It's no secret -- the Cal football team has struggled against fast running backs of late.

When the Bears traveled to Corvallis, Ore., last season, Oregon State dynamo Jacquizz Rodgers torched them for 144 yards.

Oregon speedster LaMichael James amassed 118 yards on the ground against Cal in this season's Pac-10 opener.

Three weeks later, UCLA tailback Jonathan Franklin rushed for 101 yards in a 19-point loss to the Bears.

So, it seemed somewhat unusual when Rodgers -- who entered Saturday's game as the second-leading all-purpose gainer in the conference -- finished with just 67 yards on 25 carries in a 31-14 win for the Beavers (6-3, 4-2 in the Pac-10).

But members of the Cal defense didn't sound surprised at all.

"That's one of our big things -- we pretty much anticipate being able to stop the run," defensive back Sean Cattouse said after the game.

Overall, the Bears' defense against the run has been stouter than it has been against air attacks this season, holding opponents to just 3.2 yards per carry.

Still, cornerback Syd'Quan Thompson said it took an extra effort to limit Rodgers' opportunities in the open field.

"It was about everybody getting to the ball and holding up gaps," he said. "We really had to hold onto him. He's a real elusive type of running back, and he's real strong.

"It was about swarming to the ball and making a clean tackle or at least holding him and let everybody surround him and bring him down."

Of course, Cal's success against Rodgers didn't help the team overall, as Oregon State ripped through the secondary. Beavers quarterback Sean Canfield's 29-for-39, 342-yard performance more than made up for his team's futility on the ground.

Defensive coordinator Bob Gregory said the Bears (6-3, 3-3) might have focused too much on Rodgers, creating holes that Canfield exploited.

"You are going to have games where the defense is stuffing the run," Canfield said. "That just means you have to make some throws down the field in the passing game, and we did that."

Big Shoes to Fill

Jahvid Best's injury on Saturday at Memorial Stadium will likely mean more carries for tailbacks Shane Vereen and Covaughn DeBoskie-Johnson.

Best hurdled an OSU defender on his seven-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, sustaining a concussion on his fall and leaving the game with 29 yards on nine carries.

"It was nothing short of devastating," Vereen said.

There there is no timetable for Best's return.

Shutting down the talented running back has been a key to success for the Bears' opponents this season. An early Heisman Trophy candidate, Best is currently tied for second in the Pac-10 with 10.7 points per game and leads Cal with 96.3 rushing yards per game.

Vereen has been a reliable second option in the backfield, recording six rushing touchdowns. DeBoskie-Johnson has played in five games in 2009, averaging 37.4 yards on the ground.

In their final home contest this weekend -- almost positively without Best -- the Bears will face the conference's second-best rush defense in Arizona, which has held opponents to just 96 rushing yards per game this season.

Tags: JAHVID BEST, SHANE VEREEN, SYD'QUAN THOMPSON, CAL, CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS, CAL FOOTBALL