UH's depth paying off
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
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| Running back John West scored a TD against SMU, and may be called on to replace injured starter Mike Bass this week.
Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser WHAT: WAC football, Hawai'i (3-1, 2-0) at Boise State (3-1, 0-0) KICKOFF: Saturday at 2:05 p.m. (HST) TV/RADIO: Live on K5; game will be rebroadcast at 9 p.m./Live on 1420 AM |
"We have a lot of depth to overcome the things that have happened to us this year," UH coach June Jones said after yesterday's one-hour morning practice.
Training camp injuries to quarterback Tim Chang and safety Leonard Peters led to the development of quarterback Jason Whieldon and safety Hyrum Peters, who moved from cornerback. Hyrum Peters leads the Warriors with three interceptions.
When defensive tackle Lui Fuga was injured in the season-opener against Eastern Illinois, Isaac Sopoaga stepped in and has emerged as an effective pass-pocket crusher.
One game after special teams leader Jonathan Kauka suffered a season-ending knee injury, his replacement, Chad Kapanui, threw an instrumental 70-yard pass off of a fake punt in a victory over Texas-El Paso.
Shawn Withy-Allen, a fifth-year senior, stepped in when Whieldon went on a two-week leave of absence. Freshman Kenny Patton, who started last Saturday in place of injured cornerback Abraham Elimimian, shut down Southern Methodist's passing attack and contributed a touchdown when he picked up a blocked field goal and raced 74 yards.
Jones said he is confident that if running back Mike Bass, who suffered a sprained right knee against SMU, cannot play against Boise State Saturday, John West or Michael Brewster should have little difficulty as a replacement.
"We have more depth than we had four years ago," said Jones, who was named UH's head coach in December 1998. "If the same type of things happened four years ago, we'd be in trouble. The depth of the team and the quality of our players are much better."
Jones said the residual effect of the depth is improved special teams.
"The backups normally are special-team players waiting for the chance to get to show what they can do at their positions," Jones said.
West, who sometimes plays on special teams, drew raves for scoring on a fourth-and-goal run from the SMU 8 last week.
"You look back at what happened in the spring (practice), and it's no surprise John West runs the ball like he does," Jones said. "He did it in the spring. It may be a surprise to everybody else, but it's not a surprise to us."
Jones said West's role has been limited because "he has to learn the blocking scheme." UH's run-and-shoot offense does not employ a tight end, leaving most of the backfield blocking to the lone running back.
"It took (former UH running back) James Fenderson a whole year to learn it," Jones said.
Bass, who underwent a magnetic resonance imaging of his right knee Sunday, said he hopes to be included on the 60-player travel roster to Boise. The Warriors will practice Thursday morning, then depart by charter flight that afternoon.
"Hopefully, I can play," said Bass, whose availability was described as "between doubtful and probable" by school officials. Bass said he suffered the injury when he fell onto Aloha Stadium's artificial turf.
UH middle linebacker Chris Brown said his subluxed left shoulder has improved. A subluxation is when the joint pops out and then back into the shoulder pocket. Defensive end Travis Laboy and former UH safety Jacob Espiau underwent surgeries to correct their subluxed shoulders, but Brown, who suffered the injury last year, decided against having an offseason operation.
"I didn't need surgery, and I don't need surgery," he said. "I feel I can do everything. I can still bench 500 (pounds), or close to it, and I can still do all of the movements I need to do on a football field."
