Look at Spurrier. He's a master at taking a team, analyzing it, and spitting out the garbage. It's theory, tactics, strategy with him. It's not about playcalling on the field. It's about reading the whole scenario from scouting reports, to lineups, to injuries, etc.
Analysts can pick this apart and say Cal was just crap all they want. Any team that shows up on the football field can be beat. it takes more than just hard nosed football playing to do that. Cutcliffe and this playcalling proved it. Spurrier proves it time and time again. So we picked on a young CB. So does everyone else. Replace young CB with injury prone, short, slow, unresponsive, etc. You pick on the weakest part to get the desired results.