Quick Nevada bits

There's so much stuff about the program that we probably should write about, some of which I'll get to later in the week, but for now, some quick observations after Cal's painful 31-24 loss to Nevada:

-- First of all, give Nevada some credit. The Wolf Pack came in with a chip on their shoulder and they didn't play scared. Folks, there is a reason Chris Ault is in the Hall of Fame. The guy is simply one of the better coaches that's ever graced the sidelines and the way his team played on Saturday proved that.

-- I was thoroughly surprised and impressed at how accurate Cody Fajardo was. Regardless of what defense Cal was or was not playing, it's very difficult for a college quarterback to consistently hit his spots but Fajardo did that over and over again. Props to him.

-- I also enjoyed the tweaks Ault made to his Pistol offense. Ault hired an orchestrator of the Hawaii offense onto his staff this year and that influence really showed. In comparison to years' past, I didn't see a whole lot of wide receiver motions and misdirections to open up running lanes. What I saw was more straight forward one-move-go type schemes. Very impressive.

I'll be happy if I never have to see this guy against Cal again

  -- It must be fun to be Matthew Galas today. The younger brother of Cal's Dominic Galas, Matthew consistently opened up holes for the guys playing behind him. The younger Galas, making his first career start at center, was considered too small to play at the top BCS level by numerous schools (including Cal) yet looked better than all six linemen the Bears put on the field Saturday.

--On that note, the most disappointing aspect of the game was the play in the trenches. Cal was simply beaten up front by a team that was better coached, better prepared, and better conditioned. Spooky stuff considering the talent disparity between the two programs.

-- Before the season began, I thought Cal's offensive line was a huge question mark, but I didn't think they would look this bad. Getting beat off the ball by USC or the like is one thing, but playing to a stalemate by a small Nevada defensive line is atrocious. Now with the news that right tackle Matt Summers-Gavin is scheduled for a MRI on his knee, things are only going to get worse.

-- Five carries for Isi Sofele? Really!?

-- The most alarming stat of the day: FIVE TACKLES by the Bears' defensive line. Coleman (2), Tipoti (1), Kaufusi (1), Payne (1). For a team that ran the ball FIFTY SEVEN TIMES, that is scary bad.

-- There is a reason Coach Howard was available two days before signing day. Just saying.

-- Chris McCain and Brennan Scarlett are both eventual NFL players. Still raw, but the physical talent is obvious.

-- Don't know why people are bagging on Zack Maynard. He is who he is. If he couldn't complete 60 percent of his passes at Buffalo, why would anyone expect he could tear up the Pac-12? It's really not his fault he's forced to start.

-- And as for this whole deal about Maynard's "suspension" and academics being a big issue at Cal in comparison to other schools? Please. 

-- Though I picked Cal to finish 4-8 this year, even I was surprised that the Bears dropped this one. On a day of celebration and reverie, there was no way in the world I thought Cal would find a way to lose this game.

Not. This. Game.

But on that same note, I knew coming into the season that the Bears simply weren't going to be that good. And when a team isn't that good, crap like Saturday tends to happen.

GO BEARS!