Offense: WR Bryce Treggs (So.)
After Thursday’s practice, coach Jim Mora noted the offensive abilities of Cal, a team that has primarily been hindered by its lack of healthy scholarship players on defense.
“They present a lot of challenges offensively,” Mora said. “They throw the ball all over the yard. They have a young quarterback who is not playing like a young quarterback, he’s playing like a veteran.”
Freshman quarterback Jared Goff received the direct scouting report from Mora, but he has been pushed along by sophomore wide receiver and kickoff returner Bryce Treggs, who has 36 catches for 418 yards and a touchdown so far this year. He is one of several key pieces in a Cal offense that ranks No. 4 in the FBS in passing yards per game.
His success also hits close to home for UCLA, a school that once coveted the consensus four-star recruit. Treggs, who attended St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower, Calif., was recruited by offensive line coach Adrian Klemm and even took a recruiting visit to UCLA before committing to Cal.
By the numbers, Cal has one of the weakest defenses in the FBS, and that fact certainly hasn’t been helped by the loss of two additional cornerbacks – Stefan McClure and Joel Willis – in Cal’s 44-22 loss to Washington State last weekend.
Through five games, Cal has the No. 115 FBS pass defense in terms of yards allowed, the No. 110 rush defense and the No. 122 scoring defense, with only fellow 2013 UCLA opponent New Mexico State allowing more points per game.
Nonetheless, the Bears’ defensive effort is led by junior linebacker Khairi Fortt, who leads the team in tackles with 36, three for loss. In a 52-34 loss to No. 4 Ohio State, Fortt had a season-high 13 tackles. His 6-foot-2, 240-pound frame is one of the Golden Bears’ best options in what has been a particularly trying season.
An answer for Fortt and the Cal defense, however, may be blitzing. Utah’s defense frequently disrupted UCLA’s pass offense last week when it rushed more defenders than UCLA had blockers.
“After last week I would,” said offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone of blitzing opponents. “They’re going to do it until you prove that they can’t.”
Compiled by Andrew Erickson, Bruin Sports senior staff.