Pac 10 Preview: Cal Golden Bears
August 15th, 2008 by Alex English
Drew Tedford’s team had very high expectations heading into last season, and after getting sweet revenge on Tennessee in the season opener in Berkley, it seemed as though the Bears were going to be a force. A pair of three-game losing streaks all to conference foes turned the buzz into a whimper. This year the expectations are much lower for Tedford and company with only four returning starters on offense. Despite the sound of doom and gloom there is a potential fantasy running back gem for the plucking here in So. RB Jahvid Best.
The passing game should be strong enough with returning two-year starter, Sr. Nate Longshore, battling So. Kevin Riley for the spot under center. Longshore you probably know, but it was Riley who was the star in the Armed Forces Bowl win over Air Force that led to an open competition in Spring. That duel was short lived when a pectoral muscle injury ended Longshore’s Spring early. Both had played well up to that point and Riley finished strong enough to further fuel speculation of an open competition this Fall. Tedford himself then acknowledged the open competition despite the initial depth chart listing Longshore as the starter to open camp. We may not know for sure until the week of the opener when Michigan State visits Cal Aug. 30th.
As Drew Smith detailed in his player spotlight article, the real focal point for fantasy purposes is Jahvid Best and more specifically, the health and durability of Best. A hip injury limited Best in the Spring and although he is largely unproven (29 car., 221 yards, 2 TDs), no one is questioning his talent or blazing speed. If Best can heal and remain healthy enough to play the feature role, he could be a big time producer. If not, Cal will have to rely on So. Tracy Slocum to tote the rock and the upside in that scenario (for both Cal and fantasy) is much more limited.
The departure of a trio of very good receivers (DeSean Jackson, Lavelle Hawkins and Robert Jordan) leave the WR corps with only a combined 12 catches on the returning roster. However, the leadership of Sr. LaReylle Cunningham and the young but talented So. Jeremy Ross and Fr. Michael Calvin should develop quickly. Florida transfer Jr. Nyan Boateng should also figure into the mix. It will take some time to see if one of these young players steps into the go-to role in the passing game and becomes fantasy worthy. Cameron Morrah and Tad Smith are Jr. TEs with good size but neither figures to play a huge factor in the passing game.
Defensively, the Golden Bears return eight starters and should be a steady but certainly not spectacular unit. A strong and deep group of LBs results in a switch to a 3-4 scheme which should have a learning curve but help to protect a sub-par defensive line and average secondary. This isn’t going to be a defense that you can’t wait for your offensive studs to play against but they aren’t going to be fantasy useful themselves either. The special teams returns PK Jordan Kay who was nothing more than mediocre in both distance and accuracy last year and the return game lost its best weapons with the departing WRs. Best has the speed and talent to be a difference maker there but considering his fragile hip and crucial role as the starting tailback it is likely that Tedford won’t risk it.
This is likely to be a down year by recent Cal standards but Jahvid Best could emerge as a star if he can stay healthy enough for 20+ carries a game and gets help from a respectable passing game to keep defenses honest.
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