Remember Nate Longshore? The junior Cal quarterback. He beat Tennessee earlier this year. Started all last year. Rumor has it he's a pretty good football player.Well . . . He's done.
This is nothing official, mind you, but I think it's over for him. Cal melted down late in the year and was staring at a 21-0 second quarter deficit against Air Force earlier today. Longshore then went to the bench and in a little over two quarters of work his backup Kevin Riley rallied the team to a 28-27 lead.
This is the same backup who was scintillating against Oregon State in another start earlier in the year (nevermind that boneheaded last play, if possible). Cal just seems to play better behind him and he's rescued them from a colossal embarrassment in a big way.
Final score today: Cal 42 - Air Force 36
Riley's line: 16/19 (.842), 269 yards, 3 TD/ 0 INT
That's twice now California's offense has played well behind Riley following shaky Longshore performances. Longshore's got a nice bond going with his head coach, but his backup makes it happen better on the field.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-31-2007 @ 5:20PM
NDC said...
You got it right.
I feel sorry for the AF QB. Who knows what might have happened had he not been injured. The cadets have a real problem in that most teams will be bigger, stronger, faster because I know from personal experience that if you are 6'4" you will not be accepted at the academy. So you get a bunch of "dinks" in terms of football.
Let's hope Tedford says adios to Longshore and Gregory.
One of the better games for Cal...
Wait til next year....
Peace
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1-01-2008 @ 5:11AM
t7pericles said...
I agree. The Bears need the scrambling and accurate passing that Riley offers. They will be better with his starting role. I hope Tedford is flexible enough to see this. Gregory is not the only problem. They need a defensive front four that can stop the run and provide a decent pass rush.
Tom
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1-01-2008 @ 12:46PM
pack said...
I agree with these first two comments. Teford lagged on gettin the not to mobile and injury plagued longshore off the field in several games they should have won this year including the USC game Ucla game where longshore wore down and started telegraphing his passes which interceptions happened.The defensive coodinator lags on making adjustments sometimes but Cal neds to re evaluate there stop the run scheme win it comes to ther defensive line
Thomas decoq Had 100+ Tackles, a lot of touchdown saving tackles because of the lack of tackling up front.They played Worrel williams out of postion hes better at outside linbacker, thats were he played his first couple of years. Move felder back to the middle where hes more affective as MLB.If they keep Rulon Jones Healthy They can get him some help on outside and the middle of the defensive line and they will be better.The quarterbck situation is simple let them compete next year for it Reily is the best choice right now but you have to be fair in competition!!!!!!!!
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