Are We There Yet?

I’m counting down the days like a kid waiting for Christmas but I have to constantly remind myself to curb my own enthusiasm. For all the bravado, confidence, and “new car smell” that Sonny Dykes and company exude, the bottom line is that Cal went 3-9 last year for a reason.

Still though, it is very hard not to be excited.  

From the few Fall Camp practices I’ve witnessed in person the last couple weeks:

Pace

Granted I haven’t watched a ton of football practices over the years (a whole bunch of Cal’s practices – not so much other teams) but I have been amazed at how fast Dykes makes his team practice. No wasted minute, no wasted rep. Everyone on the field has a purpose and a role on every snap. Beautiful.

Goff vs. Kline

For all the press clippings surrounding Zack Kline I was never super impressed with him and I mentioned that it in passing to a couple of fellow SCF members over the summer. I know that statement is easy to say now (since Dykes has named Goff the starter) but I honestly felt watching Kline that something was missing from his repertoire and that giving him the ball under center would make me a little uneasy if I was Dykes.

It's your show Mr. Goff. (San Francisco Chronicle)

 In that respect, Goff just made a lot more sense for what Cal is trying to accomplish offensively. By now, most people who follow Cal football closely understand the general goal of Tony Franklin’s offense and what he is trying to accomplish on a game-by-game basis. As discussed at length throughout the Cal blogosphere already, the key to his offense really is efficiency and being able to complete passes in a timely and accurate manner. There is no getting around a Tony Franklin offense without being able to keep the chains moving. That’s the bottom line.

Brian (a MCAL expert) was sold on Goff from the second the Marin Catholic star stepped onto campus, but for months I wasn’t convinced that Goff was quite ready. Goff slowly sold me on the idea with his play in practice, however, and since I suck at evaluating football it took me longer than others to actually realize it. Having said that, the true freshman is a tremendous talent. Goff is tall, accurate, and has a quick release. What has impressed me most about Goff has been his ability to place his passes in small windows where only quarterbacks years his senior would be able to see. I think that ability, more than anything else, is what ultimately sold Dykes and Franklin on Goff.

Injuries

Dykes actually mentioned injuries during his post-practice interview on 8/20. And while the head coach is absolutely correct in that Cal has been luckier than other teams in the injury department, there is definitely a level of anticipation there for us fans to be able to finally see all the key guys in action (which we haven’t and will not see until August 31). Dykes is obviously doing the smart thing by easing guys like Bigelow, Fortt, and Scarlett, among others into game action but I can’t wait until we get to see all of these playmakers in the mix.

Go Bears!