2010 position by position preview: Starting Quarterback

Kevin Riley is returning for his senior season. It has certainly been a tulmultuous ride with Riley at the helm. While his numbers don't look bad, he completed 209 out of 382 attempts for 2850 yrds 18 tds and 8 interceptions, they don't tell the entire story of Riley. The problem that Riley had last year was his consistency. When Riley was good, he was really good, as evidenced by his game against Maryland where he went 17 of 26 for 298 yrds and 4 touchdowns. When he was bad, he was terrible, such as his Oregon game when he went 12 of 31 for 123 yrds. Riley has got to find a way to become a more consistent quarterback this year and become a leader on the team. He is a senior and the team will be looking to Riley for leadership and guidance as he plays the most important position on the field. Reports from spring ball are promising, where it was reported that Riley was often staying late after practice to work on his mechanics and timing with fellow wide receivers. This is important because it shows that Riley is working hard to try to prevent the failures of last season from happening again this season. It also shows his teammates that hard work is the only way that he and the Bears are going to be successful this season. Riley will also have to show that he can bounce back after a bad play, such as a fumble or an interception. Too many times last year, Riley would make a mistake and let it rattle him and come out on the next play or next drive and compound the mistake with more unforced errors. He will have to learn how to shake off mistakes, no matter how costly and embarrassing the mistake may have been. Riley has always shown that he has the physical skills to succeed in Coach Tedford's pro style offense, however it has always been the mental aspect of the game where Riley has faltered. Hopefully, this is the year where Riley's game matures and he becomes the leader that that cal fans always hoped he would develop into. Ever since Riley decided to scramble and cost Cal the Oregon st. game, the #2 ranking and the possible #1 ranking the next week back in 07', he has become one of the most scrutinized quarterbacks to ever put on a Cal uniform. Since that time, it seems Riley has had a hard time moving on and putting that dreadful memory behind him. Hopefully, this is the year that Kevin Riley grows up. He will need help, his offensive line must play much better than in 09' and the Bears must get much more production out of receivers, Marvin Jones, Jeremy Ross, Alex Lagemann and any of the newcomers in highly touted 5 star recruit Keenan Allen, Tevin Carter, Terrence Montgomery, Kaelin Clay and Coleman Edmond for Riley to be successful. However, in the end it will have to be Riley that shows the poise to be able to lead Cal through a very deep and tough pac-10 this year. Will this be the year of redemption for Riley and make Cal fans forget his mistake in the Oregon st game in 07' or will he forever be remembered as the talented quarterback that let one mistake his freshman season ruin his whole Cal career?