Tuesday, August 25, 1998
By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
Tackle Kaulana Noa will be asked to help guide
the younger linemen through good times and bad.
It’s crunch time
for the UH O-line
That group must produce if
By Paul Arnett
the 'Bows are to have a chance
in their opener
Star-BulletinThe offensive line is not offended by Fred vonAppen.
Yeah, the players have seen the University of Hawaii head coach crack jokes about them on television. They've heard the one that goes something like this: "The last time I saw our offensive line, they were three steps to the left of horse crap. They're really stinking it up."
But if these 10 guys would like to take vonAppen out behind the woodshed to teach him the meaning of the word, "respect," they aren't saying so. They've heard vonAppen bellow in anger at them. They've seen the hat fly. They've tried to interpret the unintelligible sounds vonAppen makes when things are really going badly.
"All of that just motivates me to do better," talented tackle Kaulana Noa said after yesterday's practice. "We're kind of on his bad side. We've got some young guys with less experience who don't really know how to finish yet.
"Us older guys have got to help them get through it. And I guess I've got to lead by example because I'm one of the older guys out here. There are some young guys who are doing good. But we still have to be a lot more consistent."
That has been tough the past couple of weeks, given the injuries to Noa and fellow junior Andy Phillips. Last week, Noa was down for several days with an ankle sprain before returning yesterday evening. Phillips remains sidelined. The left guard's shoulder could keep him day-to-day through the season opener with Arizona.
"That's left us with some young guys over there who are still trying to learn the offense," UH offensive line coach Greg Olejack said of freshman tackle Manly Kanoa, freshman guard Brian Smith and sophomore guard Akoni Sandoval.
"But that isn't some kind of an excuse. We've got to get more consistency and we've got to get more hustle. That's what we're pushing for, you bet. We're emphasizing effort across the board.
"We're constantly on them about effort. Constantly on them about stances. Constantly on them about getting down the field, the whole thing. We have to be able to play through adversity and keep doing our job, no matter who's lined up over the football."
One freshman who has managed to do that is center Chris Smith. Despite his youth, the 1997 Mid-Pacific Institute graduate could be the heir apparent to fellow local boy Shane Oliveira.
"Shane was the man last year," Noa said. "Chris has done a good job filling Shane's shoes. He and Brian, they're both freshmen, they surprised me. They just need to play some games and get some experience."
The play of both Smiths allowed vonAppen to shift Keith Tomomitsu, who emerged from spring as the top center, to right guard. Senior Vincent Street is the starting right tackle and Adrian Klemm will line up at tight end.
"We need the seniors on that side of the football to play better," UH running backs coach Don Dillon said of Tomomitsu and Street. "If they come around, then I believe our offensive line could open some nice holes for our backs to scoot right on through and up the field."
Part of the problem for the offensive line is learning a new system. Last year, under the guidance of coordinator Wally English, protecting the passer was first and foremost. This year, with Don Lindsey as the coordinator, it's run first and pass only when necessary.
"The option isn't like the West Coast, everybody knows that," vonAppen said. "But these guys just aren't getting where they need to be quickly enough. If they don't start blocking any better, we're not going to do much on offense. And that's just not acceptable."
Even Lindsey is growing impatient. The game with No. 24-ranked Arizona is only nine days away. In Lindsey's eyes, there's no time left to waste.
"We've got to take advantage of every minute on the field and in the meeting rooms," Lindsey said. "Arizona's defense certainly isn't going to wait for us to catch up. I don't believe Dick Tomey is going to feel sorry for us.
"So that means we have to have maximum effort on every play in practice. I don't want to hear anything about being stale. You practice like you play, so practice and play hard. No exceptions."
This tough love approach suits Phillips just fine. The man they call Big Red wants to be on that playing field, fit for duty and ready to make some pancake blocks.
"I like what Coach Lindsey is trying to do,'' Phillips said. ''He wants us to be tough-minded. And that's good. For me, it's frustrating not being out there. I hurt my shoulder running into another guy going hard in a trap drill. All I can do is rehab it, and hope I can get back on the field."
Like his fellow linemen, Phillips has heard vonAppen's one-liners.
"He's just trying to get us to play better," Phillips said. "I agree with him. We've got to be more consistent and work on the different techniques. I know this offense frontwards and backwards. I just want to get on the field and show it."
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