Tosh Lupoi didn’t try to soften it Tuesday. Cal’s penalty problem has become a real drag on the Bears’ season, and the first-year head coach made that clear when asked about the trend.
"It's very frustrating,” Lupoi said. “We’re participating in the highest-penalized conference in America.”
That frustration comes with numbers that are hard to ignore. Cal has piled up 57 penalties for 538 yards through six games as of Oct. 14, putting the Bears among the most-flagged teams in the country.
The Bears are tied with UCLA for third-most penalties per game at 9.8, while Syracuse leads the way at 10.3. Wake Forest, Cal’s opponent Saturday night, is also near the top of the pile at 8.7 penalties per game, good for 10th.
The Bears’ problems have already shown up in a couple of especially costly outings. Cal was flagged 10 times for 99 yards in its Homecoming game against Virginia Tech, then followed that with a much rougher night in the road loss to UNLV, where the Bears were hit with 16 penalties for 152 yards.
The penalties have not just stalled drives and handed over yardage. Some have turned into ejections, too.
Junior linebacker AJ Tuitele has been thrown out twice this season for targeting, most recently in the fourth quarter of Cal’s win over Virginia Tech. His hit on Hokies quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer was first ruled roughing the passer before being upgraded to targeting, a call that set off Lupoi on the sideline and ultimately led to Tuitele’s disqualification.
“We are implementing drills (and) taking time out of practice to do everything we can to prevent those,” Lupoi said. “We’ve had, in the last two games in a row, targeting - with individuals leading with two hands. (I’m) just trying to coach it better.”
Even with the larger issue still hanging over the team, Lupoi pointed to a couple of areas where Cal has been better. The Bears haven’t been hit with a taunting penalty, and their offside calls have dropped compared with earlier weeks.
Outside linebacker Solomon Williams, asked about the fix, kept it blunt.
“We have to tackle low. I mean, that’s just an emphasis that we have right now,” Williams said, matter-of-factly.
“That’s it. Point blank.
Period.”
In Other News...
Cals QB Outlook Just Shifted At A Crucial Time
Cal got a significant boost under center heading into Saturdays home game against No. 21 Wake Forest, with Jaron-Keawe Sagapolotele upgraded from questionable to probable. The quarterbacks status suggests he is likely to return after missing last week with a concussion, a timely shift for a Bears offense that needed clarity at the position as it prepares for a ranked opponent.
The rest of the availability report brought a mixed bag for Cal. Running back Adam Mohammed was downgraded to doubtful, while safety Kingston Lopa moved up to probable, giving the Bears a better look on defense even as the backfield remains unsettled. Wake Forest also got encouraging news of its own, with wide receiver Carlos Hernandez and defensive end Langston Hardy upgraded to probable. [Read more 🡒]
Cal May Have Found A Clutch Scorer As Offense Still Looks Shaky
Cals preseason tune-up against Loyola Marymount did little to hide the bigger offensive questions, but it did offer a glimpse of a player who might thrive when the game tightens late. Nojus Indruaitis delivered the decisive bucket in the closing moments of a 60-59 win, giving the Bears a needed bright spot in a game that was ugly in stretches but still ended with a confidence-building finish.
Mark Madsen pointed to Indruaitis and others who helped Cal hang around despite the rough shooting night, which is the part that matters most this early in November. The Bears still have another exhibition left before the regular season begins, and for a team searching for more reliable scoring, the final seconds provided at least one encouraging answer while the broader offensive picture remains unsettled. [Read more 🡒]
Wake Forest Brings A Major Depth Question Into Berkeley
Wake Forest is heading into Berkeley with its injury report carrying plenty of weight, and California has reason to keep an eye on it. The Demon Deacons have six players listed as out, leaving their depth thinner than usual in spots that matter most, especially up front where line rotations can shape both protection and the run game. For a Cal defense that will be watching how the visitors handle pressure, the availability of the players listed as probable could end up being part of the early-game story.
Among the names to watch are wide receiver Carlos Hernandez and defensive lineman Langston Hardy, both listed as probable heading into the matchup. Wake Forest will need to sort through personnel issues on both sides of the ball, and that makes the health of those key contributors even more important as the week unfolds. If the Deacons can patch together their offensive and defensive fronts, theyll give themselves a chance to keep the game manageable, but the margin for error is already looking slim. [Read more 🡒]