UH piecing together patchwork defense

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

These days, the defensive players on the University of Hawai'i football team should wear "Hello, my name is ..." tags.

Four defensive starters did not compete in yesterday's practice. Of the projected starting defensive lineup exiting spring practice in May, four practiced with the first team yesterday. (Defensive tackle Abu Ma'afala left the team in July and then transferred to California.)

"It looks like another training camp," linebacker Chad Kapanui said. "Everybody is switching around, trying to fill in."

For Saturday's game against San Jose State at Aloha Stadium, the Warriors will be without middle linebacker Ikaika Curnan (sprained right ankle) and right safety Lono Manners (fractured right ankle).

Starting cornerbacks Abraham Elimimian and Kenny Patton did not practice because of hamstring injuries. Patton will resume practicing "when I can keep up with the receivers."

Elimimian said he will test his tender right hamstring today. "If all goes well, I'll be ready to go," he said. "If I re-aggravate it, it's hard to say. I want to rest for this game and get ready for the road (game against Boise State on Oct. 29). It's one of those things where it's fine to walk, but when I sprint, it can be worse than before."

If Patton and Elimimian are unavailable, coach June Jones said Turmarian Moreland and Ray Bass will start. Both replacements were injured last week and did not travel to Texas-El Paso.

"They've got a lot of raw talent," Jones said. "They have to put themselves in position to make plays. They're both physically able to play Division I football. They have to do it on game day."

Elimimian said: "It's going to be DB by committee."

Jones said Lamar Broadway and Matt Manuma will alternate at Manners' position against San Jose State, although Keao Monteilh, a freshman who moved from cornerback Tuesday, practiced again with the first team yesterday.

"Coach said to get as many reps as I can to catch up with everybody else," Monteilh said.

Monteilh's situation typifies UH's dilemma this week. Instead of focusing on the Spartans, the Warriors are using part of their practices to teach fundamentals to the replacements.

"It limits what you can do," Jones said.

Sixteen defensive players have suffered injuries that kept them from practices and games this season. No position has been spared.

"Man, it's tough," defensive tackle Lui Fuga said. "We don't have depth."

Noting that three offensive linemen moved to fill the shortage of defensive tackles, Fuga said, "I used to go against those guys in practice. Now I'm playing next to them. ... It's pretty much we're desperate. Injuries are killing us this year."

Jones acknowledged there are more injuries on defense than in past seasons. "Some years it's just that way," he said. "Some years, you get lucky. Some years, you don't. It's the way it is. You have to overcome those things."

Safety Leonard Peters said: "Football is a tough sport. Every year there are injuries. Unfortunately, there are more this year. Hopefully, they'll recover in time."

Until then, linebacker Tanuvasa Moe said, "the backups have to be ready."

Entering training camp in August, Moe was listed as a backup to Kapanui at strong-side linebacker. When weak-side linebacker Paul Lutu-Carroll suffered a knee injury, Moe switched positions.

"I know what the new guys are going through, because I used to be behind Kapanui," Moe said. "When you're a backup, it's hard to pay attention (in video reviews and practices) because you're watching someone else. You have to remember what coach Jones said: 'You're one or two plays away from getting into the game.' The way things are going this year, the backups better be ready."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.

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