Bear Essentials: The QB Spot

Continuing with the Bear Essentials series, this time with the quarterback spot, which is currently not settled at this juncture.

Previous Bear Essentials: P. Mekari | Goode | Robertson | T. Mekari

This had to come sooner or later. There was no decisive victory in the quarterback competition for either Ross Bowers or Chase Forrest this spring, other than them separating from the pack. There will be a competition between the two of them going into camp, which starts in less than three weeks, and unless by some NCAA waiver voodoo Brandon McIlwain is eligible and manages to win the job, it'll be Bowers and Forrest who ends up starting come September 2nd in Chapel Hill.

Suffice it to say, the quarterback position is going to be a massive player in Cal's success, considering the last two QBs for the Bears became NFL draft picks. With a new offense that's been more complex than the Bear Raid, both Bowers and Forrest have work to do.

History of first time starting QBs for Beau Baldwin:

There is a precedent of success for first time starters in Beau Baldwin's offense, though each of them have had at least a year to sit and learn the offense before starting. For Forrest and Bowers, they've had a spring to dive into it. While there is complexity to the offense, both QB candidates have reportedly been in the film room frequently to digest everything.

First year starters:

Gage Gubrud (2016 redshirt sophomore year): 67.7% completion, 5160 yards, 48 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, 134 carries for 606 yards and 5 TDs (14 games played)

Jordan West (2015, redshirt junior year): 64.2% completion, 3002 yards, 30 touchdowns and 8 interceptions, 1 rushing touchdown (11 games played)

Vernon Adams Jr. (2012, redshirt freshman year): 60.9% completion, 1961 yards, 20 touchdowns to 8 interceptions, 65 carries for 342 yards, 1 TD (12 games played, splitting time with Kyle Padron)

Both Gubrud and West had time in-game as subs, for much longer periods of time than either Bowers or Forrest, but Gubrud's numbers are eye popping, with his first career start coming in the upset of Washington State in Pullman a year ago (34-40 for 474 yards and 5 TDs along with a game breaking rushing TD in the 4th). While not entirely the same type of athlete as Gubrud, both Forrest and Bowers are closer physically to him than either of the other two, but won't come close to putting up the numbers of Gubrud, with a slower pace of play and greater run-pass balance being likely.

That being said, expect Baldwin to make the lives of his QBs easier in the early going, with a large amount of rollouts to move the pocket and give the QB a single side of the field read, quick passes out of RPOs (run-pass options) and the ever important safety blanket in the tight end.

The eventual starter is going to be a focal point of the offense, whether it's through merely throwing or keeping the defenses honest on read option plays (Gubrud actually led Eastern in rushing yards a year ago), and both QBs have their cases for the job at this point.

The Case for Forrest

Forrest has the experience of actually throwing a pass during a game, with 18 attempts to his name in 2015, coming against Grambling State and San Diego State. He took a lot from being Jared Goff's primary backup, as his footwork resembled the current LA Rams QB.

Forrest is considered the more accurate of the two, though that didn't entirely show during the spring game.

Forrest has improved his touch on his deep ball, shown in the longest pass of the spring game with a fade to Vic Wharton for 30 yards. Despite throwing a couple of picks during the spring game (one which came on a hailmary to end the spring), Forrest has more experience reading defenses, and has been considered the better decision maker.

Forrest also has been noted to have a bit of a quicker release.

The Case for Bowers

Bowers passed up Forrest for the backup job a season ago, getting in the UCLA game late, though not throwing a pass. He was noted by the previous coaching staff as a player who had made a big leap from spring to the fall a year ago.

Bowers was the better of the two during the spring game, throwing three touchdown passes, including a rollout improv pass to TE Justin Norbeck and an absolute bullet to Ray Hudson. Bowers has the arm, and the confidence to use it. There's a bit of the Brett Favre-ian mentality with him, able to make some of the tighter and deeper throws. That can get him in trouble though.

Bowers also appeared to have more of the improvisational ability, dating back to his high school days where he scrambled, dove for the endzone, got flipped, and stuck the landing.

In the end, both Baldwin and QB coach Marques Tuiasosopo have noted that it's going to be whichever player grasps the playbook best and takes command of the offense from there is going to be the starter, but there's still 30 practices or so before they decide it. Whoever does start will have an awful lot of responsibility going forward.