Nobody outworks
the really big guys
UH offensive linemen have the size
By Paul Arnett
and work ethic to be formidable
Star-BulletinUsually, when a coach says the thing he likes most about his players is their work ethic, it's time to start canceling the season tickets. But when it comes to offensive linemen -- a position that strangles most egos -- working hard in the trenches and in the weight room is most of the battle.
Throw in a little technique and a pinch of experience with all that size, and the next thing you know there's pancake blocks all around.
"The work ethic of these young men is second to none," offensive line coach Greg Olejack said. "And you've got to give (UH head coach Fred vonAppen) all the credit for instilling that kind of pride in these young men. They work their butts off each and every practice. They really do.
"The thing that concerns me the most is lack of game experience in this offense. You can't play just one year and have the moxie, the savvy it takes to sustain drives. The level of overall game experience is still a cause for concern."
Senior center Shane Oliveira earned his spurs during a 22-game starting streak from 1994-96, unfortunately they weren't always the right kind. Nasty bone spurs on his ankles forced him to undergo surgery and miss the final five games of the season.
To make matters worse, while the Rainbows were learning a new system under the watchful eye of offensive coordinator Wally English in the spring, Oliveira was on the sidelines. He didn't start knocking off the rust until nine days ago, and is still learning what the other linemen already know.
Guards Conrad Paulo and Gary Krug have battled through leg injuries over the past few years, and tackles Adrian Klemm and Kaulana Noa not only were forced to have on-the-job training last year as freshmen, they've since switched sides in the off-season.
"The good thing is, most of the guys got to see what needed to be done in the spring," Olejack said. "A lot of the offense already was in place, so at least they have a good idea of what to do.
"But as linemen, you need repetitions. And you need time to wear the pads and hit the guy across from you. I don't like that NCAA rule that limits contact six days.
"That's almost a week of practice that these big guys need to understand what's expected of them. The more they rep out with pads on, the better they'll be."
Noa and Klemm already seem comfortable with their tackle switch. Klemm has better feet and quickness to protect the passer from his blind side, while Noa has better size suited for run blocking. "He's got more size and is stronger than me," the 6-foot-4, 296-pound Klemm said of Noa, who is 6-4, 310. "I like pass blocking, he likes to block for the run. The switch worked well."
You won't get any argument from Olejack. The decision had been reached long before he showed up in June.
"You want your more nimble and athletic guy on the left side to protect the passer because we're going to be throwing the bejabbers out of the football," Olejack said. "From that standpoint, Adrian has made a nice transition.
"And Noa can do a lot of different things. He's also fairly nimble for a 300-pounder. The right tackle is always the heavier of the two, but we're not going to run right behind him all the time. We're more balanced than that."
The Rainbows also have more depth, something they didn't have a year ago. With Oliveira sidelined, sophomore Sione Tafuna got much-needed playing time last year, and a starting role in the spring.
Junior college transfer Keith Tomomitsu also has come in and done a good job in fall camp. Add big Andy Phillips (6-4, 313), who broke his finger yesterday, to the mix, along with tackle J.R. Directo and Akoni Sandoval, and the Rainbows appear deeper up front.
"I thought one of our strong points last year was our pass protection," vonAppen said. "I like what I see up there. We've got a lot of young guys, who, if they keep getting better, ought to be pretty effective this season."
