Cal’s defense is built on volume right now, and the Bears don’t seem interested in pretending otherwise.
Against UCLA last week, 23 Cal defenders logged at least 12 snaps, a workload that didn’t even include outside linebacker Justin Beadles or defensive backs Jasiah Wagoner and Marquis Groves-Killebrew, both of whom missed the game but are expected to see meaningful action once healthy. The biggest churn came in the secondary, where 10 players saw the field for at least 13 defensive plays each.
What stood out most was how little that rotation lined up with the usual starter chart. Three of the four starters in the secondary were not the players projected to start, and three of the four defensive backs who played the most were not starters either.
That kind of movement usually suggests early-game experimentation, a chance to sort through options before settling on tighter groups. But defensive coordinator Michael Hutchings and head coach Tosh Lupoi made it clear this week that the Bears may keep rolling with the same broad approach.
“Overall I think it goes to really our guys that have earned that playing time through camp,” Hutchings said. “I think we felt comfortable playing a large amount of guys, that’s the way our system has been built to make sure our guys get reps, create depth, and you always want to go into a game with multiple guys.
“There’s a lot of snaps, you know this is a physical game, and just the wear and tear on the bodies, so if you can keep fresh bodies in there and keep the execution level the same, you definitely want to rotate as much as possible.”
When asked whether that will be the norm, Hutchings answered, “I would hope so.”
Lupoi echoed that thinking, while also pointing to the need to sort out which players fit best in specific packages and to keep giving reps to less experienced defenders. He said Cal may keep using a lot of different players at certain spots, and that the starters could change from week to week.
“We want to rotate quite a few guys,” said Lupoi, who was a defensive coordinator at Oregon and Alabama, “and, per package, finding out who’s best. We’re going to continue to have an open competition throughout practice of certain places, and that’s the environment I want. These guys are going to come to work and compete every week, so you might see some different guys as far as who runs out first, but keeping that healthy competition.
“I think we have a lot of individual contributing that haven’t played a whole bunch of football on defense, and that’s ultimately how you get better, you got to bank those reps.
“In some positions we’re going to be a service by committee.”
One of the clearest signs of that approach was true freshman JD McKinley Redshirt, who came out of nowhere to start at linebacker and played 40 defensive snaps. Only safety Kingston Lopa was on the field for more plays than he was.
Whether the plan pays off is still very much an open question. Cal gave up 45 points and 461 yards to UCLA in the opener, and that leaves plenty of room for skepticism. At the same time, the Bears entered the season already facing obvious defensive questions after losing so many starters from last year and leaning on a wave of newcomers with limited experience.
In Other News...
Cal Fans Get A Reminder Of What This Program Still Represents
Week 1 brought some early movement in Chris Vanninis updated FBS rankings, and Cal was nudged down to No. 50 after opening the season, while UCLA made a dramatic leap into the Top 25. Syracuse also checked in at 74 after a strong showing against New Hampshire, but the bigger takeaway for Cal readers was not the shifting numbers. The piece also paused to honor one of the most meaningful names connected to the program, reminding fans that this schools identity has never been limited to what happens on fall Saturdays.
That tribute centered on Mark Bingham, the Cal graduate and United Airlines Flight 93 passenger who died 25 years ago during the 9/11 attacks after helping lead the struggle against the hijackers. It was the kind of reminder that cuts through any early-season noise, putting the programs place in college football in a larger, more human frame. Results and rankings will keep changing, but the story attached to Cal still reaches far beyond the standings. [Read more 🡒]
Cal's Offense Is Putting Early Pressure On The Bears Again
Cal opened with two straight punts and spent the first quarter trying to settle in on offense, a familiar sort of early-game stress that has lingered around the Bears in other recent matchups as well. Syracuse was the sharper team out of the gate, and the first points of the day came after the Orange put together a quick scoring march to take control before Cal had found any rhythm.
The pressure only grew in the second quarter, when Syracuse had already moved ahead 12-0 and forced the Bears to play from behind. For a Cal offense that needed a cleaner start, the challenge now is less about one possession than about whether it can finally answer the kind of early deficit that has made these games feel uphill from the opening minutes. [Read more 🡒]
Cal Faces An Early ACC Test With New Concerns Lingering
Cals first ACC road trip brings an immediate reality check, with a trip to the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse serving as the conference opener after the loss to UCLA. Syracuse arrives with momentum from a dominant win over New Hampshire and a healthier roster than it had earlier in the season, while Cal is still sorting through the ripple effects of last weeks setback and trying to steady itself before league play gets rolling.
The injury picture is the part worth watching most closely for the Bears, especially with some uncertainty hanging over the backfield after the UCLA game. On the other side, Syracuse has already shown what its offense can look like with key pieces back in the lineup, and the historical series context only adds a little more edge to a matchup that already feels like an early measuring stick for Cal in its new conference home. [Read more 🡒]