Improved defense has Cal on verge of bowl eligibility

Cal defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter has noticed a pattern in his Sunday chats with buddies from the coaching fraternity this season.

During every conversation, there are complimentary remarks about how hard the Bears’ defense plays — a remarkable achievement considering how the unit was perceived when DeRuyter and head coach Justin Wilcox arrived in Berkeley 21 months ago.

“The defense used to be an afterthought here, but now it’s really at the forefront of where our program is and where our toughness is,” said junior inside linebacker Evan Weaver, the reigning Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week.

Just two seasons ago, the Bears yielded 42.6 points per game on 518.2 yards per game — both ranked among the nation’s bottom five defenses.