Cal Football: QB Sam Jackson V Gets In Line To Take Responsibility for Offense

Bears hope to improve production vs. Idaho after their 14-10 loss to Auburn.

In the hours and days after Cal’s 14-10 loss to Auburn last Saturday, there was no public finger pointing from players or coaches, no attaching of blame.

In fact, after the offense scored 48 fewer points than the week before, the principles involved willingly shouldered responsibility.

During his weekly session with reporters on Wednesday, offensive coordinator Jake Spavital said, “It starts with me,” or words to that effect, at least five times.

When asked about the performance of the offensive line after it was twice flagged for holding, head coach Justin Wilcox said, “Can the O-line do better? Yes they can. But so can everybody else.”

Quarterback Sam Jackson V said that approach from the coaching staff has a trickle-down effect that players appreciate.

“Spav, having a coach like that, who takes the blame . . . Wilcox too . . . is really important for the guys,” Jackson said. “They didn’t come in the locker room and say, `It was on you guys.’ They took the blame. So I think it was pretty easy for us to get back rolling this week.”

Jackson, a 20-year-old who has started just one game in his college career, showed some leadership aptitude by accepting his own role in the Bears’ disappointing offensive performance.

“Against Auburn we didn’t make too many plays,” he said. “I feel like as a quarterback, I’m the leader of the offense so I have to be more decisive in what I do, get the tempo rolling.

“I feel like most of the game when I was in was on me just because my decisiveness and decision-making wasn’t on point.”

Jackson, who will start Saturday against Idaho, came off the bench against Auburn after injuring his left (non-throwing) should the week before at North Texas. That limited his practice time a week ago, so the decision was made to start Ben Finley, who played well at North Texas.

When the offense scored just three points in its first five possessions, Jackson took over for Finley. He immediately engineered an impressive six-play, 65-yard touchdown drive, that gave Cal a 10-7 lead late in the second quarter.

Jackson passed or ran for 32 of those 65 yards and Jaydn Ott accounted for the other 33, including the final 14 on a TD dash up the middle.

“My decision-making was probably best on that drive,” Jackson said. “The offense starts with me. As you could see, I gave us a spark but I feel like if on the next couple of drives I could have made the right decision.”

The Bears never scored again, sometimes squandering good field position but also turning the ball over twice. “A lot of self-inflicted wounds,” Spavital said.

Certainly the quarterback position is a work in progress. “Overall, with Sam I thought there was a lot of inconsistency. He left a lot out there,” Spavital said. “There’s got to be a lot more improvement in the quarterback, with both Sam and with Ben, and that starts with me.”

Jackson makes no excuses, either related to inexperience or injury.

“I think we should be doing better,” he said. “Injuries come with the game. It’s kind of rare for your team to be healthy at all times. We prepare to have the guys behind whoever gets hurt step up.

“So I feel we should be doing much better, and that starts with me.”

Cover photo of Sam Jackson V

Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo