Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.
Saturday, March 25, 2000
Rainbows
practice in pads
FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK
By Paul Arnett
Star-BulletinUniversity of Hawaii head coach June Jones let the youngsters take turns banging helmets in yesterday's first practice in full pads. Granted, the projected starters for next season weren't exchanging greetings on Cooke Field. That's because Jones already has a good idea who will be in the starting lineup for this fall's opener with Portland State.
"We just wanted to take a look at the younger guys in the program, who didn't have a chance to get that many repetitions last year," Jones said. "When we get back after spring break, we'll do more of the same, only with the first two units."
Just how many of the players taking part in today's hard-hitting practice will make that two-deep list remains to be seen, but the coaches liked what they saw out there on the field.
"It was great to get the younger guys a chance to play," UH defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa said. "Because we are four or five deep at certain positions, a lot of those guys haven't had the chance to show what they can do in a situation like this.
"This gives them an opportunity to be evaluated on film. I'm sure there's a good player in there somewhere, so hopefully after looking at this tape we'll find one."
The Rainbows are particularly deep along the defensive front. They also have many recruits coming in at fall camp, who the coaches expect to make a difference.
Close, but no cigars
"We've got some players up there on the defensive front," UH defensive line coach Vantz Singletary said. "And we've got some guys coming in who we feel are going to make their presence felt in the fall."We have so much depth, especially in our front seven. And you need that in a 12-game season because guys are going to go down. I don't think you're going to see that much fall-off, and that's what you want as a coach."
On the offensive side, Jones took a hard look at sophomore quarterbacks Shawn Withy-Allen and Kevin Gilbride. Both had some good moments as they worked with receivers Ricky Lumford, Scott Sims, Tarama Fuatugavi, Jamal Garland, Davey deLaura, Neal Gosset and Clifton Herbert.
Jones already knows what wideouts Channon Harris, Craig Stutzmann and Ashley Lelie bring to the table. He wants to continue to develop depth.
"This is what spring football is all about," Jones said. "You want to know that if somebody gets hurt that the backup is familiar with the offense. You can never have enough quarterbacks and receivers ready to go in our offense."
The best offensive play belonged to running back Thero Mitchell. He took an inside handoff and turned it into a 35-yard jaunt up the field that left defenders strewn in his wake. It was so impressive, Mitchell received high fives from nearly every offensive player on the field.
"This is what this practice was meant to do, to give some of the young guys a chance to show what they can do," Jones said. "We're halfway through and so far, I like what I see. Let me put it this way: We're a lot farther along than we were a year ago at this time."
Other than the April 15 spring game, yesterday will be the only day in full pads. Jones wants to limit the tackling to avoid unnecessary injuries.
Jackson back
Jones promised that top free safety Nate Jackson would do some running for missing Thursday's practice and the head coach was true to his word.Not that the junior took it too hard for having to do extra work.
"This isn't punishment," Jackson said, then smiled as he left the field. "I'm in training."
Linebackers coach George Lumpkin took no mercy on Jackson, even though he had a valid excuse for not being at practice. Lumpkin handles the punishment phase for violation of team rules. That includes making the players run a variety of wind sprints, bear crawls and other various forms of torture.
"There are no appeals in my court," Lumpkin said. "If you break the rules, you'll come see me and pay the price."
Cutting weight
Defensive lineman Doug Sims isn't ready to pose for the "after" picture just yet. But anyone who saw the defensive linemen prior to his recent diet knows he's getting close to his target weight of 320 pounds."I've lost about 25 to 30 pounds since the Oahu Bowl," said Sims, who still tips the scales in the 350 range. "And I'm telling you this, I'm losing another 30 or so before fall camp."
Coach Singletary is keeping a close eye on Sims, who he believes will be a major factor this season if he keeps shedding the pounds.
"This man is a premier athlete who never had any real guidance in high school and junior college," Singletary said. "He didn't understand what it takes to play at this level. But even though he was carrying around so much weight, he was still cat-quick and able to dunk a basketball. The thing is, he got tired after only two or three plays."
Taking time off
Players aren't the only ones taking some time off next week. The coaches are getting away from it all, too."Next week, we're going over to the ranch on Molokai for two days,'' Jones said. "It should be an enjoyable experience for us to spend some time away from the football field. Not all the coaches have had a chance to go to a neighbor island. Everybody is looking forward to it."
UH Athletics
Ka Leo O Hawaii
