Tuesday, September 22, 1998
’Bows change
faces on defense
The secondary is shuffled
By Paul Arnett
in an effort to 'find the
best 11 guys'
Star-BulletinTom Williams liked the offensive makeover so much, the University of Hawaii defensive coordinator decided to have one of his own.
Two weeks ago, offensive coordinator Don Lindsey made some shifts along the offensive line and at receiver that led to an improved product from the one unveiled in the season opener with Arizona.
About halfway through the game with Utah, Williams saw some changes he wanted to make at defensive back. He met with fellow assistant Mickey Pruitt over the weekend and together they unveiled the new-look secondary.
Gone from the starting lineup are free safety Daniel Ho-Ching and strong safety Anthony Smith. Filling their shoes for this Saturday's nonconference game with Arkansas State are Phil Austin at strong safety and Donnell Williams at free safety.
Donnell Williams is moving from right cornerback to allow Jovon Jiles to start at that position. Jiles and Austin were particularly effective in the 30-21 loss to the Utes. Jiles finished with two tackles and one key pass breakup in the third quarter.
''I knew that play was coming, but I hesitated just an instant because I didn't want him to go out and up,'' Jiles said. ''Next time, I'll listen to my instinct, which told me to break on the ball and go for it.''
Tom Williams believes Jiles only needs more playing time to sharpen the mental phase of his game. The converted quarterback from Crenshaw High in Los Angeles is tall and athletic, which comes in handy at his position.
''You like to have big corners to match up with big receivers,'' Tom Williams said of the 6-foot-1 Jiles. ''And I've said from the first day we needed to find a spot for Phil, and we did.
''Like the offense did a couple of weeks ago, we made an effort to find the best 11 guys. We pretty much knew who the front seven were going to be, but we wanted to wait a couple of games to see who emerged in the secondary.''
Austin made a grand entrance last Saturday night, finishing with 15 tackles, including a quarterback sack. The transfer from Washington State is the leading tackler with 18, something that doesn't bother Pruitt.
''Our two leading tacklers last year were our safeties,'' Pruitt said of student coaches Eddie Klaneski and Chris Shinnick. ''That's the way this defense is designed. Phil is like an extra linebacker in there. He's really more of a rover.''
As for Ho-Ching and Smith, well, they'll just have to work their way back into the lineup. For Ho-Ching, a nagging hamstring pull has bothered him since the first day of fall camp.
''And I hurt it again during the game,'' Ho-Ching said. ''I turned to make a move and run, and it felt like somebody stabbed me. I'm just not at full speed yet.''
Smith is up and running, but his inexperience and lack of aggressiveness have forced the coaches to make the switch. Donnell Williams is also a better fit at safety. He played corner last year because that's where he was needed the most.
Pruitt said the other cornerback will be Quincy LeJay. He had one interception in the Utah game. Donnell Williams and LeJay are the second- and third-leading tacklers for the Rainbows. They have 32 for the season.
''It's good to see how well they tackle, but I don't think we want our top three tacklers to be in the secondary,'' UH head coach Fred vonAppen said. ''That doesn't bother me as much if it's a safety, but two of those guys were at corner. We've got to work on that.''
Hawaii may be getting some help from two of its injured defensive backs. Cornerback Celnell Bobbitt could return in time for next week's game with Southern Methodist. He has been out since fall camp with a stress fracture. Safety Damien Arafiles returned to practice after missing three weeks with a bad ankle sprain.
''Our secondary is starting to take shape,'' Tom Williams said. ''We're much more athletic and should be able to make more plays.''
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
