89Bear;842624996 said:

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Didn't Walker play a lot at nickel? He returns, right?

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From what I've seen Walker found a home as the nickel DB. He's not big enough to cover most of the Pac-12 WRs man-on-man, but he's a good tackler for his size and has fairly good cover skills as well as an ability to blitz. Hopefully he'll get more opportunities.

Walker has certainly progressed from being a skinny 'shirted freshman CB in 2013, suddenly thrown out there to play safety, which he'd never played, because he was the only body available.
Another of the guys that just sucked it up and did his best for the team.

My feeling is that Rambo and Turner have shown good ability beyond their years with the limited playing time they had.
We forget that Rambo set some kind of freshman record for fall camp with 5 INTs. Some of them were of Goff. Turner made some big plays in the big game @ Utah including a big time INT. Rambo had some moments during the season as well.

These guys are about as game ready as you can get being buried in the depth chart behind upperclassmen.
Combine that with Drew who, barring injury, could be all-conference at safety next season, and Tartabull who was looking good in practices before injury (some live tweeters were absolutely gaga over him) and that is a pretty good 2 deep.

I haven't even mentioned Piatt, who will be one more year removed from his injury and has a nose for the ball and the JCs Vanderbilt and Brown and now you're looking at a 4 deep that can play D1 in the pac-12.

I don't think Rub had much better prospects at safety next year than he did at QB this year.

I wish the best for him. Too bad he doesn't play LB. Otherwise I hope he doesn't fall through the cracks.

buster99;842625231 said:

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Can we get Utah State's DC. I don't know who he is, but watching the defenses of Wisconsin's Aranda and Houston's Todd Orlando in the bowl games has been impressive

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How much are they making now ? And ages? What kind of schemes do the run

concordtom;842624911 said:

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Except that he can't pass.... there's always that to consider.
( I will say, however, awesome looking highlight clips above - dude can SCAMPER!)

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Some years back my oldest had just finished up his HS football career, playing quarterback. His senior season, he completed over 73% of his passes, for over 4,000 yards. Threw for 60+ TDs, with only 3 INTs...

Now, since, at the time, I had only been in the US for 5 years, I knew very little about football. I decided to ask around to see if my son had had a good year, to see if he could "pass" (so many meanings to that word... very confusing for somebody trying to learn the language!). Anyway, I ask five guys and they say, "Wow!" "Great passer!" "The kid can really throw!" "Amazing!" and "Best I've ever seen!" Then I ask the sixth guy and he says, "Your son can't pass." I asked him, "Who are you?"

He says, "My name is comcordtom."

heartofthebear;842625325 said:

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My feeling is that Rambo and Turner have shown good ability beyond their years with the limited playing time they had.
We forget that Rambo set some kind of freshman record for fall camp with 5 INTs. Some of them were of Goff. Turner made some big plays in the big game @ Utah including a big time INT. Rambo had some moments during the season as well.

These guys are about as game ready as you can get being buried in the depth chart behind upperclassmen.
Combine that with Drew who, barring injury, could be all-conference at safety next season, and Tartabull who was looking good in practices before injury (some live tweeters were absolutely gaga over him) and that is a pretty good 2 deep.

I haven't even mentioned Piatt, who will be one more year removed from his injury and has a nose for the ball and the JCs Vanderbilt and Brown and now you're looking at a 4 deep that can play D1 in the pac-12.

I don't think Rub had much better prospects at safety next year than he did at QB this year.

I wish the best for him. Too bad he doesn't play LB. Otherwise I hope he doesn't fall through the cracks.

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There's a bit of parallel between Rubenzer and Walker, indicative of the current Cal team - playing in unfamiliar positions, learning and growing because they're committed to the team ... unselfish, struggling, and now succeeding. Luke gave up a season because he wanted to play, and he did. An interception in the bowl was a good measure of how well he did, playing out of his desired position. Now he'll apparently get the chance to go back to QB, and he will compete and push the others, and, no doubt about it, he will see the field at times.
Once more, Kudos to Luke, and his parents who raised a great kid, a Golden Bear worthy of the Goff Award for guts, not glory.

The unselfish move by Luke should teach a few posters on here a thing or two/Maybe change up perspective of how one looks at life

I can totally understand...questioning if sonny can continue the up tick
Aka sitting on fence with critical views

But the sitting in a lawn chair on other side of wall mad cause dykes is coaching/don't like offense etc etc y'all missed the point life is way too short
Google Tony's statement about goff

Rip #35

Go Bears

CalBear04;842624979 said:

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Excited to see what he can do! I expect that the game will have slowed down a bunch for him at this point as he's been a regular on defense.

Exciting play maker and true golden bear!

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Exactly my thoughts as I was reading this post.

First, he was up against Goff to start, and we can see why he lost that battle.

Second, he was damn good in HS and brought the running dimension to QB.

Third, he has matured with this team, and could stand up on the "new" offense as an experienced leader as opposed to a "young 'en"

Now, his playing safety gives him a look at what he was doing from the other angle. How much has that helped, or will help?

In the mix, the competition will show if he can pass at the P5 level. Good luck Mr. Rubenzer.

Good luck to all the QBs ... push each other and Goff has set the path to success ... Hard Work, lots of it.
They'll all throw hundreds of passes under different conditions ... rigorous, and not just in throwing.

Push each other to be the best you can be ....

Two things to remember:
1. Don't let the bastards drag you down. When Negas start their carping remind them we have really fine young men representing this university and they're doing the very best they can to win games.
2. The coaches are doing what they can to coach-up the players. They don't want losses. They have families to support and reputations to preserve. We're all on the same page.

SonOfCalVa;842625147 said:

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Luke reminds me of Mickey Mo ... considering that he only had his HS experience, he did a helluva job.
As you said: "fire in the belly and doing whatever it takes to be on the field" ... good job, Luke.

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These were both right-on posts. For those who think they have seen all of Luke's passing abilities, its a ridiculous premise. Luke came off the bench, much like a reliever who didn't get warm-up tosses. This doesn't even count the lack of times he was in the game to get into any rhythm.

He is stronger and faster and of course smarter I'm excited for him

Rubenzer deserves a fair shot and I believe he'll get it.

Big C_Cal;842625414 said:

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Some years back my oldest had just finished up his HS football career, playing quarterback. His senior season, he completed over 73% of his passes, for over 4,000 yards. Threw for 60+ TDs, with only 3 INTs...

Now, since, at the time, I had only been in the US for 5 years, I knew very little about football. I decided to ask around to see if my son had had a good year, to see if he could "pass" (so many meanings to that word... very confusing for somebody trying to learn the language!). Anyway, I ask five guys and they say, "Wow!" "Great passer!" "The kid can really throw!" "Amazing!" and "Best I've ever seen!" Then I ask the sixth guy and he says, "Your son can't pass." I asked him, "Who are you?"

He says, "My name is comcordtom."

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+1 too funny. And those hs stats sound so familiar, like that of our Jesus in cleats Kyle Boller.

Nothing bad comes from this at all. If Rubenzer wins the job, he's the best we've got. If he loses the job he potentially goes back to safety. Win win.

tequila4kapp;842625490 said:

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Nothing bad comes from this at all. If Rubenzer wins the job, he's the best we've got. If he loses the job he potentially goes back to safety. Win win.

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or ... both, being used situationally, if he earns it, at QB, and provides depth at safety with Int(s) under his belt.

SonOfCalVa;842625497 said:

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or ... both, being used situationally, if he earns it, at QB, and provides depth at safety with Int(s) under his belt.

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IMO. His experience as QB helped him as Safety. And his experience as Saftey will help him as QB.

QB Rubenzer is excellent and seems to have most of the tools, but he needs a stronger arm to make those sideline throws.

His arm is plenty strong he has other mechanical issues imo

SonOfCalVa;842625147 said:

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Luke reminds me of Mickey Mo ... considering that he only had his HS experience, he did a helluva job.
As you said: "fire in the belly and doing whatever it takes to be on the field" ... good job, Luke.

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Not considered a pure passer, volunteered for special teams so he could get on the field. That type of competitiveness can make up for perceived deficiencies. Whether he wins the QB job or not, every team needs players who will do whatever it takes to get on the field.

SonOfCalVa;842625497 said:

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or ... both, being used situationally, if he earns it, at QB, and provides depth at safety with Int(s) under his belt.

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I was pleasantly surprised to see that he had 43 tackles and 2 interceptions (as well as 1 BU and 3 PD).

gobears88;842628320 said:

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Not considered a pure passer, volunteered for special teams so he could get on the field. That type of competitiveness can make up for perceived deficiencies. Whether he wins the QB job or not, every team needs players who will do whatever it takes to get on the field.

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Yes yes yes he just wants to win!!!

I'm a big fan of this move! Go Luke!

Experienced maturity on the field as the team leader. His respect is already earned.

Indeed ...if Luke comes out ready in spring he and Chase may battle till fall

the more contestants in the QB sweeps the better.

the one thing I'm NOT worried about is the staff picking the best QB out of the group. they will do that for sure. So if it's RBZ, Forrest, Bowers or Gilliam or Webb coming in as a grad transfer, whomever will be the best of our group. That's one thing I'm not stressing

moonpod;842628392 said:

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the more contestants in the QB sweeps the better.

the one thing I'm NOT worried about is the staff picking the best QB out of the group. they will do that for sure. So if it's RBZ, Forrest, Bowers or Gilliam or Webb coming in as a grad transfer, whomever will be the best of our group. That's one thing I'm not stressing

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I concur

moonpod;842628392 said:

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the more contestants in the QB sweeps the better.

the one thing I'm NOT worried about is the staff picking the best QB out of the group. they will do that for sure. So if it's RBZ, Forrest, Bowers or Gilliam or Webb coming in as a grad transfer, whomever will be the best of our group. That's one thing I'm not stressing

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And backups will be ready, unlike in other quacky places.

I believe the coaches will try to have a #1 at QB by the end of spring.
It may not happen but it would probably help Rub more than anybody if they do.
Then he could focus on whatever is his future position all fall.