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Tuesday, February 13, 2001
Warriors’ Now, the fun begins.
spring nears
Coaches to review the film
of the 3-9 season with spring
practice just 15 days awayBy Paul Arnett
Star-BulletinAfter months of nerve-racking telephone calls, high-pressure recruiting trips and anxious hours by the fax machine, the Hawaii football team's coaches can finally dive headlong into the X's and O's.
Head coach June Jones only has 15 days before his first spring practice. Over the next two weeks, he and his assistants will spend long hours watching the cut-ups of the 3-9 season.
No, these aren't some lost episodes of the "Little Rascals." Instead, they are snippets of film of each player in every game.
It's in these tidepools of information that the coaches determine the strengths and weaknesses of each competitor. All are measured on down and distance, how well they defend the run, and who plays better against the pass.
What does the offensive line do well? Can the big men up front be as effective in run blocking as they were in the passing game?
How about Tim Chang? With Mike Harrison transferred out, who will serve as backup to the sophomore sensation from St. Louis School?
Will it be Nick Rolovich, or fellow junior college transfer Jared Flint? Does Matt Manuma remain in the mix -- or like Chad Kapanui -- does he transfer out to another position?
These are just a few of the questions surrounding the UH program as it tries to climb toward the 9-4 mark of two seasons ago, and away from the 3-9 record of 2000.
The Warriors were challenged defensively last year. They yielded 405.2 yards and 33.3 points a game, the worst combination since Bob Wagner's final season in 1995. That year, the Rainbows gave up 431.6 yards and 33.4 points a game.
Three times in the last six seasons, Hawaii's defense has yielded more than 400 yards a game. In that period, Hawaii is 21-52 overall.
Current Mississippi defensive coordinator Don Lindsey produced quite a turnaround in 1997. That year, Hawaii gave up only 322 yards a game, good enough for No. 20 nationally.
Jones can only hope current defensive whiz kid Kevin Lempa can turn a similar trick in his second year in the program. There could be some tinkering in the spring that would give Chris Brown a shot at middle linebacker and Joe Correia a look at outside linebacker. Hyrum Peters may also move from cornerback to safety, a position that should be better-suited for him.
"We're going to look at some different things, that's what spring is all about," said Jones, who received 19 of the 25 initial letters of intent for the 2001 campaign. "But nothing is etched in stone."
There appear to be some difference-makers, either already enrolled in spring football, or coming in during fall camp. There are also some talented players waiting in the wings from the first two recruiting classes.
"It's just a matter of finding the right players for the right positions and making sure we have the right mix of players on the field given the circumstances," Jones said.
"These are things you work on during the off-season."
Hawaii's primary areas of concern on defense are developing a pair of cover corners and a consistent pass rush without having to blitz everyone on the field.
Jones said the defense would take on more of an attacking style, similar to what Greg McMackin ran two years ago before joining the staff at Texas Tech.
Offensively, Jones wants to work with Chang and the relationship he has with his receivers. The Warriors also need to improve their running game. Without it, the run-and-shoot just isn't as effective.
Practice will continue for three weeks. There will be a spring game the final Saturday, but it will be along the lines of the last two under Jones' watch.
"They are more controlled scrimmages than a game," Jones said. "We don't want to lose anybody to injury if we can help it."
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii
