Jones 'going to let the players play'
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
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| Coach June Jones says the Warriors will return to the simplified defense of 1999.
Advertiser library photo • April 14, 2002 UH 2003 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
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The 15 days of spring practice, beginning with tomorrow's morning workout at the school's grass field, will resemble, in tone, the ones conducted in June Jones' first year as UH head coach.
There will be no scrimmages, no end-of-camp Lollapalooza.
Several starters, including quarterback Tim Chang and safety Hyrum Peters, will not participate in many of the team drills.
Instead, the focus will be on instruction and repetition.
"We're going to go back to the things we did our first year here," Jones said.
The retro theme extends to the defense, where Jones has scrapped the read-and-react plays preached by former defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa, who resigned to coach the defensive backs at Boston College.
Jones said the Warriors will return to the simplified defense of 1999, when Greg McMackin, Lempa's predecessor, was calling the shots.
"We're going to let the players play," said Jones, who spent two weeks giving a refresher course to defensive assistant coaches Vantz Singletary, George Lumpkin and Rich Miano.
"This spring," Jones said, "the kids will sense immediately where we're heading. After 15 days, they'll have a lot of confidence in themselves and what we're doing."
Here's a closer look (with starters in bold):
QUARTERBACK
Candidates: Kainoa Akina, Tim Chang, Preston Maloney, Jeff Rhode, Kyle Rice, Ryan Stickler, Jason Whieldon.
Spring work: It is easy to be skeptical of the often-injured Chang. But after reviewing several edited videotapes of last season's games, quarterbacks coach Dan Morrison marveled, "You sometimes forget how good he really is, how quickly he releases the ball, how often he finds people when anyone else would take the sack."
Morrison said Chang needs to improve his accuracy on deep passes. The acceptable success range is 33-35 percent; Chang was slightly below that.
But that's a project for another time. This spring, UH is trying to develop a backup plan. Whieldon, who left the team for a week last September because of a family problem, fell behind after his return. He has improved his arm strength during the offseason weight-training program.
Rhode, who quit his second job as a UH baseball player, also has benefitted from the weight program. "He looks different," Morrison said. "He's a little more flexible."
It is widely believed Stickler has the most upside. He's a quick study, and an accurate passer on post and end routes.
"We're not looking to see who's going to be 2, 3 or 4 this spring," Morrison said. "We're looking to strengthen underneath Tim. As Tim departs in a couple of years, we want the other guys ready to go."
RUNNING BACK
Candidates: Mike Bass, Michael Brewster, Corey Donahue, Jonathan Kauka, Justin McClain, John West.
Spring work: By the middle of last season, Bass developed into an efficient blocker. But a knee injury hindered him down the stretch, and he did not play in the bowl game. Bass probably will be used sparingly in the spring.
West will work on improving his blocking, the only aspect of his game that needed work.
RECEIVER
Left wideout: Denny Flanagan, Kanale George, Britton Komine, Marcus Weems, Lamont Williams, Orlando Wong. Left slotback: Ross Dickerson, Nate Ilaoa, Chad Owens, Se'e Poumele. Right slotback: Clifton Herbert, Komine, Mike Miyashiro, Gerald Welch. Right wideout: Mike Akiu, Jeremiah Cockheran, Daniel Inferrera, Bryant Stevens, Mark Tate.
Spring work: The top priority is to replace underrated Justin Colbert, who left as the team's career receiving leader. Komine, who played in the slot last year, gets the first shot. "Brit doesn't look fast," receivers coach Ron Lee said, "but he is, and he runs good routes."
The coaches wanted to try Ilaoa, another slotback, at wideout. But he is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery and will not practice. "The fact that he can't go through spring, there's no sense moving him around too much," Lee said.
Besides, it's no secret that Jason Rivers, a senior at Saint Louis School, will be one of the top challengers for the job.
Owens, who has fully recovered from a knee injury, will focus on playing slotback this spring. That means he probably will not return kicks or punts in the fall.
"He's really concerned about getting some playing time on offense," Lee said. "He's concentrating on that, and he's not talking too much about returning kicks."
OFFENSIVE LINE
Left tackle: Brandon Eaton, Samson Satele. Left guard: Eaton, Shayne Kajioka, Kahai LaCount. Center: Lyle Castro, Derek Faavi, Chad Kahale, Marques Kaonohi, Phil Kauffman. Right guard: Kahale, Uriah Moenoa. Right tackle: Eaton, Jonathan Ekno, Ryan Santos, Dane Uperesa.
Spring work: The coaches were somewhat surprised when left tackle Wayne Hunter relinquished his senior season to apply for the NFL draft. That created three vacancies on the offensive line — four, counting Moenoa's move to right guard.
Assistant coach Mike Cavanaugh said Moenoa could have remained at tackle, but his build is more suitable for one of the interior positions. "We wanted him to go to a position he will play in the future," Cavanaugh said.
The Warriors might exit spring practice with two second-year freshmen atop the depth chart at tackle. Satele has drawn comparisons to Lui Fuata, and Uperesa has been praised for his long reach and agility.
Eaton, who was used exclusively as a perimeter blocker the last two years, is making the move inside.
During the offseason, Faavi has added 20 pounds, and now weighs 285. He should start for the next three seasons.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Left end: Houston Ala, Kila Kamakawiwoole, Reggie Maldonado. Left tackle: Tala Esera, Lui Fuga, Isaac Sopoaga. Right tackle: Kealii Aguiar, Abu Ma'afala, Lance Samuseva. Right end: Garrett Dearing, Kevin Jackson, Travis Laboy, Ma'afala.
Spring work: The return of Fuga, who suffered a leg injury in the season-opener last year, gives UH the chance to experiment with a unique three-tackle formation. "It'll be a bear front," assistant coach Vantz Singletary said.
In the standard package, Singletary hopes to rotate four or five tackles in the two spots.
With Laboy sitting out the spring with a groin injury, Jackson will earn more practice time. Ma'afala, a defensive tackle, also will try out at end.
LINEBACKER
Weakside: Isaiah Alameda, Tyrone Brown, Ikaika Curnan, Zachary Lee-Ho, Kilinahe Noa. Middle: Watson Hoohuli, Chad Kalilimoku, Lincoln Manutai, Tanuvasa Moe. Strongside: Keani Alapa, Patrick Lavar Harley, Chad Kapanui, Anipati Mailo.
Spring work: Kalilimoku will help ease the loss of the three starting linebackers who completed their eligibility. The coaches rave about his "aggressiveness at the point of attack," as well as his lateral range.
It was feared Curnan faced a prolonged rehabilitation after suffering a knee injury last season. Not only is he healthy again, but he has regained his speed.
SECONDARY
Left cornerback: Kelvin Mill-house, Kenny Patton. Left safety: Lamar Broadway, Brown Faavae, Lono Manners, Hyrum Peters. Right safety: David Gillmore, Matt Manuma, Leonard Peters. Right cornerback: Abraham Elimimian, Omega Hogan, Cameron Hollingsworth, Gary Wright.
Spring work: The Warriors have a pleasant problem. A player Jones believes will be a high draft pick in 2004 (Millhouse) and the secondary's best athlete (Patton) both play the same position. (In August, prized recruit Ray Bass joins the mix.)
The temporary solution is to use Patton in nickel and dime situations. When the scheme calls for five defensive backs, Patton plays right cornerback and Elimimian becomes an inside defender. In the dime package, Patton picks up the split end.
"Patton's workouts were off the charts," DB coach Rich Miano said, noting Patton had a 40-inch vertical jump and bench pressed 225 pounds 17 times.
Faavae's stay at safety will be short-lived. He is expected to move to linebacker by the end of spring practice.
SPECIALISTS
Kicker: Justin Ayat, Nolan Miranda. Punter: Kurt Milne. Punt-snapper: Moe. Kick-snapper: Faavi, Moe.
Spring work: Milne, a non-scholarship player from Georgia, gets a head start in the race to succeed Mat McBriar. Tim Wright, a junior college transfer, reports to the team in August.
