Cal Bears look for more spark at quarterback heading into Pac-12 opener at No. 8 Washington
Cal head coach Justin Wilcox won't say if Sam Jackson V or Ben Finley will start, but both could see action against the Huskies on Saturday night in Seattle.
Cal is scoring 33 points a game so far this season, its highest offensive production in non-conference play since 2016, the last time Jake Spavital was the Bears’ offensive coordinator.
But college football in the Pac-12 is a different landscape in 2023, and Spavital is the first to acknowledge this isn’t good enough.
“This is a very dynamic league of offensive football,” said Spavital, alluding to the fact that six Pac-12 teams are averaging at least 40 points. “We’ve got to be able to match the firepower of these other schools.”
So the Bears (2-1, 0-0 Pac-12) prepared this week for a Saturday night road game against No. 8 Washington (3-0, 0-0) — the most prolific passing team in the nation — by opening up the competition at quarterback.
We don’t know if the starter will be Sam Jackson V — who won the job in the spring and was No. 1 after fall camp — or North Carolina State transfer Ben Finley. Both got heavy reps during practice as Spavital searched for greater explosiveness and efficiency.
“We need to see consistency with the decision-making and the ability to stretch the ball vertically and go score,” Spavital said. “You look at (our) passing stats and it’s not where it’s ever been in my career in this air-raid system.”
Spavtal, who as worked as a coordinator or quarterbacks coach at Texas A&M and West Virginia, directed a Cal offense in 2016 with quarterback Davis Webb that produced 359 passing yards per game and 44 touchdown passes.
These Bears rank 96th nationally in passing at just under 200 yards per game. Washington is No. 1 at 493.3. The game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.
Cal has won two of the past four matchups vs. Washington, prevailing 12-10 in 2018 and 20-19 a year later. But defense alone is unlikely to beat this Husky team, or USC, Oregon or UCLA in coming weeks.
Jackson, who came to Cal last spring from TCU, got the nod because he has tantalizing dual-threat skills — a strong enough arm and exceptional speed and elusiveness.
When Jackson injured his left (non-throwing) shoulder in the opener at North Texas, Finley came on and closed out the 58-21 victory, playing well enough that he got the start against Auburn when Jackson’s practice time was limited.
Neither quarterback got much done in the 14-10 loss to the Tigers and the Bears fell behind 17-0 against Idaho last week before Jackson helped them rally to a 31-17 victory.
“It’s not good enough,” Spavital said of the points the Bears are producing. “We’ve made it clear to them that it’s a week-by-week opportunity for them to separate themselves.”
Cal coach Justin Wilcox said both quarterbacks could play against UW.
Finley has played fairly well, completing 68 percent of his passes. Jackson is at just 54 percent, but his choices on run-pass option plays — RPOs — have drawn just as much scrutiny.
“His decision-making at times is a little off,” Spavital said.
Jackson said the coaches’ call doesn’t surprise him. “It’s not because they’re falling away me,” he said. “I didn’t really play the way I should have versus Idaho.
“It’s really on RPO plays — choosing when to throw it, choosing when to hand it and choosing when to run it. It’s not really in the passing game.”
Spavital said the Bears need Jackson to use his legs when it’s appropriate because that’s the added dimension he brings. He has rushed for 96 gross yards (excluding sacks), including a 27-yard TD dash vs. Idaho, but hasn’t maximized those opportunities.
“Sometimes, if you’re in doubt, you hand the ball off. Sometimes I’m in doubt and don’t trust my speed,” Jackson explained. “I feel like once I start trusting my speed and trusting the scheme I’ll be there.”
Spavital awaits that moment. “I still have full confidence in Sam,” he said.