Notebook
Thursday, October 30, 1997
Perry, a six-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle, has been benched because, according to Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, he "does not have the leg strength he used to have, and therefore he's not playing at the level Michael Dean is capable of playing."
In an effort to coax another half-season out of Perry, Shanahan said yesterday that Perry will skip the next few practices and instead spend time in the weight room, resting and building up strength.
Third-year pro Maa Tanuvasa, a one-time standout for Mililani High School in Hawaii, will start at Perry's right tackle position on Sunday against Seattle.
Tanuvasa is tied with Neil Smith for the Broncos' lead in sacks with 61/2.
It is the second change this week in Denver's defensive line. Smith, another Pro Bowler, won't play because of a partially torn right triceps he suffered in Sunday's 23-20 overtime win at Buffalo.
Smith is expected to be sidelined a minimum of 10 days, and Harald Hasselbach will replace him.
University of Hawaii cornerback Al Hunter broke his hand during a routine drill at yesterday's practice and won't know until today whether he will be available for Saturday's game against Air Force. Broken hand
could sideline HunterRainbows head coach Fred vonAppen said Hunter would see a specialist today to determine if he could compete with a soft cast on his hand.
"It's really tough for him because he's a senior and this is his last go-around," vonAppen said of Hawaii's top cornerback. "We aren't sure if he can play. You're looking for more run-support guys against an option team, so we might use four safeties. Who knows? We'll just have to see.
"We've had a lot of injuries in the secondary this season and Al is one of our more experienced guys. We did get Ron Wood back and Robbie Robinson looks healthy. But we're thin at corner."
Robinson, who missed most of the season with an ankle sprain, returned to the lineup in last Saturday's 10-3 loss to San Diego State. Hunter missed last week's game with an ankle sprain.
Hunter said Monday that the ankle felt better and that he thought he could start against the Falcons. But that idea was scratched.
"We'll have to put Jason Vaughn into the mix," UH secondary coach Mickey Pruitt said of the converted receiver. "We don't know for sure that Al will be out, but it looks more likely that he could be back for San Jose State (Nov. 15). We'll probably start Robbie and Donnell (Williams) at corner this weekend against Air Force."
VonAppen also said that down lineman Olen Rosehill broke his thumb and is suffering from a stinger in his shoulder. The freshman sat out yesterday's practice at Cooke Field, but said he expected to be ready Saturday.
Quarterback Tim Carey continued to take a lot of snaps during practice, but vonAppen maintains his senior quarterback isn't ready to take a hit on his injured shoulder.
Cornerback Blase Austin is out for the season with a knee sprain. Wood returned to practice after missing the last game with a concussion. He is probable. So is nose tackle Bob Piggot. The senior missed the last two games with a sprained knee.
BACK AT QB: Ricky Lumford's future is as a defensive back. But this week, the redshirt freshman is at a more familiar position.
During his glory days at Crenshaw High, Lumford was a quarterback who ran some option. When defensive coordinator Don Lindsey heard that, he asked the Los Angeles resident to play QB for the scout team this week.
"On Monday, I saw my name on the board to go see Coach Lindsey," Lumford said. "He wanted me to watch a little film on Air Force and see if I could copy their quarterback for the scout team.
"I'm helping my guys on the side of the ball to get better. I'm just trying to give our defense the best simulation I can. It brought back some good memories to be under center again. But my heart is with the defense. I'll do anything to help my teammates."
Lindsey said Lumford has done a good job in practice, but that it was impossible for the scout team to match Air Force's speed on the option.
"Most of those guys have been running the option every day for years," Lindsey said. "You can't simulate that, but you still have to show your guys what kind of plays we expect them to run.
"Ricky has some speed and some shiftiness that should help us. He also can read the defense and make the pitch on the perimeter. And that's important for our guys to see because they're sure going to see it a lot this weekend."
TIGHT ENDS PRODUCING: UH offensive coordinator Wally English said at fall camp he would design an offense that utilized the tight ends, and he has kept his promise.
Senior Lonn Kalama leads the Rainbows in receptions with 26 for 236 yards and is tied for seventh in catches and 13th in receiving yards among tight ends nationally.
Fellow tight end Gary Ellerson is tied for 13th among tight ends with two touchdown catches.
"That's good for those guys," English said. "Every little bit of recognition will help motivate them."
-- By Paul Arnett
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
