[RAINBOW FOOTBALL PREVIEW]
[OFFENSE] [DEFENSE] [HIGH FIVE TO IMPROVING]
[1998 SCHEDULE]
ON DEFENSE
LINEMEN
As good as the linebackers are, they're only a step or two ahead of the front three.
Seniors Tony Tuioti, Ben Bright and Matt Elam provide the kind of leadership and knowledge of the 3-4 defense that could make the Rainbows one of the better defenses in the league.
"These guys are kind of forgotten, but they're very valuable to us," UH defensive coordinator Tom Williams said. "If they don't do their jobs, it's going to make it difficult for the rest of the defense to execute properly."
Defensive line coach Doug Semones begins his second tour of duty up front. His fiery demeanor fits and excellent techniques are just what this threesome needs to keep improving.
"The guys worked hard on our conditioning and our fundamentals," Semones said. "I'm pleased with their pad level and other techniques we use up front."
Tuioti had a particularly good spring and fall camp. As the top nose tackle, he must be able to hold the point to allow other players to make the tackles.
Elam and Bright come hard off the edge. Throw in backup nose tackle Miles Garner, and anyone can see why Williams is pleased with the men up front.
"They have to be able to occupy offensive linemen, so the linebackers can fill the gaps or flow to the perimeter," Williams said.
By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
Linebacker Stephen Gonzales is the heart and soul of a
Rainbow defense that ranked in the top 20 nationally last season.
Strong tackle
WHO: Ben Bright (79) 6-3 Sr., 269 pounds
1997: Started 7 games, had 26 tackles, including 3 quarterback sacks.
SKILLS: As one of only two fifth-year seniors, Bright has experience. Has 21 starts in his career.
COACH SEMONES SAYS: "Ben is kind of the old man up front. He understands what we expect from him at that position."
WHO: Mike Iosua (78) 6-3 Fresh., 279 pounds
1997: Redshirted.
SKILLS: His high school coach, former Hawaii linebacker Mark Odom, believes all Iosua needs is a little seasoning.
COACH SEMONES SAYS: "If Ben goes down or needs a rest, Mike has to be ready to step in there."
Nose guard
WHO: Tony Tuioti (92) 6-1 Jr., 287 pounds
1997: Started 3 games, had 28 tackles.
SKILLS: Provides leadership and good knowledge of the position.
COACH SEMONES SAYS: "Tony is the leader of this group. He had good spring and fall camps. We need Tony to play well because he's the center of the front seven."
WHO: Miles Garner (77) 6-2 Soph., 310 pounds
1997: Appeared in 10 games, had 18 tackles.
SKILLS: Is big, strong and quick. He can occupy two men, which allows the inside linebackers to step in and fill the gaps.
COACH SEMONES SAYS: "Miles reported to camp in good shape. The loss of weight should help him be a step quicker."
Weak tackle
WHO: Matt Elam (56) 6-2 Sr., 270 pounds
1997: Played in 9 games, had 17 tackles, including 2 sacks.
SKILLS: Plays with a lot of energy and intensity. Has excellent quickness off the edge.
COACH SEMONES SAYS: "Matt is not that big, but it's tough to get a good shot on him because he works hard on his pad level."
WHO: Joseph Correia (48) 6-2 Soph., 260 pounds
1997: Did not play.
SKILLS: A walk-on from St. Louis School, who hasn't played football in several years.
COACH SEMONES SAYS: "He was a good quarterback in high school, who is trying to make the transition on defense."
LINEBACKERS
If the rest of the Hawaii team was as good or as deep as the linebacker corp, Fred vonAppen's problems here would be over very quickly.
"This is a talented group that we're going to need to play well to keep us in some ballgames," vonAppen said. "Whenever I'm feeling a little down, I look at our linebackers and they usually give me a smile."
The starting foursome is good, but they have to work to stay one step ahead of the backups. Rainbows defensive coordinator Tom Williams has kept the competition going right through fall camp.
Several times he thought Matt Paul might lose his strong inside position to junior college transfer Jeff Ulbrich.
"But the guy is just too mean to give it up," Williams said. "Anywhere else, Jeff might be starting. He's still going to see plenty of playing time."
The same can be said for fifth-year senior Kamuela Cobb-Adams, who recently lost his starting job to Yaphet Warren.
Warren missed most of fall camp with a slight hamstring pull, but he still stepped in the last few days and won the start at weak outside linebacker.
"Yaphet is a bitch when he's in there," Williams said. "He has tremendous speed and we need that out on the edge. That doesn't mean Kamuela won't play because he will."
The competition was equally intense at the other two spots where Stephen Gonzales and Rinda Brooks won the starting roles.
"That's the kind of situation I wish we had at every position on the field," vonAppen said.
Strong outside linebacker
WHO: Rinda Brooks (8) 6-1 Sr., 217 pounds
1997: Started 1 game, had 25 tackles, including 1 sack.
SKILLS: Has excellent speed and quickness off the edge.
COACH WILLIAMS SAYS: "A healthy Rinda Brooks could be a difference-maker for us. We just need to get him back up to full speed."
WHO: Mark Mollner (69) 6-5 Jr., 240 pounds
1997: He played in 8 games, made 2 tackles.
SKILLS: His height and quickness make him a formidable force on perimeter.
COACH WILLIAMS SAYS: "Mark kind of reminds me of an old football player for the Raiders nicknamed "The Stork" (Ted Hendricks). He will alter the way a quarterback throws to that side of the field."
Strong inside linebacker
WHO: Matt Paul (47) 6-3 Jr., 243 pounds
1997: Started 2 games, had 40 tackles, including 1 sack.
SKILLS: Has good size, strength and lateral movement. Can fill the gap on running plays and cover tight ends or backs in pass patterns.
COACH WILLIAMS SAYS: "Matt is a good inside linebacker. He keeps improving every year."
WHO: Jeff Ulbrich (44) 6-1 Jr., 243 pounds
1997: Played at Gavilan (Calif.) College where he transferred from San Jose State.
SKILLS: Is the strongest player on the team. He also has good quickness for an inside guy.
COACH WILLIAMS SAYS: "Jeff could probably start anywhere else. He's going to be seeing a lot of playing time for us, and he gives us some depth."
Weak inside linebacker
WHO: Stephen Gonzales (52) 6-1 Sr., 234 pounds
1997: Played in only 4 games before receiving a medical hardship from the WAC, made 14 tackles.
SKILLS: Great leadership, good strength and solid footwork. A Dick Butkus Award nominee.
COACH WILLIAMS SAYS: "Steve is the guy who holds everything together on defense. He not only is physically gifted, but he also has great leadership qualities."
WHO: Joaquin Avila (50) 6-2 Soph., 218 pounds
1997: Played in 10 games, made 10 tackles.
SKILLS: A hard hitter who has good quickness for an inside guy.
COACH WILLIAMS SAYS: "It's difficult keeping Joaquin out of the lineup. His problem is, he's behind Gonzales."
Weak outside linebacker
WHO: Yaphet Warren (22) 6-1 Jr., 203 pounds
1997: Redshirted after transferring from Idaho.
SKILLS: Has excellent speed coming off the edge. Can cover backs and receivers in the flat.
COACH WILLIAMS SAYS: "Yaphet is coming off an injury, but is now at full speed with fresh legs. He could be our best outside linebacker over time."
WHO: Kamuela Cobb-Adams (51) 6-1 Sr., 217 pounds
1997: Started all 12 games, made 40 tackles, including a team-high 6 sacks.
SKILLS: Brings leadership and a tenacity on the field.
COACH WILLIAMS SAYS: "We need him out there to keep things together."
DEFENSIVE BACKS
If there's one phase of the defense that still fazes University of Hawaii defensive coordinator Tom Williams, it's the secondary.
The Rainbows' front seven is as good as any in the Western Athletic Conference. The problem is, the secondary is as inexperienced as any in the league.
Starting right cornerback Donnell Williams has eight starts at the Division I level. Free safety Daniel Ho-Ching is next with one, but that was in 1995.
Strong safety Anthony Smith and left cornerback Quincy LeJay are getting their first starts. Last year, LeJay was playing for Mt. San Antonio (Calif.) College, while Smith was being redshirted.
But despite this lack of playing time, Williams is comfortable with that foursome.
"They are so athletic, they're able to catch up with their mistakes," Williams said. "They're also very physical, which should give receivers some cause for concern when they're running routes over the middle."
UH secondary coach Mickey Pruitt mirrors this confidence. He sees potentially a better defensive backfield than the one of a year ago that included talented All-WAC safeties Eddie Klaneski and Chris Shinnick.
"We've got some good cover guys and some solid hitters," Pruitt said. "The only thing these guys need is experience. Once they start to play together and learn what each man can do, then I believe we'll be all right."
LeJay is having to step up because of a stress fracture suffered by senior Celnell Bobbitt during fall camp. Junior college transfer Phil Austin also figures to see plenty of playing time. He can play either free or strong safety.
Left cornerback
WHO: Quincy LeJay (27) 5-9 Jr., 183 pounds
1997: Played every game at Mt. San Antonio (Calif.) College primarily as fifth defensive back.
SKILLS: Has good quickness and solid footwork.
COACH PRUITT SAYS: "Quincy has come in and done a good job for us during fall camp. We didn't want to start him right away, but he was forced into it."
WHO: Ricky Lumford (4) 5-8 Soph., 174 pounds
1997: Member of the scout team. Did not play in any games.
SKILLS: Has good speed and quickness. He's still adjusting to the corner position.
COACH PRUITT SAYS: "It has taken him a while to adjust to the secondary, but he's improving."
Strong safety
WHO: Anthony Smith (11) 6-2 Soph., 209 pounds
1997: Redshirted after appearing in seven games in 1996 when he made 11 tackles.
SKILLS: Has great size and a ability to support the run.
COACH PRUITT SAYS: "We feel Anthony is going to be a good player for us. He just needs some time to grow into the position."
WHO: Marcus McCuin (30) 6-2 Fresh., 189 pounds
1997: Played at Trinity (Texas) High School.
SKILLS: Has good size and range.
COACH PRUITT SAYS: "Marcus can step in and play this position if we need him to."
Free safety
WHO: Daniel Ho-Ching (6) 5-11 Jr., 187 pounds
1997: Played mostly on special teams.
SKILLS: Has great leadership and is one of the hardest hitters in the secondary.
COACH PRUITT SAYS: "Daniel has done a great job, despite being bothered by a hamstring pull. The guys really believe in him."
WHO: Phil Austin (7) 6-1 Jr., 185 pounds
1997: Played at Pasadena (Calif.) City College.
SKILLS: Is versatile and could play both safety positions.
COACH PRUITT SAYS: "He closes real well on the football and has good size for a free safety."
Right Cornerback
WHO: Donnell Williams (2) 5-11 Sr., 175 pounds
1997: Started 8 games, had 33 tackles, 1 interception and 9 pass breakups.
SKILLS: Is the most experienced player in the secondary and understands what this defense is about.
COACH PRUITT SAYS: "We need Donnell's experience in the secondary to keep the younger guys together."
WHO: James Polk (19) 5-9 Soph., 177 pounds
1997: He played at Ranger (Texas) Junior College.
SKILLS: Is a good all-around athlete. He is one of the faster defensive backs.
COACH PRUITT SAYS: "We'll use him in some of our nickel and dime packages."
SPECIAL TEAMS
Last year, special teams were a kick in the butt for the Rainbows.
If teams weren't blocking punter Chad Shrout's kicks, they were returning them for touchdowns, leaving head coach Fred vonAppen in a state of despair.
This season, he promises better results from Shrout, who still finished fifth in the nation in punting, averaging 46.1 yards a kick.
Shrout also will handle kickoffs and any long-range field goals the Rainbows might attempt.
Field goals from 50 yards in and PATs will be kicked by Eric Hannum. The junior finished strong over the latter half of the season, and has been consistent during fall camp.
The return men will be Eleu Kane and Dwight Carter on kickoffs. Kane has been bothered by a hip pointer, so Daniel Ho-Ching could step in.
Ho-Ching will return punts. Brian Smith will be the deep snapper. The holder will be Josh Skinner.
Punter
WHO: Chad Shrout (99), 6-1 Jr., 231 pounds
1997: Finished fifth in the nation with 46.1-yard average.
SKILLS: Has one of the strongest legs since Jason Elam.
COACH VONAPPEN SAYS: "We know Chad has one of the strongest legs around. Now, we want to work with him on directional kicks and pooch punts."
Place-kicker
WHO: Eric Hannum (15) 6-3 Jr., 181 pounds
1997: Hit 15 of 24 field goals and 18 of 19 PATs.
SKILLS: Has improved on his accuracy and distance in the off-season.
COACH VONAPPEN SAYS: "What's good about having Eric and Chad is they both can handle place-kicking and punts."
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
