Bowers Commits 6 Turnovers, No. 5 USC Beats Cal 30-20

6 turnovers.

While this loss stings, I'm encourged by the effort. Coach Wilcox and staff have done a great job thus far. We're going to be in every game if we stick with the game plan. Once we get some depth, the sky's the limit for this program.

Great game for three quarters.
Has a Cal qb ever had 6 turnovers in one game or 11 in four games and still played?
Bowers is still learning, but can we afford a turnover machine like him if he keeps this up?
Bowers hasn't yet learned to throw the ball away and get a timer in his head - he waits way too long and doesn't seem to have a feel for pressure. He also locks on one receiver for far too long.
Anderson has stunk up the field all year - what is going on? He has been abysmal. At least they don't have him doing kickoffs anymore. Anderson wins the award for the most disappointing player so far this year.

Playing to a tie for 3 quarters against the best team in the Pac-12 should give the team confidence. With the possible exception of Washington, playing that way (without the mistakes of the 4th quarter) would be sufficient to beat any other team in the conference. This team will get better.

CAL6371 said:

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Great game for three quarters.
Has a Cal qb ever had 6 turnovers in one game or 11 in four games and still played?
Bowers is still learning, but can we afford a turnover machine like him if he keeps this up?
Bowers hasn't yet learned to throw the ball away and get a timer in his head - he waits way too long and doesn't seem to have a feel for pressure. He also locks on one receiver for far too long.
Anderson has stunk up the field all year - what is going on? He has been abysmal. At least they don't have him doing kickoffs anymore. Anderson wins the award for the most disappointing player so far this year.

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If you look at the depth chart there aren't reliable alternatives this year. Better hope he gets better. But I wouldn't at all be surprised if 2018 sees a different QB behind center, and possibly even a different #2, than Bowers. This is very much a rebuilding year for Cal.

Uthaithani said:

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But I wouldn't at all be surprised if 2018 sees a different QB behind center, and possibly even a different #2, than Bowers.

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Who?

CAL6371 said:

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Great game for three quarters.
Has a Cal qb ever had 6 turnovers in one game or 11 in four games and still played?
Bowers is still learning, but can we afford a turnover machine like him if he keeps this up?
Bowers hasn't yet learned to throw the ball away and get a timer in his head - he waits way too long and doesn't seem to have a feel for pressure. He also locks on one receiver for far too long.
Anderson has stunk up the field all year - what is going on? He has been abysmal. At least they don't have him doing kickoffs anymore. Anderson wins the award for the most disappointing player so far this year.

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In 1978 Cal threw 10 interceptions in its game against UCLA and Rich Campbell threw 5 of them. There were also 2 Cal fumbles, but I'm not sure who fumbled. Cal lost 45-0.

CAL6371 said:

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Great game for three quarters.
Has a Cal qb ever had 6 turnovers in one game or 11 in four games and still played?
Bowers is still learning, but can we afford a turnover machine like him if he keeps this up?
Bowers hasn't yet learned to throw the ball away and get a timer in his head - he waits way too long and doesn't seem to have a feel for pressure. He also locks on one receiver for far too long.
Anderson has stunk up the field all year - what is going on? He has been abysmal. At least they don't have him doing kickoffs anymore. Anderson wins the award for the most disappointing player so far this year.

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I actually thought Bowers did a great job throwing the ball away against Ole Miss, and early this game. But once the fourth hit he did a terrible job of it.

I had repressed that debacle. It was on national tv and I was in the stands. Unfortunately, Bowers is no Rich Campbell. And Bowers (whom I had supported for the starting job) has 11 in 4 games. That is simply not a sustainable downside for a qb - especially on a team which has to play above its ability (as they have so far).

CAL6371 said:

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I had repressed that debacle. It was on national tv and I was in the stands. Unfortunately, Bowers is no Rich Campbell. And Bowers (whom I had supported for the starting job) has 11 in 4 games. That is simply not a sustainable downside for a qb - especially on a team which has to play above its ability (as they have so far).

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Well, unfortunately he had terrible protection from the inexperienced O-line, and he just did a very poor job dealing with an effective rush. Plus he threw some just plain bad passes. Lacking the deep threat that Robertson represents didn't help. And the rushing game, despite some decent looking stats, didn't seem that good to me. Seemed like Bowers was constantly facing third and long.
Offensive line, which had some injury problems. No deep threat. Inexperienced QB. Thin at RB--I thought Enwere was underused today--with Watson out. All that served to undermine a much better than expected defense. DB's never got beat deep. Defense finally broke under repeated pressure caused by turnovers. All in all, very disappointing. I'm still not sure if they'll benefit from experience or if they just don't have the horses. What is encouraging is the defense.

The young man played in the 4th quarter like he thought he was still in Bothell High School and the big stud vs. and other players on the field. The problem is he was playing against U$C and throwing a ball up with 4 defenders and one receiver just ain't gonna do it. Simple as that. Either he learns that or.........

If he doesn't learn, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. For now, we'll assume he's learned something.

Yogi Bear said:

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Uthaithani said:

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But I wouldn't at all be surprised if 2018 sees a different QB behind center, and possibly even a different #2, than Bowers.

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Who?

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Brandon McIlwain and/or Chase Garbers are the two other options next year (technically Garbers is an option this year too). I think Bowers continues to develop the remainder of this year, but if he doesn't these are the two most likely guys to push him.

southseasbear said:

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Playing to a tie for 3 quarters against the best team in the Pac-12 should give the team confidence. With the possible exception of Washington, playing that way (without the mistakes of the 4th quarter) would be sufficient to beat any other team in the conference. This team will get better.

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Might be a bit early to anoint the Trojies the best in the Pac. They may well be but probably will have to beat UW to cement it.

59bear said:

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southseasbear said:

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Playing to a tie for 3 quarters against the best team in the Pac-12 should give the team confidence. With the possible exception of Washington, playing that way (without the mistakes of the 4th quarter) would be sufficient to beat any other team in the conference. This team will get better.

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Might be a bit early to anoint the Trojies the best in the Pac. They may well be but probably will have to beat UW to cement it.

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I think it's safe to say they're the best in the South. We won't find out if they're better than UW unless UW wins the North again.

Can a final score simultaneously make the game seem closer and further than it it actually was? Lost by 10 but it was over after the last 3 turnovers. But we were also one td catch lost to the sun and a missed field goal from taking the lead.

Also, has any non ranked team every play a top five team, give up 6 turnovers, and then only lose by 10? That must be a first.