Comments on: Looking back on 2006: The Oregon game

By: 07

07 — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 05:02:25 +0000

Thanks for the reply Ken.

I remember watching that game (at memorial) and just staring at the damage done by decoud to himself and the ucla dude. I remember the huge sound it made (from the student section), and was so excited for the hit that even though desean was sprinting down towards the endzone, I couldn’t help look back at the bodies lying there on the field more than a couple times DURING the return.

Last season was really a season of huge highs and huge lows. I’ve never seen so many exciting Cal games/plays/moments like last year, but dang, I remember the real crappy feeling after the losses as well.

Not to overanalyze this oregon game, but just wanted to mention how electrifying the stadium was that night and how the crowd was really committed in making it real home game for the bears.

As a side note, ncaa 08 is out to feed the hunger for a few more months.

GO BEARS!

By: Ken Crawford

Ken Crawford — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 03:57:18 +0000

Oh, I didn’t forget 07 (referring to the monster hit by DeCoud that sprung DeSean in the UCLA game). That was HUGE. That hit was incredible and it was exactly what sprung DeSean around the corner. In fact, I had the privilege of interviewing DeCoud after that game. It was interesting to see the pride he had in laying out a hit so hard that it knocked himself out. It was an odd mixture of hubris and humility. Did you know that DeCoud didn’t know it was a TD for a few minutes after he came to?

In any case, you’re right, that hit was huge.

But it doesn’t change that DeSean got the UCLA defenders to commit to the left side of the field by initially starting left, just for a second, which allowed the Cal defenders, who were setting up for a right return, to get in position to spring him around the corner. As hard as DeCoud’s hit was, part of the reason he was in the position to make that hit was because DeSean had fooled the defenders into getting out of position.

By: 07

07 — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 01:46:13 +0000

Ken, you forget that desean had huge help from the MONSTER hit laid out by decoud.

you can also find that on youtube.

By: Ken Crawford

Ken Crawford — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 23:05:11 +0000

Yeah Danny, that was an awesome moment. Just faked the DB right out of his uniform.

It’s funny how when I create a format for something I always come to regret something about it later. My categories don’t have a good spot for single play stuff. Since I’m such a stickler for process, I won’t change now but for next year I’ll have to add something like “The highlights”, “The lowlights” and “The key plays”.

While on the subject of great plays, DeSean’s punt returns in both the Oregon and the ASU game were things of beauty (as well as the yet to be reviewed UCLA game). The ASU return was all about finding a sliver thin seam and exposing it. The Oregon return was all about getting Oregon to over commit to one side of the field by running one way and then cutting back. Although I haven’t reviewed the game, he did an even better job of the same thing in his UCLA runback.

By: Danny

Danny — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 17:49:10 +0000

The best moment of the game was DeSean running that stop and go for a touchdown. The Ducks DB was lined up at least 12 yards off him, bit on the stop (but was still 8 yards away) and DeSean still blew past him. He got burned so badly, he tried to grab DeSean by the shoulders but that failed also.

Probably not forgotten since there are multiple YouTube videos of it.