Patton’s knee surgery
shakes up UH secondary

The starting cornerback is
expected to be out four to six
weeks; Monteilh is next in line

Kenny Patton was supposed to be a stabilizing force in a year of transition for the Hawaii football team. Left cornerback was one spot coach June Jones didn't think he had to worry about.

Kenny Patton: Aiming to return in first WAC game -- at Idaho on Sept. 24

Even when Patton sat out of most of last week's practices with what he thought was just a bruised knee, it seemed he was just going through the usual wear-and-tear associated with two-a-day practices.

Everything's changed, though, as Patton underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee for a torn lateral meniscus on Monday. It's very unlikely the 6-foot, 184-pound junior will be ready for the Sept. 3 opener against USC.

The usual timeline for a return to the playing field is four to six weeks after such surgery.

"I'm not a doctor, but we've been through these injuries," said defensive backs coach Rich Miano, who underwent more than his share of knee rehabs during his NFL career. "Some of them take one week, some (longer). We like to think he'll be ready for USC, but if not we want him 100 percent. Only he will know when he's ready."

Patton is an optimistic sort, but also realistic enough not to predict a return in time for the Trojans.

"I like to think that (he can be back for USC game)," Patton said yesterday. "I'm trying to shoot for the week of the first WAC game (at Idaho, Sept. 24). The doctor says four to six weeks. I hope it's closer to four.

"I'm really disappointed. Our team trains so hard together. I'll still try to help the guys out however I can. We all sweat together on that field."

Walk-on Keao Monteilh gets the first look as Patton's replacement. He is a 5-foot-11, 170-pound sophomore who played briefly in three games last year, mostly at safety, and describes himself as "slow."

"Other people backpedal faster than I run," Monteilh said.

The Saint Louis School graduate made sure to add that doesn't mean he lacks confidence. He said he will depend on technique against the Trojans' tall and fast receivers.

At the other corner, sophomore Ryan Keomaka is the tentative starter. He has 4.4 speed, but lacks size at 5-10 and 157, and is still trying to master the coverage schemes.

Seniors Omega Hogan and Turmarian Moreland might also be depended upon at the corners.

Hogan said USC receivers Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith would be the best he's faced since playing against former UH wideout Ashley Lelie in practice in 2001.

"Being able to go against (Lelie) when I was a rookie with his size and speed, that might help," the 5-10, 169-pound Hogan said. "Sometimes I felt I was side-by-side with him, but maybe he was lollygagging.

"We started looking at the USC tape and we know it's going to be a track meet."

At 6-feet and 186 pounds, Moreland is almost as physically gifted as Patton. But he has a sore left knee that's bothered him nearly two weeks. Moreland, who went into camp as the leader at right corner, also said he hasn't mastered the coverage plans yet.

"I'm still trying to get my legs back," he said. "The results were negative, so there's no surgery, but I'm still having trouble with my running form."

Jones said he hopes for a speedy return by Patton, who has played in 25 games in three seasons, including 11 last year and three in 2003 before using his redshirt year. Patton was in on 56 tackles last season.

"You don't like to lose anyone, but especially someone who's been as productive as he has," Jones said. "He's experienced, he worked hard this summer. I'm disappointed for him, but if he can't play somebody will fill in."

Miano said Patton is "very hard to replace."

"He's worked himself into a big-time Division-I corner, and I think his dream was to play against that kind of talent. So he's kind of heartbroken, disappointed. We're disappointed, but we have to move on and see what we have on the field beyond him."

"Little" brother: True freshman linebacker Solomon Elimimian has made the most of his opportunities, and Jones said he has a chance to play this season.

The younger brother of former UH cornerback Abraham Elimimian and San Diego State corner Jacob Elimimian is considerably larger than his brothers at 5-feet-11 and 224 pounds.

"I just ate all the food and got bigger than all of them," he said with a laugh.

That's tight: If -- and this is a mighty big if -- the Warriors ever use a tight end, true freshman Aaron Kia might deserve a tryout. The 6-4, 268-pound tackle caught both passes thrown his way by Inoke Funaki as Saturday's scrimmage at Aloha Stadium started with the scout-team offense against the first-team defense. The plays went for gains of 10 and 9 yards.

"I was surprised because I never played tight end in a situation like that, ever. Never caught the ball before," Kia said. "It was fun."