Cal’s D-Line, eager to show it off, will carry its weight this season

In an effort to fix the problem, the Bears added more speed to the secondary, newcomers on the edge and two new inside linebackers — transfers TJ Bollers from Wisconsin and Aidan Keanaaina from Notre Dame.

The Bears’ D-line knows it needs to perform better this fall as Cal moves to the Atlantic Coast Conference.

“Especially with what everyone had to say last year and how things went, we all know we have something to prove this year,” junior defensive lineman Stanley Saole McKenzie said. “I expect big things and everyone else should too.”

Defensive backs coach Andrew Browning says his guys carry a chip on their shoulders as a motivator. The players on the D-line have gotten better physically and technically since last season, he said, and have a better understanding of the scheme.

He knows the evidence will begin to surface on Aug. 31 when the Bears open their season against UC Davis.

“I’m very confident in the group of guys we have. They’ve worked really hard, they understand the role we have in our defense and they’ve put a face on their shoulder with that.” said Browning.

Browning asked returnees Ricky Correia and McKenzie and newcomer Aidan Keanaaina (pronounced Key-ahn-uh-eye-nuh) — the group’s three strongest players — to get a little leaner to improve their quickness and explosiveness.