The two things that this last season has shown us is (1) that Chase Garbers is actually a fair-to-middling QB and (2) that he is absolutely critical to any future Cal success next season.
I realize that the above is not any earth-shaking pronouncement to the regular Bear fans here.
I only say such as in moderation of the domino-effect that the above pronouncement has apparently generated with respect to Cal doing what to me would be incredible things on the field of play for the 2020 season. However, I do admit that it is always possible with enough luck that Garbers could take Cal to the heights of Mount Olympus, but at this point, I'm not that convinced.
Again, Garbers is a good QB per my definition.
As I've put forth in the past, a "good" QB, like a "good" team, should be talented enough win those games that his team is expected to beat. From the final 2019 rankings of all CFB teams, Garbers seems to have done just that!
Cal was ranked at #38 out of 130 teams.
The Bears, when led by Garbers for the entire game, beat those below Cal's ranking - UC Davis (NR), North Texas (#116), Ole Miss (#74), stanfurd (#59), Wazzu (#52), ucla (#51), Illinois (#50), and Washington (#40).
It must be noted that a Garber-less Cal did beat Wazzu (#52); therefore, it's an easy extrapolation to say Cal would have won with the better QB too had he played. Yes, Cal did lose to the Beavers (#55) but Garbers didn't play in that game lost by only 4 points.
On the flip side, the Bears lost to those above its ranking - ASU (#37), Utah (#20), u$C (#19) and Oregon (#6) even though Garbers played almost two quarters in the ASU and USC contests. It's too bad that he missed the Utes and the Ducks games.
The above does support the contentions that Cal probably could've beaten the Beavers and maybe even the Sun Devils had Garbers been able to play the entire time in these games. Unfortunately he didn't. Otherwise, Cal might have had a 9 or 10 win overall record.
Can Cal with Garbers reach the magic 10-win brass ring this coming year like many here believe?
Yeah, if he stays healthy and if all else within the Pac-12 stays the same as it was in 2019, it would be in the realm of a realistic possibility, but such circumstance happening is super iffy.
The obvious shows that in the 7 full-games that Garbers did played in Cal won. What bothers me is that these victories were not by much (14 pts. over NR, 1 pt. over #40, 6 pts. over #116, 8 pts. over #74, 4 pts. over #59, 10 pts. over #51, and 15 pts. over #50) even though the teams that Garbers and the Bears beat were, albeit eventually, ranked across the gamut lower than Cal. Although Cal will essentially put the same team on the field next year, it's hard to say the same about the 2020 opponents. That is, will Garbers face a TCU like an Ole Miss or a 2020 UDub be like a 2019 UDub? Or, more hopefully, will he face a dirty 2020 furd like a 2019 dirty furd?
For now, let's answer "yes" to the above.
Still, I'm concerned about Garbers. In his seven successful full games, he averaged almost 12 rushes per game! His best passing games were against Ole Miss (357 yds.) and the furds (285 yds.) where he rushed 12 and 13 times, respectively. He had an incredible 18 rushes for 90 yards in the Bears' win over The Mean Green! He had 11 rushes in Cal's bowl game.
The above data represents running back stats. Running is a part of Garbers' QB prowess. Will Garbers and should Garbers try to emulate his 2019 running stats? I think it may be to his peril if he does, especially when defenses will be targeting him if he tries.
I realize that the above is not any earth-shaking pronouncement to the regular Bear fans here.
I only say such as in moderation of the domino-effect that the above pronouncement has apparently generated with respect to Cal doing what to me would be incredible things on the field of play for the 2020 season. However, I do admit that it is always possible with enough luck that Garbers could take Cal to the heights of Mount Olympus, but at this point, I'm not that convinced.
Again, Garbers is a good QB per my definition.
As I've put forth in the past, a "good" QB, like a "good" team, should be talented enough win those games that his team is expected to beat. From the final 2019 rankings of all CFB teams, Garbers seems to have done just that!
Cal was ranked at #38 out of 130 teams.
The Bears, when led by Garbers for the entire game, beat those below Cal's ranking - UC Davis (NR), North Texas (#116), Ole Miss (#74), stanfurd (#59), Wazzu (#52), ucla (#51), Illinois (#50), and Washington (#40).
It must be noted that a Garber-less Cal did beat Wazzu (#52); therefore, it's an easy extrapolation to say Cal would have won with the better QB too had he played. Yes, Cal did lose to the Beavers (#55) but Garbers didn't play in that game lost by only 4 points.
On the flip side, the Bears lost to those above its ranking - ASU (#37), Utah (#20), u$C (#19) and Oregon (#6) even though Garbers played almost two quarters in the ASU and USC contests. It's too bad that he missed the Utes and the Ducks games.
The above does support the contentions that Cal probably could've beaten the Beavers and maybe even the Sun Devils had Garbers been able to play the entire time in these games. Unfortunately he didn't. Otherwise, Cal might have had a 9 or 10 win overall record.
Can Cal with Garbers reach the magic 10-win brass ring this coming year like many here believe?
Yeah, if he stays healthy and if all else within the Pac-12 stays the same as it was in 2019, it would be in the realm of a realistic possibility, but such circumstance happening is super iffy.
The obvious shows that in the 7 full-games that Garbers did played in Cal won. What bothers me is that these victories were not by much (14 pts. over NR, 1 pt. over #40, 6 pts. over #116, 8 pts. over #74, 4 pts. over #59, 10 pts. over #51, and 15 pts. over #50) even though the teams that Garbers and the Bears beat were, albeit eventually, ranked across the gamut lower than Cal. Although Cal will essentially put the same team on the field next year, it's hard to say the same about the 2020 opponents. That is, will Garbers face a TCU like an Ole Miss or a 2020 UDub be like a 2019 UDub? Or, more hopefully, will he face a dirty 2020 furd like a 2019 dirty furd?
For now, let's answer "yes" to the above.
Still, I'm concerned about Garbers. In his seven successful full games, he averaged almost 12 rushes per game! His best passing games were against Ole Miss (357 yds.) and the furds (285 yds.) where he rushed 12 and 13 times, respectively. He had an incredible 18 rushes for 90 yards in the Bears' win over The Mean Green! He had 11 rushes in Cal's bowl game.
The above data represents running back stats. Running is a part of Garbers' QB prowess. Will Garbers and should Garbers try to emulate his 2019 running stats? I think it may be to his peril if he does, especially when defenses will be targeting him if he tries.