Tightwad Hill: GAME RECAP - CALIFORNIA 31 WASHINGTON 24 (OT)

Saturday, October 21, 2006

GAME RECAP - CALIFORNIA 31 WASHINGTON 24 (OT)

Look me in the eyes and tell me...if I'm satisfied

OK, that's over. Thank God.

You're supposed to never look askance at a Pac-10 victory, but this game was troubling on a number of levels. Let's turn to Mr. Negative for analysis:
* Nate Longshore had a hideous first half and pretty good second half. That averages out to a relatively poor performance - his second consecutive underwhelming effort.
* The receivers had a handful of costly drops.
* Washington's defensive line controlled the line of scrimmage for most of the contest.
* We forgot that the hail mary pass is like a corner kick in soccer. You have to mark everyone.
* We should have lost this game. Washington kept us in the game with Bonnell's picks and curiously conservative play calling. (As an aside, why does Ty Willingham always give it to Rankin/James out of the deep I in short yardage situations?)

Mr. Positive, a rebuttal?
* Cal showed poise in coming from behind for the first time this year. Longshore didn't go in the tank after the first half. We didn't collapse after the Hail Mary. We'll probably have to mount a comeback again at some point, so it's good to see a successful dry run.
* Marshawn Lynch played a courageous game on two gimpy ankles. He carried us in the 2nd half and in overtime. Give him the offensive game ball.
* But the defensive game ball goes to Mr. Desmond Bishop. This was his best game as a Golden Bear - 14 tackles, 4 for loss, the game-ending interception.
* Big, clutch kick from Schneider.
* We're 7-1 and have a week to get healthy.

More after I watch the TIVO. Kudos to UW for playing with their hair on fire and taking the game to us. Good luck in your bowl game - you look to be "back."