Owens, Chang
prepare for NFL

The former UH stars
head to the league's
combine this week

Given the choice, Chad Owens would much prefer to be home in Hawaii with his wife, Rena, this week. Her due date for the couple's second child is Saturday.

But Owens has no choice. The former University of Hawaii receiver and kick returner is in Phoenix, putting the finishing touches on his training for the NFL combine. Owens reports to Indianapolis on Thursday to go through several days of speed, strength, agility and intelligence tests as NFL scouts, coaches and executives gauge his potential and value as a pro football player.

His former college teammates, quarterback Tim Chang and cornerback Abraham Elimimian, will also be there. So will Kahuku High School alumni Aaron Francisco (BYU safety) and Chris Kemoe'atu (Utah guard).

While Owens won't be home to see his first daughter's birth, he views the combine as a step toward providing her and the rest of his family with a good life.

"There are no distractions, and that's why I'm here," said Owens, a Roosevelt High graduate who had never been away from Hawaii for more than a few days at a time before. "It's all business, a long job interview. I wanted to ensure myself of the best opportunity to succeed at this.

"I've had no distractions and a really good month of training. I put on a little weight, but it's good weight, and I feel faster."

Owens, a second-team All-American as an all-purpose player, would not divulge how fast he is running the 40 in now, nor exactly how much weight he's added to his 5-foot-7, 170-pound measurements taken at the East-West Shrine Game last month.

"I've been running good times," he said. "You'll see them soon enough."

At this point, Owens is projected as a second-day (rounds four through seven) pick in the April 23-24 NFL Draft.

While Owens has been working out in Phoenix, Chang has done the same in New Orleans. He's been under the supervision of conditioning guru Tom Shaw, a fitness consultant for the New England Patriots.

Chang also reports to Indianapolis on Thursday.

Shaw and his staff have worked with Tom Brady, Donovan McNabb, Eli and Peyton Manning and Michael Vick, and have helped produce 67 first-round NFL Draft choices, he said.

Former longtime NFL quarterbacks coach Marc Trestman and 1996 Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel work with the quarterback clients on technique, Shaw said.

Chang's five- and seven-step dropbacks have improved, and he has a stronger arm than many people realize, Shaw said.

"We've worked with him on keeping his hands up, close to the body," Shaw said. "He has a great arm. I think the scouts will be shocked with his arm strength. He generates a lot of power from his legs through his arm."

Although Chang was in New Orleans during Mardi Gras, there have been few other distractions, according to Shaw.

Shaw said relative anonymity is a welcome change for Chang, who was a lightning rod for criticism from hard-to-satisfy Hawaii football fans and a continual interview subject for Hawaii sports media the last five years. National reporters jumped on board last season, too, as Chang neared and then broke the NCAA career passing yardage record.

"Timmy's not the front-runner now," Shaw said. "You can get a target painted on you. The way I see him now, he's not a kid who needs the spotlight. He's like Tom Brady, a kid that doesn't need the spotlight.

"He really felt like he got pressure from the media and the fans, and he wanted some of his teammates to get more positive attention. I think he's a great kid and a hard worker."

Brady is three inches taller than Chang's 6-1, but Shaw said Chang's work ethic reminds him of that of the Patriots star.

"I don't know if we've had a guy come in here and work harder," Shaw said of Chang. "He's doing great. His consistency is improving. Timmy's going to have to take somebody's job, it won't be handed to him. But he will do it."

Chang did not immediately return a phone call relayed by his agent, Steve Dubin, and was unavailable for comment yesterday.