Sifting Through The Mud

The start of Fall Camp is one of my favorite periods of the year. In sports, just like in life, hope always springs eternal. Every program in the country, no matter how the season ended before, always comes into the new year with optimism.

Unfortunately, that optimism becomes too infectious.

So coach, how has the quarterback looked?

Much better than last year.

So coach, are you satisfied with the running back’s camp performance so far?

No question about it.

So coach, when are you going to decide the starter at middle linebacker?

Don’t know yet. But they are both great players.

The Cal football program is no exception. No matter who is doing what, there tends to be a mind-numbing echo of one glowing report after another to come out of camp (except for the occasional Verdell Larkins rant).

With that said, the key to Fall Camp is to sift through the positivity. Of course players are looking good, but what are the issues (other than the obvious ones like Zack Maynard’s progress) that the Bears will face this year?

Here are some of my thoughts:

With no BYE this year, the entire Cal team might look like this by the end of the season.

 

1. No BYE

To be honest, I don’t think Bear Backers have made a big enough deal about this issue. Luck has a lot to do with a good season and injuries are the main factor of that. Cal, like 99 percent of teams, struggle to build with quality depth. How are the Bears going to get through 12 straight weeks of football without losing a small chunk of their roster? In my mind, not having an off week automatically hits Cal with an extra loss (at least).

2. Kick Me

While he wasn’t Sebastian Janikowski by any means, Giorgio Tavecchio was an effective place kicker for Cal. With Giorgio gone, Vince D’Amato steps into the starting role (from initial reports coming out of camp). The Bears are not going to blow anyone out this season, so points will be at a premium. Having a steady kicker is critical and could be the difference between 7-5 or 5-7.

3. Offensive Line

The other issue that I feel fans haven’t made a big enough deal about is the offensive line. While Jim Michalczik has proven to be an excellent coach, I just feel the offensive line will struggle this season. The Bears don’t have a single above average tackle, have played musical chairs with their guards and are breaking in a new center. Recipe for disaster if you ask me.