Peters’ performance
good and bad for UH
The safety had a career-high 16
tackles, but the Warriors want
to make stops farther upfield
Things were so bad for Hawaii in Boise the other night that even the few things that seemed good weren't all that great.
Like Leonard Peters' 16 tackles.
A career high. A great personal effort.
But, also, a symptom of one of the Warriors' many problems in their 69-3 loss to the Broncos. Many of those stops were far downfield.
"It's a little of both, good and bad," Hawaii coach June Jones said. "He did his job. We need 10 other guys doing their jobs. He was all over the place. But any time your free safety's making that many tackles, it tells you somebody up front isn't doing what they're supposed to do."
Peters' self-assessment was similar.
"I'd be happy if I didn't have any tackles and we won the game. If we lose I don't feel good at all," the 6-foot-1, 184-pound junior from Kahuku High said after yesterday's practice. "It's never good if the safety is leading the team in tackles. We just have to bounce back this week."
Peters' team-leading 65 tackles for the season is 21 more than the next Warrior. He had 54 stops in 12 games last year and 25 as a freshman in 2002.
Peters also grabbed his first three college interceptions this fall.
"He's improved, having his best season," Jones said. "He's worked hard, paid attention to the little things to make him better. He plays with a lot of emotion and speed."
Peters and the rest of the UH defense get another chance to try to stop the run Saturday. The Warriors (3-3, 3-4 Western Athletic Conference) host Louisiana Tech (4-4, 3-1) and the nation's sixth-leading rusher, Ryan Moats. On paper, it isn't a promising matchup for UH: Moats goes for 156 yards per game, and Hawaii yields an average of 251 (116th out of 117 NCAA Division I-A teams).
"We just have to find a defense and coverages that bring more people down to the box to stop the run and hopefully they'll pass the ball," Peters said.
Kamakawiwo'ole recovers quickly: Starting defensive end Kila Kamakawiwo'ole was at practice yesterday (but did not participate), less than one week after undergoing an appendectomy. The procedure forced him to miss last week's game at Boise.
He might be back to contact sooner than expected. The original timetable had Kamakawiwo'ole out for at least three games and possibly the rest of the season.
"I'm trying to push, the doctor told me three to four weeks. To me, I feel like I can come back faster, but it's up to the doctors," he said. "(The appendix) didn't burst. That was the main thing. If it bursted I'd be out for the season. If I'd gone to Boise and it bursted there I would've been stuck there."
Meanwhile, starting outside linebacker Tanuvasa Moe returned to full duty yesterday. He missed most of the San Jose State game and the Boise trip with a strained hamstring.
"I'm feeling really good. It was just a little tight today," Moe said.
Starting middle linebacker Ikaika Curnan also practiced yesterday, as his high-ankle sprain continues to get better. He played in a reserve role last Friday after missing two games.
Starting defensive end Mel Purcell practiced. He had a bruised sternum against San Jose State that limited his playing time at Boise.
"Uriah (starting offensive lineman Moenoa) didn't practice today, but knowing him, he'll play on Saturday," Jones said. "The other guys are trying to force through the injuries. Abraham (starting cornerback Elimimian) has a heel bruise he did against San Jose, a little sore. Kenny (starting cornerback Patton, hamstring) got through the deal. The rest of them are trying to fight through."
Drying out: Locker rooms don't smell like roses to begin with, but the Warriors' facility is not very easy on the nose after water damage from Saturday's storm.
"It stinks in there," Moe said. "It's bad. Part of the roof is missing, and the floor's all wet."
"It's not too pleasant in there," quarterback Tim Chang said. "I feel bad for the groundskeepers around here who have to clean up all the mud and do all those things."
Bulldogs coming: LaTech, which last played here in 2000, arrives tomorrow afternoon. The Bulldogs will practice at Aloha Stadium on Friday and visit Pearl Harbor.
