Cal to spread offense after hiring Dunbar Cal to spread offense

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Feb 3, 2006 | by Dave Newhouse, STAFF WRITER

BERKELEY -- The spread offense at Cal?

Well, not completely, but Jeff Tedford's offense will use a variation of the spread after Thursday's hiring of Mike Dunbar as offensive coordinator.

Dunbar, 57, who replaces George Cortez, held a similar position at Northwestern the past four years. The Wildcats ranked fourth in the country in 2005 with 500.3 yards a game, operating out of the spread.

"We're going to take elements of the spread and Cal's offense and put stress on the defense," Dunbar said. "We've got lots of work to do, but I believe we can get most of it in by spring football."

That would be March 22.

Dunbar and Tedford hadn't met before, but Tedford said, "I've always been impressed with the Northwestern offense."

Dunbar now will incorporate that offense with Cal's offense, which stagnated somewhat last fall because of play repetition. Some opponents said they knew what was coming. The spread should make Cal more unpredictable.

Dunbar is a 1972 University of Washington graduate who had head- coaching experience at Central Washington (54-9-1) and Northern Iowa (29-15) before joining Northwestern five years ago as tight ends, H- backs and special teams coach.

"There's a lot of excitement here," he said of Cal. "It felt like a tremendous opportunity. I believe in (Tedford)."

Dunbar believes a pass-and-run type quarterback is "beneficial" in the spread, but the offense can be "fitted" to all personnel.