Cal Football: Top 10 most valuable Bears in 2009 - No. 8

June 11, 1:29 AMCal Bears ExaminerRob Calonge

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Alualu wreaks havoc when he's on the field

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When I started this a few days ago, I had an inkling of where I'd place a few people on this top-10 list.  I'm not a big fan of ranking teams at this time of year, nor am I sold on anybody's predictions for the coming season prior to any team suiting up for a real practice.

Incoming freshman are still getting ready for high school graduation and the transferring juco players are not officially on the Berkeley campus.  So how could anyone predict the affect these scholarship players will, or will not, have in the coming year?  I can't.

Well, I may not be able to predict the future, but I think I have a handle on who's important for the success of Cal's 2009 season.

As I've already stated, I had an idea of a few of the VIP's for 2009, but I wasn't sure where they rated.  Also, 'a few' does not equal 10, so I had to figure out who else should be included.

For those who missed it, my tenth-ranked player is punter Bryan Anger and my ninth-ranked player is Marvin Jones or the player lining up across from Cal's possession receiver in 2009.

No. 8 is Cal defensive end Tyson Alualu.  In a 3-4 defensive front, the defensive end isn't used as a pass rusher like he would be in the 4-3, but a good one still finds his way to the quarterback.  Alualu is a good defensive end in a 3-4 alignment.

Had the Bears not had ample depth at his position, Alualu may have been closer to the top of this list.  After recording the most tackles (62) by a Cal defensive lineman since 1995, he's already on NFL watch lists for next year's draft.

Alualu, tasked with being stout against the run, must take up as many blockers as he can, while holding his ground at the line of scrimmage.  Should he fail to do his job well, smaller linebackers and defensive backs will have to find their way around 300-pound linemen in order to prevent runners from making big gains.

That alone makes Alualu's position important, but it's what he's able to do against the pass that makes HIM important to the 2009 season.  The Bears' 3-4 relies on a pass rush from their rush linebacker(s), so having a defensive end that can also get into the backfield is a huge bonus.  This can be the difference between an average defense and a superior one.

Playing in the offensive-geared Pac-10 will make Alualu a key cog when it comes to keeping opponents from taking advantage of their scoring opportunities.

Besides bringing his talent to the field, it's also important to note that he's the only senior lineman listed on the depth chart.  This experience is another reason that his presence is so valuable to Cal, and to Cal's defense.  Having a senior who is also a star player on the defensive line, is a luxury to any team.

Opposing quarterbacks might not like it, but Bear Backers are sure to enjoy seeing Alualu making plays throughout the 2009 season.

-- Check back tomorrow for No. 7 --