Warriors shuffle building blocks
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
The University of Hawai'i football team's constantly changing offensive line has created a unique problem.
"We don't have a nickname yet," right tackle Brandon Eaton said. "Maybe you could call us, 'The Line With No Rep.' "
EATON
Although the Warriors are three games and two lineup changes removed from their early problems — poor technique and passive blocking — they face another shuffling for Saturday's road game against Tulsa.
Eaton, who missed last week's game against Rice because of a sprained left ankle, is poised to reclaim his starting job at right tackle.
Tala Esera, a second-year freshman who started at right tackle against Rice, is working out at left tackle as insurance for freshman Jeremy Inferrera, who didn't compete in practice yesterday because of a sore left foot.
"It's a little injury," said Inferrera, who vowed to play this week. "Somebody stepped on it. It's part of the game, I guess."
The uncertain status has tempered the enthusiasm of line coach Mike Cavanaugh, who has praised the development of his young blockers. Against Rice, UH started three freshmen — Inferrera, Esera and left guard Samson Satele. Cavanaugh noted that Satele was suffering from flu-like symptoms in the first half. He eventually received an IV.
"He sucked it up," Cavanaugh said. "He was on the sideline just pouring water. He looked like someone who had a garden hose over his head."
Cavanaugh said Esera, who was a defensive tackle in spring practice and missed two weeks of training camp because of a heart murmur, was effective against Rice. "He's right there, knocking on the door (for a starting job)," Cavanaugh said.
With Inferrera hobbling, Cavanaugh said, "Tala has to make sure he's ready to go at right tackle or left tackle."
The immediate plan, according to Cavanaugh, is for Eaton to open at right tackle.
"He's done a nice job, and I think he's the guy right now," Cavanaugh said.
Eaton said he suffered the ankle injury last Tuesday when "somebody rolled on it. It still hurts, but I'm more needed because Jeremy's hurt."
Despite the lineup changes, according to Eaton, the offensive line is slowly erasing the doubts created by the loss of three starting blockers from last year's team.
"We were trying to live up to whatever everyone else said we couldn't do," Eaton said. "We needed to live on our own standards. There were a lot of doubts, but we proved ourselves, and we're still proving ourselves."
Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.
