Warriors’ Brennan
‘on point’ in practice

The sophomore starting-
quarterback hopeful has
a solid passing day in
UH fall camp

June Jones likes to tell a story about how a true freshman quarterback, early in fall camp, marched the Hawaii offense downfield in a team drill.

Bang, bang, bang. Completion after completion, first down after first down, without the ball hitting the ground once. Finally, touchdown.

That was five years ago and the quarterback was Tim Chang, who went on to become the NCAA career passing-yardage leader.

Chang didn't win the starting job right away, but Jones never forgot about the way the newcomer rallied the offense on that hot August day in 2000.

Something similar happened yesterday in the search for Chang's successor as the Warriors' starting quarterback. Whether it helps elevate Colt Brennan to starting status, only time will tell.

Brennan, a sophomore transfer, completed seven consecutive passes in a 2-minute drill at the end of practice. It ended with Brennan hitting walk-on receiver Adam Linwood for a 15-yard touchdown.

Brennan also shined in the 20-play offense vs. defense team session. He completed all six of his passes for 102 yards. Second-year freshman Tyler Graunke completed three of seven for 19 yards. (Both of the starting candidates had 10 plays each.)

Afterward, Jones said Graunke is still the No. 1 quarterback and Brennan No. 2.

"The quarterbacks did some good things today," said Jones, after marked improvement from Thursday's first day against the defense in full pads. "Our biggest challenge is always our own defense."

Brennan, who suffered from a sore arm earlier in the first week of camp, said he's getting the hang of the run-and-shoot offense, which features many adjustments during plays.

"Today everything slowed down for me. I was thinking about it, but there was also unconscious reaction, I was reading the defense well," said Brennan, who was noticeably less hesitant than in previous days. "I was not delivering the ball late, and that's big. Today I had a good day, but it's not going to be like that every day."

Sophomore slotback Jason Ferguson hopes it is.

"It was great pitch and catch. The first couple days out here we had to establish our relationships. It doesn't happen all at once," said Ferguson, who made a fully extended dive for a 25-yard gain on one Brennan pass and a 30-yard gain on another. "Colt Brennan was on point today. He showed a different side. He was bouncing around, taking charge. Tyler was good, too. Today's practice was fun. It felt different, there was a different level of intensity."

Defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville said his group is beginning to play faster. He mentioned inside linebacker Brad Kalilimoku, by number, as a player who is improving.

"They got sudden on a couple of plays," Glanville said. "One play, 43 (Kalilimoku), yesterday wasn't sudden. This time he was sudden. We have to get the whole team there. We've got four or five guys who are getting faster. We need 30 defensive guys who are faster."

Kalilimoku stopped running back Bryan Maneafaiga for a 2-yard loss on a blitz during the team drill.

Glanville said Brennan's march down the field to end practice didn't bother him.

"Nah, you've got to look at it as a drill. It's a conditioning drill to see who can keep going when there's no rest. Ninety-one (defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis) and 1 (outside linebacker Kila Kamakawiwo'ole) absolutely would not surrender," Glanville said. "They thought they were tired, they thought they couldn't go. But they didn't let themselves not go. And now we gotta find everybody else on the team doing the same thing."

Keomaka for Moreland: Senior starting cornerback Turmarian Moreland sat out yesterday with a swollen knee. He was replaced by sophomore Ryan Keomaka, with mixed results.

Keomaka is one of the fastest runners on the team, but is still learning the finer arts of pass defense.

"I should have done better, could have done better," Keomaka said. "But I'll learn from it."

Defensive backs coach Rich Miano said he likes Keomaka's attitude.

"That's good that he's not happy with himself and wants to improve," Miano said. "He made a few mistakes, but he wasn't terrible. He has great talent, speed. So if he matches that with the desire to get better, that's good."

Slye steps in: Starter Ian Sample is working his way back gradually from a back sprain, and backup Dylan Linkner has a concussion. So 6-4, 210-pound junior college transfer Jordan Slye got a lot of action at the X wideout spot yesterday.

He caught two passes for 16 yards in the team session.

Senior Ross Dickerson has been steady on the other side. He grabbed two for 37 yards.

Another JC transfer, David Kaihenui, went deep for the second day in a row, latching onto what would've been a touchdown from Brennan during 7-on-7.

Letuli hurt: True freshman running back Laupepa Letuli was sidelined yesterday with a sprained shoulder.

Sophomore outside linebacker C.J. Allen-Jones was also out with a sprained ankle.