BERKELEY — Cal’s soccer prospects for 2022 grew dimmer Saturday with the information that defensive lineman Brett Johnson, presumably the Bears’ greatest participant, will miss the season.
Johnson, who had made a full comeback from a severe hip damage suffered in a automobile accident within the spring of 2021, suffered a brand new, unrelated lower-body damage in apply this week.
“Simply devastating for him,” coach Justin Wilcox mentioned. “Everyone’s hurting for him.”
The Bears already had been hurting. Primarily based on the manufacturing of returning gamers — a calculation engineered by ESPN’s Invoice Connelly — Cal ranked 107th out of 131 FBS groups. Solely Washington State amongst Pac-12 rivals is decrease at 118th.
It’s a part of why the Bears had been picked ninth within the preseason Pac-12 media ballot. However Wilcox doesn't see a glass half empty.
“There are going to be plenty of new faces which might be taking part in important reps,” he mentioned, “however we just like the expertise on the staff. In some unspecified time in the future the gamers are going to be inexperienced. That’s simply the character of faculty soccer. That’s enjoyable.”
Listed here are 4 key points dealing with the Bears as they put together to kick off their season subsequent Saturday at house in opposition to UC-Davis:
A NEW ERA ON OFFENSE
The Bears have a brand new quarterback for the primary time since 2017. Purdue switch Jack Plummer arrived within the spring and has secured the project held nearly solely by Chase Garbers for the previous 4 seasons.
The Bears had been 19-11 when Garbers performed greater than half the sport, however a stout protection had quite a bit to do with that. The truth is Cal has averaged lower than 22 factors per sport over the previous 4 seasons.
Plummer (no relation to Jake Plummer) doesn't have the operating skill that Garbers displayed whereas turning into the primary Cal quarterback to hurry for greater than 1,000 profession yards. However he could make all of the throws and at Purdue threw 26 touchdowns in opposition to simply 10 interceptions as a part-time starter over three seasons.
He has one different factor Garbers by no means loved: larger, sooner targets. The wideout threesome of junior Jeremiah Hunter, redshirt freshmen J.Michael Sturdivant and Mavin Anderson, and the tight finish duo of sophomores Jermaine Terry II and Keleki Latu, have proven nice promise and a powerful catch radius.
Hunter averaged 18.5 yards on 21 catches a 12 months in the past. The opposite 4 mixed for simply 5 receptions, suggesting they nonetheless have heaps to show.
Getting sport prepared⚡️#GoBearspic.twitter.com/LVGMRgtBCf
— Cal Soccer (@CalFootball) August 14, 2022
O-LINE IN FLUX
It stays to be seen if the Bears are appropriate of their perception they've extra depth on the offensive line. Definitely they've substantial change. Two would-be returning starters didn't make it again — sort out Will Craig retired for medical causes and guard McKade Mettauer transferred to Oklahoma.
Two key returning gamers are middle Matt Cindric and Ben Coleman, who has been shifted from left guard to left sort out.
Three newcomers are important to the rebuild. Arizona State switch Spencer Lovell (6-6, 335) has received the suitable guard job, and the second unit options Montana State switch T.J. Session (6-4, 300) at sort out with freshman Sioape Vatikani (6-3, 335) at guard.
FINDING DEFENSIVE PLAYMAKERS
With Johnson anchoring the road, the Bears had been being seen as probably the greatest defenses within the Pac-12. With out him, nicely…
Preseason All-Pac-12 security Daniel Scott ought to stabilize the secondary.
Transfers Jackson Sirmon (Washington) at inside linebacker and Udoa Isisbor (UCLA) at exterior linebacker have impressed.
However can the Bears fill the void left by Johnson and three different productive gamers? Exterior linebackers Cameron Goode and Marqez Bimage mixed for 16 tackles for loss final season. In three seasons, Goode collected 30.5, together with 19.5 sacks.
And security Elijah Hicks turned Cal’s fourth DB in three seasons to be chosen within the NFL Draft after posting three interceptions and forcing 4 fumbles final season.
It will likely be price watching who emerges because the Bears’ defensive playmakers.
FAST START REQUIRED
For the Bears to earn their first bowl bid since 2019, they might want to roar out of the beginning blocks. The primary half of their schedule options house video games vs. UC Davis, UNLV and Arizona, and highway matchups vs. Notre Dame, Washington State and Colorado.
Given the extra strenuous nature of the schedule’s second half — with video games in opposition to Washington, Oregon, Stanford, UCLA, USC and Oregon State — Cal wants to begin 5-1, no worse than 4-2. WSU on the highway (Oct. 1) might be a pivotal sport.
Cal received 4 of its remaining six video games a 12 months in the past, however a poor begin doomed the Bears to a 5-7 remaining file. They received simply as soon as of their first six outings, shedding by seven factors or fewer to Nevada, TCU, Washington and Oregon. That received’t get it completed this 12 months.