Know Your Opponent: UCLA Football vs. Cal 2017
Cal Offense
This isn’t your Jared Goff or Davis Webb Cal offense. Wilcox has brought in former Eastern Washington head coach Beau Baldwin to command this offense and bring balance to a very pass heavy attack. He’s found his field general in red-shirt sophomore Ross Bowers. Not gifted with eye popping measurables, Bowers is a gamer. While most of his throws have come in the intermediate zones he has the arm to go over the top of defenses. Still he’s had his bumps in the road with 12 interceptions including a four interception loss to the Trojans.
At running back the Golden Bears found a gem in Patrick Laird who carried the ball eight times in 2016 for 59 yards. This year he’s exploded for 159 carries totaling 949 yards and eight TDs on the ground. Baldwin’s offense has made him a prime target out of the backfield. 40 catches for almost 300 yards make Laird a multi-threat back that teams have struggled to stop this season. When Cal wants to give Laird a breather or just hammer opposing defenders they sub in Vic Enwere. Listed at a generous 245 pounds, Enwere had a breakout year in 2015 but has yet to recapture that magic and stay healthy. Still, he presents a tough challenge for LBs to bring down and has more than enough wiggle to make you miss in the open field although he’d rather lower the shoulder.
Cal has four players with at least 35 catches this season. Not only can they throw it essentially when they want but Bowers has done a good job of spreading the ball around as well. Vic Wharton III is the name you want to know here. He’s capable of breaking tackles to take it the distance and beyond Laird might have the best connection with Bowers. Kanawai Noa thrives in the open space that Baldwin’s offense creates and is a very effective compliment. He’s not a true number one receiver but Noa can take over in spurts. Veasy is the big bodied receiver who functions out wide. He’s been up and down with drops but presents a mismatch with his imposing size.
Bowers doesn’t typically throw to the tight end but Gavin Reinwald sees plenty of action in this offense. Used more as an H-back you’ll see Reinwald function as a safety valve and lead blocker although Bowers prefers to check it down to Laird over his young TE. Cal shows plenty of 11 personnel with two wideouts to one side and one isolated on the backside of the formation. This formation is gaining massive popularity in the college game since it gives you so much flexibility in terms of play calling. The UCLA Football defense might not give much attention to Reinwald given his relatively quiet season but play-action might just open up space right behind the Bruin LBs for him to exploit.
Youth and inexperience haven’t avoided making their mark on the offensive line. While this group has improved in run blocking they’ve also given up 34 sacks on the season. The right side of this offensive line is very young. Right tackle Jake Curhan is a red-shirt freshman and right guard Michael Saffell is a true freshman. They’re not huge along the line but are strong run blockers capable of moving defenders off the line or creating holes in stretch situations but they will struggle with mass.