BB started the game and ended up with 5 runs and 2 catches (one for a TD). Although curious about how many more yards and TDS he might have had with more involvement, I am satisfied that he was used appropriately within the context of the offense being run. Anderson's monster day would not happened with less carries. Kinda felt bad for Sofele not getting more action. Guess we should be enjoying our 3 headed monster at RB and hope that the high level of success will continue for the rest of the season. :bravo

tenplay;841971767 said:

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BB started the game and ended up with 5 runs and 2 catches (one for a TD). Although curious about how many more yards and TDS he might have had with more involvement, I am satisfied that he was used appropriately within the context of the offense being run. Anderson's monster day would not happened with less carries. Kinda felt bad for Sofele not getting more action. Guess we should be enjoying our 3 headed monster at RB and hope that the high level of success will continue for the rest of the season. :bravo

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I felt bad for him because it became clear as day that he is the third best RB we have, and he is pretty far from the second. That has to suck to go from starter and all conference to watching from the sideline because the other guys are killing it and you still fall down without anyone attached to you. :headbang


Bigs also might be too dumb to be a starter based on that fumble, and the play he scored on where he had no idea what was going on.


In either case, last night really showed that Tedford is too stubborn about what players get oppertunity. CJA and Bigelow are so much better than Isi it is amazing Isi sees the field let alone started the first 5 games.






The most interesting thing, to me, is CLEARLY Tedford was told that his job depended on him playing CJA and Bigelow more... There is no other explanation to the change. That means Tedford is so close to getting canned that Sandy and/or boosters are dictating who plays, unless someone thinks Tedford would have done this in a vacuum. That is a terrible sign for a coach, and that it resulted in a win is VERY bad for him (showing how incompetent he has been).




Also, Cross is a Marine? WTF!? Awesome!

Tedford running Bigs off tackle at the start of the game then sitting him was the Passive Aggressive Play of the Game

GB54;841971801 said:

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Tedford running Bigs off tackle at the start of the game then sitting him was the Passive Aggressive Play of the Game

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Lol! Yeah, I thought it was pretty funny actually.

How many touches did Biggie get after that first series?

Phantomfan;841971788 said:

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I felt bad for him because it became clear as day that he is the third best RB we have, and he is pretty far from the second. That has to suck to go from starter and all conference to watching from the sideline because the other guys are killing it and you still fall down without anyone attached to you. :headbang


Bigs also might be too dumb to be a starter based on that fumble, and the play he scored on where he had no idea what was going on.


In either case, last night really showed that Tedford is too stubborn about what players get oppertunity. CJA and Bigelow are so much better than Isi it is amazing Isi sees the field let alone started the first 5 games.






The most interesting thing, to me, is CLEARLY Tedford was told that his job depended on him playing CJA and Bigelow more... There is no other explanation to the change. That means Tedford is so close to getting canned that Sandy and/or boosters are dictating who plays, unless someone thinks Tedford would have done this in a vacuum. That is a terrible sign for a coach, and that it resulted in a win is VERY bad for him (showing how incompetent he has been).




Also, Cross is a Marine? WTF!? Awesome!

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Sofele was the first to celebrate with Bigelow and CJ after their TDs. No need to feel sorry for him.

CJ was listed as the "co-starter" on the depth chart to start the season, so it has not been a complete reversal. If we keep pounding the ball there are plenty of carries for Bigelow, CJ, Sofele [U]and Stevens.[/U]

Phantomfan;841971788 said:

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I felt bad for him because it became clear as day that he is the third best RB we have, and he is pretty far from the second. That has to suck to go from starter and all conference to watching from the sideline because the other guys are killing it and you still fall down without anyone attached to you. :headbang


Bigs also might be too dumb to be a starter based on that fumble, and the play he scored on where he had no idea what was going on.


In either case, last night really showed that Tedford is too stubborn about what players get oppertunity. CJA and Bigelow are so much better than Isi it is amazing Isi sees the field let alone started the first 5 games.






The most interesting thing, to me, is CLEARLY Tedford was told that his job depended on him playing CJA and Bigelow more... There is no other explanation to the change. That means Tedford is so close to getting canned that Sandy and/or boosters are dictating who plays, unless someone thinks Tedford would have done this in a vacuum. That is a terrible sign for a coach, and that it resulted in a win is VERY bad for him (showing how incompetent he has been).




Also, Cross is a Marine? WTF!? Awesome!

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clearly. Are you serious. Sandy said no such thing. Telford may have told Gould to make sure bigelow got some touches.

Phantomfan;841971788 said:

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I felt bad for him because it became clear as day that he is the third best RB we have, and he is pretty far from the second. That has to suck to go from starter and all conference to watching from the sideline because the other guys are killing it and you still fall down without anyone attached to you. :headbang


Bigs also might be too dumb to be a starter based on that fumble, and the play he scored on where he had no idea what was going on.


In either case, last night really showed that Tedford is too stubborn about what players get oppertunity. CJA and Bigelow are so much better than Isi it is amazing Isi sees the field let alone started the first 5 games.






The most interesting thing, to me, is CLEARLY Tedford was told that his job depended on him playing CJA and Bigelow more... There is no other explanation to the change. That means Tedford is so close to getting canned that Sandy and/or boosters are dictating who plays, unless someone thinks Tedford would have done this in a vacuum. That is a terrible sign for a coach, and that it resulted in a win is VERY bad for him (showing how incompetent he has been).




Also, Cross is a Marine? WTF!? Awesome!

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You're joking right? Tedford probably told gould to give bigelow more touches and he got stuffed several times in the first series.

The point is, Bigelow right now is a good change of pace back, but he can't be the starter and carry 25 times because he's not a bruising runner. If the defense contains the edge, you are pretty much one dimensional and easy to stop.

Play-calling was good in pushing him out to WR and getting him touches in the open field, which we need more of, not just 2 throws.

Otherwise, CJA should be starting and pounding at least 25 times a game, with ISI getting at least 5 touches, and Bigelow getting the other 5 touches as a change of pace back.

RealDrew2;841971852 said:

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clearly. Are you serious. Sandy said no such thing. Telford may have told Gould to make sure bigelow got some touches.

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It sounds outrageously improbable but after all the rumors we've heard in the last week it now has a ring of truth to it. I wouldn't rule it out, at all. Otherwise, why would JT give BB the ball three times in a row in the first series? We have never done anything remotely like that before. What else could that be other than a statement to meddling boosters, the AD, or both. The PAP of the game, to use GB54's joke. If JT scripts his opening series, that would give even more credence to Phantom's theory.

Happy to see him involved, and CJ doesn't get his yards unless Isi and Bigelow get their's ...

Tedford figured it out just like Pendergast figured it out. Sandy does not call plays. I do think, however, that this game was do or die for Tedford and we saw him at his best. Upon reflection this was the most enjoyable game (other than winning any Big Game) over the last three years.

Phantomfan;841971788 said:

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The most interesting thing, to me, is CLEARLY Tedford was told that his job depended on him playing CJA and Bigelow more... There is no other explanation to the change. That means Tedford is so close to getting canned that Sandy and/or boosters are dictating who plays, unless someone thinks Tedford would have done this in a vacuum. That is a terrible sign for a coach, and that it resulted in a win is VERY bad for him (showing how incompetent he has been).

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Really? The ONLY explanation EVUH?

Phantom's theory could be a phantom theory.

GB54;841971801 said:

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Tedford running Bigs off tackle at the start of the game then sitting him was the Passive Aggressive Play of the Game

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Are you talking about the play where we telegraphed run by using an unbalanced line and a TE covered by a WR so he was an ineligible receiver on 2nd and 14? I thought the same thing.

BB only started because the opening sequence is scripted, giving him a chance to practice and work on ONLY those plays. His knowledge of the playbook is still coming along.

BlueAndGold;841971973 said:

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BB only started because the opening sequence is scripted, giving him a chance to practice and work on ONLY those plays. His knowledge of the playbook is still coming along.

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That's pretty good insight, B&G. I was wondering too, watching for BB every chance I could get. Looked like he was still confused where to stand and which routes to take. Couple times he returned from the field only to have coach pulling him aside to show / teach him something. Even on that TD reception it seemed KA had to remind him where to position himself just before the play. And that fumble handling off from Maynard, I am wondering whether that's JM's or BB's fault.

BB is definitely a play maker, but looked like he needed to learn the playbook to be on the same page with rest of team.

BlueAndGold;841971973 said:

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BB only started because the opening sequence is scripted, giving him a chance to practice and work on ONLY those plays. His knowledge of the playbook is still coming along.

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If true, that was smart, good coaching.

BB is bigtime for us. Why he doesn't get more playing time is a total mystery

the more I think our best players aren't necessarily playing. I have no way of proving this other than when some of these younger guys get to play either due to injury or because the picked starter is so bad (eg. the middle linebackers) I'm just amazed at how much better the backup is. How did our initial two starting middle backers win the job? How is Kam Jackson not playing more? I haven't seen a Cal CB make plays on the ball like he did last night in a long, long time. I can't help thinking that a couple of our starting O linemen are playing backup D line positions. And as gutty as Sofele is he should be the one getting the minimum carries, not Bigelow. CJ should be pounding the defenses and Bigelow should have some awesome plays just for him that don't involve running between the tackles. And it certainly wouldn't hurt to have both CJ and Bigs in the game at the same time. I sometimes think that Tedford spends so much time being 'multiple' that he picks seniority over talent just so he doesn't have to spend time figuring out how much to simplify so that the talent can play.

:acclaim:

82gradDLSdad;841972098 said:

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the more I think our best players aren't necessarily playing. I have no way of proving this other than when some of these younger guys get to play either due to injury or because the picked starter is so bad (eg. the middle linebackers) I'm just amazed at how much better the backup is. How did our initial two starting middle backers win the job? How is Kam Jackson not playing more? I haven't seen a Cal CB make plays on the ball like he did last night in a long, long time. I can't help thinking that a couple of our starting O linemen are playing backup D line positions. And as gutty as Sofele is he should be the one getting the minimum carries, not Bigelow. CJ should be pounding the defenses and Bigelow should have some awesome plays just for him that don't involve running between the tackles. And it certainly wouldn't hurt to have both CJ and Bigs in the game at the same time. I sometimes think that Tedford spends so much time being 'multiple' that he picks seniority over talent just so he doesn't have to spend time figuring out how much to simplify so that the talent can play.

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82gradDLSdad;841972098 said:

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the more I think our best players aren't necessarily playing. I have no way of proving this other than when some of these younger guys get to play either due to injury or because the picked starter is so bad (eg. the middle linebackers) I'm just amazed at how much better the backup is. How did our initial two starting middle backers win the job? How is Kam Jackson not playing more? I haven't seen a Cal CB make plays on the ball like he did last night in a long, long time. I can't help thinking that a couple of our starting O linemen are playing backup D line positions. And as gutty as Sofele is he should be the one getting the minimum carries, not Bigelow. CJ should be pounding the defenses and Bigelow should have some awesome plays just for him that don't involve running between the tackles. And it certainly wouldn't hurt to have both CJ and Bigs in the game at the same time. I sometimes think that Tedford spends so much time being 'multiple' that he picks seniority over talent just so he doesn't have to spend time figuring out how much to simplify so that the talent can play.

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I agree, Tedford has always leaned towards experience and "knowledge of the playbook" and as a result every year we are a little bit less than we could be.

In 2005, before SC, we only lost 3 games by an average of a little more than 2 points. Senior Tim Mixon was our punt returner and was good, averaging 14.9 yards and returning one of his 24 punt returns for a TD. Desean Jackson had to fill in for him once, and returned his only touch 49 yards for a TD. Mixon was healthy the next game and went right back to returning punts. Maybe with Desean returning punts we beat Oregon instead of losing in OT? And beat OSU (3 pt loss) and UCLA (7 pt loss)?

Strange to think that 2005 team lead by Joe Ayoob could have easily been a one-loss BCS team.

LasVegasBearof79;841972093 said:

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BB is bigtime for us. Why he doesn't get more playing time is a total mystery

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Bigelow doesn't line up in the right place for the play called: even on the touchdown catch Treggs was frantically getting him to move to the proper spot. It isn't clear to me what people want this to be a "mystery" when it is clear from many sources that Bigelow, great as he is, can't do everything yet.

It really isn't that hard of an explanation.

Bearacious;841972599 said:

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Bigelow doesn't line up in the right place for the play called: even on the touchdown catch Treggs was frantically getting him to move to the proper spot. It isn't clear to me what people want this to be a "mystery" when it is clear from many sources that Bigelow, great as he is, can't do everything yet.

It really isn't that hard of an explanation.

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...he is so explosive you just have to find ways to get him more involved in the offense. You can't be rigid and say, "He doesn't know the playbook very well so he sits until he does.", not with this team. On Alabama's team, sure.

Agree BB probably doesn't know the playbook well. I think the logic of starting him went something like this: put him in, see if he gets hot, if he gets hot give him the ball and see where it goes. If he's not hot, sit him a bit.

Isi is the Man. He has done it before - 2011 - and he can do it again, given the opportunity. That said, CJ showed what he can do given enough touches.
Let's ride CJ and Isi the rest of the year - the ground game will be good.

The variable here is the play of the OL and so on.............

82gradDLSdad;841972098 said:

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How is Kam Jackson not playing more? I haven't seen a Cal CB make plays on the ball like he did last night in a long, long time. I can't help thinking that a couple of our starting O linemen are playing backup D line positions. And as gutty as Sofele is he should be the one getting the minimum carries, not Bigelow. CJ should be pounding the defenses and Bigelow should have some awesome plays just for him that don't involve running between the tackles. And it certainly wouldn't hurt to have both CJ and Bigs in the game at the same time. I sometimes think that Tedford spends so much time being 'multiple' that he picks seniority over talent just so he doesn't have to spend time figuring out how much to simplify so that the talent can play.

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Didn't Hill replace Kam at the nickel because Kam was getting abused in the slot? Kam made some great plays, but I'm pretty sure I saw him get beat a bunch of times vs UCLA.

Williams played great in run support and Marc Anthony is probably our best overall corner (and will probably be drafted).