What really matters
(Written by kencraw)
Before I launch into my post-game posts… let’s remember that player health is the #1 thing all college football fans should be rooting for. Along those lines, it looks like Washington QB Jake Locker could use our prayers/cheers.
Let’s hope he can come back onto the field in full health next week against our Bears.
November 11th, 2007 at 5:25 pm
Agreed. Hopefully he’ll be alright.
Shifting gears, though, it’s time to end Longshore’s season. We now have more losses than under Joe Ayoob. 4 losses out of 5, with an intervening game that was the ugliest under Tedford. The season is basically over, let Riley get some experience.
November 11th, 2007 at 5:34 pm
Best wishes to Locker.
RileyEra- this season is far from over. There’s still the chance to win out, keep the axe, win a bowl game, and finish with 9 wins. 9 wins is a good season. A good season, not great. It isn’t the Rose Bowl, but a strong finish will be something to build on.
As for Longshore, I can’t say that I have much faith in him to ever bring Cal to the next level. I’ve always been a Longshore fan and I’ve been willing to forgive some of his poor play this year due to his injury. But after yet another 4-quarter meltdown, I’m not sure he has what it takes to lead Cal to the next level. At least he doesn’t have it right now. I don’t know what else to say.
November 11th, 2007 at 10:13 pm
Yeah Josh… I have always been a Longshore fan too. I agree: win out, keep the axe, get a bowl W, all of that. With Riley at QB. Nate Longshore is not healthy and he is not effective. He hasn’t been since Oregon. Tedford himself says this injury will not heal this season.
Against SC, how many times were Jackson, Hawkins, and Jordan behind their defender with open field in front of them? So many times. I remember at least one time each. That SC defense is great (and mostly healthy now), but we moved on them. Our O is faster than their D. We just didn’t have a functioning QB.
Tedford needs to have that talk with Nate right now – tell him to take a seat, get healthy, and things may be reconsidered before the bowl game (assuming Riley doesn’t prove to be spectacular). Yes, Riley is young and will make mistakes but whatever bad fortune his inexperience brings can’t be worse than that Nate’s injury brought.
If Riley shows Tedford something special, he doesn’t get the job, he just earns equal standing to compete with Nate for the position next year. We aren’t throwing Nate under the bus, we’re just giving him a seat in the handicapped section for now.
More than anything, going with Riley is trying something else. What we’re doing clearly isn’t working. What is that saying? That doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result is crazy?
November 12th, 2007 at 2:17 pm
I don’t see Tedford making a change. He’s too stubborn. I think he’d rather show his support to Nate by sticking with him, although benching might be the best form of support. He’s dangerously close to losing his confidence permanently, if he hasn’t already crossed that line. With some proper coddling, who knows, maybe Longshore can turn it around next year like Dixon did.