Utah provides test for thin secondary
Losing six players would test any team’s depth.
Losing six players among a single position group seems downright unfair.
Since the start of spring practice, Cal has lost six defensive backs: five to injuries and one who was moved to linebacker.
“We haven’t had many injuries this year, but it seems like the injuries we’ve had have all been at that one particular position,” Cal head coach Sonny Dykes said.
Griffin Piatt (medical retirement) and Damariay Drew (torn anterior cruciate ligament) were the projected starters. Caleb Coleman (concussions) and A.J. Greathouse (shoulder) added depth.
Derron Brown was moved to fill a hole at linebacker, and Evan Rambo (knee) is the latest to go down — leaving Cal with junior-college transfer Khari Vanderbilt and former quarterback Luke Rubenzer as the starters and walk-on Jacob Anderson as the top sub.
Piatt and Drew “are two guys who have been battle tested, have played a lot of football and have been good players for us. Unfortunately, we don’t have either one of those guys, and they’re two of the better players on our team,” Dykes said. “We’ve had a little bit of depth problems at that spot. We’re a little bit young. We’ve got to get some of the young guys to step up a little bit.”
There’s very little time for development. No. 18 Utah (4-0) comes to Berkeley on Saturday, sporting one of the Pac-12’s most physical and most balanced offenses. The Utes have run 163 times and passed 126 times.
The Bears are 11th in the conference in total defense, having allowed 492 yards per game. Their passing defense is seventh at 228.5 yards per game.
Cal also is preparing freshmen Malik Psalms and Jaylinn Hawkins to play as soon as Saturday.
“We all care for one another, and we’re brothers,” Hawkins said. “It sucks when somebody goes down. We all play for each other. We’re a unit. When one man goes down, you think, ‘I’m going to go out there and play for my brother.’ ”
Cal safeties coach Greg Burns said he hasn’t been part of a position group that has been so devastated by injuries, but he has managed to stay positive.
“The cool part is: We do have players who can fill the role,” he said. “… In a weird way, with some people, their intensity rises, because their opportunity is closer. The next person is going to step up, and we’re going to be excited about getting them right and getting them ready.”
The better news for the Bears is that cornerback Darius Allensworth, who missed the second half of Saturday’s loss at Arizona State with a thigh contusion, is expected to play against Utah.
The best news for the Bears is that defensive lineman and resident mouthpiece of the Cal defense, James Looney, has confidence in the secondary.
“I feel like around here, we have the attitude, ‘If it’s your time, you’ve got to play,’ ” he said. “Those young guys, they’ve got to grow up quick. This week, they will grow up quick.
“I think we’re going to come back this week and do something special.”