Bears’ FCS foe isn’t any cupcake
Beau Baldwin knew he wouldn’t have to prepare a fiery speech.
Simply playing select video clips of Weber State would more than suffice in getting the attention of the Cal players.
“They know who they are and what their identity is, and that’s to be in your face,” the Cal offensive coordinator said of Weber State. “… They’re a tough, hard-nosed outfit.”
The Bears will have to maintain the focus that this week’s first video session demanded if they’re going to continue to inch toward gaining national notice by grabbing a solid victory in Saturday’s home opener.
Weber State is not a Football Championship Subdivision cupcake, something Baldwin learned firsthand as the head coach at Eastern Washington in 2015.
Baldwin entered that matchup boasting a team that was undefeated in Big Sky Conference play and averaging 478.5 yards of total offense and 23.7 first downs per game. He left it with a team that managed just 10 first downs on 189 yards and needed to overcome a 10-point deficit to eke out a 14-13 win.
Weber State has gotten even better since then. Head coach Jay Hill led the Wildcats to the 2016 playoffs for the first time in seven years, and he helped them move up to No. 20 in the FCS coaches’ poll with a 76-0 Week 1 victory over Montana Western this season.
Using a defense that stacks the box to stop the run and trusts its defensive backs to jam receivers at the line of scrimmage and blanket them with man-to-man coverage, Weber State held Montana Western’s two quarterbacks to 124 yards on 42.9 percent completions with four interceptions.
“It’s just going to be something that we have to work through,” Cal sophomore quarterback Ross Bowers said. “… Sometimes we’re just going
to have to win (one-on-one matchups), and I think we have guys who are capable. But it’s going to be a great challenge for our pass game.”
Bowers was seemingly up for every challenge in his first collegiate start, completing 24 of 38 passes for 363 yards and four touchdowns in Cal’s 35-30 upset of North Carolina. He continued to stand in the pocket and deliver strikes, even when being pressured or pummeled.
One play after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit that resulted in a targeting ejection, Bowers got sandwiched between two Tar Heel players while completing a pass to Vic Wharton III for a 67-yard touchdown.
“He was really stepping up in the pocket and not worrying about getting hit,” Wharton said. “I think that shows all of the receivers, and really the entire team, that we’ve got a really tough quarterback who’s not afraid to take some shots and stand in there while someone is getting open.
“He’s going to make the throw, no matter what.”
Though different in arm talent, Weber State does have a quarterback with similarities to Bowers’ toughness. Hill actually compared senior Stefan Cantwell to Tim Tebow, because of his inclination to truck defenders instead of sliding or seeking the safety of the sideline.
“You put him in a game, and he’s even better than he is in practice,” Hill said. “You love that. He’s tough, and other players follow him.”
That fits the Wildcats’ offense, because the unit is built on toughness, grinding out rushing yards and dominating time of possession. Even while subbing liberally in the school’s largest margin of victory in history, Weber State pounded out 372 running yards and eight rushing touchdowns in Week 1.
That’ll call for an interesting change of gears for the Cal defense, which in its season debut faced an up-tempo, spread offense that feature a lot of run-pass options. The Bears allowed only 85 rushing yards
Weber State (1-0) at Cal (1-0)
Where: Memorial Stadium When: 2 p.m. TV/Radio: P12BA/810 Story lines: The Bears are looking to build on the momentum established in last week’s upset at North Carolina, but their home opener might not be as easy as facing a Football Championship Subdivision opponent might sound. Weber State is No. 20 in the coaches’ poll and is riding the wave of a 76-0 opening-week victory. Injuries: Weber State — none provided. Cal — none provided.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
Cal finished 126th out of 127 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in running defense last season, having allowed 272.9 rushing yards per game on a ridiculous 6.2 yards per carry. Weber State would love to see those kinds of holes for its running attack, which piled up 372 yards and eight rushing touchdowns last week.
The Wildcats play man-toman coverage about 70 percent of the time, which could be pretty dangerous against Bears receiver Demetris Robertson. After being limited to three catches for 12 yards in Week 1, the sophomore speedster is primed for a big game.
Weber State tight end Andrew Vollert was an All-America selection last season, having led the team in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches. The San Mateo native played at St. Ignatius, San Jose State and CCSF and expects about 75 family and friends at the game. on 4.7 yards per carry in the second half of their comeback victory against North Carolina.
“We better have that same hunger,” Baldwin said. “We haven’t done anything yet. Last week is in the rearview mirror, and anything we want to accomplish this week has to be earned.”