CRAIG KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Seniors Mike Bass, center, and Chad Owens, right, shared a laugh during the Warriors' practice yesterday.
Chang trying
to stay sharpThe QB isn't entirely out of
action during spring practice
Tim Chang's favorite receiver this spring has no hands and can't run, but is always open deep. It is the gray plastic garbage pail the Hawaii quarterbacks throw to after practice.
Throwing for the bucket resembles a carnival competition sometimes. But while the activity is fun, it's far from being an aimless diversion. It's actually a drill designed to improve the QBs' accuracy on deep passes.
"He's making a lot of throws during practice," quarterbacks coach Dan Morrison said of Chang. "Then when he's done with that he goes and throws the deep ball into the bucket. He's getting better and better at that."
Chang is out of the spotlight but not the action this spring while the UH coaches try to determine who will be his back-up in the fall.
He doesn't participate in seven-on-seven or team drills, but he is fine-tuning his passing arm.
"I'm just working on improving accuracy. Especially the long ball. I've been working on the long ball every day. Just trying to put the ball in a great spot for our receivers to catch and make plays out there," Chang said.
Chang needs 2,218 passing yards this season to pass Ty Detmer for the NCAA Division I career record. He said he isn't thinking about that -- or the tumultuous 2003 season in which he was booed and benched only to finish the year starring in the Warriors' victory over Houston in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl.
"Right now I'm just trying to focus on school and get geared up for the season. I'm working on strength, speed and accuracy," said Chang, who now weighs 205 pounds after measuring in at 194 last year (he's generously listed at 6-foot-2). "It feels great to be out here practicing and being with the fellas. Guys have been working hard. It really shows on the field. I'm happy for the guys to get opportunity. It should be exciting. It's going to be a fun year for us."
Chang has matured a lot as a player since arriving at Manoa in 2000, Morrison said. Playing in 40 games and throwing 1,834 passes might have something to do with it.
"He's grown up a lot in the system," Morrison said. "He's got a real good feel for what the (run-and-shoot) system calls for from a quarterback. He's developed a much better understanding of defenses and routes of receivers. It's the whole as opposed to just what he has to do."
Chang is also continually learning how to deal with the ups and downs of being one of the most high-profile athletes in the state, Morrison added.
"He's fine. He's just trying to work on getting better as a player," the coach said. "He has learned to deflect (expectations of others) and work on getting better."
