SonOfCalVa;842659640 said:
Five contenders: Forrest, Bowers, Rubenzer, Gilliam and Kline with VicV arriving in fall.
Who emerges as starter and backup(s) is TBD.
Kline in interview comes across as really having grown up and kudos to him and Dykes for their warm, "no hard feelings" approach to each other. Kline's appreciation of a Berkeley degree and his team enthusiasm is a nice addition whether or not he sees the field. Special teams?
With what I had heard some time back, there was no hard feelings or dislike toward SD, or vice versa, SD to Zach. To the contrary is more likely... The relationship and communication between TF and Zach, well, that's different (various accounts). The TFS and its "feed-the-machine" approach was seemingly not the best match with Zach's style of play. If TF was still Cal's OC, I doubt we are having this discussion. TF is gone for reasons for which one can speculate, but not because the program was entertaining Zach's return.
The primary beef I've had with the SD era has been with the TFS offense. The same was voiced by a major donor, taking a slight jab in some release as I recall. Coupled with 2015 offensive results that reveal a mediocre Pac-12 offense in PPG scored (conference play), TF is likely gone due to unacceptable production from the most experienced P5 team with an incredible talent at QB.
There's a lot to like about SD, IMO. Without a change at OC though, I was very down on the future prospects of this offense... Spavital's show now and I'm excited to see his offense.
Back to Zach... He's getting one of the best degrees in the world, and will have done so by taking the path less traveled, that's for sure. The young man followed his heart with respect to his dream to be a starting D1 QB. To leave a school he truly loves, a degree that he very much values, his family, friends and girl, speaks to the conviction and resolve he has in seeing a dream to some type of end, knowing that he did absolutely everything possible toward achievement. Risks were taken, possibly losing the Cal degree, taxing his relationship with distance, yet here he is still working that dream, and getting that Cal degree, possibly two! I really admire the persistence, regardless of what materializes from here...
He's dang happy to be on the team, and as he said, he'll be a heck of a teammate and contribute however he can in helping Cal football win more games. The young man wants to win the starting QB job of course. Working with a trainer, and pitch and catch with guys like Austin Hooper and Maximo Espitia, the dream was living before being back on the football roster...
One practice in only, but it seems that he's being given a true shot to be evaluated. I had read or heard unofficially that there were approximately 35 offensive team plays, Zach having 7 passes, up there with Chase, also with 7. I imagine the distribution will change from practice to practice, which is fine and to be expected... Kudos to the staff for having an open mind. At some point 5 QBs won't make for enough snaps...
At ISU, Zach not starting, I wouldn't put much stock in that one... The OC wanted to go young, and there are benefits for doing so, investing in the future. Zach had done well in the practices there, and apparently did very well in their spring game. I didn't watch the video of the spring game, but heard...
I apologize if I missed it, but is there a practice schedule posted? I might be able to make a few...
