Analyzing The Pac-12 Football Teams: California Golden Bears

Nov 9, 2013; Berkeley, CA, USA; California Golden Bears quarterback Jared Goff (16) escapes from USC Trojans linebacker Devon Kennard (42) during the first quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

In this edition of Go Joe Bruin’s Pac-12 team previews, we will take a look at UCLA’s brother up north, the California Golden Bears. The Golden Bears’s 2013 season was a ~~train wreck~~ ~~dumpster fire~~ less than stellar campaign that saw first-year head coach Sonny Dykes‘s team finish with a whopping 1-11 record, mainly due to a defense that was ~~SO BAD OH MY GOODNESS MY EYES THEY BURNED WHY WON’T SOMEONE THINK OF THE CHILDREN~~ understaffed, injury-ravaged, and schematically deficient.

Coming into a 2014 season in which Cal has been picked by the media to finish at the bottom of the Pac-12’s North Division, it’s safe to say that, right now, Cal fans might be best served by repeating the following mantra: “Well, at least it can’t get any worse!” And in truth, it really can’t… can it?

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Key Losses

DL Viliami Moala

Former 5-star recruit
37 tackles at the nose guard position, including 4 for loss
2 forced fumbles

LB Khairi Fortt

Averaged 7.1 tackles per game (18th in Pac-12)
Drafted in the 4th Round of the NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints

K Vincenzo D’Amato

2nd-team All-Pac-12
17-20 on field goals, including 11-11 on field goals within 40 yards

Key Returners

QB Jared Goff

Honorable mention All-Pac-12 as a true freshman
Top-five in the Pac-12 in completions per game (26.7), passing yards per game (292.3), and passing yards (3,508) in 2013

WR Chris Harper

Third-team preseason All-Pac-12 for 2014
6.4 receptions per game in 2013 (4th in Pac-12)
77.5 receiving yards per game in 2013 (6th in Pac-12)

DL Brennan Scarlett

Missed 2013 season due to injury (broken hand)
40 tackles in 2012, including 6 for loss
2.5 sacks in 2012

Coach Review: Sonny Dykes

It’s probably appropriate that Sonny Dykes’s surname rhymes with “yikes” because, well… yikes. Dykes, an Air Raid offense guru and former offensive coordinator at Arizona under Mike Stoops, impressed neutral observers around the country with his work at Louisiana Tech in his first head coaching job. Because of that, upon firing Jeff Tedford, Cal came calling for the heir of West Texas football coaching’s First Family.

The 2013 offseason generally saw positive vibes surround the Cal football program as the Golden Bears unveiled sleek new jerseys and matte helmets; Dykes became a bit of a social media star with his fan Q-and-A’s on YouTube; and fans enjoyed a breath of fresh air following the ouster of Tedford, who had allowed the Cal program, one that experienced a fair degree of success not too long ago, to stagnate and then regress both on the field and in the classroom.

Then, the season started. And with that, the bloom came off the rose faster than you could say “Touchdown, [insert name of 2013 Cal opponent]!”

In his second season at the helm of the Golden Bears, Dykes will have to show that he can bring all aspects of his program up to par, not just his beloved offense. There certainly are talented players on Cal’s roster, many of whom are legacies of the old Tosh Lupoi recruiting powerhouse at Cal. But whether Dykes and his staff can develop that talent, especially in the trenches and on the defensive side of the ball, and keep it healthy are questions that will increasingly be answered as the 2014 season progresses.

2014 Schedule

Sat, Aug 30 @ Northwestern (ABC/ESPN2)

Sat, Sep 6 vs. Sacramento State (Pac-12 Network)

Sat, Sep 13 Bye

Sat, Sep 20 @ Arizona

Sat, Sep 27 vs. Colorado

Sat, Oct 4 @ Washington State

Sat, Oct 11 vs. Washington

Sat, Oct 18 vs. UCLA

Fri, Oct 24 vs. Oregon at Levi’s Stadium (FOX Sports 1)

Sat, Nov 1 @ Oregon State

Sat, Nov 8 Bye

Thu, Nov 13 @ USC (ESPN)

Sat, Nov 22 vs. Stanford

Sat, Nov 29 vs. BYU

2014 Season Outlook

Cal looks likely to have a productive offense in 2014. The scheme works, there are a number of talented playmakers at the skill positions, and sophomore QB Goff showed an abundance of promise in his true freshman season and is only likely to improve in his second campaign taking snaps for Cal.

Defensively, it’s hard to fathom Cal being any worse in 2014 than it was in 2013. Former defensive coordinator Andy Buh has been replaced by Art Kaufman, a well-traveled and respected defensive mind. But more importantly and encouragingly for the Golden Bears, they’re bringing back a number of key pieces in 2014 who were struck by season-ending injury last season. Players like Scarlett, DT Mustafa Jalil, LB Jason Gibson, CB Stefan McClure, and S Avery Sebastian, who are all probable 2014 starters who are returning from injuries that wrecked their 2013 seasons, will be crucial cogs in the attempted resurrection of Cal’s defense.

Despite the reasons for relative optimism going into the 2014 season, one factor could devastate all of that optimism fairly quickly: the schedule. Cal faces five preseason top 25 teams (Oregon, Stanford, Washington, UCLA, and @USC) and the rest of its slate is no cakewalk by any stretch either. Cal could very well be a team in 2014 that looks improved, but has a poor record to show for it.

Ultimately, we’re projecting a 3-9 season for the Golden Bears. Cal will shock the nation with a win over a newly Venric Mark-less Northwestern team in Evanston and follow that up with a win over FCS cannon fodder Sacramento State to start the season 2-0. Unbridled optimism will reign supreme over Strawberry Canyon when Cal beats Colorado to wrap up September with a 3-1 record. However, Cal’s back-loaded schedule will ultimately doom it to a winless final two months of the season.