Warriors set for final road trip
The Warriors are scheduled to depart this afternoon for their seventh — and final — road trip of the regular season.
They will travel directly to San Jose, where they will spend the night. They will practice in San Jose tomorrow before making the nearly 3-hour drive to Fresno.
The Warriors completed their Manoa practices with a 90-minute practice this morning on the grass practice field. In the 2-minute drill, freshman linebacker Ikem Okeke intercepted Dru Brown. On the next series, cornerback Rojesterman Farris III made two big plays — a near interception (he was ruled to have secured the football out of bounds) and then he eluded a blocker to make a tackle for a 3-yard loss.
And in case you didn’t see the video on Twitter:
COMMENTS
Comments are closed.
Where is everyone? 1st?
Does anyone know the status of Miah Pritchard. He was injured and don’t think he has returned to activity. Hope he is on the mend.
That was Maddog50 fat fingers
Let’s see if Dru can play a game with no interceptions; completes 60% of his passes; throws for 2 TDs. Emphasis on “no interceptions.” Maybe tall order, but not unreasonable.
I bet if you looked hard enough you could find a few other gamers on the team. How about looking for the kid that can do that cube, play chess well, and does outside volunteering with a reading group at KPT….and he can catch the football too 🙂
It’s been a roller coaster year. First the expectable losses to the big time teams. Then the switch of quarterback and hint that we were heading in a good direction. The loss to UNLV deflated the balloon temporarily but Air Force reinflated it. Then the loss to New Mexico State let the air out again. The last two big-time losses were pretty demoralizing.
In my opinion, it isn’t about wins and losses for our Warriors. Success is dependent on the culture of the program. What was the culture when Coach Rolovich took over the program. What is the culture today. Has there been a positive change in culture. Does the culture appear to be going in the right direction. Culture is everything. Culture comes before talent. You change the culture, and the talent will come. Boise State football is an example of having the right culture. The Washington Huskies have spent a few years establishing the right culture. I truly believe that the new coach is doing a great job of establishing the right culture for the Warriors to have long term success.
They do have a trophy I seen a pic of it somewhere.
So why not have it out for Saturday game?
Maybe it should be no turnovers. Dru had a fumble in each of his first four games. Those are also field, possession and momentum changers.
If Dru avoid turnovers and manages well, we have a very good shot at winning.
Safe travel and game.
Three hour bus may be good time to read
up homework assignments…or go over and
over on game plan. Avoid mindless cell phone games.
Watching the Houston v Louisville game, watching Ed Oliver the defensive lineman, I am reminded of KT and what could have been for the team and for himself. Self destruction has a ripple effect. Sad. He could have been that special player for UH.
Good game for Houston fans. Yup, Ed Oliver reminds me of Kennedy. One difference – Oliver is bigger at 6-2/290 and only a freshman. The announcer called him a freak. I guess so when you are that good. The other thing about Houston is their quarterback, Ward, who is only 5-11/190, about the same size as Dru Brown. One big difference is that Ward doesn’t try to make something out of nothing and throws the ball away. He’s a senior.
You have to like how the coach at Colorado was able to change things there. I did not think it was possible. Maybe we get chance. I hope.
Pritchard is back.
Last week blowout loss again Boise State, when an angry (well intended) Coach Rolovich took the benches to rest because of lack of motivation to play football by the Warrior football team.
Instead of removing the benches, Coach Rolo should have cleared the benches of our young future Warriors which includes the scout team into the game. I’m not talking about 3 or 4 minutes left in a game but beginning of the 4th quarter. Let the bench warmers. These untested Warriors are probably a lot more hungry to play than most of the starters.
One more thing – most warrior fans would like to see Brian Smith removed as play calling. We all feel he is not suited for that position.
I agree w/ Paniolo & I’m starting to
question Kevin Lempa & Mayur Chaudhari
LIVE ALOHA / PLAY WARRIOR / DEFEND THE ROCK … GO ‘BOWS !!!!!
Let’s see – reward players who are not paying attention by putting them in the game. Yes, rewarding bad behavior is definitely the way to command the respect of your players.
The last four games were against: AF, New Mexico, San Diego St, Boise St. Hawait went 1-3 in that four game stretch. Prior to that 4 game stretch their record was 3-4. 3-4 is not a bad start all things considering. New Mexico and UNLV were games they should have won.
Aside from the wins and losses, maybe the assistant coaches are there to help to change the culture of the program. As far as the x’s and o’s, the coaches are the experts. Their paychecks are on the line. If the team continously lose over a period of time, they will be shown the exit door just like the previous regime.
I just think for some of the players the learning curve was probably too steep for a one year turn around. Again, if they finish 6-7, I see it as a successful first season for Rolo and company. I’m looking forward to seeing the Hawaii vs Fresno St game on ppv this Saturday.
Great Evening All!
Safe travels to the Warriors.
One need only recall the state of the team at the Spring Fling compared to where it is now to know that the trajectory is fine.
The staff is working with that bunch from the previous regime plus one short recruiting season’s worth of supplementation this year.
From my view, at the very least we can watch replays of victories over FBS opponents now on OC-TV during the off-season!
#7. Kifi I couldn’t agree with you more. JJ knew how important establishing a culture was. He brought in his Xs and Os but set about to establish a culture of Ohana, accountability, and Warrior attitude. Rolo gets it with his Live Aloha and Play Warrior mantra. Freddie and Normie brought in their Xs and Os but didn’t have a clear vision of what type of culture would fit the Hawaiian mentality. Both
JJ and Rolo understood the unique family values of Hawaii’s culture and tried to incorporate those values into their programs. A major part of JJ’s and Rolo’s recruiting pitch was about joining a family as opposed to joining a team.
JJ and Rolo understood the immense pride Hawaii’s people have in being “Hawaiian.” We’re a people that celebrates the accomplishments and successes of anyone of our own. From athletes, to scholars, to astronauts, to politicians and anyone else who brings honor to the State. Both coaches have made it clear to their teams that are representing the whole state anytime they don their uniforms. That they are playing for their Ohana.
Stephen thanks-#4 on defense has a bright future. Regarding the critics of the defense, certainly in my opinion Coach Lempa is doing everything to cover shortcomings-speed quickness depth and size on the defense. What appears to be slow starts in some cases is a team taking advantage of an aggressive short handed defense. I would rather see a bend not break couple of first series till the tempo is set-backing corners off iniatally and allow read react approach. The last several weeks teams attacked the perimeter as. Guys got caught up on flow and blitzes. Expect outside runs reverses screens and draws this week and stretching the field in the passing game. Let’s just get this one-GoWarriors!!!!
Aloha kakahiaka!
Let’s GO BOWS!!!
Madddog50:
maybe the lack of discipline to play assignment football led to many of the successful sweeps and reverses by opponents
notice other team’s LBers, especially, “stayed home” to protect his territory and UH RB went straight into their arms
still don’t understand why UH OC refuses to call sweeps or reverses or QB options
Great Morning All!
QB1 already is doing RPO. RB’s averaged 8+ ypc last game and almost 5 ypc over the past 3 games. (69-343 yds)
Note that RB’s had busted a few runs up the middle during that stretch and have not shown breakaway speed sufficient to go the distance.
Not sure there would be much more success trying to beat defenders to the corner with this bunch.
The bigger issue is that in the same 3 games the opposing RB’s are 95-703 yds and do have that kind of speed.
The DC is more apt to gamble and “send” the LB’s on run blitzes than opposing DC’s who are able to rely on physical superiority of their DLine and read and react and “stay home”
Why is it so hard to understand that Coach Smith isn’t sending in dive right or dive left. He is sending in a blocking scheme and gap tree, which is similar to a route tree (in your beloved RnS). Lets compare and contrast.
The O-line calls the blocks based on the alignment of the front 7 or 8, while the running backs are expected to make the same read and know where the gaps will be. The running back makes the final read based on actual blocks made and chooses a gap (im guessing C is off tackle, and D is a sweep).
The receivers read the back 7 or 8 based on alignment, the QB is expected to make the same read and know where the receivers will be. After the snap the receivers choose a route based on coverage, and the QB makes the final read trying to hit his man in space.
Col A House, the coaches know we cannot line up against a conventional force and win (ask Saddam). So they are using asymmetrical warfare to give our guys a chance. Due to this fact tactical battlefield decisions are no longer made at the Battalion (HC) or Company (OC) level. They are made at the Squad (O-line) and team (RB’s) level. Unfortunately for us the last few teams have been using counter insurgency operations (curse you Petraeus!!!)(but not really I like that guy).
This unit needs TIME to develop its eprit de corps and unit cohesion, while training its battle drills (playbook) till they become muscle memory. A military unit with the same level of training as the Warriors at the beginning of the season, would not have taken heavy losses on the battlefield. Give them time.
^would have
No argument from me House and Okole. The tackling has been spotty at the start of several games. That being said my observation is sometimes they try a little too hard at the beginning and get caught up and can’t recover. I have not found fault with overall effort in almost every game. At times it seems some try to do too much instead of play the assigned role. I do not fault staff or players. Sometimes some plays we are in over our head-GoWarriors!!!
Football is simple…
“Physical superiority cancels all theory.”
…Dr. L. Price
Just like playground football,
run Kemp long and out where
only he can catch the ball near
sideline. And do it often.
And again. And again.
I reiterate once again as have many before me.
Going from point “A” (the hand off and/or pitch) to point “B” the perimeter is achievable if you can out run the opposition from “A” to “B”. Surely it could be said that all blocking assignments must be made precisely to seal the edge.
That may occur if you are physically superior, bigger, stronger, FASTER.
Even if we execute the blocking assignments we must OUTRUN the emerging LB’ers, corners, and safeties to the edge.
So if can, can. But if we are obliviously much SLOWER AFOOT why attempt an exercise in futility?
Our team as a whole on both sides of the line lacks SPEED not HEART.
we also lack depth, therefore by midway 3rd quarter we are slowly becoming GASSED. when facing teams that are 2-3 deep, everything is compounded.
When you were play touch football on the street, the fastest guy would always “dust” all day. No different at any level.
Yup, football is simple.
…nuff said.
Wonder if he dropped the cube after
Agree, Hawaii needs more speed, especially on D.
If the Warriors play as well as we have seen each of the units play in other games, we should do well.
Consistency and concentration. All units playing well in the same game, and we will win on tomorrow.
GO WARRIORS!!!
#27
True!!!!!!!!!!!!
In this MWC it’s certainly true!
Who is the fastest player on the team? I guessing Harris with Ewaliko 2nd.
If it is Harris, it underlines a lot of what al is saying in 29. 🙄
I wouldn’t be surprised if red shirt qb Cole McDonald is one of the fastest. I recalled that he ran in the California state 100 meter race and finished in the top 5 or something like that. Imagine having someone like him at qb. He could do damage with his feet and his arm.
I know many are disappointed particularly about the New Mexico and UNLV games. We should not be overreacting. We lost two games we could have, not should have, won. We lost to Boise and San Diego … and yes, they are still the cream of the conference. The lack of immediate competitiveness against the top two programs is disappointing but not the end of the world. I’m happy with this season … we’ve won four games, two on the road and have been competitive with every conference team except the elites. We have two games left … let’s see how they go but remember … some of those grousing now thought we’d be lucky to win three games at the beginning of the season. I set my expectation at five wins at the start of the season … if we play competitively and win two more, I’ll be very happy!
What Kifi said!!!!
Macadang umaga from paradise. Good luck to the Warriors
New post: http://hawaiiwarriorworld.com/?p=40287