SoFlaBear;842363672 said:

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The defense (notwithstanding last night) is vastly improved over last year, and Goff is one of the most exciting Cal QBs I've ever seen. It's certainly not the team of a year ago, or the team of the last year of Tedford. It's an exciting team to watch, and should continue to improve over the season. Colorado presents a different test -- can we handle a beatable conference opponent at home? I hope the fans show and that CMS gets loud for this, and all the upcoming home games.

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Well said. Helluva Game !!!
Cal has come back from a huge deficit against Oregon and won. We'll also had a game in which we were down with four (4) seconds to go and won.
Now it's happened to us, all in one game. Disappointing, sure ... but certainly entertaining and exciting.

We still have a very young team but they're learning and have just been taught quite a few lessons. And Arizona had to work their butts off to teach that lesson.
BI is full of "fans" who have no respect for the team or the coaches, so this is their opportunity to blast the loss even though they predicted, perhaps even hoped, that Cal would lose so they can continue their negativity.
I expect the team will handle this adversity ... so near to victory then having it snatched away ... they'll learn; they'll grow; they'll become even more successful. Cal football is definitely back on track.
Helluva game.

Thanks MB and check your PM.

Bottom line

Absolutely no recruit who was interested in Cal is going to be less interested because of last night.
I would imagine many will be more interested.

Arizona deserves credit, particularly Scooby Wright on defense and Anu Solomon on offense. They won that game for the Cats.

mbBear;842363770 said:

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Over-stated "moral victory" stuff...on the other hand, I don't buy "same ol' Cal"...it was a winnable game, and Cal let it slip away. I suppose I will be more accepting of the over-all concept if Arizona proves over the season that they are indeed a pretty good team...

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Old Blues had to talk about "moral victories" in the past. We went to them, enjoyed them win or lose, then headed to LaVal's for pizza and beer. This was not a "moral victory". It was a hard fought game and, as many predicted, the last team with the ball would win.
Whatever Arizona does from here doesn't seem relevant. We are truly on a game-by-game, season long test and are doing pretty damn good so far with our still very young team. Each game will be unique, previous results aside.
Colorado, on paper, should be our first Pac12 victory in a long time. But WSU didn't roll over for Oregon.
The team has new lessons to study, but they're smart and determined. They're a new TEAM.

bar20;842363631 said:

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Why not use your tallest players and best jumpers to defend an end of the game hail mary even if they normally play offense. The Cal defender that let the ball go over his head seemed kind of short to me. A very tuff loss to swallow but next week we have Colorado at CMS and the Bears should bounce back with a victory.

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It is the same reason why you bring your closer out the next day after blowing a save the day before .

If you replace all those DBs with WRs you ruin morale and you send the message that you don't have faith in the players to fullfill their assignments. That hail mary could have been defended with the players that were on the field just fine. The DBs need to be trusted to do their job in a time like that.

Boot;842363644 said:

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It's why college football is so much better than the National Felons League.

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I thought it was the No Fault League

BearlyLegal;842363652 said:

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Agree -- should have put a couple of our wide receivers at goal
Line. lawyer and Hudson perhaps

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What if they had to make a tackle and didn't?
This board would have gone ballistic with the fire Dykes talk
Not all hail marys reach the end zone. Sometimes the player has to run in to score.

bar20;842363631 said:

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Why not use your tallest players and best jumpers to defend an end of the game hail mary even if they normally play offense. The Cal defender that let the ball go over his head seemed kind of short to me. A very tuff loss to swallow but next week we have Colorado at CMS and the Bears should bounce back with a victory.

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They did. Go watch the play again (or don't and take my word for it). Lawler was in on defense to defend the hail mary. The defense just did a bad job of getting position and making a play on the ball.

Cal89;842363723 said:

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I'm in agreement with the last couple posts.

I like to believe that our coaches are still feeling this all out, and what's going to work best, here in the PAC-12, against specific teams even. There really seems to be a balancing act with respect to how to manage the game when leading. The second half collapse in each of our D1 games is telling us something...

From a team that was down and down big early last season, to the exact opposite this year is fascinating, and certainly a very good thing. The machine can work, and as with all tinkering, we need to refine in other areas now. That's how I'm seeing this all rather simplistically.

I don't imagine we'll often face opposing offenses running a 100+ plays too, but we must be ready for such. Colorado will not pose that problem next week. The Buffs just beat a Hawaii team more convincingly than UW and OSU did. They were going in the right direction last season and seem to be this year too. A 2 TD loss to ASU I suppose is respectable, but most importantly to me is how they played against ASU. They played well, having almost 550 yards (100+ more than ASU) and 28 first downs (10 more than ASU). And 91 plays, I didn't realize so many...

A win, a solid one against the Buffs, should not be diminished.

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Buffs WR Nelson Spruce is the real deal. He will present a problem for our defense.

MoragaBear;842363527 said:

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I'm not going to pretend that wasn't a horrific, gut-wrenching loss tonight. I've been on the sidelines as games have slipped away on the road, with raucous cheers cascading down on the field in waves, just like tonight. It's a awful feeling. And to have the game end that way was just surreal.

It's tempting when you care a lot about the team to get bitter and lash out and look for targets for your disappointment. But I have to give credit where credit's due. When the chips were down in the 4th quarter, Solomon and Jones flat-out balled-out.

Did Cal have something to do with that? The players, the coaches? Sure but man, did they come through.

Many will say that this is just the same old Cal. The end result and the accompanying heartbreak that comes with it is familiar but these guys were making plays all over the field most of the night. The defense had only given up 13 on the road going into the 4th quarter to a very potent offense.

Arizona ran 106 plays. 106 plays! The defense was out of gas at the end and Arizona pulled off one of the most unbelievably clutch comebacks and final plays I've seen in my life. I'll tip my hat to them and move on.

Hopefully the team will grow from this. They have a lot of young, confident players and I think they will.

This is an incredibly exciting team to watch. I'll be chaperoning our youth group's annual water ski and camping weekend at Berryessa from Friday to Sunday this week, but you can bet your life I'll slip away sometime @11 on Saturday and be in Section T for the Colorado game, waiting for some more exciting football.

Roll on you Bears

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I guess we will see how this team responds to adversity.

I am heartened that this Cal team can play with a good team on the road. Not last year's team.

Just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in to Cal fan hell.

I think most everyone in the conference would prefer not to play Cal right now.
I don't think any coach is saying.
"Wow, that Cal team is a bunch of losers like they always have been"
"It should be pretty easy to outcoach Dykes because he doesn't know how to coach with a second half lead"

I think Cal is a scary team for even the top teams in the conference.
So it is amazing to me when our own fans have such a poor opinion of Cal.

heartofthebear;842363817 said:

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I think most everyone in the conference would prefer not to play Cal right now.
I don't think any coach is saying.
"Wow, that Cal team is a bunch of losers like they always have been"
"It should be pretty easy to outcoach Dykes because he doesn't know how to coach with a second half lead"

I think Cal is a scary team for even the top teams in the conference.
So it is amazing to me when our own fans have such a poor opinion of Cal.

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I agree that coaches are readjusting their previous opinions that Cal would be a breather, an easy win.

well, as to our "fans" with negative expectations ... only some "fans", certain "fans" ... especially those who predicted defeat then have been so verbose because we lost.
In a very pathetic way, they're funny (but not humorous).

Hungover and heartbroken is the lot of a Cal fan. I'm still smarting but on the plus side, we've seen a glimpse of what this team can be and that's giving me some comfort. Go Bears!

I delayed going on the blog until now. Maybe later I will read the stories.

First- thanks to MB and the many commentators. It helps to get a broader perspective to tone down my "woe is me" mood.

Mine: Wow, another quick start- team ready to play for the third game in a row- the EMERGENCE of Khalfani Muhammed as a running back, and love the tougness of Lasco and Hudson. The corps of wide receivers was outstanding as always. The full implementation of the Franklin offense (and nice Al Davis look and hairstyle on the sidelines Tony). Many bright spots on defense ( especially first half).

What is different this year is that we punch back. I thought the game was won with the last Cal score, and unfortunately the Bears also thought the game was won. You learn from each fight. We will win our share- I still say 5-7 and hope for 6-6. One year away from a truly memorable season.

AbominableSnowman;842363804 said:

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They did. Go watch the play again (or don't and take my word for it). Lawler was in on defense to defend the hail mary. The defense just did a bad job of getting position and making a play on the ball.

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Yes. Many of our players were outrun by Zona's receivers. It was our bad D scheme + luck on Zona.

we should have not been i the position to for the hall mary to matter imo

I disagree...what Arizona does moving forward will make me feel better (or not)about this game: did Cal battle/lose to a good team, or a so-so team....

Shaggy Bevo weighs in....

BerlinerBaer;842364058 said:

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Shaggy Bevo weighs in....

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Hahaha! That actually made me feel better.

NYCGOBEARS;842364062 said:

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Hahaha! That actually made me feel better.

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First time I've laughed since the game.

+1

that's hilarious. possibly my desktop for the next week

MoragaBear;842363527 said:

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.
This is an incredibly exciting team to watch. I'll be chaperoning our youth group's annual water ski and camping weekend at Berryessa from Friday to Sunday this week, but you can bet your life I'll slip away sometime @11 on Saturday and be in Section T for the Colorado game, waiting for some more exciting football.

Roll on you Bears

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I'm flying in from Seattle with one of my sons to enjoy a Cal victory over Colorado. We're sitting in... Section T! I should stop by and say hello.

heartofthebear;842363817 said:

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I think most everyone in the conference would prefer not to play Cal right now.
I don't think any coach is saying.
"Wow, that Cal team is a bunch of losers like they always have been"
"It should be pretty easy to outcoach Dykes because he doesn't know how to coach with a second half lead"

I think Cal is a scary team for even the top teams in the conference.
So it is amazing to me when our own fans have such a poor opinion of Cal.

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some heart .. not all

i woke up next morning like ok its done .. NEXT!!!!!!!!!!! lets get this win over buffs

go bears

heartofthebear;842363800 said:

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It is the same reason why you bring your closer out the next day after blowing a save the day before .

If you replace all those DBs with WRs you ruin morale and you send the message that you don't have faith in the players to fullfill their assignments. That hail mary could have been defended with the players that were on the field just fine. The DBs need to be trusted to do their job in a time like that.

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No! You put your most athletic players in for one final play. What's easier getting over not playing on one play or a loss like Saturday's? It's a team sport. A hail mary pass is completely different than a normal pass play.

AbominableSnowman;842363804 said:

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They did. Go watch the play again (or don't and take my word for it). Lawler was in on defense to defend the hail mary. The defense just did a bad job of getting position and making a play on the ball.

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How tall is number 3 for Cal? No way he is 5'11" as listed on the roster chart.

Link to the roster. #3 is Cam Walker.
http://bearinsider.com/football/football.php?pg=fb_roster

bar20;842364805 said:

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How tall is number 3 for Cal? No way he is 5'11" as listed on the roster chart.

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bar20;842364804 said:

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No! You put your most athletic players in for one final play. What's easier getting over not playing on one play or a loss like Saturday's? It's a team sport. A hail mary pass is completely different than a normal pass play.

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Yes. We should have rushed 5 and dropped our hands team into coverage. Problem was that we were out of timeouts, so there wasn't any time to play around with the roster on that final play.

bar20;842364804 said:

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No! You put your most athletic players in for one final play. What's easier getting over not playing on one play or a loss like Saturday's? It's a team sport. A hail mary pass is completely different than a normal pass play.

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Well
OK
Except that 4 of our DBs were athletic enough to be WRs.
Dozier
Piatt
Willis
Worstell

Piatt was the closest on the play and couldn't make it.
So what is your point exactly?

heartofthebear;842365000 said:

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Well
OK
Except that 4 of our DBs were athletic enough to be WRs.
Dozier
Piatt
Willis
Worstell

Piatt was the closest on the play and couldn't make it.
So what is your point exactly?

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Personally, I think you have guys that practice pass defense every day and I would stick with them. I think the problem on the hail mary was not the personnel but was the approach (as I said elsewhere, not getting deep enough soon enough, not playing the ball as soon as the ball goes in the air.)

OaktownBear;842365006 said:

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Personally, I think you have guys that practice pass defense every day and I would stick with them. I think the problem on the hail mary was not the personnel but was the approach (as I said elsewhere, not getting deep enough soon enough, not playing the ball as soon as the ball goes in the air.)

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Exactly.
That is pretty clear on the replays, which aren't hard to find since they went practically viral on the internet. However, part of the problem was they were too deep. The ball came down in front of several defenders. But I agree that the approach was flawed. Clearly many of the Cal players eliminated themselves from the ability to make a play on the ball.

heartofthebear;842365034 said:

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But I agree that the approach was flawed. Clearly many of the Cal players eliminated themselves from the ability to make a play on the ball.

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Yes.

Ideally on a ~50 yard Hail Mary there should be at a minimum a defender behind the receiver and a defender in directly front of the receiver and a defender on either side. It's also critical for all defenders to go toward the ball's destination as soon as the ball is thrown to be able to be in proper position to make the play when the ball arrives. Generally, if a defender is looking at and going for the ball and there is incidental contact, the officials will not call PI, as everyone has a right to the ball, but the defender has to be in proper position. In this case there was no defender in proper position directly in front of the receiver.

Also, instead of a 3-2-4-2 defense Cal may have been better off with a 3-1-4-3, or a 4-0-4-3 since Arizona had to get into the endzone.

OaktownBear;842365006 said:

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Personally, I think you have guys that practice pass defense every day and I would stick with them. I think the problem on the hail mary was not the personnel but was the approach (as I said elsewhere, not getting deep enough soon enough, not playing the ball as soon as the ball goes in the air.)

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Oaktown, look at the replay of the last play again. I saw only three Cal players in the screen (within ten yards of the line of scrimmage) when the ball was snapped. We were deep, very deep. The problem was rushing three men only, and no pressure on Soloman.

needed to really to send someone on the delayed blitz he had too long to chuck it

Does anyone know who was assigned to play "Centerfield" on the last play?

One of the deep backs should have been assigned that function before the snap -- simply to play the ball from start to finish.

The "Centerfielder" initially stands between the hash marks near the goal line at the start of the play and then watches the QB and moves laterally with the QB and then goes toward the ball's destination as soon as its thrown. That function appeared to be a missing part of Cal's defense on the last play.