My lord, did anyone see the stats from the Texas game? Texas won 42-28 so you might assume their offense finally woke up. Well, no they didn't...they got a pick 6 and a punt return TD and just let the following sink in:

Rice ran 96 plays, Texas 38 - yes, 38

Rice gained 462 yards, Texas with 277

Texas had 4 punt returns for 175 yards

Texas' leading rusher with 96 yards was their new QB Jerrod Heard - the next best total by a RB was 23 yards

Rice went 14-21 on 3rd downs

Rice had 5 turnovers, Texas 1

Bottom line: If Cal takes care of the ball, and doesn't give up several huge plays on STs, we should win dare I say comfortably

The 175 yards on punt returns sounds scary given our abysmal special teams coverage.

But what if they shut down our offense? A few teams did last year.

The TX game looks to be our very strong offense vs. their very strong defense and their weak offense against our (I'm guessing) mediocre defense.

I think we'll score a few points but won't be able to have our way with Texas' D, so this will really put our D in the spotlight. I actually went to that bowl game vs Texas a few years ago in San Diego with a similar profile and, as we all know, a sad result. Maybe the difference this time is that we are on the upswing rather than a downward spiral (great to have a real QB at the helm).

Our defense hasn't had any kind of test at all yet (Grambling State & SDSU, which scored a feeble 16 points against non-scholarship USD, weren't tests), and if the Texas offense is as bad as advertised, we won't face even a half-decent offense until when, Oct 3 vs WSU? Oct 10 vs Utah? Then we'll suddenly have to contend with real offensive firepower on Oct 22 in Pasadena.

I'll allow that our offense HAS already proven itself, against a good SDSU defense.

SFBear2012;842542712 said:

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The 175 yards on punt returns sounds scary given our abysmal special teams coverage.

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given Texas' apparent lack of O, maybe we should just kick/punt out of bounds and trade some field position for certainty

SFBear2012;842542712 said:

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The 175 yards on punt returns sounds scary given our abysmal special teams coverage.

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Punt returns is not our problem... Kick return is our issue

YLS Bear;842542749 said:

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But what if they shut down our offense? A few teams did last year.

The TX game looks to be our very strong offense vs. their very strong defense and their weak offense against our (I'm guessing) mediocre defense.

I think we'll score a few points but won't be able to have our way with Texas' D, so this will really put our D in the spotlight. I actually went to that bowl game vs Texas a few years ago in San Diego with a similar profile and, as we all know, a sad result. Maybe the difference this time is that we are on the upswing rather than a downward spiral (great to have a real QB at the helm).

Our defense hasn't had any kind of test at all yet (Grambling State & SDSU, which scored a feeble 16 points against non-scholarship USD, weren't tests), and if the Texas offense is as bad as advertised, we won't face even a half-decent offense until when, Oct 3 vs WSU? Oct 10 vs Utah? Then we'll suddenly have to contend with real offensive firepower on Oct 22 in Pasadena.

I'll allow that our offense HAS already proven itself, against a good SDSU defense.

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Our D is untested so far this season, but it is definitely improved from the last two seasons. The defense of the previous two seasons would have allowed way more than 21 combined points against the same two teams.

I hope we get out fast and we are definitely in the driver's seat with their offense qb/coach change or not.

I just finished watching the entire Texas game on my DVR. I am NOT impressed with the UT defense. They have a stud pass rusher in a freshman named Malik Jefferson, but otherwise did not distinguish themselves against either the run or the pass. Rice pretty much ran all over them to the tune of almost 6 yards a carry, and if the Rice QB was anywhere close to Goff's talent, they would have won going away; despite the amazing ST play from UT. Their running QB will pose some problems, as will their speedy receivers, but they looked immenantly beatable to me.
If Cal takes care of the ball, I like our chances.

BearGeorge;842542837 said:

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I just finished watching the entire Texas game on my DVR. I am NOT impressed with the UT defense. They have a stud pass rusher in a freshman named Malik Jefferson, but otherwise did not distinguish themselves against either the run or the pass. Rice pretty much ran all over them to the tune of almost 6 yards a carry, and if the Rice QB was anywhere close to Goff's talent, they would have won going away; despite the amazing ST play from UT. Their running QB will pose some problems, as will their speedy receivers, but they looked immenantly beatable to me.
If Cal takes care of the ball, I like our chances.

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Wait a sec, do you mean, like, really really beatable, or like, beatable right away?

BearGeorge;842542837 said:

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I just finished watching the entire Texas game on my DVR. I am NOT impressed with the UT defense. They have a stud pass rusher in a freshman named Malik Jefferson, but otherwise did not distinguish themselves against either the run or the pass. Rice pretty much ran all over them to the tune of almost 6 yards a carry, and if the Rice QB was anywhere close to Goff's talent, they would have won going away; despite the amazing ST play from UT. Their running QB will pose some problems, as will their speedy receivers, but they looked immenantly beatable to me.
If Cal takes care of the ball, I like our chances.

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Yes, but teams seem to have a way of putting it all together the week they play us.

YLS Bear;842542839 said:

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Wait a sec, do you mean, like, totally beatable, or like, beatable right away?

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What does this mean?
If the two teams played tonight, I think Cal would win; based purely on the traits and skills as team that we've seen demonstrated through two games. Now if Cal soils the bed, and UT somehow becomes inspired; then the future might unfold to a different result. I think Rice is a pretty good analogue to Cal defensively, and that the Cal passing attack is superior to what Rice brought to the contest this evening. The Rice rushing offense was impressive. Rice turned the ball over 5 times tonight, and the final score is more reflective of that fact than on anything the Texas defense did tonight.

YLS Bear;842542749 said:

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But what if they shut down our offense? A few teams did last year.

The TX game looks to be our very strong offense vs. their very strong defense and their weak offense against our (I'm guessing) mediocre defense.

I think we'll score a few points but won't be able to have our way with Texas' D, so this will really put our D in the spotlight. I actually went to that bowl game vs Texas a few years ago in San Diego with a similar profile and, as we all know, a sad result. Maybe the difference this time is that we are on the upswing rather than a downward spiral (great to have a real QB at the helm).

Our defense hasn't had any kind of test at all yet (Grambling State & SDSU, which scored a feeble 16 points against non-scholarship USD, weren't tests), and if the Texas offense is as bad as advertised, we won't face even a half-decent offense until when, Oct 3 vs WSU? Oct 10 vs Utah? Then we'll suddenly have to contend with real offensive firepower on Oct 22 in Pasadena.

I'll allow that our offense HAS already proven itself, against a good SDSU defense.

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but zach maynard was our qb

I brought-up this game in another thread...

Also, just one sack on Rice's QBs. The week before, one sack on ND's QB.

Rice completed a little over 62% of its passes on the Texas D. ND, 86%!

Our offense can and should be productive...

Heard's ability to run could pose a problem. I hope we are prepared for a scrambling QB.

Texas did dominate both of the lines of scrimmage in the 2011 Holiday Bowl. I hope that Cal's offensive and defensive lines can measure up in 2015. GO BEARS!

txwharfrat;842542898 said:

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Heard's ability to run could pose a problem. I hope we are prepared for a scrambling QB.

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I don't remember us having good days against scrambling QB's. I am hoping we can change that.

Schroeder71;842542899 said:

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Texas did dominate both of the lines of scrimmage in the 2011 Holiday Bowl. I hope that Cal's offensive and defensive lines can measure up in 2015. GO BEARS!

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LOL!! I'm sorry I have to laugh at this... Texas dominated the offensive line so thoroughly the racked up a whopping 255 yards in offense.

That bowl was so bad it was cathartic. it actually wiped away any animus of 2004 for me seeing how bad and pathetic both teams had sunk to.

YLSBear said:

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Wait a sec, do you mean, like, really really beatable, or like, beatable right away?

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BearGeorge;842542862 said:

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What does this mean?.......

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He was just poking fun at your spelling mishap. I.e., eminently vs. imminently.

SFBear2012;842542712 said:

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The 175 yards on punt returns sounds scary given our abysmal special teams coverage.

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Most of our coverage problems are on kick off returns.
Coverage teams rely on a good kick.
Matt Anderson did not exactly impress as a kicker yesterday.
Leininger is our punter and much more reliable.

I don't know how Texas did on kick offs because the OP did not state that.

MisterNoodle;842542841 said:

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Yes, but teams seem to have a way of putting it all together the week they play us.

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Rice seems to have played the role of slump buster this time around, but we'll see...

txwharfrat;842542898 said:

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Heard's ability to run could pose a problem. I hope we are prepared for a scrambling QB.

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I don't get the Horn network, but Heard's stats look more like a bona-fide running QB than a scrambler. He only attempted 6 passes on the evening. Texas only ran 38 plays.

We got film on him but not much, which concerns me.

Heard looked pretty good for his first collegiate start, and he is a fast and talented running QB. But if his first look was not to his liking, or the pressure got to him; he was quick to tuck and run. He gets down field quickly, and looks shifty when he runs. Most of his passing yardage was on two long receptions -- both of which were TDs.

BearGeorge;842542862 said:

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What does this mean?
If the two teams played tonight, I think Cal would win; based purely on the traits and skills as team that we've seen demonstrated through two games. Now if [SIZE=3]UT [/SIZE]soils the bed, and [SIZE=3]Cal [/SIZE]somehow becomes inspired; then the future might unfold to a different result. I think Rice is a pretty good analogue to Cal defensively, and that the Cal passing attack is superior to what Rice brought to the contest this evening. The Rice rushing offense was impressive. Rice turned the ball over 5 times tonight, and the final score is more reflective of that fact than on anything the Texas defense did tonight.

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fify
UT can shorten their D prep time by watching the closing seconds of the first half and the first play of the second half.
Maybe they'll try to copy the unusual D formations used by our first two opponents.
Our D seems to have become very opportunistic.

heartofthebear;842542945 said:

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Most of our coverage problems are on kick off returns.
Coverage teams rely on a good kick.
Matt Anderson did not exactly impress as a kicker yesterday.
Leininger is our punter and much more reliable.

I don't know how Texas did on kick offs because the OP did not state that.

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It sounds like Anderson has had the first game jitters, he can't be that bad in practice for him to have earned the starting job, maybe some who have seen him in practice can chime in. Hope he gets past that...

Well reports from practice seemed to indicate Noah Benito (sp ?) was the better kicker but not as consistent. That might be a better option than a consistently short kick off. Fortunately for us Dykes usually doesn't stick with things that aren't working like his predecessor.

UT is dependent on special teams and turnovers. Their D gave up almost 500 yards to RICE. RICE! If Rice hadn't shot themselves in the foot so often they would have won that game.

Heard is a problem. Running QBs (he's a running QB not a scrambler) always open up the run game for teams. We need to be ready for that.

We can win this game. And we need to win games like this. Washington and Utah coming up are also teams that depend on turnovers and special teams.

txwharfrat;842542898 said:

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Heard's ability to run could pose a problem. I hope we are prepared for a scrambling QB.

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May need to switch rubenzer to scout team qb to simulate heard's running

I actually would spy Heard - let our DBs play straight up and have a LB make sure he doesn't kill us with scrambling. Can't believe I would trust our DBs to do this after the last two years but I do now :gobears:

Texas ran only 38 plays but they ran them pretty efficiently. 12.8 yards per pass attempt and 5.2 per rush attempt.

Compare that to Cal's game against SDSU: 12.8 yards per pass and 4.6 yards per rush.

One thing is pretty certain. Cal's O is better than Rice's O. But can Cal's D stop Texas?