GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: Washington State quarterback Gardner Minshew and the Cougar offense scored 41 points against a stout Stanford defense in the Bay Area. The challenge for the Golden Bears is to slow them down, like they contained Jake Browning and Washington. Minshew has 3,183 passing yards, 26 touchdowns and six picks this season. He’s also done this while being protected well (Washington State is allowing less than one sack per game), so the pressure is on for Cal linebackers Evan Weaver and Jordan Kunaszyk and defensive end Tevin Paul to make Minshew uncomfortable.
DRAFT SLANT
–LB Evan Weaver has shot up draft charts for his dominant play on the Cal defense. The 6-foot-3, 245-pound junior, has 74 tackles through seven games and, according to NFLDraftScout.com, that’s put his name on the radar of NFL franchises seeking linebacker talent in this year’s (or next year’s) draft. Weaver has also proven to be flexible and willing to learn. He came to Cal as an outside linebacker, but made the switch to the inside and hasn’t looked back. Weaver had the game-winning interception return for a TD against Washington. “If you know the type of guy Weaver is, you know when he has a chance to score, he’s going to do everything he can,” senior tailback Patrick Laird said.
ROSTER REPORT
–RB Derrick Clark is questionable for the Washington game with a lower-body injury.
–LB Cameron Goode is out for the season with a leg injury.
–RB Johnny Adams Jr. is out for the season with a lower-body injury.
–LB Gerran Brown is out for the season with a lower-body injury.
–WR Jordan Duncan is out indefinitely with a hand injury.
–LB Malik Psalms is questionable for the Washington game with an undisclosed injury.
–OL Michael Saffell is out for the season with a leg injury.
–WR Brandon Singleton is questionable for the Washington State game with an undisclosed injury.
–RB Derrick Clark is questionable for the Washington State game with a lower-body injury.
–QB Ross Bowers is questionable for the Washington State game with a thumb injury.
–OL Henry Bazakas is questionable for the Washington State game with a lower-body injury.
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