Warriors build a
versatile O-line

Several members of the seasoned
unit are learning to master multiple
positions for UH

As cousins and roommates, Samson and Hercules Satele are accustomed to spending a lot of time next to each other.

Yesterday, they spent much of the Hawaii football team's practice shoulder-to-shoulder on the Warriors offensive line, with Samson lining up at center and Hercules at left guard.

"I feel comfortable playing with him. If he screws up I just slap him in the head," Samson said with a laugh.

Samson Satele, primarily a guard, moved over a spot to take most of his repetitions at center during the morning workout at the UH practice field. Hercules Satele made it a family affair by stepping into his cousin's spot at left guard with the first unit.

Derek Fa'avi, who has started 25 games at center over the last three seasons, was held out of the team periods yesterday while having his knee brace adjusted and UH coach June Jones said the senior is still the Warriors' top center.

"Just for insurance," Fa'avi said of sitting out yesterday. "My knee's fine."

With Fa'avi taking a breather, Samson Satele and junior Marques Kaonohi spent most of the morning at center, while Kaonohi and Hercules Satele split time at guard.

"I just treat it like a game week. Somebody goes down, somebody's got to step up," Samson Satele said.

Kaonohi and Samson Satele, both Kailua High School graduates, are more natural at guard, but have picked up the nuances of playing center as well. Satele started three games at center last season after Fa'avi suffered a knee injury.

"Playing center you have to look at the whole field, so you have to have good peripheral vision," said Satele, who earned All-Western Athletic Conference honors at tackle and guard the last two seasons. "Center is a little harder, but once you learn the system it's easy."

Said Kaonohi: "At center you have more responsibility for the line. You have to make all the calls, you're pretty much the director of the line."

Samson Satele is among three UH linemen who enter the season with lengthy starting streaks still active.

The junior has started 26 straight games at three positions. Senior Brandon Eaton has started the last 18 games at either right guard or tackle, and junior Tala Esera owns a string of 17 consecutive starts at left tackle. Junior Dane Uperesa is the leading candidate to start at right tackle this season.

While the line is the most-seasoned unit of an otherwise green Hawaii offense, the Warriors continue to develop greater depth by becoming more versatile.

In addition to Satele and Kaonohi playing multiple positions, Fa'avi has also been working a bit at guard.

"We're a veteran crew, but somewhat thin as far as experience goes at some positions," UH line coach Wes Suan said. "So we're spending time rotating some people and making sure everybody can fill in and not lose a beat. That'll be the key. ... Football is a contact sport, injuries happen and if you can have a plan when injuries happen, then we'll be that much more solid.

"All of us are on track, but we're not yet where we need to be," he added. "They know that. The biggest thing is that our group is very aware of what needs to be done and they're willing to work at it and I'm sure we'll get it done."

Said Fa'avi: "I don't really consider myself a guard, but if I have to, I have to be ready."

Samson Satele, who weighed in at 287 pounds last year, said he gained 30 pounds in the offseason and is listed at 311 this summer. He said he feels good carrying the added weight on his 6-foot-3 frame and plans to try to maintain that weight during the season.

Hercules Satele started two games at guard as a freshman when injuries forced Samson to slide over to center last season. He also bulked up over the summer, reporting at a solid 6-2, 302 pounds.

"Hercules is getting a lot of reps and is doing a good job," Jones said. "He's gotten a lot better than last year."

Samson has also noticed a change in his younger cousin.

"Last year he had rabbit eyes, big eyes," he said. "This year he looks more comfortable and is talking more. ... He understands the game, he understands the position. I don't really have to teach him."

Although still a relatively inexperienced member of the line, Hercules said he benefited from being thrown into the mix last season and is ready to step in if called upon again.

"We're the veteran group of the offense, so everybody knows what to expect from us and we just have to live up to that and keep working hard," he said.