The eyes are a key for Warrior defenders
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
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| The middle linebacker: "I'm looking at where the running back might go."
— Chad Kalilimoku |
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| Left cornerback: "If you to play out there by yourself, you have to be ready for the challenge."
— Kevin Millhouse |
Offenses might employ decoys to lure defenders on wild chases or align in confusing formations. But the quarterback's eyes never lie.
"He has to look at the receiver," cornerback Abraham Elimimian said. "Follow his eyes, and you'll know where the play is going."
The first rule of UH's aggressive defense? "Look at the quarterback's eyes," Elimimian said.
Weakside linebacker: After breaking the defensive huddle, "the first thing I do is look at the quarterback," Ikaika Curnan said. "He's going to tell you what's going to happen. Sometimes you have to be patient, but he's going to tell you."
Right end: "I like to look at the offensive formation, too, little things that will tip off whether it's a pass or run," Kevin Jackson said.
Strong safety: "I always check for the run first," Hyrum Peters said. "I check the alignment, and where the line is. I pretty much watch the running back, too."
Left end: "You have to go through your keys — look at how (the right tackle) is leaning, his body motion," Houston Ala said.
Weakside linebacker: "If (the offensive linemen) look tense, if they look heavy on their hands (in the three-point stance), they're going to run," Curnan said.
Middle linebacker: On running plays, Chad Kalilimoku said, "I'm looking at where the running back might go." In UH's scheme, the middle linebacker rarely has to move great distances laterally. "Mostly, I'm just going downhill," he said.
Left tackle: "Once you see the guy with the ball move, you've got to move," Isaac Sopoaga said. "You have to train your eye to look for the ball."
Free safety: "My vision is 20-20," Leonard Peters said.
Left tackle: "(Mine is) better than perfect," Sopoaga said.
Right tackle: "(Running plays) happen quickly," Lance Samuseva said. "You only have a split second to make a move. ... Sometimes we feel for where the block is going to take us, then we try to guess where the ballcarrier is going. Then we go for it."
Middle linebacker: "I don't mind going against big linemen," 5-foot-11 Kalilimoku said. "You have to get under (their arms) and get them off balance. If they grab, I have to fight them off."
Weakside linebacker: "You can't take him head-on," Curnan said of shedding a heavier lineman's block. "I try to avoid them, fake them out. When the momentum is going, you have to give them a shake. That makes my job easier."
Right tackle: "Hands are a big part of (an offensive) lineman's technique," Samuseva said. "You can't let him grab you. You can whack his hands, grab his jersey, snatch him down. (if he grabs on) that's a minus for me and a big gain for the offense. I have to try to keep them from absorbing me."
Right end: "If it's a pass, the first thing I want to do is beat the (left tackle) with my speed," Jackson said. "I can't let him hold onto me. I have to swipe (his hands) away, use something (similar to) karate or kung fu."
Strongside linebacker: "We changed the defense a little bit," Keani Alapa said. "I'll play a little more inside than I did last year, and I'll be back a little more. I have a better view .... and I don't have to (always) mess with O-linemen and tight ends."
Right cornerback: "If the quarterback looks at me too long, I know something is going on," Elimimian said. "I look at the receiver's eyes, too. There's a natural tendency for (the quarterback and receiver) to look at where they're going to run the route. If they look inside, they might be running the post or slant. If they look where I'm standing, they might be running a fade."
Free safety: "Always read the quarterback," Leonard Peters said. "As soon as that arm goes up, you break toward the ball."
Left cornerback: "You can't be afraid," said Kelvin Millhouse, who is UH's career leader in pass deflections. "If you want to play out there (on the corner), by yourself, you have to be ready for the challenge."
• • •
HAWAI'I 61, Eastern Illinois 36
Aug. 31 at Aloha Stadium
Tim Chang, recovering from a fractured pinky, passes for 374 yards and three scores.. Hyrum Peters and Abu Ma'afala returned interceptions for touchdowns.
BYU 35, HAWAI'I 32
Sept. 6 at Provo, Utah
The Cougars scored 21 unanswered points in the second and third quarters and Hawai'i threw four interceptions. Jason Whieldon threw for two touchdowns.
HAWAI'I 31, UTEP 6
Sept. 21 at El Paso, Texas
Shawn Withy-Allen finished with 89 yards and two touchdowns in his first outing of the season. Two interceptions by Hyrum Peters led to two touchdowns.
HAWAI'I 42, SMU 10
Sept. 28 at Aloha Stadium
Hawai'i's offense amassed 487 yards, but its defense was better, forcing four turnovers, recording eight tackles for losses (-32), a season-high five sacks.
BOISE STATE 58, HAWAI'I 31
Oct. 5 at Boise, Idaho
Boise State scored 17 points off three UH turnovers in the second quarter to win with ease.
HAWAI'I 59, Nevada 34
Oct. 12 at Aloha Stadium
Timmy Chang's 72-yard touchdown pass to Britton Komine on the first play from scrimmage set the tone. UH scored on all seven drives in the first quarter en route to a school-record 674 yards of total offense. Komine finished with a career-high 238 yards and two touchdowns.
HAWAI'I 37, Tulsa 14
Oct. 19 at Aloha Stadium
Tim Chang completed 34-of-49 passes for 403 yards and four touchdowns and became UH's all-time passing leader.
HAWAI'I 31, Fresno State 21
Oct. 25 at Fresno, Calif.
Tim Chang threw for a career-high 462 yards and two touchdowns, including a go-ahead 13-yard scoring pass on fourth down to Britton Komine.
HAWAI'I 40, SJSU 31
Nov. 2 at Aloha Stadium
UH secured an invitation to the Hawai'i Bowl by winning it's seventh game of the season. Tim Chang finished 31-of-54 for 365 yards and three touchdowns.
HAWAI'I 33, Rice 28
Nov. 16 at Rice Stadium
Houston Ala stopped Rice on fourth-and-3 with seconds remaining in the game to secure that gave UH its first win over Rice in four meetings. Timmy Chang completed 35 passes for 369 yards and two touchdowns.
HAWAI'I 20, Cincinnati 19
Nov. 23 at Aloha Stadium
Tim Chang, who was lost for two quarters with a sprained knee, hit Jeremiah Cockheran for a 33-yard score with 5:10 remaining to put the Warriors by one in a fight-marred game.
Alabama 21, HAWAI'I 16
Nov. 30 at Aloha Stadium
Alabama scored two touchdowns on three Timmy Chang interceptions in the first half, while its defense held UH to a season-low 102 yards. Pisa Tinoisamoa had 19 tackles, 14 unassisted.
HAWAI'I 41, SDSU 40
Dec. 7 at Aloha Stadium
Timmy Chang threw for 437 yards and three touchdowns and Nate Ilaoa gained 131 all-purpose yards, including a two-yard run with 4:45 to go, to lead UH past San Diego State. Travis LaBoy sacked Lon Sheriff on the Warrior 37 with a minute left to end all hopes of an upset.
Tulane 36, HAWAI'I 28
Dec. 25 at Aloha Stadium
Tulane scored 20 unanswered points coming out of the locker room, and sacked UH quarterbacks eight times. UH played most of the game without Tim Chang (hand, knee injuries).
