Jones supports Following a 9-for-27 passing performance in last week's 31-6 win at Texas-El Paso that came on the heels of a four-interception outing Sept. 6 at BYU, it is safe to say that Hawaii starting quarterback Tim Chang has been struggling.
struggling Chang
The UH coach says the
starting QB can easily
break his slumpStar-Bulletin staff
But yesterday, June Jones said that it is his job to snap Chang out of the slide.
"That's what I get paid the big money for," Jones said. "You get paid to coach through these things. And I'll get him through it. And we'll be better because of it."
Jones said it is not injury -- Chang broke the pinkie on his throwing hand in fall camp -- or ability that is holding back Chang. The quarterback's problems at UTEP were more in the nature of a classic sports slump.
"He just needs to not make it as hard as it is," Jones said. "Mistakes he's making are kind of, I think, just brought on by not doing the things he's done a thousand times and making it harder than it is, and he just needs to relax and go play."
That is what Jones and Chang will work on heading into Saturday's home game against Southern Methodist. But at UTEP, the quarterback looked uncomfortable, and Hawaii's offense sputtered early.
"The first quarter was frustrating because I knew what was there and it wasn't anything they (the Miners) were doing, but we just find a way to screw it up or not do it," Jones said. "That frustrates you."
Jones also noted that while UH is perceived to have no deep threat since the departure of Ashley Lelie to the pros, Hawaii receivers have been getting behind defenders.
"It's not the guys running the deep balls," Jones said. "We're getting on top."
But the ball hasn't been delivered by the quarterback. "We haven't been accurate down the field."
The appearance of backup quarterback Shawn Withy-Allen, who had a hand in three touchdowns, was preordained. Jones had set up a package of about 10 plays for Withy-Allen prior to the UTEP game and told the senior he'd play early in the second quarter. The two-quarterback system will probably continue this week with either Withy-Allen or Jason Whieldon, who has returned to the team, coming off the bench. Chang is firmly entrenched as the starter, Jones said.
Withy-Allen earned praise from Jones for his running and poise in the first extensive action at quarterback in his career. The coach was also happy to see Whieldon back with the Warriors following a short sabbatical to deal with personal problems.
"I really feel he needs us a lot, too, as a team," Jones said. "He needs his teammates to help him through some of the things he's struggling with."
As for Whieldon's spot on the depth chart, "I don't know," Jones said. "When he's ready, he'll play."
Play of the day: Jones said that freshman Nate Ilaoa's second-quarter touchdown -- in which he took a short Withy-Allen pass and ran over two defenders for the score -- was the turning point of the day.
"I thought he just took the game over right there and said, 'I'm not gonna be kept from scoring,' " Jones said. "That said something to everybody. The sideline exploded. I mean, he did a heroic thing for us. And that really, I thought, changed the game."
Special D: Jones said that Hawaii's defense and special teams picked up the slack on the offense's off day. The coach praised defenders Matt Wright, Pisa Tinoisamoa and Lance Samuseva, and said "our whole defensive front at times dominated the game."
After three games, Jones said that "Isaac Sopoaga is gonna be the guy we thought."
Cornerbacks Kelvin Millhouse and Abraham Elimimian earned special notice. Elimimian was lost in the second half to a hamstring injury and is listed as "questionable," but don't be surprised if he has to miss this week. Kenny Patton and Josiah Cravalho are officially behind him on the depth chart, but Jones said that WAC defensive player of the week, safety Hyrum Peters, could play some corner against SMU.
If Elimimian, who has been a steady player so far this season, misses any games, it will force UH to make serious adjustments.
"We're going to scramble until we get him back," Jones said.
Player of the week: Peters earned WAC defensive player of the week honors following an outing in which he had 13 tackles and two interceptions.
"He's not afraid to make mistakes playing full speed," Jones said, noting that Peters is playing with confidence a month after switching from corner to safety. "He's anticipating, and he sees things before they happen," Jones said.
Nevada quarterback Zack Threadgill won the conference's offensive player award following a 408-yard passing performance in a win over Rice. San Jose State kicker Nick Gilliam is the special teams honoree after scoring the game-winning field goal at Illinois.
Short yardage: Jones said that SMU will likely play conservatively on both offense and defense, with few blitzes and few passes. ... While Hawaii's offense "struggled" at UTEP, the total yardage and final score would have been a solid game under previous UH regimes. "But our standards are different now," Jones said.
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