SLIDESHOW
Click here to see more photos from the game against Cal
Saturday.
Columnist Taylor Hill gives his grades for the Bruins’
performance on Saturday.
Pass Offense: B-
Pat Cowan came out sharp against the vaunted Bears defense,
completing 11 of his first 15 passes and keeping the Bruins in the
game. With the team driving at the end of the half, Cowan was hit
on a pass attempt and followed the play with an incomplete pass and
an interception. Cowan and the Bruins never recovered. Cowan
finished the game completing 22 of 40 passes for 329 yards and two
interceptions, helping boost the Bruins past the Bears in total
yards, 516 to 433. Despite moments of brilliance and a drastic
improvement from last Saturday’s debacle, Cowan still looked
novice in the fourth start of his career.
Run Offense: B
A big surprise for the Bruins was the creation of running lanes
by the offensive line. Improved blocking gave Markey and other
rushers a chance to gain positive yards without getting hit in the
backfield. Markey finished with 20 carries for 136 yards and had
his longest rush of the year for 70 yards in the fourth quarter,
but by then the game was already decided. Despite the improved
running abilities, the Bruins simply ran out of fire power and
could not keep up with the talent-rich Bears.
Pass Defense: C-
To look on the bright side, at least cornerback Rodney Van did
not feel obligated to pull himself from the game because of his
inability to play. Throughout the first half, one could only wonder
how long the Bruins’ defense could hold off Cal playmakers
Marshawn Lynch and DeSean Jackson from breaking the game wide open.
While the Berkeley crowd waited for the breakout play, quarterback
Nate Longshore was near-perfect for California, picking apart the
Bruins’ rarely used zone defensive scheme and completing 20
of 24 passes for 266 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receivers
Lavelle Hawkins and Robert Jordan combined to catch 10 passes for
146 yards and two touchdowns. Lynch got in on the action with a
short pass reception, which he turned into a 24-yard run, making
just about every member of the Bruin secondary miss a tackle.
Run Defense: B
The Bruins kept Marshawn Lynch at bay, keeping the running back
under 100 yards for only the third time this season. Despite this,
the Bears were able to find other options. Running back Justin
Forsett rushed for 60 yards on 11 carries, and Longshore scrambled
for another 21. The Bruins seemed capable of holding the Heisman
candidate at bay, but the Bears found other playmakers who were
able to exploit the Bruins wherever and whenever possible.
Special Teams: D
It was hard to tell which was more devastating for the Bruins:
DeSean Jackson’s 72-yard punt return for a touchdown or
Justin Medlock missing two field goals while the game was still in
reach. Jackson’s return was spurred by one of the best blocks
of the season laid on Korey Bosworth by Cal safety Thomas Decoud.
The hit left both players shaken and Bosworth stumbling off the
field with a concussion, ending any hopes of a Bruin upset. Medlock
choked when his team needed him, and the Bruins’ best chance
for a Heisman winner likewise seem to have been choked out.
Coaching: C-
Karl Dorrell needs to pay attention to what is happening on the
field. At the end of the first half, Cowan took a hard hit on the
hip and wanted a timeout. Dorrell initially refused, before
realizing his player was hurting. With 25 seconds left in the half,
the team called two passing plays with the final one being
intercepted, leaving the Bruins with a 14-10 deficit instead of
giving Medlock a chance to choke again. The usual inept clock
management plagued the Bruins, and early penalties hurt their
chances of tying the game on the first drive. The team finished
with six penalties for 55 yards.
The saving grace for Dorrell was finally opening up the playbook
for Cowan, letting him throw the ball downfield and gaining
positive yards.