Just Run the Damn Ball

[M2]

Props to Tennessee, but our play calling continues to be terrible: stop throwing the ball! Yes, yes, when teams fall behind and running out of time, a ball through the air is the best option. But consider the first half, when Lynch only had 5 runs (for 36 yards, mind you, not bad at all) and the ball was thrown aplenty. We weren't behind by an insurmountable margin at halftime, so what compelled the coaching staff to think that throwing the ball was a necessity. I believe the announcers called (1) running the football and (2) relying on your defense as "Football 101" when it comes to playing in a difficult environment; I don't think anyone would disagree with that notion. Granted, our defense in the first half was not stellar, but they certainly didn't take us out of the game- our offense did that. Forsett played soft, but Marshawn brought his game, he just didn't get the opportunity to run. Is it too much to ask for Marshawn to get 20 carries, let alone 30 or 40? He looks akward working the flats and catching 6 to 7 yard balls; he's much better suited gaining those yards by pounding it up the middle of the defense.

I mention all of this because it's been an ongoing occurrence in this offense, continued from last year's play. Marshawn is not Reggie Bush, take him out of kickoff plays and in the slot, and put him behind the quarterback. Let him and Forsett run UP THE MIDDLE; whoever's telling them to dance around the edges is not of sound mind. I recall the UCLA game, when the score went back and forth, but the ball was constantly being thrown. For what purpose? In that game, Lynch and Forsett had 32 carries for nearly 300 yards; in this game, while Forsett was not faring well, Lynch was not taken out his game by the defense. The quarterbacks combined for 44 throws. Going into this game, and even now in retrospect, the running backs should have carried the ball at least 35 times and the ball should not have been thrown for more than 25 times. If we play to our strengths, the score would have been much closer (and, I contest, it might have resulted in a victory).

Although the ball travels faster through the air, a 50-yard touchdown romp from one of our RBs is not a bad policy no matter how much time is left on the clock. I sure hope to see more runs against Minnesota.

[Vito Corleone]

Yea, that would have changed the outcome.

Face it Kal is overrated. Well they were overrated, I have a feeling their upcoming ranking will be closer to reality.

[M2]

Yea, that would have changed the outcome.

Face it Kal is overrated. Well they were overrated, I have a feeling their upcoming ranking will be closer to reality.

Marshawn was averaging 7.2 yards per carry in the first half, and had 6.2 yards per carry in the game. You think only 12 carries for the whole game is a good thing?

Mo was the truth...you're an idiot.

[TenTallBen]

Just Run the Damn Ball

Or maybe play some defense.

[JayDuck]

I didn't watch much of the first half, because the Oregon game was still going on. But when I flipped to it during commercials it looked like Tennessee was pretty much stuffing the Cal running game.

Based on what I saw, I'm suprised that Lynch had a 7 yard average. Did he have a long run sometime boosting that average? Did those yards come when Tennessee was up 4 scores and playing more of a prevent defense?

Seriously, I saw a lot of Cal run attempts stuffed behind the line when I flipped over there. I don't think running more would have helped you.

[M2]

I didn't watch much of the first half, because the Oregon game was still going on. But when I flipped to it during commercials it looked like Tennessee was pretty much stuffing the Cal running game.

Based on what I saw, I'm suprised that Lynch had a 7 yard average. Did he have a long run sometime boosting that average? Did those yards come when Tennessee was up 4 scores and playing more of a prevent defense?

Seriously, I saw a lot of Cal run attempts stuffed behind the line when I flipped over there. I don't think running more would have helped you.

Ummm, yeah it would. Marshawn had one long run of about 15 yards, otherwise it would have been a different game.

That, and our freshman cb SQT going for the pick 3 times and giving up 21 free points. arghhh!!!!! We really missed Tim Mixon "All Pac 10" due to injury.

Props to you guys on kicking the shit outta' "furd"!

It looked like they were hangin' with ya early.

[M2]

Jay, even SC fan saw what we all did...

USC1961

Some Thoughts...

"First off, tough situation for Longshore to be put in. First game in about a year without any experience to speak of and it's on the road against a motivated Tennessee team. Obviously, Tedford doesn't feel that the team can take a step up with Ayoob (and, based on last season I would have agreed), but having seen the statue known as Longshore play, bring on Ayoob.

Secondly, who scheduled that game? I do think that Cal needs to schedule tougher non-conference opponents, but I don't think that opening the season at Tennessee is smart scheduling.

Cal misses the injured cb-a lot. However, the mistakes made by Thompson are correctable and he will get better.

Cal needs to find their identity again. This is a running team that must run to set up the pass and not the other way around. Lynch has to get a minimum of 20 carries and probably about 5 more touches on passes-and he needs to get it early for rhythm and momentum. Having said that, don't you think the play calling was very conservative? Even considering that you want to break in a new qb with short throws and get his confidenc up, you are not going to win much when having the qb throw 3 yard passes on 3rd & 7 situations.

Just a bad day for the Bears, but they can still have a great season.

Go Bears!

[JayDuck]

I'm just telling you what I saw. Like I said, I didn't watch every down, especially in the first half. I wasn't trying to bash Cal in this particular thread (I'm not claiming to be above doing it elsewhere). I was honestly suprised to see that his yards per carry were that high. Maybe it just happened that every time I flipped channels I happened to catch him getting stuffed. Maybe Forsett was in the game when I flipped to it. I just saw a lot of runs that were stuffed for losses.

[Van]

With all the defensive injuries USC had to deal with last season I don't want to hear about one injured CB making that much of a difference here.

Fact is, USC went down to Jordan-Hare and beat a more highly ranked Auburn team in a season opener, and they did it with a guy taking his first snap at QB.

The problem here is simple: Cal is soft. Cal cannot win on the road. Winning at home is one thing. Sure, you have to establish a home field advantage. Great. Thing is, teams with true mettle prove it on the road. Go beat down the SEC refs, the SEC fans, the noise, the unfamiliarity and the home team who wants nothing more than to stomp your west coast pretty boy asses.

Go punch them in the mouth and get it done. Go win a tough road game, anywhere, just once. You haven't yet, not under Tedford.

Zero significant road wins.

Fuck, m2, moreso than any other team it's YOU guys who keep embarrassing our conference. If you would've manned up and smashed Texas Tech two years ago...if you would've done anything last year...and now this, with the entire nation looking on, using this game as a barometer of the Pac 10 and whether or not Tennesssee's "back"...

You know what? Who knows? Who knows if in fact Tennessee's back, just based on this win? Hell, all they did was beat a Cal team playing outside of Memorial Stadium...

I can't believe I was stuck there rooting for you guys. Buncha goddamned vaginas.

[Mr T]

Just Run the Damn Ball

Or maybe play some defense.

TTB, they play in the pac-10. Only SC is allowed to play defense.