VIDEO: Cal/WSU highlights (and lowlights)

by Jeff Nusser on Oct 26, 2009 11:34 AM PDT

Big hat tip to the California Golden Blogs for these. We're really just riding their coattails these days.

After watching this and after having listened to the game on Saturday, I can definitively say two things:

Bob Robertson's description of the poor tackling doesn't nearly do enough justice to what transpired on these big Cal plays. It seriously looks like last year, and is something I fully expect to be fixed by next week. It makes you wonder what could have been, in light of the offense's performance.
Robertson's description of Jeff Tuel's touchdown passes didn't nearly do those throws justice, either. Look at the way he steps up in the pocket instead of retreating -- as a true freshman -- and then delivers a pair of stellar throws. After a year-plus of watching Marshall Lobbestael and Kevin Lopina do the exact opposite of that in every conceivable way, it's time to get really, really excited about Tuel.

First, from Comcast SportsNet in the Bay Area:

Next, from Avinash at CGB, recorded from the student section. It's a series of plays.

I can't figure out how to get it to play all the highlights. If you want to see more, head over to Avinash's FanShot at CGB.

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So,

Apparently Comcast SportsNet Bay Area was told his name is Gino ~~Simone~~ Simmons?

Other than that, those two bullets to Simone aka Simmons and Forzani were beautiful. Cautiously optimistic.

by Kyle Rancourt on Oct 26, 2009 11:49 AM PDT reply actions

I remember during the Doba years we had a couple of LBs that bit on the play fake practically every single time. A fellow season ticket holder thought we bit on those play fakes because of bad coaching while I disagreed. I had no doubt that Doba and Ackey (as with Wulff and staff today) went over technique, pursuit and tacking every day at practice, but sometimes that’s a futile task.

I think talent is more than just physical, it’s mental. I’m not saying these kids lack intelligence (far from it), but I would say that some of our guys lack great football instincts. The bite on play fakes, get caught inside, or use poor technique when tackling because, in the end, they don’t have a nose for the ball.

I look at someone like Will Derting, who was great at getting to the ball and laying at hit. I think Derting was great because he had great instincts…he saw plays develop in front of him.

by Scottie44 on Oct 26, 2009 2:12 PM PDT reply actions

I think you're right on the money

Hence, all the reports we hear about Wulff and Co. looking for recruits who play “from the neck up.”

CougCenter

by Jeff Nusser on Oct 26, 2009 2:21 PM PDT up reply actions

I get that you feel that any video is better than no video...

But really, Nuss? The Cougars are bad enough in a real sequence of plays… let alone a ‘series of plays’ specifically chosen to show every time our defense gave up a big play or our offense got tackled for a loss…

That was just too much. I could not finish watching that once I realized there wasn’t going to be any ‘happy’ highlights…
(maybe give us a more specific warning or something) “ATTENTION: YOU ARE NOT GOING TO FIND HAPPINESS ANYWHERE IN THIS VIDEO.”

by cfred on Oct 26, 2009 2:36 PM PDT reply actions

Obviously I'm refering to the 2nd video clip.

by cfred on Oct 26, 2009 2:36 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah, sorry about that.

CougCenter

by Jeff Nusser on Oct 26, 2009 2:37 PM PDT up reply actions

Uhhhhh what were you expecting?

The guy who recorded it was from Cal. And also, its kind of helpful to see good and bad plays to get a picture of how we played, since it was not on TV.

Vote for Butch!

by spencer peaty on Oct 26, 2009 3:40 PM PDT up reply actions

+1

Nuss is not here to blow sunshine up anyone’s you know what. He tells it like it is. (I believe that is called good journalism)

I like seeing some video. Someday, we will again be the team looking good on YouTube, etc.

Go Cougs!

by DCinSEA on Oct 26, 2009 9:19 PM PDT up reply actions

I was just commenting.

Not that I would expect anything different from a Cal fan. They wouldn’t waste their time putting up highlights of the opponent.

Although if it were me, and the opposition pulled off a couple big passing plays like the Cougars did… I might actually put those in my video clips… because it was good looking football and offense at it’s finest.

Personally, I do like to see highlights of nice offensive plays even if they are against my team. But I don’t really enjoy seeing my team get stopped at the line of scrimmage 10 times in a row… That’s just boring to me.

by cfred on Oct 27, 2009 8:03 AM PDT up reply actions

I mean how many different ways can the offensive line fail? Not very enticing to me.

Let the players playing offensive line watch that video instead… they might have more to take out of it.

by cfred on Oct 27, 2009 8:05 AM PDT up reply actions

For the second one you realize that he was recording from the student section. From three years (plus two games) of experience I can tell you that’s not easy. I’m surprised he even got that many plays in

In other words, Go Bears!

by royrules22 on Oct 27, 2009 8:53 AM PDT up reply actions

Hell. Even if I had an adequate video camara, I don't think I'd be filming plays from the students section.

I wouldn’t be able to devote the needed energy and concentration. All of my focus would be on the game itself and the cheering and jeering that goes along with it. If a big play came up and I was filming… well I’d better hope that I was wearing the safety strap.

by cfred on Oct 27, 2009 2:49 PM PDT up reply actions

My seats for ND are in the corner

Not sure how good of video the iPhone will take but I will give it a shot anyway. Might not look good due to pre-game shots ;oP 6:30pm game gives a lot of daylight drinking time.

Anyone else going to SA?

Go Cougs!

by DCinSEA on Oct 27, 2009 5:23 PM PDT up reply actions