[Goose]

I realize no coach can bring the team to top readiness every game
But this was the game to bring it, and it wasn’t brought

IMO no coach can create  "readiness" (however that is defined) on command. Is readiness jumping around and starting a fight in the tunnel before the game starts? Is it being so "up" you commit personal fouls? Or is it playing as hard as you can as well as you can as long as you can? IMO the first two, although the players "look ready" means the players are out of control. For sure the coaches don't want that. The last one is the "readiness" target. A lot of that is psychological and depends on the players themselves. This has been a difficult season for them. They are undoubtedly mentally tired and are fully aware they have limitations, both personally and collectively. You can only get so much out of them as a coach. IMO all you can ask is to get their "best", and I think we got that.

Cal isn't very good, but they are better than we are. Despite the fact some see improvement in our run defense, Ott had 36 carries for 166 yards. He averaged 4.6 yards per carry. Cal could have run right at us all night if they wanted to and still won handily. Even given that, the team didn't quit. They still played with effort. It wasn't like Utah in 2021 where the DL was immediately pushed back 5 yards at every snap. I think that is all you can ask. Yes, our offense can't run. They haven't been able to do so all year. To my eyes E.J. Smith was trying harder for YAC than I have seen all year. He didn't get many, but he was trying. It wasn't lack of effort that lost us the game IMO.

[Goose]

I realize no coach can bring the team to top readiness every game
But this was the game to bring it, and it wasn’t brought

IMO no coach can create  "readiness" (however that is defined) on command. Is readiness jumping around and starting a fight in the tunnel before the game starts? Is it being so "up" you commit personal fouls? Or is it playing as hard as you can as well as you can as long as you can? IMO the first two, although the players "look ready" means the players are out of control. For sure the coaches don't want that. The last one is the "readiness" target. A lot of that is psychological and depends on the players themselves. This has been a difficult season for them. They are undoubtedly mentally tired and are fully aware they have limitations, both personally and collectively. You can only get so much out of them as a coach. IMO all you can ask is to get their "best", and I think we got that.

Cal isn't very good, but they are better than we are. Despite the fact some see improvement in our run defense, Ott had 36 carries for 166 yards. He averaged 4.6 yards per carry. Cal could have run right at us all night if they wanted to and still won handily. Even given that, the team didn't quit. They still played with effort. It wasn't like Utah in 2021 where the DL was immediately pushed back 5 yards at every snap. I think that is all you can ask. Yes, our offense can't run. They haven't been able to do so all year. To my eyes E.J. Smith was trying harder for YAC than I have seen all year. He didn't get many, but he was trying. It wasn't lack of effort that lost us the game IMO.