Sidelines Kalani Simpson

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Hawaii’s Ilaoa throws everybody off

MAYBE it's just my imagination, because, eh, nobody's out there hitting ME, but it just looks like teams aren't trying too hard to tackle Nate Ilaoa. Yeah? These days it really seems like they want no piece of him.

Um ... well, based on the reaction to the question, maybe it is just my imagination because I'm not the guy getting hit. The guy getting hit has a dissenting opinion. He has the bruises to prove it. Not trying to tackle him?

"I hope they're not trying to tackle me," the Hawaii running back says, busting out a grin the way he bursts into the secondary. "That would be easier!"

Well, maybe he's just making it look easy. Maybe that's it. Maybe he's so good right now it seems like defenders can only stick out an arm and wave as he goes by. Maybe it just looks like they drop their heads going in, maybe he just makes them look like they're ducking, just hoping he'll trip in their wake.

Maybe it's what Nate says. Maybe it's that they're not quite sure what to do with him, these days, and so maybe it isn't so easy for him, either -- they're so undecided, he's befuddled. He has no idea how they're going to come at him. And how is a running back supposed to react to that?

"I've got guys going low now," he says, "so it's kind of hard for me to guess what they're going to do. Because I usually try to have a mind-set of what they're doing so I can get ready for it, my moves and stuff. Yeah, they give me all type of different looks."

Maybe that's it. Maybe when they're coming up to hit him they're the worst thing an athlete can be: unsure.

Maybe that's how good he's been this season. Maybe this is what happens when you take the Washington Post high school player of the year, add 20, 30, 40 ... whatever number of pounds, keep the moves -- well, you see that coming at you, it can be ... confounding.

How are they supposed to react?

"Usually, when I was smaller, most guys would try to put the big hit on you because when you're smaller they try to give you the big hits," Nate says. "I guess now, my mind frame is still like I'm a little guy, when I'm running and stuff. But these guys are going low, like big backs. Sometimes it feels a little bit awkward. You could hurdle 'em, but last time I hurdled and hit my leg ..."

See how confusing this is for everybody?

Well, somehow, Ilaoa has found a way to live with it, to the tune of eight touchdowns and 8.9 yards every time he touches the ball.

And make no mistake. Colt Brennan is in a Rolo zone and Hawaii's receivers are both good and plenty, and the line is playing out of its mind (this line is incredible). This offense would get a lot of yards and a lot of points even without a running threat, that's true. But Ilaoa is the X factor -- he gives it that next-level gear. He's the guy who makes it all go.

Doubt it? Why is it that it looked like those New Mexico State guys looked like they actually wanted to hit him, for once?

"I think they did a better job," Ilaoa says. "I feel like they were spying on me, both linebackers were spying on me, so not that I knew anything, but the ends were kind of two-gapping it, looking in the backfield, waiting for those little screens."

Think about that. That's four guys looking at one guy. You think you have a shot to stop Colt Brennan if that's your defensive scheme?

Well, what choice is there? With Nate Ilaoa back there you have to think shovels and runs. Sure, you're vulnerable against the pass, but at least with the pass you can still have hope that someone might drop one. When Nate has the ball the next thing you know everyone starts ducking and waving, not quite sure how to approach him, what to do next. And then it's 10 yards, then 20.

Something about him just throws everyone off. That's how good he's been this year.

"My quickness and stuff are still there," he says, "I've still got that mentality of being that 185 dude, when I first came in."

(Wait a minute. He was 185? That's 40, 50 ...)

"Other than that I just feel a lot bigger," he says. "I just feel like there's a little Porsche inside that Hummer frame."