5 Reasons Why the Bears Will Thrive in 2020 Season

If the Covid-19 pandemic cooperates and the 2020 season is played -whether in full, delayed or abbreviated form, the 2020 season could set up as being a special one for Cal football.

Oh, there are those who insist that there’s no way the 2020 season will be played in any capacity but indulge us during this time of social distancing doldrums and consider the possibilities.

A special season for Cal would be a surprise for many given that the Bears had only a 4-5 Pac-12 season and haven’t had a winning record in conference since going 5-4 (8-5 overall) in 2009 under Jeff Tedford before the wheels fell off for the program for the better part of a decade.

The Bears have had modest success a few times since then: 4-5 (7-6) in 2011, 4-5 (8-5) in 2015 and 4-5 (7-6) in 2018 before last season’s 4-5 (8-5) final mark but it’s been 12 years since a 9 win-season and 14 since reaching double digits with 2006’s 7-2 (10-3) season, where they finished tied with USC for a piece of the Pac-12 championship. But alas, still no Rose Bowl with USC holding the tiebreaker by virtue of their win over Cal.

Here are five reasons why 2020 (or 2020-21 with delays) could be the Bears’ year:

#1: RETURNING STARTERS

The Bears return one of the highest number of starters in the country with as many as 20 of 22 positions being manned by either returning full time starters or those with starting experience. Only Evan Weaver’s inside linebacker slot and Ashtyn Davis’ starting safety spot will be manned by first-time starters, though former cornerback starter Elijah Hicks will move his 30 starts at corner inside to safety to replace Jaylinn Hawkins at the other safety position. The trio of Weaver, Davis and Hawkins each went in the 2020 draft this week.

With Hicks moving inside, fifth year senior Josh Drayden is a favorite to fill the vacant position. The sure-tackling Drayden brings four games of starting experience to the table. It’s also possible that Drayden will fill departing senior Traveon Beck’s shoes at the nickel back position, with soph Chigoze Anusiem earning his first start at corner. Anusiem has played in three games and as an early entry player in 2018, has been in the system 2 ½ years and is ready to go.

On offense, graduated senior Jordan Duncan had 19 career stars at receiver but the Bears bring back soph Makai Polk, junior Nikko Remigio and seniors Kekoa Crawford, Trevon Clark and Jeremiah Hawkins -all with several starts under their belt to replace him.

#2: RETURNING 5TH YEAR SENIORS IN TWO-DEEPS

In 2020, the Bears return more 5th year seniors from the two-deeps than they have in recent memory, with 16, including 12 returning starters. In 2016, a dreadful Colorado program parlayed a large number of 5^th year players to a 9-1 Pac-12 record and South Division championshp and the Bears return more this season than the Buffs in 2016, particularly starters.

Among those 5^th year seniors in the two-deeps are starting OL Jake Curhan, Valentino Daltoso and Gentle Williams, starting WR Kekoa Crawford and Trevon Clark, starting DL Zeandae Johnson and Luc Bequette (both actually 6^th year players after being granted NCAA exeptions due to multiple-year injuries), starting LBs Tevin Paul, Cameron Goode and Kuony Deng and starting DBs Josh Drayden and Camryn Bynum. Also returning 5^th year players in the two-deeps are running backs Marcel Dancy and DeShawn Collins, QB Devon Modster and OL Henry Bazakas.

Others in the Pac-12 returning many of their 2019 starters are USC, Stanford and Arizona.

#3: FAVORABLE SCHEDULE

The always-favorable even-year schedule sees the Bears play most of their best competition at home, with TCU, Cal Poly, Utah, Oregon, Washington, UCLA and Stanford all at home in the friendly confines of Memorial Stadium in their seven-game home schedule. Road games feature UNLV, WSU, USC, ASU and Oregon State.

It’s no coincidence that Cal’s two best seasons in the last 28 years (10-2 2004 and 10-3 2006) also came in even-year schedules.

#4: COACHING CONTINUITY

Head coach Justin Wilcox begins his fourth season as head coach, all in Berkeley for the long-time former defensive coordinator. With three full years under his belt, where the Bears have seen their win totals increase from five to seven to eight, Wilcox has had the chance to put his stamp on the program, bringing his players who fit his system and program personality -OKG’s -Our Kinda Guys- if you will.

During Wilcox’s first three seasons plus the offseason this year, there have only been departures from five staff members: DL coach Tony Tuioti with a move to Nebraska in 2018, DB coach Gerald Alexander with a move to the Miami Dolphins this year, OL coach Steve Greatwood, who retired after the Red Box Bowl win and OC Beau Baldwin and RB coach Nick Edwards, with promotions to head coach and offensive coordinator at Cal Poly in December.

Of particular benefit is the defense playing under DC Tim DeRuyter throughout Wilcox’s tenure, with fellow DC Peter Sirmon bringing his expertise to the program to join him in 2018. The Bears also have another pair of former DC’s in new DB coach Marcel Yancy and Wilcox.

On offense, the Bears will be breaking in a new system under new OC Bill Musgrave but the veteran OC with 18 years of NFL coordinating under his belt has the luxury of returning starters at every position, led by talented staring QB Chase Garbers, who really came into his own in 2019 after an uneven redshirt freshman season. He’ll have the offense line depth that was locking last year, a confident leader behind center and experience at the skill positions bolstered by a talented crop of newcomers who will add depth and athleticism in 2020.

#5: NO CLEAR-CUT FAVORITE HEADING INTO THE SEASON

In the Pac-12 North, only one team in 2019 had a winning record in conference: Oregon, which finished 8-1 (12-2) with road losses to Auburn (neutral location) and ASU. However, Oregon loses significant talent from that Pac-12 championship squad, needing to replace talented starting QB Justin Herbert and four All-Conference OL in seniors Blake Brandel, Shane Lemieux, Jay Hanson and Calvin Throckmorton as well as starting tight end Jacob Breeland and receiver Juwan Johnson. On defense, they lose two of their top tacklers in linebackers Tony Dye and Bryson Young but return most of their starters. That fact combined with their recent stellar recruiting will likely make Oregon the favorite to repeat in 2020, though it will be no cakewalk for the Ducks. Besides Cal, Washington and Stanford are bound to be better, as well, though the Huskies will face their challenges without Chris Petersen at the helm for the first time since 2013 and breaking in another new QB after the departure of former transer Jacob Eason to the draft.

No other team in the North finished with a winning conference record, as the Bears tied for 2^nd at 4-5 with Washington (8-5) and OSU (5-7). Washington State (6-7) and Stanford (4-8) brought up the rear at 3-6.

In the South, 2019 division champ Utah (8-1/11-3) loses much of their starting lineup, particularly on defense. A Utah record seven Utes were chosen in the 2020 NFL draft. It will be a tall order to duplicate their success. USC (7-2/8-5) will be favored by most to take the South, particularly with their high number of returning starters, with ASU (4-5/8-5) sure to get some votes, as well.

While many of these factors play in the Bears’ favor as they seek to earn their first outright league championship in 62 years, they still have to execute more effectively on offense, replace the nation’s leading tackler over the last two years and break in four new coaches. That said, this is likely the Bears’ best opportunity to win a conference title in well over a decade.