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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, May 3, 2002

Islanders hope to get back on right track

By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer

 •  Game facts

What: arenafootball2

Who: Tulsa (3-1) vs. Hawai'i (1-3)

Where: Blaisdell Arena

When: 7 p.m. tomorrow

Admission: Ticket prices range from $10-$150

Parking: $3

TV: Live on pay-per-view Ch. 77/777; game will be rebroadcast at 8 p.m. Monday on OC-16

Radio: Delayed on 1420 AM after ILH baseball tournament game, which starts at 7 p.m.

The Hawaiian Islanders may be an arenafootball2 expansion team, but their 1-3 start is unacceptable to coach Guy Benjamin.

He has already made changes with promises of more on the way if the team's losing streak — now at three games — continues.

The first change came a few weeks ago with the addition of former University of Hawai'i quarterback Jared Flint.

A more major change occurred last week before the Islanders' game at Wichita when Doug Semones replaced Al Noga as defensive coordinator.

When asked what was wrong with Noga's defense, Benjamin said: "The coordination of it, the productivity of it. That's all I really want to say."

The Islanders are tied for 26th in scoring defense (49.8 points per game) and 29th in total defense (264.8 yards per game) among the 34 teams in af2.

Since Semones took over, Benjamin said: "We're getting coordination between the line play and secondary play. We're getting a lot more planning done and less confusion."

The Islanders have replaced six of the 21 players who were on the opening-day roster. They also have tryouts each week.

Offensive specialist Darrell Jones said the changes in personnel have affected continuity and team chemistry.

"It's kind of difficult bringing them in one week and next week get somebody else," he said. "But it's a business and we have to go with the flow."

Benjamin sees things differently.

"The thing that affects the chemistry of the team is winning and losing," he said. "You need better players. And you will notice the players coming in are better players than the players we're replacing."

Benjamin said Darnell Arceneaux will start at quarterback tomorrow against the Tulsa Talons (3-1), but the newly-acquired Flint will take some snaps.

Arceneaux has taken every snap for the Islanders, but has thrown all five of his interceptions and committed two fumbles in the past two games.

Arceneaux has completed 45.9 percent (56-of-122) of his passes and a quarterback efficiency rating of 67.83.

Flint, a backup at UH this past season, suited up for his first game last week, but didn't play.

"When and where (Flint plays) a lot depends on how the rest of the week goes, and how the flow of the game goes," Benjamin said. "But Darnell will start."

According to Benjamin, Arceneaux and Flint have each taken 50 percent of the snaps during practices.

"The offense is more simplified than outdoors, it doesn't take too long to get a hold of it," Flint said. "He'll give me a handful of plays to really concentrate on and I'll focus on those for the game."

Arceneaux was informed by Benjamin last week that Flint would see playing time against the Talons.

"Even last game in the second half (Benjamin) said sometimes it's good for you to sit down for a series or two to see what's going on, then get back in it," Arceneaux said.