Cal defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter inherited a defense that finished second-to-last in FBS scoring defenses in 2016, allowing 42.6 points per game.
It only took him seven games in 2017 to hold a Mike Leach offense to its fewest points scored ever as the Bears upset No. 8 Washington State 37-3 on Friday night.
In a performance that DeRuyter said was far from perfection, the Bears sacked Cougars quarterback Luke Falk nine times, forced seven turnovers and held the Cougars to 23 total rushing yards on 29 carries.
“We were effective in taking the ball away, and we were effective in sacking the quarterback,” DeRuyter said.