Cal vs ucla Is a Fun Opener

[PasadenaTrojan]

Two very good QBs

two very young coaches with something to prove

 

• This topic was modified 1 month, 3 weeks ago by PasadenaTrojan.

[Daystalker]

Will be interesting see what Tosh can bring to the table running the show, he has learned from the greats, so the knowledge is there, let’s see how he can apply it.  CBC definitely has a body of work to reference, so we know he has that covered, but does he have the buy in yet from this team?  My short answer is probably not, he is a big culture guy, and the team is really mixed as far as that goes, he has the old UCLA culture, the guys who followed him, and all the transfers in one petri dish, which strain will take over and dominate, that is yet to be seen.  UCLA needs to pin their ears back and get after that QB, the secondary is vastly improved and the strength of the team, they can handle being on an island, the LB’s are mid, so the short passing game and run can kill them if they can’t figure that out, this game will come down to the coaching, as both teams are pretty even, should be a great test for both HC’s.

[RWC]

A tough game for many reasons.

Road game for the opener never easy

BC’s first game as HC

Night game. Nothing worse than being on the road sitting around all day at a strange hotel waiting for the 5pm bus ride to the stadium and not kicking off until 7:45 pm

Cal is loaded with talented QB Jaron- Keawe returning, the signing of Adam Mohammed RB from Wash who will really bolster their running game, and some dangerous receivers like Ian Strong who will really test the UCLA corners.

Defensive line is as stout up front as any team in the nation with 345 lb DT Jericho Johnson playing next to another 345 lb Stanley McKenzie, 310 lb Derrick Williams, and 285lb edge Nate Burrell. A very good front four. Cal also signed Oregon’s Kingston Lopa and N Arizona’s Michael Hurst at Safety. Not to mention a slew of DB’s to bolster their secondary.

Cal’s biggest loss was Monster linebacker Cade Uluave to BYU in the portal.

Beware UCLA you guys don’t have the luxury of opening with a cupcake at home. Better be ready for the 63,000 hostile fans Sept 5th at Berkeley.

[the909]

What’s Skinny Jeans up to? I didn’t see him coaching anywhere? Surprised Clay didn’t swoop him up at Ga Southern.

[Daystalker]

He is with the Rams last time I checked, “Assistant Head Coach” whatever the heck that means.  He is like McVay’s version of Smithers from the Simpsons.

[LA Duck]

I’m glad Lupoi gets to coach at his alma mater.  But I’m not sold on him as a head coach.

I am sold on Bob Chesney however.

I also think the commitment to football will be greater at UCLA than at Cal (if it isn’t already).  But UCLA is in a much tougher conference than Cal.

Will be very interesting to see where these two are with their respective programs 4 years down the road and how much relative success both will have experienced by then.

Returning to your alma mater/dream school after coaching at Oregon can be a mixed bag…

HC Willie Taggart left  Oregon to be head coach at his dream school Florida State, flamed out with a 9-12 record over 2 years there, and is now RB coach with the NY Giants mainly thanks to his long-time friendship with Harbaugh.

HC Mario Cristobal left Oregon for his alma mater Miami and is coming off of a national championship berth, and seems to have brought the Hurricanes back to pre-2004 form.

OC Kenny Dillingham left Oregon for his alma mater ASU and is currently 22-17 there, but the future looks bright.

OC Will Stein left Oregon for his dream school Kentucky, and will likely have a rough time playing in the SEC with a university that leans more basketball than football.

[GTrojan2]

Great write-up LA.  Thanks

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