Cal Football: Bears' QB for the Next Game? 'We'll See'

Cal offensive coordinator Beau Baldwin not disclosing who will start at quarterback against Washington State

Cal is keeping its cards close to the vest regarding which player will start at quarterback in the Bears’ next game against Washington State on Nov. 9.

Asked Thursday who Cal’s starting quarterback will be for that game, offensive coordinator Beau Baldwin said, “We’ll see.”

And if Devon Modster is healthy enough to play? “We’ll see,” Baldwin said.

OK, so let’s consider the possibilities.

Chase Garbers, who has not played since he injured his shoulder Sept. 27 against Arizona State, has not been cleared to practice, so it’s almost impossible for him to be ready to play in nine days against Washington State.

Modster missed the last game against Utah with an unspecified injury, and although Justin Wilcox said on Wednesday that his status was “week-to-week,” he was not listed on the injury report Cal distributed on Friday. It certainly appears that Modster, who started the games against Oregon and Oregon State, will be ready to go against Washington State.

But will he start even if he is healthy?

Freshman Spencer Brasch started the game against Utah, and even though Cal was shutout for the first time in 20 years and Brasch’s statistics were mediocre, it is possible he could get the start even if Modster is ready.

Brasch was just 7-for-19 for a measly 47 yards, and his longest completion was just 9 yards in the 35-0 loss to the Utes.

“It was tough to evaluate in some ways,” Cal offensive coordinator Beau Baldwin said his assessment of Brasch’s performance. “The numbers don’t necessarily reflect what he did, because it was a tough situation to be in.”

Brasch was facing one of the best defensive teams in the country without much of a running game and with several wide receivers and offensive linemen out with injuries. Plus it was on the road.

We have said in writing that we think Brasch should be the starter against the Cougars, but we seldom have much influence on coaches’ decisions (much to their detriment – chuckle, chuckle)

So who will start at quarterback a week from Saturday? Reading the tea leaves as of Thursday, Modster seems to be the most likely player to start for the Bears against the Cougars, but who knows how the Cal coaches are looking at things.