Plenty to fix in Bears’ bye week
While Hawaii — the team Cal beat by 20 points Friday in Sydney — prepares for a nationally televised game at No. 7 Michigan, the Bears have a bye week to catch up on classes and recover from jet lag.
It was a requirement for Cal, which was willing to play in the Sydney Cup only if the NCAA approved a waiver for the game to occur a week before the scheduled start of college football season. Of course, the benefits of the bye extend beyond re-familiarizing players with school in the Pacific Time Zone.
The score of the Bears’ season-opening win over the Rainbow Warriors overshadowed deficiencies. With a much tougher test looming Sept. 10 at San Diego State, Cal will need to cross items off its metaphorical to-do list. Here is an early look:
1. Improve the run defense.
Cal gave up 248 rushing yards to Hawaii, including 118 to running back Diocemy Saint Juste. His 53-yard touchdown in the first quarter, when several defenders dove without touching the ball carrier, was just a snapshot of the Bears’ tackling issues.
If they don’t shore up their problems against the run, they’ll be in for a long day at Qualcomm Stadium. San Diego State running back Donnel Pumphrey has rushed for a combined 3,520 yards the past two seasons.
2. Generate a pass rush.
After losing four of his top five pass rushers from a defense that tied for eighth in the Pac-12 in sacks last season, defensive coordinator Art Kaufman added blitz packages to his playbook. It was a vote of confidence in a new-look group that many Cal coaches thought owned more speed off the edge.
But the Bears put little pressure on their own quarterbacks in training camp, and last week against an experienced Hawaii offensive line, didn’t record a single sack. Warriors quarterback Ikaika Woolsey’s middling numbers — 17for-34 for 234 yards, a touchdown and an interception — came with plenty of time for the most part to make his reads.
Defensive ends Cameron Saffle (two tackles for loss) and DeVante Wilson (one), who showed flashes in Sydney of their pass-rushing potential, need to become more consistent. First team all-conference guard Nico Siragusa headlines a San Diego State offensive line that returns three starters.
3. Have Davis Webb find a rhythm with more receivers.
Webb was masterful in his Cal debut, completing 38 of 54 passes for 441 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. Those trying to nitpick a sterling performance could point to the Texas Tech transfer’s propensity for targeting junior Chad Hansen.
Of the 38 catches Cal recorded, Hansen accounted for 14. No other Bears receiver finished with more than five receptions.
Though that was hardly a problem against a rebuilding Hawaii team, better defenses will punish such an imbalanced passing attack. Having Webb develop chemistry with freshman playmakers Melquise Stovall and Demetris Robertson, as well upperclassmen Jordan Veasy and Ray Hudson, will make Cal more dynamic.
4. Study San Diego State’s defense.
Cal’s offense started relatively slowly in Sydney, failing to find the end zone on three of its first five drives, because it was thrown off-kilter by Hawaii’s creative defensive game planning. The Warriors disguised blitz packages and rotated personnel to gain an early edge.
San Diego State, one of the few FBS programs to employ the 3-3-5 blitzing scheme, is a master of deception. The Aztecs switch between multiple fronts and coverage to disrupt opposing offenses. Though Cal handled the odd look well in last year’s 35-7 rout of San Diego State, it now features a new quarterback and an overhauled receiving corps.
5. Get left tackle Aaron Cochran healthy.
After missing the Sydney Cup with a sprained right knee, Cochran will try to ease back into practice this week in hopes of returning for San Diego State. Jared Goff endured just seven sacks with Cochran protecting his blind side the final six games of last season. So even though Cal’s pass protection was solid in the opener, giving up two sacks and limited pressure otherwise, a healthy Cochran would be a major boon against the blitz-heavy Aztecs.