all return and expect to see an emphasis on the run game behind the strong OL.

We lost our top six receivers but have an extremely talented and deep group. Lots of speed with four players with 4.4 or better times including 5 star Demetris Robertson. More size as well with 7 receivers 6'3" and 210lbs+

Defense returns six starters. Our top DT, James Looney is back and DE Devante Wilson as well. We're not particularly deep in experienced talent, we have some upperclassmen who have not distinguished themselves and some youngsters who have not proved themselves.

At LB, we will play only two on most downs and have six players contending for those spots. All but one are juniors. Faster, bigger and more athletic than last years group but less experienced

DB is where we're deepest but also young behind the likely starters. More speed and athleticism than last year but again less experience.

Our place kicker is back as is our LS. New punter.

Net net is that there's a lot of confidence in the offense - a system built for great QB play with a high quality transfer, the top 3 backs and a strong OL. WRs are young but very talented. Defense remains the question mark. Deeper and more athletic for sure but better? Last years group was no great shakes.
 
Cal--

Let me start by saying you cut your own throat hiring Spavital to be your OC. Dude is a train wreck. He's Shawn Watson on Crack and steroids. Have fun with that. 2nd- all your play makers are midgets-- and YOUNG midgets at that. Your Rb watson is 5'9 on a good day- you've got 1 wr that's taller than 6 foot (hansen) and he's slower than global warming but he runs clean routes and has hands. Your other wrs look like the lollipop guild. Your OL is good, especially that monster cochran. We're did you find a 6'8 dude that weighs 3 fiddy?

Your D line is meh. Your lbs are big boys. Heck your lbs are as big as your DE's. Your secondary still leaks like a siv. If we have our heads screwed on by then, we should be able to drop 40 on your head.

Your golden arm phenom is gone. I haven't seen Forrest throw many balls but I think it's safe to say that he's no where near the slinger that Goff was. I realize he's the best QB to ever come out of Cal- but I just don't see this kid spreading it around with the accuracy of Goff. And I dang sure don't see the play calling under Spavital being better than it was last year. We couldn't stop Goff--- period. He put on a clinic against our secondary. I don't see Chase doing that.

I had this game picked as a toss up because your team will be flying to freaking Australia (loooooong flight) and then turning around and flying down to San Diego in back to back weeks. Road legs make tired legs. The more I look at it, the more I think we get the win here. If we don't, it will be because notre dame decapitated us and we haven't found an offensive identity yet.
 
Cal--

Let me start by saying you cut your own throat hiring Spavital to be your OC. Dude is a train wreck. He's Shawn Watson on Crack and steroids. Have fun with that. 2nd- all your play makers are midgets-- and YOUNG midgets at that. Your Rb watson is 5'9 on a good day- you've got 1 wr that's taller than 6 foot (hansen) and he's slower than global warming but he runs clean routes and has hands. Your other wrs look like the lollipop guild. Your OL is good, especially that monster cochran. We're did you find a 6'8 dude that weighs 3 fiddy?

Your D line is meh. Your lbs are big boys. Heck your lbs are as big as your DE's. Your secondary still leaks like a siv. If we have our heads screwed on by then, we should be able to drop 40 on your head.

Your golden arm phenom is gone. I haven't seen Forrest throw many balls but I think it's safe to say that he's no where near the slinger that Goff was. I realize he's the best QB to ever come out of Cal- but I just don't see this kid spreading it around with the accuracy of Goff. And I dang sure don't see the play calling under Spavital being better than it was last year. We couldn't stop Goff--- period. He put on a clinic against our secondary. I don't see Chase doing that.

I had this game picked as a toss up because your team will be flying to freaking Australia (loooooong flight) and then turning around and flying down to San Diego in back to back weeks. Road legs make tired legs. The more I look at it, the more I think we get the win here. If we don't, it will be because notre dame decapitated us and we haven't found an offensive identity yet.

What's the story with Spavital that makes you think he's a train wreck? By all accounts its Sumlin and A&M that are the train wreck. Spav's had a nice track record in college QB development with Keenum, Geno Smith, Weeden and Johnny Football. He got strong references from Klingsbury, Holgoersen and Gundy.

Otherwise, your post suggests you're hugely ignorant of our roster. Midgets? Vic Enwere is a 235lb tailback that's a junior coming off a 9 TD season. We have 7 WRs 6'3" and 210lbs or bigger on scholarship. Chad Hansen is slow?!! He recorded the fastest 40 on the team last year beating guys who scorched the 40 at the NFL combine. He's a former track sprinter. He's also 6'2" tall. Nice try though.

Yes, we do have a couple of smaller guys - Muhammed, the California Sprint Champion RB who took one to the house in Austin from 50+ yards out last Fall. Melquise Stovall, a small slot WR that's a HS All American and who was our biggest playmaker in the Spring. 5 star, 10.4 100M WR Demetris Robertson is only 6' tall. Otherwise, it's big dudes - Ray Hudson, Jordan Veasy, Carlos Strickland (all of whom are 6'4" and 225lbs+) and another track star WR, Brandon Singleton whose 6'1". BTW, Enwere, Watson, Muhammed, Hansen, Hudson and Veasy are all upperclassmen.

On our DL, look out for James Looney. Cat quick and very strong. He'll play on Sundays. As for our QB, I think it likely it's Davis Webb. The guy Mel Kiper says is the best NFL prospect of any Senior QB in the country.
 
What's the story with Spavital that makes you think he's a train wreck? By all accounts its Sumlin and A&M that are the train wreck. Spav's had a nice track record in college QB development with Keenum, Geno Smith, Weeden and Johnny Football. He got strong references from Klingsbury, Holgoersen and Gundy.

Otherwise, your post suggests you're hugely ignorant of our roster. Midgets? Vic Enwere is a 235lb tailback that's a junior coming off a 9 TD season. We have 7 WRs 6'3" and 210lbs or bigger on scholarship. Chad Hansen is slow?!! He recorded the fastest 40 on the team last year beating guys who scorched the 40 at the NFL combine. He's a former track sprinter. He's also 6'2" tall. Nice try though.

Yes, we do have a couple of smaller guys - Muhammed, the California Sprint Champion RB who took one to the house in Austin from 50+ yards out last Fall. Melquise Stovall, a small slot WR that's a HS All American and who was our biggest playmaker in the Spring. 5 star, 10.4 100M WR Demetris Robertson is only 6' tall. Otherwise, it's big dudes - Ray Hudson, Jordan Veasy, Carlos Strickland (all of whom are 6'4" and 225lbs+) and another track star WR, Brandon Singleton whose 6'1". BTW, Enwere, Watson, Muhammed, Hansen, Hudson and Veasy are all upperclassmen.

On our DL, look out for James Looney. Cat quick and very strong. He'll play on Sundays. As for our QB, I think it likely it's Davis Webb. The guy Mel Kiper says is the best NFL prospect of any Senior QB in the country.
Spavital has been the beneficiary of having talented QBs without the worry of actually developing any if those guys. All of them were highly recruited-- even keenum got looks other than houston.

Your project Ted starting wrs are as follows-
Hansen (6'2) as I said he's the only one listed at better than 6 foot. As far as his speed goes, great, I'm glad he ran an awesome 40 time without a helmet, shoulder pads, or in cleats. I'm sure Usane Bolt is fast out of pads as well. His speed on the field has not impressed me.
Stovall- yes--- freshman under armor all american. 5'8. Freshman. True freshman. Hasn't taken a snap yet. Basing your opinion on zero evidence these days? Freshman.
Greyson Bankhead- 5'10.
Vic Wharton- 5'11
Kanawai Noa- 5'11
5 starting wrs and ONE of them, as I said, is over 6 foot.

Watson, your starting Rb is 5'9---- which means he's really 5'8 1/2.
You have 7 wrs that are 6'3 or taller? Great! I can put 5 guys in the NBA on the floor that are 7 foot or taller-- doesn't mean I'll win any games. Those listed are YOUR projected starters. Don't shoot the messenger.

Yes, Vic Enwere is 6'1 235--- but he's not your every down back. He won't get 25 touches, so we don't have to worry about him wearing down our defense.

Back to Hansen, you do realize he had all of 240 yards receiving last year---- right? That's a mind blowing 20 yards a game-- not including the bowl game.
 
Cal--

Let me start by saying you cut your own throat hiring Spavital to be your OC. Dude is a train wreck. He's Shawn Watson on Crack and steroids. Have fun with that. 2nd- all your play makers are midgets-- and YOUNG midgets at that. Your Rb watson is 5'9 on a good day- you've got 1 wr that's taller than 6 foot (hansen) and he's slower than global warming but he runs clean routes and has hands. Your other wrs look like the lollipop guild. Your OL is good, especially that monster cochran. We're did you find a 6'8 dude that weighs 3 fiddy?

Your D line is meh. Your lbs are big boys. Heck your lbs are as big as your DE's. Your secondary still leaks like a siv. If we have our heads screwed on by then, we should be able to drop 40 on your head.

Your golden arm phenom is gone. I haven't seen Forrest throw many balls but I think it's safe to say that he's no where near the slinger that Goff was. I realize he's the best QB to ever come out of Cal- but I just don't see this kid spreading it around with the accuracy of Goff. And I dang sure don't see the play calling under Spavital being better than it was last year. We couldn't stop Goff--- period. He put on a clinic against our secondary. I don't see Chase doing that.

I had this game picked as a toss up because your team will be flying to freaking Australia (loooooong flight) and then turning around and flying down to San Diego in back to back weeks. Road legs make tired legs. The more I look at it, the more I think we get the win here. If we don't, it will be because notre dame decapitated us and we haven't found an offensive identity yet.
Cal has always have had small guys. There recruiting took a major hit when Oregon became a legit team in the Pac. The major players from Northern California usually go to Oregon, USC, UCLA or the likes of Alabama or OU. They will get some kids but most won't go there if they're top notch recruits
 
Look Cal- I'm the guy that came on this board over a year ago and WARNED everyone about Cal and Goff. I said flat out he was the best QB we'd played against in decades. I has him as a number 1 pick in the draft last July. I know what you dudes had on offense and I said we wouldn't beat you---- and we didn't.

I see what you have now-- a really good Oline, some solid lbs- a defense that's going to give up 28 points per game and around 450 yards a game. I had this game as a toss up initially- but if we poop the bed and lose to you, heads on the 40 acres will roll.
 
Spavital has been the beneficiary of having talented QBs without the worry of actually developing any if those guys. All of them were highly recruited-- even keenum got looks other than houston.

Your project Ted starting wrs are as follows-
Hansen (6'2) as I said he's the only one listed at better than 6 foot. As far as his speed goes, great, I'm glad he ran an awesome 40 time without a helmet, shoulder pads, or in cleats. I'm sure Usane Bolt is fast out of pads as well. His speed on the field has not impressed me.
Stovall- yes--- freshman under armor all american. 5'8. Freshman. True freshman. Hasn't taken a snap yet. Basing your opinion on zero evidence these days? Freshman.
Greyson Bankhead- 5'10.
Vic Wharton- 5'11
Kanawai Noa- 5'11
5 starting wrs and ONE of them, as I said, is over 6 foot.

Watson, your starting Rb is 5'9---- which means he's really 5'8 1/2.
You have 7 wrs that are 6'3 or taller? Great! I can put 5 guys in the NBA on the floor that are 7 foot or taller-- doesn't mean I'll win any games. Those listed are YOUR projected starters. Don't shoot the messenger.

Yes, Vic Enwere is 6'1 235--- but he's not your every down back. He won't get 25 touches, so we don't have to worry about him wearing down our defense.

Back to Hansen, you do realize he had all of 240 yards receiving last year---- right? That's a mind blowing 20 yards a game-- not including the bowl game.

Where are you getting our starting lineup? Here's the OFFICIAL one released a few weeks back - http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.c...com/documents/2016/6/1/cal_FB_depth_chart.pdf

It'll change before the Texas game but as you can see, three of our four starting WRs are 6'2" plus. Two deeps have even more big guys. :)

Cal rotates it's tailbacks which is why Enwere is listed as a co-starter. If he's healthy, he'll get a third of the carries.

Your big criticism of Spavital is that he's inherited talented QBs?! So his sin is that others have given him more credit than YOU think he deserves? C'mon, you can do better than that. And given you're a Texas fans, who are you to talk smack about anyone's OC. Spav's record makes Texas OCs the past three seasons swoon in jealousy.

You guys have a very talented (albeit young) team, no need to fabricate a narrative to diminish your opponents. We're not small (other than at DT) and we've plenty of speed to go along with a very good OL and a proven Power 5 starting QB. It'll most certainly be a good and close game in Berkeley. Hope you can make it out.
 
I'll never understand fans from other teams that come in and ask for an opinion and then get pissed off when it isn't glowing.
 
Why should we even show up this year to any of our games? Looks like we are going to lose to nd then cal....damn 1-2 going into the off week before our conferences games....looks like we are back to last year performance.
 
Looks to me like you guys will win 6-8 games. Honestly, that's my prediction for the Bears as well. Tough schedule for the Longhorns. 2017? I would think if Charlie is the guy, you will be a 10+ win team and back in the hunt for the B12.
 
Looks to me like you guys will win 6-8 games. Honestly, that's my prediction for the Bears as well. Tough schedule for the Longhorns. 2017? I would think if Charlie is the guy, you will be a 10+ win team and back in the hunt for the B12.
Most of us our very hopeful for 2017. Right now we are a team of freshmen and sophomores. If things go right, we could win 9 or 10 this year but as you said, if things go wrong we could win 6. We will know a lot more about that after the Nd and Cal games.
 
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Cal is Texas Tech-West. nothing more. They shouldn't be hard to beat with a competent game plan. Control the clock on offense, be aggressive/take some chances on defense between the 20's then tighten up in the red zone. This strategy has worked year after year, but the combination of youth and poor choices by the coaching staff lead us to lose to both Cal and Texas-Tech last year.
 
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I'm concerned about our run defense vs. the Cal Running game, but I'm confident our pass defense will be more than up to the challenge. both our starting Corners are 6'2 and are NFL quality. Our Nickle and dime package are really talented DBs. I would be shocked if we give up more than 20 pts in this game, not including turnovers.

Our offense should be able to put up over 30 pts in this game. We won't have Heard running all over the place, but we will have two very nasty RBs in Foreman and Warren pounding your defense. Plus we have some NFL quality WRs to toss the ball to. I think our Oline will be every bit as dominating as yours is so that means your linebackers will have a tough time gettins square shots on our backs.

In all I predict a 34-24 win for Texas.
 
I'm concerned about our run defense vs. the Cal Running game, but I'm confident our pass defense will be more than up to the challenge. both our starting Corners are 6'2 and are NFL quality. Our Nickle and dime package are really talented DBs. I would be shocked if we give up more than 20 pts in this game, not including turnovers.

Our offense should be able to put up over 30 pts in this game. We won't have Heard running all over the place, but we will have two very nasty RBs in Foreman and Warren pounding your defense. Plus we have some NFL quality WRs to toss the ball to. I think our Oline will be every bit as dominating as yours is so that means your linebackers will have a tough time gettins square shots on our backs.

In all I predict a 34-24 win for Texas.

What's the make up of the OL? Two returning sophomore starters? True frosh starter at Center? What about the other two spots? Returning starters? Upperclassmen?
 
What's the make up of the OL? Two returning sophomore starters? True frosh starter at Center? What about the other two spots? Returning starters? Upperclassmen?
Looked at street&smith, athlon and lindey's and unless you know something they don't, they have all midgets in your starting wr line up except for Hansen. Don't shoot the messenger.
 
What's the make up of the OL? Two returning sophomore starters? True frosh starter at Center? What about the other two spots? Returning starters? Upperclassmen?
And with regard to your OC comment--- I said Spav was Watson (our old OC) on crack and steroids.
 
Right now the projected starters on our oline are are as follows.

LT - Connor Williams SO
LG - Brandon Hodges RS JR
C - Zach Shackleford TR FR
RG - Patrick Vahe SO
RT - Kent Perkins SR

Williams and Vahe were Freshmen AA, Perkins is a legit NFL prospect, probably drafted between 3rd and 6th round.

Behind these guys we have a lot of really big bodies but it remains to be seen how much depth we really have. We are either 11 deep or we are zero deep. Likely somewhere in the middle.
 
Cal is Texas Tech-West. nothing more. They shouldn't be hard to beat with a competent game plan. Control the clock on offense, be aggressive/take some chances on defense between the 20's then tighten up in the red zone. This strategy has worked year after year, but the combination of youth and poor choices by the coaching staff lead us to lose to both Cal and Texas-Tech last year.

I think the defense you cited would play into Cal's hands. We run a much more vertical offense than does Texas Tech (or at least we did before Spavital got here). Tons of big plays and a lot less of the crossing routes and WR screens to move the chains. We also run the ball a lot more than TTech or WSU and will run the ball even more this year given the OL and the returning backs. The defenses that are likely to give us fits are those that can drop 6-7 into coverage and mix coverages, taking away the deep ball, forcing INTs and then relying on a strong front 4 and good tackling on the underneath stuff. And as you say (and is always the case) playing tough in the red zone. Cal's offensive system can struggle in the red zone as we have no traditional TE and though we do use a FB, it's easier to solve for on a short field.
 
I think the defense you cited would play into Cal's hands. We run a much more vertical offense than does Texas Tech (or at least we did before Spavital got here). Tons of big plays and a lot less of the crossing routes and WR screens to move the chains. We also run the ball a lot more than TTech or WSU and will run the ball even more this year given the OL and the returning backs. The defenses that are likely to give us fits are those that can drop 6-7 into coverage and mix coverages, taking away the deep ball, forcing INTs and then relying on a strong front 4 and good tackling on the underneath stuff. And as you say (and is always the case) playing tough in the red zone. Cal's offensive system can struggle in the red zone as we have no traditional TE and though we do use a FB, it's easier to solve for on a short field.

You can throw that out with Spav calling the plays and Goff's arm gone.
 
Right now the projected starters on our oline are are as follows.

LT - Connor Williams SO
LG - Brandon Hodges RS JR
C - Zach Shackleford TR FR
RG - Patrick Vahe SO
RT - Kent Perkins SR

Williams and Vahe were Freshmen AA, Perkins is a legit NFL prospect, probably drafted between 3rd and 6th round.

Behind these guys we have a lot of really big bodies but it remains to be seen how much depth we really have. We are either 11 deep or we are zero deep. Likely somewhere in the middle.

Very young group but obviously talented. Frosh AA honors for OL is a nice thing to have yet what's more impressive is that Williams was 2nd team AB12 as a true frosh - Wow! Interesting to have a true frosh at center, in most offenses it's the center you're relying on for making the OL calls and having the deepest understanding of the offense. My guess is he's pretty special. Phil Steele has Perkins rated as the #42 draft eligible OT which is solid. Steele loves your RB group, ranking them 16th in the nation and per your note, he likes your OL, ranking it 26th.

Buechele going to start for sure? How do you think that decision governors your upside? What's your view on your WR group? If I remember correctly Burt and Foreman can both run but neither are super burners, is that right? Are the Johnsons (who hurt us last year) back?
 
You can throw that out with Spav calling the plays and Goff's arm gone.

Not a fan of Webb's arm?

During the Spring, we were very vertical though perhaps that will change in Fall? I doubt it given the wheels we have outside. We will have at least 4 players who comfortably run electronic 4.4 or better in Robertson, Hansen, Wharton and Singleton.
 
Buechele going to start for sure? How do you think that decision governors your upside? What's your view on your WR group? If I remember correctly Burt and Foreman can both run but neither are super burners, is that right? Are the Johnsons (who hurt us last year) back?

Hard to say, I'm most concerned with him getting blown up. He isn't ready to take a pounding so I'm hoping the coaches treat him with kid gloves until he gets used to the speed and power of the defenses. As for his throwing, he is light years ahead of every QB we have, so I'm ready to give him the reigns and let him go.
 
Right now the projected starters on our oline are are as follows.

LT - Connor Williams SO
LG - Brandon Hodges RS JR
C - Zach Shackleford TR FR
RG - Patrick Vahe SO
RT - Kent Perkins SR

Williams and Vahe were Freshmen AA, Perkins is a legit NFL prospect, probably drafted between 3rd and 6th round.

Behind these guys we have a lot of really big bodies but it remains to be seen how much depth we really have. We are either 11 deep or we are zero deep. Likely somewhere in the middle.

I think Vahe moves to center and Hudson plays the guard spot.
 
Texas will be as good as their D line is. Rest of the team will be solid.
 
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