this game has me perplexed. i'm interested to see some of you guys' takes on this game. while catching 5.5 with an upper echelon SEC team seems enticing, i could see Cal running away with this one. While the Vol front seven should be very good, I don't know if Tenn. has an answer for Desean Jackson in the secondary. Longshore returns as well, and although they lost Lynch to the NFL, Cal returns a lot of experience on offense. Cal has revenge, home field, Tenn. has to travel cross-country first game of season, etc, etc. starting to think all signs point to Berkeley. What do you guys think?
Tennessee at Cal
- Thread starter Teddy Dupay
- Start date
Teddy:
I am a UT fan, but I will be the first to go against them and criticize when they do something I feel is wrong.
Having said that, I will not play this game. I do think Cal wins, but I think UT keeps it close. Fulmer is a dope, but has a way of getting his teams to play well on the road. A few years ago, they went to Miami and broke their consecutive home streak record. In fact, last years game at Arkansas is the last time I can remember UT getting it handed to them on the road.
If I were to bet, I would take the points, but I do think UT opens the season 1-2 with losses at Cal and Florida
I am a UT fan, but I will be the first to go against them and criticize when they do something I feel is wrong.
Having said that, I will not play this game. I do think Cal wins, but I think UT keeps it close. Fulmer is a dope, but has a way of getting his teams to play well on the road. A few years ago, they went to Miami and broke their consecutive home streak record. In fact, last years game at Arkansas is the last time I can remember UT getting it handed to them on the road.
If I were to bet, I would take the points, but I do think UT opens the season 1-2 with losses at Cal and Florida
Teddy:
Also, I would agree with you that UT is a little inexperienced at the CB position and might start true freshman Eric Berry, Jonathan Hefney is a 1st team all SEC guy and a stud at free safety. He will be a safety net back there and Chavis will not leave his corners on an island like Cal did last year here in Knoxville.
I think the biggest key is if Cal can run the ball effectively, then that is the only way they cover.
Also, I would agree with you that UT is a little inexperienced at the CB position and might start true freshman Eric Berry, Jonathan Hefney is a 1st team all SEC guy and a stud at free safety. He will be a safety net back there and Chavis will not leave his corners on an island like Cal did last year here in Knoxville.
I think the biggest key is if Cal can run the ball effectively, then that is the only way they cover.
Hampton to replace Hughes?
When Cal opens the season against Tennessee, it will do so with a new starting cornerback. Gee, that sounds familiar.
The Bears traveled to Knoxville to open the 2006 season, and Syd'Quan Thompson made his first career start. All-American wide receiver Robert Meachem torched him for two long touchdown catches as the Volunteers raced out to a 35-0 lead and won 35-18.
Yes, Cal gets Tennessee at home this time around when the 2007 season commences on Sept. 1. And yes, Meachem is gone to the NFL's New Orleans Saints.
But there's no disputing that the uncertainty which comes with lining up a cornerback for his first career start will be enhanced against a team such as the Volunteers.
Thompson recovered and went on to have a solid redshirt freshman season, and big things are expected of him this season. The starter opposite him will have the task of replacing Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year Daymeion Hughes, who was selected in the third round of the NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts.
Defensive coordinator Bob Gregory has several candidates auditioning for the job during fall camp, but only one has played in a college football game before. That's why senior Brandon Hampton is the leading candidate to win the battle.
"He knows the deal," Gregory said. "He's going to be on the field somewhere."
Hampton started every game last season at rover and was a reserve defensive back in 2005. Thomas DeCoud is recovered from last
year's knee injury, so he and Bernard Hicks will be the team's starting safeties. That allows Hampton to give Cal some more experience at cornerback.
"I want to start," Hampton said. "Corner is where I'm headed right now. I like the move because as I look to my future, that versatility will make my stock rise higher. If I need to go somewhere else, I can go effectively and play."
Gregory acknowledged that Hampton is the leading candidate to replace Hughes, but "no one has emerged as the guy yet."
Redshirt freshmen Brandon Jones and Charles Amadi are the two players pushing Hampton the most.
Gregory said Darian Hagan, another redshirt freshman who was highly regarded coming out of Crenshaw High in Los Angeles, is behind the top three.
Some believe Hagan has the potential to be a star, but Gregory said he has a lot of work to do before putting things together.
"I think he needs to use all of his potential," Gregory said. "He needs to work on his work habits. He needs to become a better worker. If he does that, there's no question he's a good football player."
Of all the candidates, Hagan came to Cal as the best prospect. In fact, Hampton began his career as the team's equipment manager then walked on as a running back. He switched to defense before the 2005 season.
"There's a lot of competition," Hagan said. "There are different guys who bring different things to the table. The one thing Coach (Gregory) wants me to do is be more competitive and hustle more. I'm pretty sure I'm in the mix. I have to do whatever I can to make it happen."
Gregory cited Hampton's experience as the reason that he's the front-runner for the job, experience being something that last year's Tennessee game demonstrated is a valuable asset.
Though coach Jeff Tedford said last season that inexperience may have been a reason for Thompson's struggles against the Volunteers, Gregory took part of the blame.
"That's on me," he said. "I probably didn't put Syd in as good a position as he could have been in. It's not like Syd was way out of position. He made a great break on the ball and wrapped the guy up, but he just kind of spun off of him. It's not like he got beat deep. He was right there."
Gregory said he'd like to be in a position where more than one player is qualified to start. He said Thompson and Hughes may have got worn down at times last season, and he'd like to have the depth to prevent that from happening this season.
"I feel good about the group," Gregory said. "We'd like to have four or five corners we feel good about. That would be great to get."
And Gregory seems confident that Hagan eventually will be part of that group.
"He's certainly not the first freshman who has come in and figured it out later," Gregory said. "He's going to be a great football player for us. He just needs to continue good habits.
When Cal opens the season against Tennessee, it will do so with a new starting cornerback. Gee, that sounds familiar.
The Bears traveled to Knoxville to open the 2006 season, and Syd'Quan Thompson made his first career start. All-American wide receiver Robert Meachem torched him for two long touchdown catches as the Volunteers raced out to a 35-0 lead and won 35-18.
Yes, Cal gets Tennessee at home this time around when the 2007 season commences on Sept. 1. And yes, Meachem is gone to the NFL's New Orleans Saints.
But there's no disputing that the uncertainty which comes with lining up a cornerback for his first career start will be enhanced against a team such as the Volunteers.
Thompson recovered and went on to have a solid redshirt freshman season, and big things are expected of him this season. The starter opposite him will have the task of replacing Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year Daymeion Hughes, who was selected in the third round of the NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts.
Defensive coordinator Bob Gregory has several candidates auditioning for the job during fall camp, but only one has played in a college football game before. That's why senior Brandon Hampton is the leading candidate to win the battle.
"He knows the deal," Gregory said. "He's going to be on the field somewhere."
Hampton started every game last season at rover and was a reserve defensive back in 2005. Thomas DeCoud is recovered from last
year's knee injury, so he and Bernard Hicks will be the team's starting safeties. That allows Hampton to give Cal some more experience at cornerback.
"I want to start," Hampton said. "Corner is where I'm headed right now. I like the move because as I look to my future, that versatility will make my stock rise higher. If I need to go somewhere else, I can go effectively and play."
Gregory acknowledged that Hampton is the leading candidate to replace Hughes, but "no one has emerged as the guy yet."
Redshirt freshmen Brandon Jones and Charles Amadi are the two players pushing Hampton the most.
Gregory said Darian Hagan, another redshirt freshman who was highly regarded coming out of Crenshaw High in Los Angeles, is behind the top three.
Some believe Hagan has the potential to be a star, but Gregory said he has a lot of work to do before putting things together.
"I think he needs to use all of his potential," Gregory said. "He needs to work on his work habits. He needs to become a better worker. If he does that, there's no question he's a good football player."
Of all the candidates, Hagan came to Cal as the best prospect. In fact, Hampton began his career as the team's equipment manager then walked on as a running back. He switched to defense before the 2005 season.
"There's a lot of competition," Hagan said. "There are different guys who bring different things to the table. The one thing Coach (Gregory) wants me to do is be more competitive and hustle more. I'm pretty sure I'm in the mix. I have to do whatever I can to make it happen."
Gregory cited Hampton's experience as the reason that he's the front-runner for the job, experience being something that last year's Tennessee game demonstrated is a valuable asset.
Though coach Jeff Tedford said last season that inexperience may have been a reason for Thompson's struggles against the Volunteers, Gregory took part of the blame.
"That's on me," he said. "I probably didn't put Syd in as good a position as he could have been in. It's not like Syd was way out of position. He made a great break on the ball and wrapped the guy up, but he just kind of spun off of him. It's not like he got beat deep. He was right there."
Gregory said he'd like to be in a position where more than one player is qualified to start. He said Thompson and Hughes may have got worn down at times last season, and he'd like to have the depth to prevent that from happening this season.
"I feel good about the group," Gregory said. "We'd like to have four or five corners we feel good about. That would be great to get."
And Gregory seems confident that Hagan eventually will be part of that group.
"He's certainly not the first freshman who has come in and figured it out later," Gregory said. "He's going to be a great football player for us. He just needs to continue good habits.
Cal FB Ta'ufo'ou out 3-6 weeks with sprained ligament in knee
Updated: August 18, 2007, 9:41 PM ET
BERKELEY, Calif. -- California fullback Will Ta'ufo'ou will miss three-to-six weeks after spraining a ligament in his knee during a scrimmage, coach Jeff Tedford said Saturday.
Ta'ufo'ou, a junior who played in all 13 games last season for the 12th-ranked Golden Bears, is expected to be Cal's starter this season after starting in the school's victory over Texas A&M in the Holiday Bowl last year.
His injury, which occurred Thursday, will sideline him for the Bears' season opener against No. 15 Tennessee on Sept. 1.
Updated: August 18, 2007, 9:41 PM ET
BERKELEY, Calif. -- California fullback Will Ta'ufo'ou will miss three-to-six weeks after spraining a ligament in his knee during a scrimmage, coach Jeff Tedford said Saturday.
Ta'ufo'ou, a junior who played in all 13 games last season for the 12th-ranked Golden Bears, is expected to be Cal's starter this season after starting in the school's victory over Texas A&M in the Holiday Bowl last year.
His injury, which occurred Thursday, will sideline him for the Bears' season opener against No. 15 Tennessee on Sept. 1.
Thompson recovered and went on to have a solid redshirt freshman season, and big things are expected of him this season. The starter opposite him will have the task of replacing Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year Daymeion Hughes, who was selected in the third round of the NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts.
PAC-10 Defensive Player of the Year was a 3rd rounder!!:142smilie
PAC-10 Defensive Player of the Year was a 3rd rounder!!:142smilie
I would'nt touch this game with a 10' pole.
But I would look at Tenn vs. So. Miss next week.
And Cal AT Colorado State next week. JMHO.
11 mo days :00hour
But I would look at Tenn vs. So. Miss next week.
And Cal AT Colorado State next week. JMHO.
11 mo days :00hour
I definitely like Cal SU, but -5' is a tough call.
Desean Jackson is just a stud and will be a
factor in games this season. As always, the
Bears will have a good OL and the offense
should be productive. The D has some ???
especially at corner. I would lean to Cal,
but would pass on this one. :SIB
Desean Jackson is just a stud and will be a
factor in games this season. As always, the
Bears will have a good OL and the offense
should be productive. The D has some ???
especially at corner. I would lean to Cal,
but would pass on this one. :SIB
Tennessee has a huge advantage at the QB position as Ainge is solid, but Cal was 7-0 SU last season at home and has revenge to help motivate. Tennessee is returning just 11 starters and winning on the road early in the season could prove very difficult. I would lean towards laying the points with the Bears @ less than a TD. Tenneshe is also traveling a great distance with an inexperienced, but talented club. Typically traveling great distance is very tough early in the season. Cal will be super motivated for revenge and unless Tenneshe gets some breaks early, I don't like their chances.
