Defense not an issue, but finding the end zone is
It might be tempting for Cal fans to imagine a Sonny Dykes offense rolling at high steam combined with a Justin Wilcox defense pulverizing the opposition.
Unfortunately for the Bears, they’ve had one but not the other for the past six years and haven’t finished better than fourth in the Pac12 North in any of those seasons.
Their fortunes seem on the upswing in Wilcox’s third year, although the defense once again is likely to overshadow the offense.
“The two main things (on offense) are cutting down on turnovers and creating explosive plays,” Wilcox said at this week’s Bay Area media day.
That won’t be easy against a schedule that includes road games against Washington, Mississippi, Oregon, Utah, Stanford and UCLA.
The defense carried the Bears to their first bowl game since 2015 last season, but the offense scored 17 points or fewer in seven of the last nine games.
So the key questions are:
Can 230pound tailback Chris Brown and a revamped crew of wide receivers help the Bears put more points on the board?
“It’s definitely no secret that we had trouble doing that,” junior offensive tackle Jack Curhan said. “We were switching a lot of things around. We were young on offense.”
Most of that offense is back, except for workhorse tailback Patrick Laird.
“All these guys have another year of strength and conditioning, another year of experience playing,” Curhan said. “All that adds up. Plus, we’re getting reinforcements at the skill positions.”
Curhan loves Brown’s rugged approach. “I don’t care if that guy runs into my back as hard as he can and tries to get the whole (line) pushed. I love that. … When he needs to, he runs downhill and not away from the defenders, which I really like.”
Wilcox wants far fewer turnovers than the conferenceworst 31 the Bears committed last year and more explosive plays on offense.
Who will start at quarterback, incumbent sophomore Chase Garbers or transfer Devon Modster?
Garbers started 10 games last season and threw 14 touchdown passes. But he also threw 10 interceptions.
“I expect him to make a big jump,” Wilcox said. “Physically, he has improved. He’s throwing the ball with more authority. He’s got more command of the offense. … I think he’ll continue on that path.”
Modster, who arrived in the winter, didn’t play football in 2018 while attending Palomar College. Previously he played at UCLA. In 2017, he came off the bench to pass for 191 yards and lead the Bruins over Cal 3027.
Going into Friday’s first day of training camp, “Chase is ahead because of his experience and improvement,” Wilcox said.
Who will replace the five wide receivers who either graduated or transferred?
Joining holdovers Jordan Duncan and Jeremiah Hawkins are Michigan transfer Kekoa Crawford and 6foot4 JC transfer Trevon Clark. That’s a lot of question marks.
Who will start in place of Jordan Kunaszyk (now in the NFL) at inside linebacker next to Evan Weaver, Cal’s first preseason firstteam AllAmerican since running back Jahvid Best in 2009?
Weaver piled up 159 tackles, the most for any returning FBS player. There’s a good chance his partner will be Kuony Deng, a 66, 225pound JC transfer.
“He’s very athletic, has got some really good tools,” Wilcox said, adding that Deng could play inside or outside backer or as a pass rusher. But, he noted, “He’s still got a ton to learn.”
Can the defense be better than last year’s, which allowed 14.9 points per game over the final seven?
Bolstered by the return of a sterling secondary and outside backer Cameron Goode, who suffered a seasonending knee injury in the opener, it just might be.