There's a kind of hush at University of Hawai'i football practices this year.

Gordy Shaw, who was hired as offensive line coach in January, offers an encouraging toned-down style that is in contrast to the stereotypical line coach's demeanor.

"I never liked being de-humanized when I was a player by a coach," Shaw said. "I had some coaches who coached that way. But that's not me."

Shaw's method has had positive results in spring training and the first week of training camp.

"He's the kind of guy who, as long as you do what he wants and don't mess up too much, he'll be your best friend," offensive tackle Brett Leonard said. "If you mess up, he'll get on you, but right after that, he'll take you back."

Shaw's sensitivity to his linemen's history — there have been four line coaches in the previous four years — has helped the transition.

"I appreciate the coaching changes my fifth-year guys and my fourth-year guys have gone through," Shaw said. "It's not easy. I understood that situation. My antennas are up on that. As I told them last spring: 'Over time, you'll learn to respect me and who I am.' They got my respect when I first got here."

Shaw encouraged open discussions. "He lets players take bits and pieces of what they've learned from (previous coaches) and combine it with his (system) to come out with the best of all coaching styles," Leonard said.

Because he coached at Minnesota for 14 seasons, there were preconceptions that Shaw was a run-oriented coach.

"When I was at Wyoming and the first five years at Minnesota, we were a spread throw-it-around-the-ballpark type of a setup," Shaw said.

At UH, Shaw has reinforced the pass-blocking techniques and taught run-blocking fundamentals.

"Any offensive lineman loves to run-block," Shaw said. "The truth be known, they'd rather run-block because it's an attack rather than a retreat setup."

Because the Warriors employ a shotgun passing offense, the linemen are being taught how to run-block off a two-point stance.

To avoid tipping off running plays, Shaw said, "we have to run-block in a stance we're going to be in when we pass 80 percent of the time."

The key to run blocking is a lower stance to gain leverage against a defender.

As an instructional tool, Shaw brought in the "chute," a jungle-gym-like structure featuring a platform that is about 5 feet from the ground. One of the drills is for the linemen to crouch under the platform, then hit the blocking pad at the other end.

"I've always had one of those things," Shaw said of the chute. "Because we play so much out of a two-point stance, if we're going to become good run-blockers, we need something that is going to force us to lower our pad level as we come off the ball in an attack block. (The chute) does that."

Shaw is committed to remaining in Hawai'i for the long run.

"I've never had a bad job," Shaw said. "Every place I've lived has always been the best place I've ever lived. I've lived my motto that I tell my players: 'Only you can let yourself have a bad day. When you get up every morning, it's up to you whether it's going to be a good day or a bad day.' "

Shaw and his wife have three daughters, two of whom live on their own. The youngest daughter will be a senior in a Minnesota high school. After she graduates, she and Shaw's wife will move to Hawai'i.

"This is going to be so wonderful for my wife," Shaw said. "She was raised in San Diego, and I've had her in Minnesota for 17 years. That's a drastic difference. She deserves (to live in Hawai'i) as much as I do."

RBS BLOCKING WELL

Running back Alex Green was an instant hit during yesterday's team drills.

"He blocked me the first time," defensive end Elliott Purcell said. "He's patient. Most of the running backs are aggressive. They lunge. He sits back, observes the block and holds his ground."

Green and Chizzy Dimude — both heralded junior-college transfers — are adjusting to the Warriors' four-wide offense that requires the running backs to pass-block.

"In junior college, I usually had linemen blocking for me because I had the ball all of the time," Green said. "It's different to block for other guys, but it's fun at the same time. I want to help my team. If that's what it takes, I'll do it."

Green is 6 feet 2 and 220 pounds; Dimude is 5-9 and 195 pounds. Both offer different blocking styles.

"I work my hands on (a pass-rusher's) chest," Green said. "I try to stay low, keep my pad level, then explode through with the block."

Dimude said: "I'm a cut-blocker. In practice, we can't cut-block our teammates. But during games, it should be a lot better."

Green spent part of the summer training with a friend who plays for Washington State. Dimude focused on the so-called "explosive" lifts. He can squat 460 pounds and clean 305 pounds.

"Here, we run every day, so I'm in shape," Dimude said.

CAMP NOTES