Here are the biggest takeaways and highest-graded players from the California Golden Bears’ 51-31 victory over the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors:
California Golden Bears
- Instant production for Webb on debut
Quarterback grade: Davis Webb, 65.9
Named the starting quarterback little more than three weeks ago, Davis Webb immediately hit the ground running with a productive performance at ANZ Stadium with four touchdown passes and a potential fifth dropped in the endzone by running back Khalfani Muhammad. This display was far from flawless by Webb with some missed throws and occasionally failing to drive throws to open receivers, allowing beaten defenders to recover and break the pass up; one of those nearly resulted in an interception on what should’ve been a touchdown (Q4; 10.40). The overall picture was a positive one however, with Webb quickly finding the timing of the offense with an average time to throw of 2.12 seconds and 72 percent of his passes released in 2.5 seconds or less showing no hesitation in getting the ball out on time to his skill players.
- Chad Hansen leads a new supporting cast
Top offensive grades:
G Chris Borrayo, 85.4
FB Malik McMorris, 80.5
T Patrick Mekari, 80.4
WR Chad Hansen, 78.9
WR Bug Rivera, 77.0
It’s not just at quarterback where Cal replaced departed starters — their whole skill position corps is new and this new grouping looks ready to pick up where the likes of Daniel Lasco and Kenny Lawler left off (in terms of production at least). WR Chad Hansen (78.9) led the way with 14 catches for 160 yards and two scores. The sophomore receiver was simply too much for Hawaii’s corners to handle — in particular Jalen Rogers, who accounted for more than half of Hansen’s production. Other receivers like Bug Rivera (77.0) and Vic Wharton III (71.3) showed their potential while out of the backfield Vic Enwere (72.7) had a strong outing with five missed tackles forced on his nine carries.
- Defensive concerns remain unanswered
Top defensive grades:
DE Cameron Saffle, 82.0
DT James Looney, 77.6
CB Chibuzo Nwokocha, 76.2
CB Marloshawn Franklin, 75.7
LB Jordan Kunaszyk, 68.2
The Golden Bears boasted one of the Pac-12’s worst defenses last season and after surrendering more than 250 rushing yards and racking up only 12 pressures, this wasn’t an encouraging start to 2016 for Cal. Sophomore defensive end Cameron Saffle (82.0) was Cal’s best defender last night with his six stops and three hurries topping his production from his entire freshman season. Aside from Saffle and James Looney (77.6) the Golden Bears struggled however, with eight missed tackles in the secondary and a defensive line that struggled to make a consistent impact and, fumbles aside, struggled to slow down the Hawaii ground attack.
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
- Inaccuracy plagues promising display by Woolsey
Quarterback grade: Ikaika Woolsey, 58.9
This was an inconsistent first start of 2016 for Ikaika Woolsey, who takes over as the starter from one of 2016’s least accurate passers in all of college football (Max Wittek). Woolsey exploited the middle, completing all four of his intermediate passes between the hash marks to take advantage of poor coverage from the Cal linebackers. He hit on an impressive deep pass to John Ursua for a 32-yard gain early in the second quarter. However, that was Woolsey’s only deep completion in ten attempts with one drop and his interception missing in front of a slant was symptomatic of his inconsistent accuracy throughout the game.
- Poor ball security limits Hawaii’s chances
Top offensive grades:
LT Dejon Allen, 80.9
C Leo Koloamatangi, 76.0
LG John Wa’a, 72.6
WR Marcus Kemp, 70.0
HB Paul Harris, 68.9
Hawaii’s ground game took it to the Cal defense and in not for poor ball security by RB Diocemy Saint Juste (two fumbles) and another fumble on a kick return they may have posed a more sustained threat to Cal on the scoreboard. Led by the likes of TE Dakota Torres (78.2 run block), LT Dejon Allen (78.7 run block) and Asotui Eli (80.4 run block), Hawaii’s running backs had plenty of room to run and punish the Cal defense with Saint Juste and Steve Lakalaka combining to break five tackles and gain 137 yards after contact on 25 carries.
- Farris II shines in otherwise disappointing display
Top defensive grades:
CB Rojesterman Farris II, 77.9
NT Kory Rasmussen, 69.1
NT Samiuela Akoteu, 66.6
CB Jamal Mayo, 64.3
OLB Malachi Mageo, 63.1
Simply put, this Hawaii defense was athletically outmatched against the Cal offense and noteworthy performances of a positive kind were few and far between. One exception was NT Kory Rasmussen, who gave Cal center Addison Ooms all he could handle and more in the run game. In the secondary Hawaii was lit up in the first half, but freshman CB Rojesterman Farris II ensured a stronger showing in the second half allowing only four completions for 28 yards on eight targets with a pass defense, allowing only one completion of 10 yards or more.
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