Hawaii football: Exploring all options
It was a deja vu moment when Va‘a Niumatalolo took snaps at quarterback today at UH’s grass practice field.
Niumatalolo, a graduate assistant, is the son of Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo, a former UH assistant coach and quarterback. The younger Niumatalolo has been helpful this week as the Warriors prepare for Air Force’s ground-oriented, triple-option offense. The elder Niumatalolo played and coached in UH’s version of the triple-option under offensive coordinator Paul Johnson.
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The Warriors’ offensive line is at full strength with the return of right guard Solo Vaipulu, who missed the past three games.
Vaipulu did not lose a step in making key reads and blocks while competing with the second unit today.
The Warriors have not decided on a starting right guard for Saturday’s game against Air Force. Vaipulu, a true sophomore, had started 17 games in a row through the game against Washington. After that, the position was manned by Alesana Sunia, Bubba Wa‘a and Kohl Levao. Levao made his 2019 debut against Boise State the past weekend after missing the first five games with an injury.
GO WARRIORS !!!
BEAT them Air Force Kaydettes !!!
Tricky game this week. Warriors play with discipline and execute position responsibilities…WE have a high scoring game. If we fail…THEY have a high scoring game.
Stop the dive run game then the edges. Seems our DBs will need to go one on one….imho
Pomai….
Warriors…38
Birdies…28
We should be able to air it out all night long! ..at least I’m hoping so! GO WARRIORS!!!
Navy had a NG that was disrupting Air Force’s precision on their timing based flexbone stuff. Physicality from the interior should mess them up. Hopefully we see open field tackles using more “hands and chest” and less shoulder and forearms. Stay disciplined. wrap/grab (“choke off”), then “gang blast” with physicality.
Air Force’s line was chop blocking early on vs Fresno. By second half those guys were pushing Fresno’s D-line 3 to5 yards off the ball. Got to translate lessons learned vs Boise into this game. I think they will do it. They got the “toughness” that can disrupt the Flexbone’s cunning methods . Can do.
Great Morning All!
Pomai,
56 – 14 Akamai Okole
(AFA got it going on their O-line, too but our DC going figgah it out wit his odd-front, 5-DB packages…confusion and indecision, tough way to run an option offense…)
O Line coach Weber has done a fantastic job thus far.
Is this a game where you “beef up” the D-line a little more, maybe replacing Padello with a sturdier end like Thomas or Laulu, and moving Padello to linebacker and run a 4-3, taking the nickel position out of play?
I thought I heard Batoon say something about utilizing different personnel to adapt to a triple-option offense. I may have mis-heard.
Pumba always plays a lot against option teams.
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