To do this I HAVE to assume that Tedford has received (either explicitly or in his own mind) a complete and ringing endorsement from Sandy.

A) He has a poor offensive line. He knows it. We know it. Every DC west of the Mississippi knows it.

B) He looks at the schedule and the current situations at tOSU, USC, Furd, Oregon and says "well the absolutely BEST we could do is some second tier bowl.

C) He KNOWS what Bridgford can do. Kid has been with the program for 4 years. It isn't like there are surprises at this point.

D) He knows that next year he is likely going to have a wide open QB competition. He would like everyone competing to be healthy.

E) He looks at Bigelow and says "do I have him be an every down back, as a sophmore for a season that is likely in the tank or do I use him in places - expecting him to be the everydown guy next year?)

I am not saying that I agree with the above but I can see a logic in it. What I DO hope is that he would, by Furd, start to get Bridgeford some reps. Possibly Boehm and Hinder as well. Frankly the best we could hope for, in the above, is some really AWFUL first half blow outs so that Tedford is tempted to sit Zach and bring in the other guys to get some game experience.

A very logical and well-thought out post on what JT may be thinking ^

In some bizarre and ironic fashion....it (JT's imagined logic) makes a lot of sense, Big Picture-wise.

He still needs a legit OC among other fixes and I can't quite forgive him for all of his past and current gameday and personnel mistakes, but interesting perspective nonetheless.

socaltownie;841965845 said:

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E) He looks at Bigelow and says "do I have him be an every down back, as a sophmore for a season that is likely in the tank or do I use him in places - expecting him to be the everydown guy next year?)

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Though to use him in places, you would actually have to, you know, use him.

Just to finish off - cause if you are Tedford and you really ARE looking ahead do you want to risk Kline's knees behind a **** poor OLINE or Bigelows (when it is hard to make a case that he has "beaten out" the 2 seniors in front of him)? Put another way - if it is DOOOOM if Tedford is back next year what is it if he is back AND Kline and Bigelow are trying to come back from devestating knee injuries incurred during a 48 to 10 blowout by Washington?

sycasey;841965856 said:

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Though to use him in places, you would actually have to, you know, use him.

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Unless you go look at the tape/up in the booth (and if so, please upload it), you don't know if he was in for plays in which Zach (or the sideline) checked off because ASU was showing 9 guys in the box. He didn't get touches but I know he was on the field for at least 5-7 plays that I counted.

socaltownie;841965845 said:

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E) He looks at Bigelow and says "do I have him be an every down back, as a sophmore for a season that is likely in the tank or do I use him in places - expecting him to be the everydown guy next year?)

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At the rate he's going, he won't have a next season to play him. JT keeping a major game changer on the bench is hurting JT most of all. He's not even "using him in places" right now. 10-12 carries a game to begin with; that's all Bigelow needs to make a big difference.

Bearerofnews;841965859 said:

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I don't think there is any substance to your logic. It would mean that coach tedford gave up before the season or soon after it started on his team. Whatever coach tedford is, he is not this. He is too close to his team and they would know if he had. He would have never gotten the game that he did out of his team against ohio state if they knew he gave up on them.

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Not given up but except for some of the delusional folks on the board there was no way to look at the schedule, the strength of other teams, and think that this team could finish ANY higher than 3rd in the conference. Not that he EXPECTS to lose but coaches can be optimistic and realistic at the same time.

Finally, do you really think that given how front loaded our schedule is against good defenses a TRUE FRESHMAN QB would have thrived? Boggles the mind to believe that.

Sound logic, but a couple of things:

- It counters his belief that he puts players in to give them the best chance of winning. ZM will not do that. Not giving BB a carry or 2 will not do that. Not rolling your pocket or quick passes won't do that.

- It is contrary to one-game at a time mantra. He doesn't look beyond the next game; only the record at the end will he know where he stands.

- JT never thinks about the next season until the current season is over.

- JT is known to run the program the way he wants to; he won't succumb to peer pressure and criticism. e.g. look at Steve Levy fiasco; he went with Ayoob the whole season until the last 2 games when he went with Levy, who subsequently won the last 2 games. And Levy proceeded to spit in JT's face with a TD run instead of a victory formation. I doubt JT will let that "I told you so" get him again. He'll ride ZM until he is proven right...which will be never.

socaltownie;841965845 said:

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To do this I HAVE to assume that Tedford has received (either explicitly or in his own mind) a complete and ringing endorsement from Sandy.

A) He has a poor offensive line. He knows it. We know it. Every DC west of the Mississippi knows it.

B) He looks at the schedule and the current situations at tOSU, USC, Furd, Oregon and says "well the absolutely BEST we could do is some second tier bowl.

C) He KNOWS what Bridgford can do. Kid has been with the program for 4 years. It isn't like there are surprises at this point.

D) He knows that next year he is likely going to have a wide open QB competition. He would like everyone competing to be healthy.

E) He looks at Bigelow and says "do I have him be an every down back, as a sophmore for a season that is likely in the tank or do I use him in places - expecting him to be the everydown guy next year?)

I am not saying that I agree with the above but I can see a logic in it. What I DO hope is that he would, by Furd, start to get Bridgeford some reps. Possibly Boehm and Hinder as well. Frankly the best we could hope for, in the above, is some really AWFUL first half blow outs so that Tedford is tempted to sit Zach and bring in the other guys to get some game experience.

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A) Agree
B) There is no game we want to concede, to not put our best players on the field. I don't think Tedford is saving Bigelow (we use him as a kick returner, er blocker for the kick returner...).
C) Agreed, we have seen Bridgford on 5 occasions. None of them did he good or even complete a higher percentage than Maynard in the same game. He even looked poor against Presbyterian.
D) I don't think Tedford is playing for next year. If he was, then he would bench Maynard.
E) We don't need to play Bigelow as an every down back. I think he thinks Sofele and CJ are getting the "job done" somewhat like Arrington in 2004 and Forsett in 2007--despite having better backs in Marshawn and Best. He is slow the replace good with great (except Rodgers for a good Robertson in 2003), but when a senior with a freshman? I just don't think any of the QBs have shown "great" yet unless Kline, but Tedford ALWAYS redshirts freshmen QBs. Plus, if a second year RB [U]who has done what Bigelow has done IN GAMES[/U] does not see the field because he does not completely know the playbook, imagine the trouble a first year QB would have.

calbear75;841965874 said:

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JT is known to run the program the way he wants to; he won't succumb to peer pressure and criticism. e.g. look at Steve Levy fiasco; he went with Ayoob the whole season until the last 2 games when he went with Levy, who subsequently won the last 2 games. And Levy proceeded to spit in JT's face with a TD run instead of a victory formation. I doubt JT will let that "I told you so" get him again. He'll ride ZM until he is proven right...which will be never.

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Yep, that was his second season but even then Tedford showed how stubborn and pigheaded he can be, and to the detriment of the team.

One can only hope that at some point this season he will bring in Bigelow and/or Hinder to start.

OMFG, real football analysis, reason and no hate. Stop it!

The only thing I can add is with a decimated o-line, Cal is up sh*t creek and will remain there until we get healthy or reboot. Given the depth (or lack thereof) it looks like health is our only chance.

One last thing. While I have seen PLENTY of concussions, shoulder separations and other nasty crap on kick returns the number of "rolled up" leg injuries are pretty minimal. I can't remember the last time I saw a KICK RETURNER blow out a knee. So if you are worried about the "durability" of a RB I can see why you would have him returning kicks but not trying to run between the tackles 15-20 times a game.

calbear75;841965874 said:

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Sound logic, but a couple of things:

- It counters his belief that he puts players in to give them the best chance of winning. ZM will not do that. Not giving BB a carry or 2 will not do that. Not rolling your pocket or quick passes won't do that.

- It is contrary to one-game at a time mantra. He doesn't look beyond the next game; only the record at the end will he know where he stands.

- JT never thinks about the next season until the current season is over.

- JT is known to run the program the way he wants to; he won't succumb to peer pressure and criticism. e.g. look at Steve Levy fiasco; he went with Ayoob the whole season until the last 2 games when he went with Levy, who subsequently won the last 2 games. And Levy proceeded to spit in JT's face with a TD run instead of a victory formation. I doubt JT will let that "I told you so" get him again. He'll ride ZM until he is proven right...which will be never.

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Ding ding ding.
Tedford cares more about being well-liked than to win football games and bringing Cal to the damn Rose Bowl!

You don't have to worry about offending your colleagues by making their teams look bad. They won't stay in their profession for long if they have to worry about looking bad rather than winning games. Well, anyway, now it's your turn to look bad. Your time is up, too.
You are the weakest link. Goodbye.

socaltownie;841965845 said:

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To do this I HAVE to assume that Tedford has received (either explicitly or in his own mind) a complete and ringing endorsement from Sandy.

A) He has a poor offensive line. He knows it. We know it. Every DC west of the Mississippi knows it.

B) He looks at the schedule and the current situations at tOSU, USC, Furd, Oregon and says "well the absolutely BEST we could do is some second tier bowl.

C) He KNOWS what Bridgford can do. Kid has been with the program for 4 years. It isn't like there are surprises at this point.

D) He knows that next year he is likely going to have a wide open QB competition. He would like everyone competing to be healthy.

E) He looks at Bigelow and says "do I have him be an every down back, as a sophmore for a season that is likely in the tank or do I use him in places - expecting him to be the everydown guy next year?)

I am not saying that I agree with the above but I can see a logic in it. What I DO hope is that he would, by Furd, start to get Bridgeford some reps. Possibly Boehm and Hinder as well. Frankly the best we could hope for, in the above, is some really AWFUL first half blow outs so that Tedford is tempted to sit Zach and bring in the other guys to get some game experience.

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What makes you think we will have a better OL next year. If next year's QB's are going to face a bad OL, they should start getting that experience now. Next year we will have 4 elite 11 QBs on the roster (assuming Goff doesn't redshirt) + a talented walk-on. I think we have enough QB depth to risk injury as long as it isn't Kline.

FYI here is our likely OL roster next year.

[U]Seniors[/U]
Bill Tyndall OT (playing due to injury to starter)
Matt Williams OT (zero experience at this level)
Mark Brazinski C/OG (zero experience but could be granted medical redshirt and so would only be a Jr. in eligibility)

[U]Juniors[/U]
Chris Adcock C/OG (playing due to injury to starter)
Alejandro Croswaithe OG (zero experience)
Geoffrey Gibson OG (minor experience as back-up)

[U]Sophmores[/U]
Brian Farley OT (zero experience)
Jordan Rigsbee OG (starter)
Freddie Tagaloa OT (highly rated, minor experience)

[U]Redshirt Freshmen[/U]
Matt Cochran C (highly rated)
Christian Okafor OT (highly rated)
Steven Moore OT

No C, RG or RT will be an improvement next year on Schwenke, Galas (when he returns), and MSG. The left side could see an improvement with one of the OTs taking over for Rigsbee and the other Rigsbee being in his second year at OG. But the over-all picture seems like a wash to me.

You're obviously not old enough to remember Craig Morton in the '60' who did just that. Still Cal's best QB ever, in my opinion. A damn good Cal and lengthy NFL career, despite his knee problem and (while at Cal) no dynamic receivers like DeSean, Sean Dawkins, LaVelle Hawk, Bobby Shaw, etc.

Cal has not recruited well year after year - we are in a deficit position. Coach M is in his second year back as OL coach - don't see what he's added to improve OL play. With JT's job on the line, all the assistant coaches will feel insecure and start job searches. The player's sense the uncertainty and the season collapses further...........

A change of direction is needed, either from within or without.