With the vast majority of the opponent offensive previews, the quarterback is highlighted and we will get to California’s senior transfer from Purdue in Jack Plummer. But with the California Golden Bears, it’s true freshman Jaydn Ott that has been the engine that runs the offense in Berkeley.
There aren’t many running backs in the country that can rush for 274 yards as Ott did in the game against Arizona. That’s a high bar to set and obviously, the Golden Bear tailback hasn’t had quite the same performance since, but he showed the explosiveness that he’s capable of and the Ducks will try to make sure Ott doesn’t reach the century mark or score.
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According to Oregon coach Dan Lanning, Ott’s talents jump out of the television screen when watching the video.
“(It’s) just how hard he runs. I think he’s been freshman player of the week for three weeks,” Lanning said. “He does a good job running the ball. He runs with great physicality and effort and that shows up.”
Overall, the 6-foot, 205-pounder from Chino, Calif. averages nearly 90 yards a game and has found the end zone five times.
At quarterback, Plummer left Purdue in search of more consistent playing time and he’s found that in the Bay Area. Plummer didn’t exactly blow up the stat sheet with the Boilermakers. He averaged 162 yards in the air in the 21 games (13 starts) in his four seasons in West Lafayette, Ind. where he threw for 26 touchdowns, but he was picked off 10 times.
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His career has taken a big upswing in the Bay Area, however. All of his numbers have gone up with the Bears. In their seven games so far, Plummer is completing 61 percent of his passes while averaging 251 yards, thrown for 12 touchdowns, and just three interceptions.
“I think he’s a really accurate quarterback. He does a good job of getting the ball downfield and I don’t think there aren’t a lot of throws that he can’t make,” Lanning said. “He does a good job of that. Probably more elusive than people give him credit for. He does a good job in the pocket but he’s got good wideouts and he’s done a good job delivering the ball accurately.”
Plummer’s favorite target has been Michael Sturdivant, a 6-3, 205-pound redshirt freshman. He has 36 receptions and averages 64 yards a game and has scored five touchdowns.
There have been some changes along the Cal offensive line since Game 4. Prior to the Arizona game, coach Justin Wilcox benched four out of the five linemen with Ben Coleman the only player staying in the lineup.
Whether is was due to the changes or Arizona’s porous defense, it paid dividends with the Golden Bears scoring seven touchdowns, 49 points, 354 yards rushing, and 599 yards of total offense against the Wildcats.
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