We started to play not to lose, rather than play to win. Why turn the game over to your weakest unit, the defense, and see if they can hold Arizona off? Why go for the field goal, when even if we make it, Cal still would have lost? Why not continue passing the ball, when that is what we do best? And if you want to run the ball on 3rd down, why put in the freshman QB to run it, when everyone in the stadium knows that is what he is going to do? If you insist on running it, why not have Lasco or Muhammad run it?
It was Dykes himself who lost this game, with several brain cramps. And as Neuheisel said, these hurry up spread offenses have one big weakness, and that is that they don't allow you to run clock and slow down the game. Would it be thinking too far outside the box to start practicing a formation you can run from, even when the defense knows you are going to run? A pro set with a fullback, a tailback, and one or two tight ends? A T-formation (heaven forbid!) with a fullback, two halfbacks and a tight end?
The average time of possession on a Cal drive was one minute and 42 seconds, ending in a score, a punt or a turnover. Our longest drives of the day, both about 3 minutes long, took place in the first quarter. This offense is efficient and effective, but it is killing our defense, which is not deep, by giving them little or no time to rest. They need the capability of making a 6-10 minute drive at the end of a close game to secure a win. The players made some mistakes, but we did get a lot of breaks. They played well enough to win this game. The loss is on Dykes and his staff, IMO.
