Spring practice No. 9

Here are a few takeaways from today’s ninth practice of spring training:

Devan Stubblefield
Devan Stubblefield

> Wideout Devan Stubblefield is not yet fully recovered from last year’s major knee surgery, but in route drills he appears speedy. He also is making sure-handed catches.

> We’ve noted the Warriors are deep at the safety positions. Today, second-year freshman Dany Mulanga was the No. 1 free safety. He nearly intercepted a pass in team drills.

> With the shortage on the offensive line, Sione Kauhi is getting a look there. He appears to get good leverage.

Sione Kauhi (right blocker)
Sione Kauhi (right blocker)

> The offense had one of its best scrimmage-like drills today. Quarterbacks Max Wittek, Ikaika Woolsey and Beau Reilly each led scoring drives. Tight ends Dakota Torres and Tui Unga also caught scoring passes. Unga is a ferocious blocker who has worked on his routes this spring. The goal this summer is to hone his pass-catching.

> One of the spring’s biggest surprises, nose tackle Penitito Faalologo, also is a personal protector on punts.

COMMENTS

  1. hitman April 21, 2015 11:40 am

    good morning everyone!!


  2. hitman April 21, 2015 11:42 am

    wow 1st time !! st thanks for all the photo,s !! qb looking good !!


  3. H-man April 21, 2015 11:44 am

    Yes, good morning everyone. Great weather. Everyone have a nice day.


  4. jimmy the lock April 21, 2015 11:49 am

    Wonder if the defense had one of their worst scrimmage-like drills today.


  5. SteveM April 21, 2015 11:50 am

    Good morning everyone!

    Thanks for the practice notes, ST!


  6. Akamai Okole April 21, 2015 12:09 pm

    Great Afternoon All!

    Hope the Warriors come outta spring ball injury-free.

    Faalologo would be a lotta folks’ choice for a “personal protector” 😯 😆 😎


  7. Akamai Okole April 21, 2015 12:10 pm

    1:50 away from the release of the NFL sched…

    “We’ll know the TIMES!” 😀


  8. seewhy April 21, 2015 12:40 pm

    RE: Akamai Okole #7

    Then can start planning the trips/home tail gate parties.


  9. seewhy April 21, 2015 12:43 pm

    I’m excited to see Dany play. He looks pretty solid at that free safety position. And he comes from the reputable Trinity HS.


  10. Rodney April 21, 2015 12:46 pm

    How did max look today?Sounds like we’re ok @ DT
    Imua Bows!!!


  11. A-House April 21, 2015 1:02 pm

    by chance, is UH looking at the arrival of the “beast” from Konawaena for fall practice at NG? hope he gets his AA in May or June

    he would add a “heap” at NG!!!!!!!!


  12. A-House April 21, 2015 1:04 pm

    Midori is all ready to go to Arizona in 2016 – what city/town are they at?

    when does Zwahlen arrive? end of May – early June?


  13. Stephen Tsai April 21, 2015 1:28 pm

    Wittek looked good today.
    He’s still getting most of the reps.
    Same order: Wittek four plays, Woolsey four plays, Wittek four plays, Reilly four plays. Repeat.


  14. jeezy33 April 21, 2015 1:30 pm

    No one needs to ask the question who the starting QB is anymore…

    99.56% sure it’s Wittek…..

    At some point this fall there will be a Breaking News: Alert saying Max Wittek to start at QB… But really, “we already know”


  15. nutmegger April 21, 2015 1:43 pm

    Agree with Jeezy33, the reps pretty much indicate Wittek is the QB.


  16. letsgowarriors April 21, 2015 1:50 pm

    shortage of OL and shortage/undersized at the DL.

    wonderful recipe for success.


  17. jimmy the lock April 21, 2015 2:03 pm

    And for some reason, for the Warriors, injuries happen.


  18. Rodney April 21, 2015 2:07 pm

    I saw a stat that Hawaii was ranked 7th for time per offensive
    plays, something like 20 sec per snap. It seems we weren’t
    efficient though,so maybe with Max at Qb we get higher completions.
    Stay out of 3rd and long Might win 6 or 7 games.


  19. kapakahi April 21, 2015 2:21 pm

    Hoping that Kauhi ends up at DE……instead of OL……since he’s the only other DE besides KT and Gifford with decent size…….being that the other DEs (Shawley, Manoa, M. Koloamatangi, Tago, Fairchild) are definitely under-sized.

    KT definitely trimmed down…….so now definitely purely a DE……and won’t be at NG. Kauhi and Gifford look thicker than KT nowadays.


  20. kapakahi April 21, 2015 2:21 pm

    ST,

    BTW any update on possible Fullerton College DE transfer Tolu Fieeki?


  21. kapakahi April 21, 2015 2:22 pm

    ST,

    Also, any word on whether Iolani HS DE signee Kamuela Borden signee definitely going on his LDS mission after HS graduation?


  22. jeezy33 April 21, 2015 2:27 pm

    19. Just put him at where he’s best/most natural at. We don’t have many pure Offensive Tackles at Hawaii. Kauhi has the length and wingspan to be an effective OT if he can fill out and take in the technique it takes to play there.


  23. bouncingball April 21, 2015 2:34 pm

    Just like last spring and the year before, spring ball shows nothing and proves nothing. When average to below average players got at it against each other, it’s meaningless. Remember how Tsai and Reardon was gushing about how much better the players looked last year? They got blinders on and have no clue in evaluating real talent. Believe this year’s bunch is the least athletic and talented bunch UH has had in a while with new recruits basically players no major schools were interested in. Going to go with a desperation recruit with only a year left as starting QB (how’s that for building for the future). Yes, Chow fun time again.


  24. Trunks420 April 21, 2015 2:44 pm

    I hope if Max is Starter that he gets us A Few Wins. We need more than 4


  25. kapakahi April 21, 2015 2:52 pm

    #22,

    Would be the first time that Kauhi would be playing OT……since played TE and DE in HS.

    My guess is that RT is where Kauhi will get looked at……since Fullerton College transfer Matt Norman lining up exclusively at LT thus far……with 2s.


  26. st. anthony trojan April 21, 2015 3:08 pm

    Bouncing ball… me agree with you… just that have to take momentum into consideration…n breaks…if max gets on a roll like he had as freshman.. me think 9 wins…be possible…hope so… n major injury free…for the season be a plus…


  27. jimmy the lock April 21, 2015 3:10 pm

    Every year there is talk about how good the team looks, how fit they are, how much bigger and stronger they are, how fast and athletic…then the season starts…oh my.


  28. kapakahi April 21, 2015 3:28 pm

    #27,

    From what I’ve observed of Spring practices, I’m not drinking the Kool-Aid……at least with respect to DL and OL.

    The DL is really undersized. No way that the DL is bigger and stronger compared to last season……after losing Samia, Malepeai, Yap & Friel.

    While the OL might be taller this coming season with newbies (Agasiva, Hensley, Norman, Moananu, Webb)……JMHO that it’s highly questionable that they will be bigger and stronger when losing 4 experienced OL one-time starters (Afusia, Lefotu, Loyd, Shigematsu).

    I might drink the Kool-Aid if it only applied to the WRs, LBs, and DBs.


  29. jimmy the lock April 21, 2015 3:32 pm

    kapakahi,

    Thanks for your perspective.


  30. jeezy33 April 21, 2015 3:34 pm

    25. That doesn’t bother me. He hasn’t played football in 2 years so he is going to be raw at any position he goes out for at the D1 level. Ray Hisatake had 0 experience, Wayne Hunter was a DE, and Blake Muir basically had to learn the basics moving to American style football. I personally am not saying whether or not he is suited for OL or DL, but I just want him being used where his talents suit him best. His length does stick out to me though.


  31. jeezy33 April 21, 2015 3:35 pm

    Apparently Norm Chow optimistic he will be coaching in 2019… Recruiting 8th graders

    http://youth1.com/football/1585923919-2019-utah-twin-offensive-linemen-offered-hawaii


  32. observer April 21, 2015 3:38 pm

    Shut down UH’s sports program. It’s a waste of money. Everyone here openly admits the program sucks! Use the money saved to build affordable housing and feed the homeless.


  33. observer April 21, 2015 3:41 pm

    Shut down UH’s sports program. It’s a waste of money. Everyone here openly admits the program is terrible. No one likes the coaches. Everyone complains about every player. Use the money saved to build affordable housing and feed the homeless.

    Jeff Portnoy wants to shut the program down. I agree. Hawaii doesn’t deserve nor can it afford one.


  34. Da Punchbowl Kid April 21, 2015 3:47 pm

    The “Power of Penitito” doesn’t surprise. Neither does Wittek. It all boils down to staying healthy.

    Sprained knee has kept me from going to practices – it all boils down to staying healthy. 😆


  35. Da Punchbowl Kid April 21, 2015 3:52 pm

    Interesting link, jeezy, about the big boys. When can the legally commit and or sign in these kinds of cases?


  36. AllG April 21, 2015 4:02 pm

    Another one of Norm’s huge mistakes is each year he has not recruited enough OL and DL which is the life blood of any great team. Again we will be dangerously thin at both positions and have to use under sized players. Our run D once again will be piss poor because of that at no fault to our players. I’m not sure why Norm Chow is in love with recruiting LBs. if you look at our roster we have way more LBs then any other position. We should have brought in 2 JC NT and one Freshman minimum.


  37. turfwar April 21, 2015 4:07 pm

    As always the first Wednesday of February in their senior year. As of now football has only one signing period but there’s talk of an early signing period (Nov.) to help with the recruiting process. We’ll see. Cool article jeezy. First I’ve heard about this AAU type of football league. On weekdays at Ala Moana Park I get a chance to see a Big Boy Football team workout in the afternoon. No size limit for these guys. Surprisingly athletic big kids who are really benefiting from early training that wasn’t always available to them. A couple of tackles already look the part and if they take care of school will see a very bright future.


  38. jeezy33 April 21, 2015 5:34 pm

    33. Can commit whenever they want. Which I doubt they would anytime soon. Can’t sign until signing day as seniors like every other kid.


  39. Trunks420 April 21, 2015 6:08 pm

    Me maybe only one think so but maybe chow staying till 2020 isn’t so bad.

    He maybe able to turn program around by then.


  40. H-man April 21, 2015 6:17 pm

    Trunks420, Ha ha ha, a good laugh for today.


  41. oneseason April 21, 2015 6:20 pm

    One big difference this year is a full set of coaches. The schedule has some extremely good opponents, but it also has a lot of struggling ones. If these coaches can lead the team to a win against Colorado, a six win season should be pretty likely. If UH wins against the four 2015 MWC opponents that had losing conference records in 2014, and win what should be “sure-thing” games against UC Davis & Louisiana-Monroe, they would have 6 wins. If they can beat Nevada (4W-4L 2014 MWC), they hit lucky number 7. Chow needs to strategically avoid injuries in the Ohio St & Wisconsin games, but IMO 6 to 7 wins should be a minimum this year. With upset at-home wins against SDSU/AF/Fresno, it could be an 8 to 10 win season.

    Team (2014 Win-Loss): Location – 2015 Prediction
    Colorado 2W-10L (6th of 6 in PAC12-South): Home – Win #1?
    Ohio State 11W-1L (1st of 7 in Big 10-East): Away – Loss
    UC Davis 2W-9L (13th of 13 in Big Sky Div 1-AA): Home – Win #2
    Wisconsin 10W-2L (1st of 7 in Big 10-West): Away – Loss
    Boise State (7W-1L): Away – Loss
    San Diego State (5W-3L): Home – Loss
    New Mexico (2W-6L): Away – Win #3
    Nevada (4W-4L): Away – Win #4?
    Air Force (5W-3L): Home – Loss
    UNLV (1W-7L): Away – Win #5
    Fresno State (5W-3L): Home – Loss
    San Jose State (2W-6L): Home – Win #6
    Louisiana-Monroe 4W-8L (7th of 11 in Sun Belt): Home – Win #7


  42. el burro sabio April 21, 2015 7:40 pm

    Fangupo only a freshman this year


  43. cappie the dog April 21, 2015 8:36 pm

    39.

    I like the question marks.

    I want to believe.


  44. 808warriorfan April 21, 2015 10:34 pm

    ST can you confirm this. I heard that due to a screw up on the “upper camput” (what else is new), NT Nikki Taylor is academically ineligible and will not be enrolled this fall …..


  45. Trunks420 April 21, 2015 10:53 pm

    #44 I hear same thing.

    Me worries if more screw ups are in making

    Need more responsible people in upper campus


  46. Maddog50 April 22, 2015 4:09 am

    Don’t know if the above mentioned issue is true or not. If so, there are others out there they are JC guys, somebody in Australia, Samoa, New Zealand or somewhere but there is somebody out there who can fill this void if true……gotta find it but it’s there somewhere—-Go Warriors!!!!


  47. cappie the dog April 22, 2015 4:33 am

    I don’t know if it was the upper campus’ fault, but Ashley Karaitiana sat out her sophmore season during Coach Takahara-Dias’ last hurrah, thinking that the Maori warrior had a redshirt season.


  48. letsgowarriors April 22, 2015 4:57 am

    ive heard from non-UH sources, that Nikko Taylor isnt eligible.


  49. Stephen Tsai April 22, 2015 8:23 am

    Kapakahi:
    Coach Look was at Thursday’s practice, and he said Borden is going on his mission.
    On another note, his brother just returned from a mission and will join the Warriors this summer.


  50. Stephen Tsai April 22, 2015 8:25 am

    I can absolutely guarantee that Nikki Taylor will not play nose tackle for the Warriors this year, or any other year.
    Mostly, it’s because she’s a volleyball player.


  51. Stephen Tsai April 22, 2015 8:28 am

    By the way, folks, we’re amending the Comments rules. One personality per person. It’s OK to have conversations with yourself, just not publicly, or at least without trained professional in attendance. Liability issues, you know.


  52. Stephen Tsai April 22, 2015 8:29 am

    New post: http://hawaiiwarriorworld.com/?p=30368


Comments are closed.