Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, Cal’s star quarterback, is questionable for this week’s battle against Virginia Tech, after suffering a concussion in their brutal 38-31 loss to UNLV. It is a turbulent week for a Cal program desperately searching for answers, and this injury just dropped a bomb on their efforts.
The Playcaller Shake-Up and a Season on the Brink
Cal is sitting at a rough 2-3 overall, even if their 1-1 ACC record offers a sliver of hope. General manager Ron Rivera did not pull any punches Tuesday, holding an unscheduled press conference to basically say, “We’re close, but we’re not where we want to be.” He pointed to a frustrating trend of squandering opportunities to win games in the fourth quarter. “Obviously, we’d much rather be 5-1, 4-1, 3-2, not 2-3,” Rivera said. The urgency is palpable, and head coach Tosh Lupoi made a major move, redistributing offensive playcalling duties from first-time offensive coordinator Jordan Somerville to pass-game coordinator Pat McCann. Rivera fully backed the decision, emphasizing the team’s potential still gives him confidence this season can turn around.
Now, we’ve heard the right words, but the results have not followed. Lupoi insisted the group’s “hunger and approach” haven’t missed a beat, but admitted it is going to take “everything we got and a lot of cleanup” to put three phases together against “the best team yet that we’re facing.” If Sagapolutele cannot go, redshirt junior Jackson Brousseau is next up. He stepped in against UNLV, completing 19 of 32 attempts for 200 yards and two touchdowns, and get this: that’s when McCann took over the headset! Lupoi even described McCann’s immediate, halftime offensive redesign as “maniac energy” watching him draw up schemes on an iPad. The big question is whether McCann can get this offense, with its shaky line and lack of middle-field passing, to challenge the Hokies.
Virginia Tech’s Havoc Machine Is Coming to Town
So, here is the nightmare scenario for Cal. Virginia Tech rolls into Berkeley at 4-1, and their defense is an absolute wrecking crew. We are talking the 11th best havoc rate in the nation at 20.5%, leading the entire country with 51 tackles for loss and the ACC with 18 sacks. Defensive lineman Aycen Stevens is a beast with 5.5 sacks, and Cortez Harris is right there with him at 5.0.
Remember that shaky Cal offensive line? Yeah, this is going to be a brutal test. Whatever McCann draws up, if that line cannot block, it just will not matter. Virginia Tech’s junior QB Ethan Grunkemeyer, who followed head coach James Franklin from Penn State, is also making serious noise. He has tallied 1,446 yards, 11 touchdowns, and a 74.0% completion percentage, showing notable improvements in his arm strength and decision-making. Their running game has been subpar, a below average -0.02 expected points added, which might be a small opening for Cal’s defense. But first, they need to figure out how to survive the Hokies’ pass rush.
The Cal Bears are looking at a monumental task against Virginia Tech. With their star QB potentially sidelined, a new playcaller stepping into the fire, and a defense that leads the nation in TFLs, this game is everything for a Cal team desperate to prove Rivera’s confidence is not misplaced. All eyes are on Berkeley this weekend, to see if they can finally put it all together and turn this season around.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply