We’ve come to assume that Cal will excel in defense every season. And this year is no exception. But given the loss of so many standout defenders in 2021, are we taking too much for granted this time around?
I can see why this assumption is made. Cal has never finished below his 4th place in total ERA in the Pac-12 in any of the last four seasons. That’s a more impressive stat considering the Bears’ mediocre offense puts additional pressure on their defense, forcing them to turn it on. The longer the field, the less room for error.
The best year under Justin Wilcox was 2019, when the Bears went 8-5. The Cal offense’s mission that year was simple. Don’t lose the game. Let the defense win. For the most part, it was
Peter Salmon, who was named the Bears’ defensive coordinator in 2019, contributes to the defensive philosophy and execution, but this is Justin Wilcox’s defence.
In Wilcox’s five seasons as Cal’s head coach, the Golden Bears have named eight players to their First or Second Team All-Conference teams on defense, but none on offense. Weaver was also named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. This year, two card defensive players made the preseason he was named to the All-Conference team, but he had no offensive players on the first team.
Cal’s respect for defense was shown when Tim DeRuyter, who was essentially demoted from his defensive coordinator role with Cal in 2019, was named defensive coordinator in Oregon in January 2021.
The image of Wilcox’s soccer program is simple. Excellent defense, mediocre attack. This is in stark contrast to his program Cal under his predecessor, Sonny Dykes. At the time, the Bears had a productive offense but no defense to speak of. Neither is his recipe for winning a Pac-12 championship, but his Wilcox, who served as a respected defensive coordinator for five large college football programs before taking the job of head coach for Cal. Underneath, it’s still defense where Cal wears the hat.
“we, [defensive] It’s a product we’ve put on the field since Coach Wilcox got here,” Salmon said in the video opening the story. As a result, players grow in it, and there are thousands of reps out there.
“We’re very picky about not being a junk-scheming team, but I like to use the term. I think we have a lot of durable phones. A durable call that can withstand formations, shifts and different groups of personnel.So I think that’s how the coach built it – it’s his background and we’ve done well on that.
And reputation brings its own momentum.
“And you know, if we have a reputation for playing good defense, that’s great,” Salmon said. “Those things tend to go on. Legacy, everything the program is known for is a positive thing, it has to continue, it needs to improve.”
That reputation inspired sophomore inside linebacker Femi Oradejo in high school.
“Cal’s defense was different,” he said. “They had dogs all over the place…they were very smart, very smart, and had good plans.”
The expectation for 2022 is that, knowing the defense is strong, Cal will have a good season if the offense can score enough points.
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But will it?
Of the expected defensive starters, only three started last season, and the two best defenders from 2021, the Bears (outside linebacker Cameron Goode and safety Elijah Hicks), are in the NFL’s I left aiming for success in
Reputation does not make tackles or intercept passes. That said, despite his 5-7 overall record for the Bears, in scoring defense he finished second in the Pac-12, a lot to replace from his 2021 defense that set a high standard. is the talent of
Nevertheless, there’s every reason to believe that Cal will once again be one of the best defensive teams in the Pac-12.
First of all, the scheme. As Sirmon pointed out, the Wilcox scheme appears to be effective no matter which player runs it. And Cal’s defensive coach, with Wilcox’s support, has done a good job of producing good execution within that plan despite many changes to the coaching staff and player personnel.
Equally important is the talent of the player who replaces the starter. His inside linebacker Jackson Salmon, who moved from Washington, was his first-team All-Conference selection in the preseason, and UCLA-transferred Odua his Ishiboll was better than expected at the outside linebacker. Additionally, Brett Johnson, who missed last season after having hip surgery, is back and is considered one of the best defensive linemen in the conference.
Oradejo showed late last season that he could be the next great Cal inside linebacker. For four seasons, he was central to Wilcox’s defense at the inside linebacker. Cal said in 2022 he should be better off in that position alongside Sirmon and Oladejo.
Cal’s secondary is arguably the best in the Pac-12 over the last five seasons and should be strong again despite the departure of Hicks and Josh Drayden. Lu-Magia Hearns returned as a cornerback after earning the starting position midway through last year as a true freshman, and his Collin Gamble at cornerback returned to start eight games last season. . Either Miles Williams or Craig Woodson are competent replacements for Hicks, with preseason All-Pac-12 selection Daniel Scott making a safe return.
Of course questions remain. Finding the right Nickelback and a front-three player who can complement Johnson is an open question, with the potential for big plays from outside linebackers in the same way that Cal got from Goode and Marquez Vimage. I don’t know if I can pull off sex last season.
But somehow, Wilcox and Salmon will find a way to create another powerful defense.
If the Bears can get some points. . .
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Cover photo: Kelley L Cox, USA TODAY Sports
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