2019 Season Recap:
2019 was an up and down season for the Cal Bears finishing 8-5, 2nd in the Pac-12. Cal started the season 4-0 including a week 2 20-19 win over the Huskies. However, after Chase Garbers went down to injury in the Arizona State game, Cal proceeded to lose the next four games.
Garbers was able to return for their rivalry game against Stanford winning 24-20 and clinching a bowl game. The Bears then beat UCLA the next week and finished the season with a third straight victory vs Illinois in the Redbox Bowl.
Coming into 2019 Cal had one of the top ranked defenses in the country, they didn’t quite live up to the hype but they were more than serviceable. Led by All American linebacker Evan Weaver they were a very solid defense, they just didn’t force the turnovers needed to be a top ranked defense.
With Justin Wilcox as the head coach, Cal will always be a defense first team, but in 2019 they were the worst offense in the Pac-12. The only positive of Cal’s offense in 2019 was the lack of turnovers, only turning over the ball 13 times all season. When Chase Garbers was healthy he helped Cal do just enough on offense to win the game, going 8-0 as a starter in 2019.
2019 Offense:
-21.2 Points Per Game
-2561 Passing Yards
-1716 Rushing Yards
-19 Passing TDs
-16 Rushing TDs
2019 Defense:
-21.9 Points Per Game
-3435 Passing Yards Allowed
-1645 Rushing Yards Allowed
-16 Passing TDs Allowed
-16 Rushing TDs Allowed
Key Losses:
-Linebacker Evan Weaver: Captain, Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, All-American 181 Tackles, 11.5 TFL, 2 Forced Fumbles
-Safety Ashtyn Davis: Captain, 55 Tackles, 2 Interceptions, 1 Forced Fumbles
-Safety Jaylin Hawkins: Team leader in Int, 53 Tackles, 3 Interceptions, 2 Forced Fumbles
-Wide Receiver Jordan Duncan: 2nd Leading Receiver in 2019 25 Catches 364 Yards 2 TDs
2020 Cal Golden Bears:
Head Coach:
Justin Wilcox (Career Record:19-18)
Offense:
After having the worst ranked offense in the Pac-12 in 2019, Cal comes into the 2020 season with new offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave. Musgrave is returning to college football after 18 years in the NFL with multiple different jobs at offensive coordinator and qb coach positions. The hope for Cal is that Musgrave can bring some Pro Style Offense consistency to the Golden Bears.
Musgrave’s fingerprints can already be seen on their offense, they have added multiple fullbacks to the roster over the offseason as part of change to a run heavy pro style system. Other changes on the offensive coaching staff include Angus McClure offensive line coach and Aristotle Thompson running backs coach.
Even though Cal has a new offensive coaching staff they are returning 10 starters on offense only losing one of their starting wide receivers. Cal offense really struggled in 2019, especially when Chase Garbers was out due to injury. With 19 starts, Chase Garbers is the most experienced quarterback in the Pac-12 and is one of just three Pac-12 quarterbacks who started more than half their team’s games a year ago.
He played in 8 full games last season and the Bears were 8-0 in those games. Garbers was a 60% passer with 1772 passing yards and 14 TDs with only 3 Interceptions. He also ran for 225 yards and 3 TDs. Starting RB Christopher Brown returns for his JR season after rushing for 914 yards and 8 TDs last season. He is a big power back measured at 6’ 1” 235 LBs. He played a big part in Cal’s win vs the Huskies last season with 110 total yards.
Cal also returned both backup running backs from last season, Marcel Dancy and Deshawn Collins ran for a combined 447 yards last year. Every member of last year’s starting offensive line is back, and the Bears added Will Craig, who was scheduled to be a starting offensive tackle last year before suffering a season-ending injury. Chase Garbers and Chris Brown will need to be consistent with big games to help carry an offense with a lack of any explosive playmakers.
Defense:
Cal will need to replace a lot of talent and experience on the defensive side of the ball in 2020. The Bears lost 3 defensive backs, 2 linebackers, and 3 defensive lineman as starters from 2019. Inside linebacker Kuony Deng will need to step up to fill the large shoes left by 2019 All American Evan Weaver. Deng was fourth in the Pac-12 in tackles last season, and is an outstanding athlete, with great size and intelligence. In Wilcox’s defense inside linebacker plays a huge role and Deng will be they key in how they handle the losses from last season. Cam Goode returns from last years defense as the Bears best pass rusher. He had 9.5 sacks and 6 quarterback hurries last season, and he has returned two interceptions for touchdowns in his Cal career.
Cal has a new DBs coach and new players in four of five positions in the secondary. But they do return cornerback Camryn Bynum, one of the Pac-12’s best, he returned after briefly opting out to prepare for the NFL. And senior Elijah Hicks, a three-year starter at corner, who has moved to safety for the 2020 season. Cal will need to replace a lot of production on the defensive side of the ball. As long as they have Wilcox and Sirmon I expect them to have at the very least an above average defense. Deng, Goode, Bynum and Hicks will need to make big plays to help carry this undersized and inexperienced defense through a tough Pac-12 season.
Depth Chart:
