Warrior football team opens camp tomorrow

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

With tomorrow's opening of football training camp, University of Hawai'i coach June Jones announced:

• St. Louis School athletic director Cal Lee will not join UH this season. Jones had offered Lee a non-coaching job as an administrative assistant. Lee led the Crusaders to 14 O'ahu Bowl titles and a state championship before retiring as head coach in December.

"He's a good friend," Jones said. "We just weren't able to work it out."

Lee turned down an offer to join UH as an assistant coach last year. Although there are no openings on the UH coaching staff this year, a non-coaching job would have been created for Lee if he were interested.

When asked if Lee would be offered a job next year, Jones declined to comment, saying, "Who knows what the future holds?"

• Chad Owens, who scored touchdowns on punt and kick returns in the 2001 season finale against Brigham Young, will no longer be the Warriors' primary returner. Jones said he wants Owens to focus on being a fulltime slotback.

"That's why he won't be returning kicks as much," Jones said. "My decision is based on what's in the best interest of the team. I know he would like to continue returning kicks. ... (But) his value, in what we do, is more for offense than special teams."

Owens was ranked second in the nation in kickoff-return average (33.6 yards) and, against BYU, broke NCAA single-game records for combined return yards (342) and kickoff return yards (249).

Meanwhile, Jones anticipates a smooth transition as the Warriors try to replace three safeties, three starting receivers, two starting offensive linemen and a quarterback who would have led the nation in total offense if not for one incompletion (that added a game to Nick Rolovich's season, skewing his per-game average).

Still, Jones said the Warriors have enough talent to compete for the Western Athletic Conference title. Tim Chang, whose 2001 season ended after three games because of a wrist injury, is back and pain-free. Four years of recruiting have built depth on the offensive and defensive lines. Middle linebacker Chris Brown is the WAC's second-best linebacker — behind UH outside linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa. Mat McBriar's average of 43.4 yards per punt would have ranked ninth in the National Football League last season.

Newcomers report tomorrow, with veterans joining the team Thursday. The first practice is Saturday morning.

Here's a position-by-position look at the Warriors (with projected starters in bold type):

QUARTERBACKS

Tim Chang

The dish: While there are concerns about Chang's surgically repaired right wrist — he insists he is OK after missing the final nine games last season — there are few worries about his grasp of the offense. In the run-and-shoot offense, a quarterback needs at least three seconds from the snap to the release of the pass. During that span, in which he takes a three-step drop, the quarterback has up to five pass options. Chang is the only UH quarterback who can process all the options and throw a pass within three seconds. "It's a rare gift," quarterbacks coach Dan Morrison said. "He has vision and a quick release." Whieldon also has a quick release and the gift of analyzing defenses.

Player to watch: Many recruiters overlooked Stickler, who changed high schools in the middle of his junior year. But Jones was so impressed with Stickler's accuracy — a completion rate of more than 70 percent last year — he was willing to offer Stickler a scholarship just based on a highlight video.

RUNNING BACKS

Thero Mitchell

The dish: Although Bass is listed atop the depth chart, expect the Warriors to go with a three-player platoon. Bass, who missed spring practice while recovering from hernia surgery, has worked on his balance. Mitchell, who excels in short-yardage situations, lost more than 20 pounds, and now weighs 215. West is fast and durable.

Player to watch: At the start of spring practice, West was pressured into trying out at slotback. He resisted, insisting he wanted to compete at running back, where 11 players battled for one job. West drew raves for his skill in slipping tackles, catching swing passes and sticking pass-rushers.

RECEIVERS

Neal Gossett

The dish: Gossett is 5 inches shorter and a bit slower than his predecessor, Ashley Lelie, the Denver Broncos' No. 1 draft choice. Still, receivers coach Ron Lee gushed, "I think Neal is going to be great. He runs his routes a lot better than Ashley. He's not as fast as Ashley, but he's fast enough." Colbert, the lone returning starting receiver, will be pushed by his childhood friend, Cockheran, who can run 40 yards in 4.3 seconds. Owens and Ilaoa provide quickness in the slots, and also will be used as deep threats.

Player to watch: Although several heralded recruits became available on signing day in February, the Warriors kept open a scholarship in case Poumele became academically eligible. The gamble paid off when Poumele received clearance. Jones believes Poumele, a quarterback in junior college, has the chase-master elusiveness to become an effective receiver.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Shayne Kajioka

The dish: The Warriors lost two starters and added three. The mathematical improbability was made possible because of the development of Kajioka. "We play our top five, and Kaj is one of our top five," line coach Mike Cavanaugh said of Kajioka, a backup at three positions last year. With Kajioka taking over at left guard, Fuata, displaced at left tackle when Hunter moved from defensive end, became the No. 1 center. Cavanaugh said Hunter, Kajioka and Fuata are technically sound, and should ease into their new roles. Cavanaugh isn't concerned about the M&M Boyz — Manuwai and Moenoa — who teamed for 65 pancake blocks last season.

Player to watch: Three years ago, Kajioka was a 390-pound mixed plate of muscle and home-cooking. Even then, Cavanaugh believed, Kajioka's potential was measured in feet. "For a guy that big, he had quick feet," Cavanaugh said. "He could move around. I knew as long as he was disciplined, he would become a good player." Kajioka is down to 310 without sacrificing any strength.

DEFENSIVE LINE

Lance Samuseva

The dish: At the Western Athletic Conference Football Media Preview two weeks ago, Fresno State coach Pat Hill spoke of how superior teams are distinguished by their quantity of down linemen. Three years ago, the Warriors had five serviceable defensive linemen, "although we played a lot of players there," UH defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa said. By design — and persistent recruiting — UH is three-deep at every position along the defensive line. In most defenses across the country, the pass-rushers are aligned on the right and run-stoppers on the left. At UH, there is enough depth that Samuseva, who is skilled at holding the point, can play on the right, narrowing an opponent's rushing options. Fuga is back after missing last season to recover from surgeries to both shoulders, and Laboy is a feared pass-rusher. Correa was the best lineman in spring practice, providing a front-side blitzer.

Player to watch: During a return flight to the Islands, a stranger asked Lempa, "is Isaak Sopoaga eligible?" The answer is "yes," and the question is frequent. "Everybody's asking about him," Lempa said. Sopoaga amassed 31 sacks as a junior college All-American in 2000, but sat out last season to earn enough credits to transfer to UH. Sopoaga, who will open training camp as a backup, gives UH a rare interior pass-rusher.

LINEBACKERS

Matt Wright

The dish: Early last year, Wright was fourth on the depth chart, earning a spot on the travel roster only for his work on special teams. But injuries opened the way for Wright to seize a spot in the lineup. He isn't flashy or particularly fast, but he makes few mistakes in tracking tight ends and is an aggressive perimeter run-defender. The strong-side position was declared open in spring training, but Wright still came away with the job. Chris Brown made the difficult transition from defensive end last year. Always one of the team's strongest players — he can bench press 500 pounds — Brown lost 20 pounds and increased his speed. Tinoisamoa also has trimmed down, and will report to camp weighing 220, about 20 pounds lighter than when he was a middle linebacker two years ago. He has flourished since moving to the outside, where he does not have to worry about the tangle of blockers.

Player to watch: Chavez was signed as a linebacker, but the coaches believe he also can play at both ends of the defensive line. His knack for finding quarterbacks is befitting of a player whose first name is "Marcopolo."

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Hyrum Peters

The dish: During the spring, the Warriors developed their four-corner defense, with Hyrum Peters, Elimimian, Millhouse and Cravalho rotating at the two cover positions. The scheme allows the Warriors to use fresh players to cover speedy wideouts. Last year's top three safeties completed their eligibility. But with the Warriors usually aligned in a two-deep zone, the safeties are less vulnerable to deep routes.

Player to watch: Nearly every team in the WAC has a tall wideout. At 6 feet 1, Millhouse gives the Warriors a counter-attack. What's more, with UH using five or six defensive backs more than 50 percent of the time, Millhouse, who does not start, should receive a lot of playing time.

SPECIALISTS

Mat McBriar

The dish: With Owens' role diminished, "six or seven guys" will battle for work, Jones said. The always-optimistic Jones predicted that whoever wins the job "will be the best you've ever seen."

Player to watch: In April, it was ruled that McBriar, who was raised in Australia, lost a year of eligibility and that this will be his senior season. Look for McBriar to emerge as a top draft prospect at his position.