honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, August 29, 2009

No. 2 QB decision yet to be made


By Stephen Tsai
HawaiiWarriorBeat.com Editor

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser
spacer spacer

The Hawai'i football team's duel for the No. 2 quarterback's job will go into overtime.

It will be another few days before the coaches decide between fourth-year junior Brent Rausch and third-year sophomore Bryant Moniz. Greg Alexander is the starter for Friday's season opener against Central Arkansas.

A choice was supposed to have been made when training camp ended a week ago. But Rausch and Moniz have been impressive in 6-on-7 and team drills.

The coaches prefer to give Alexander two-thirds of the reps in passing drills, with the No. 2 quarterback taking the rest.

"The only rush is if you need a No. 2 guy, you've got to have that decision made," head coach Greg McMackin said. "I don't want to go all the way to game time."

The Warriors will not practice today. Because the opener is Friday, the practice schedule has been moved up a day. Tomorrow's practice will be like a usual Monday practice, a one-hour meeting followed by an hour on the field.

"I think by Tuesday we have to make up our mind on the second guy," McMackin said. "We're in a good situation. And Shane (Austin, the No. 4 quarterback) looks good. We're not in the same quarterback situation we were in last year."

Last year, the Warriors did not name Alexander as the starter until the day before the season opener. UH played three quarterbacks in that game.

McMackin has settled on a starting running back. Leon Wright-Jackson, who arrived as a heralded transfer in 2007, has been hindered by injuries the past two seasons.

Now healthy, Wright-Jackson gets the first turn from a rotation that includes Inoke Funaki, Alex Green, Chizzy Dimude and Jayson Rego.

"He's been consistent, and he's not hurt," McMackin said of Wright-Jackson. "Hopefully, he'll be able to continue. It's very competitive, and he's getting better. He's sort of a slasher/big guy."

Wright-Jackson also has practiced as the wildcat — a running back who takes the direct snap.

"We wanted to run (the wildcat), and coach threw me in there," Wright-Jackson said. "We had some fun."

There are plays in which the wildcat throws option passes.

"If it's a pass play," Wright-Jackson said, laughing, "I'll run it."

McMackin said he will start Wright-Jackson and "then we'll go from there."

Funaki, a converted quarterback, is the most skilled wildcat. Green, who transferred from a junior college last month, has had a breakout preseason.

"Alex is a big-time player," McMackin said of Green. "He's really an athlete. He's quick for a big man."

INJURY, HAKA REPORT

  • Defensive tackle Chris Leatigaga has been initially diagnosed with a hyper-extended left knee. X-rays did not show any fracture. He underwent an MRI yesterday to determine if he suffered any ligament or cartilage damage. He incurred the injury during a one-on-one drill at Thursday's practice at Aloha Stadium.

    "It just buckled when I hit another lineman," said Leatigaga, a fifth-year senior. "It's frustrating."

  • Center John Estes, who is recovering from a bruised left calf, yesterday participated in light workouts. "It's a little tender," said Estes, who expects to begin full workouts tomorrow. "I have to get the blood flowing."

  • The Warriors practiced the haka for the first time in the preseason. They are practicing a version of the Maori war chant that the team performed in 2006. Seniors Laupepa Letuli and Rocky Savaiigaea took turns leading the rehearsal. Savaiigaea said there are no specific haka leaders.

    "We do everything as a senior class," Savaiigaea said.