Golden Bears report: Inside slant
Cal head coach Jeff Tedford made sweeping changes in his coaching staff after the team went 5-7 in 2010, his first losing season with the Golden Bears.
He got rid of offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig after just two seasons, and Tedford's next offensive coordinator will be his sixth since being by Cal hired before the 2002 season.
At least four members of next year's staff will be different from the 2010 version, although the main holdover is Clancy Pendergast, who will be back in 2011 as defensive coordinator after helping the Cal defense improve significantly in his first season in charge. He was given much of the credit for limiting Oregon to a season-low 15 points in the 15-13 loss to the Ducks.
Despite coming off a losing season, Tedford did a good job in recruiting, as assessed by the various recruiting sources, pulling in a class ranked No. 14 nationally by Scout.com. It is particularly strong with incoming defensive linemen and cornerbacks, several of whom should see playing time next year.
The biggest need was cornerback, and the Bears signed three of them, and Tedford said they would all get playing time next season. The hiring of Ashley Ambrose, who had been Colorado's defensive backs coach, as Cal's defensive backs coach played a major role in attracting all three corners to Cal.
None of it will matter much if the Bears cannot find a quarterback. That position has been the team's shortcoming the past two seasons, and any one of three or four players will be competing for the starting job in the spring with none looking like the next Aaron Rodgers.
The Bear signed one quarterback -- Kevin Boehm -- who is decent, but not the caliber of player expected to make an immediate impact. The most important quarterback recruit is Zach Maynard, who actually transferred from Buffalo last year but did not enroll at Cal until December.
The Bears signed four running backs, including once junior college player (C.J. Anderson), all of which indicates the Bears' need at that position after Shane Vereen opted to pass up his senior season and enter the NFL Draft. In addition, three of the four returning tailbacks have injury problems, so Tedford thought it necessary to add depth there.
TOP OF THE CLASS
DT Viliami Moala (Grant Union High School, Sacramento, Calif.) -- The highest rated of Cal's recruits (No. 14 overall, according to Scout.com), the 340-pound Moala may be what Cal needs at the run-stuffing, nose tackle spot in its 3-4 defense. He figures to play quite a bit as a freshman.
DT Todd Barr (Lakewood High School, Lakewood, Calif.) -- Although he's 75 pounds lighter than Moala, he may help on the defensive line this year, too. Barr is quick and more likely to play a defensive end spot, which is an area of need with Cam Jordan gone. A third defensive tackle, Mustafa Jalil of Central Catholic High School in San Diego, may be the Bears' third-best recruit.
CB/WR Stefan McClure (Vista High School, Vista, Calif.) -- McClure has received more acclaim as a defensive back (Scout.com rated him the nation's No. 4 cornerback), and he'll play defense for the Bears, and he will get plenty of playing time as a freshman.
RB Brendan Bigelow (Central East High School, Fresno, Calif.) -- Coach Jeff Tedford said Bigelow definitely will play as a freshman if he's healthy, but he sustained his second torn ACL in two years this past fall. Tedford compares him to Jahvid Best because of his blazing speed.
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