Cal’s ability to become a more consistently productive offense begins with Zach Maynard. Coach Jeff Tedford sounds convinced the Bears have the right man at quarterback.
“Last spring you were scratching your head and wondering what’s going to happen. It was just so new,” Tedford said of 2011 spring workouts when Maynard prepared for his first season as a starter. “Now he has great control of everything that’s going on … now he’s a real field general.”
A transfer from Buffalo, Maynard passed for 2,990 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2011, but appeared overmatched at times early in the season. His accuracy was off, his interceptions too frequent.
But over Cal’s final four regular-season games, Maynard completed more than 68 percent of his attempts, was picked off just once and compiled a 154.4 passer rating.
That’s the quarterback the Bears need running their offense while the defense plays catch-up after losing key personnel.
Maynard, who rated his junior season performance as “pretty average,” expects to be a different player.
“As far as experience, another year is huge for me,” he said. “Just coming out and working with guys, building that chain throughout the offense that we all connect together.”
Offensive coordinator Jim Michalczik said Maynard’s ability to execute the offense is “night and day” different from last season.
“I don’t know if we want to do more; we want to be more consistent and efficient,” Michalczik said.
Maynard said two changes midway through last season made a big difference. Cal became more stubborn with its running game, and coaches loosened the reins on Maynard, allowing him to roll out more and utilize his mobility.
“I like being on the move. I feel like I’m pretty accurate when I’m running the ball and I decide to throw it,” he said. “And the passing game develops itself when they’re more worried about the running game.”
The result was Cal averaged 31.5 points over its final four Pac-12 games after scoring at just a 19.0 clip through the first five conference outings.
Even so, Maynard has not convinced all Cal fans, some of whom already are salivating over the arrival of much-heralded freshman quarterback Zach Kline.
Maynard isn’t concerned with perceptions.
“I don’t get involved in the outside world,” he said. “If there is something I have to prove, I’m just going to come out and play as hard as I can every play and make it known I’m the right guy.”