Patrick

Laird

This would have been the best 3-cone time among running backs at the combine, an impressive mark for the 6-foot, 205-pound running back. In addition to a fast 3-cone, he ran a 4.56-second 40-yard dash and leaped 10 feet in the broad jump. Heading into the draft process Laird was thought to be a likely UDFA but after a strong 3-cone, there’s a possibility a team takes a late flier on him.

This is a below average time given Laird’s (6'0/205) stature. Laird compiled 2,088 combined rushing yards his junior and senior seasons at Cal, adding another 96 receptions for 510 yards as a receiver. Despite contributing to the stat sheet, he wasn’t overly efficient and isn’t projected to be drafted. He’ll likely receive some looks as a priority free agent.

Laird needed just 68 yards today to reach a thousand yards, but he’ll come up short because he leaves with the undisclosed injury and is no longer in uniform. He ends his Cal career with a 961 rushing yard season with five rushing touchdowns. He projects as an undrafted player, but he could see some looks in an NFL camp as a priority free agent.

This was a game which was pushed back due to wildfire-caused air quality issues. Laird wrapped up the deferred contest with his second 100-yard game of the campaign, one which pushed his season yardage total up to 935 yards. One more sturdy showing in bowl action would give the redshirt senior his second straight year of at least 1,000 yards rushing.

Laird failed to find the end zone for a season-high third straight game, but he has 78 or more total yards from scrimmage in seven consecutive games dating back to Sept. 15. He also has 21 or more total touches in six consecutive outings, as Laird has been a major cog in the offense and a player the Bears depend upon when they need those tough yards. The Golden Bears will face Stanford in ‘The Big Game’ in Berkeley next Saturday.

Let’s get this out of the way: Oregon State? Not very good. Laird, however, is; and he had one of his best games in a Cal uniform on Saturday. He used his 6-foot, 205-pound frame to run over defenders at times, but it wasn’t always necessary because the Golden Bears gave him big lanes to run through. He also showed he can be an effective receiver out of the backfield, and Cal should probably explore getting him the ball in that fashion more often. Laird will look to do this again next Saturday, but might have a tougher time against Washington.

Laird (6'0/205) also caught four passes for 28 yards. It wasn’t nearly as good as his effort last week against Oregon State (22/193/2), but it was a quality effort against one of the better defenses in the Pac-12, and he converted several first downs on the two Cal scoring drives. Laird will look to keep up his good run next Saturday against Washington State.

This was an ugly all-around game for the Golden Bears, as they were shellacked by a winless UCLA club on Saturday. Laird was able to have a decent day, even in a losing effort. He hasn’t broken 100 yards yet, but he’s gone over 90 yards three times for Cal, and he scored his third touchdown of the year. Laird and the Golden Bears will try and rebound next Saturday against Oregon State on Saturday.

Laird also completed a 14-yard pass, he caught another short one and he found his way into the end zone for the fourth time this season, twice on the ground and twice through the air. His 5.1 yards per tote against the Ducks was easily his best average of the season, and he entered with just 2.9 yards per carry over his first 49 rushes. He’ll look to build upon the positive outing in next week’s road trip to Arizona.

It wasn’t the dominant effort that he had against Weber State, but Laird (6'0/200) was also facing a much tougher defense, so that makes sense. Essentially replacing Tre Watson for the remainder of the year, Laird shows the ability to make people miss, and he’s also a capable receiver who caught five passes for 28 years on Saturday. His touchdown was a 13-yard dash that gave Cal a 7-3 lead in the middle of the first quarter. He’ll get another tough test next weekend when the Golden Bears host USC.