Filling the slots
The vision was to have slotbacks Dylan Collie and John Ursua zig-zagging through defenses in the Warriors’ revival of the run-and-shoot offense.
Collie’s decision to transfer after he graduates this May — he visited BYU last weekend and is set to visit Vanderbilt next month — alters but does not dim the enthusiasm.
According to people in the know, Kumoku Noa, who will be a third-year sophomore in the fall, is challenging for that open slot position. Noa reportedly has gained weight and nearly doubled his back-squat total since the end of the 2017 season. Both gains are important because slots’ routes often come into contact with physical safeties, nickels and outside linebackers. UH’s last successful slot duo — Greg Salas and Kealoha Pilares in 2010 — were both tough pass catchers and blockers.
Spring practice opens March 21.
GOOD MORNING, HAWAII!
Looking forward to young Noa making strides and big contributions!
Maddog50!
SuperAdvertiser your posts #17 and 18 on the previous blog:
I will respect your 1st amendment right to state your opinions which I do not share.
Young men and women who gave their lives or came home disabled went to war with a purpose and it was to defend our country — not to win medals or gain fame or fight for businesses large and small
we served for our country and all the freedoms it brings to us daily — some of us volunteered others were “drafted”, but we served, most of us, with honor
to this day, it pains me to see all those who were wounded, physically or mentally, and returned to a world which was a lot different then when they left
Tom:
are you still watching Korean historical dramas?
we added to our collection and will share if you want to view — let me know
My post got moderated cause I could not get my own name right! Looking forward to young Noa making strides and big contributions! GoWarriors!
We have the tools – players and coaches – to make the RnS work. It will be exciting to watch, can’t wait til spring.
GO WARRIORS!!!
Good Morning, Tom, A-house and Maddog!
Good afternoon FPK! Snowing and 33 here! Next week calls for 40 plus days! Out of the woods again! Get to watch MBB tonite at 9:30! GoWarriors-
Should be DPK!
As great of a person as Collie is, he dropped alot of passes during his time here so as sad as it is to see depth and experience take a hit i think our receiving corps will be just fine, we have alot of talented young men waiting in the wings, I’m really excited to see Stallworth get his shot
How will TE’s on roster be utilized? Lined up in slot like Gronk/Kelce? Like an H-Back?
Happy for Dylan Collie. Did the 2018 schedule come out already?
Make your predictions. 7-5 record. Losses, Boise state, Fresno State, San Diego State, UNLV, Colorado State. If on sschedule. Wins, Navy, Army, Rice, …5 more wins. Not sure who the rest are. Nevada, Utah State, San Jose State, Wyoming, (another FCS team).
Just making the catch was one of the major problems last year, especially after Ursua’s injury. Sometimes the pass was good but the ball was just plain dropped or at times the ball wasn’t caught when it seemed to be a catchable (albeit difficult) imperfect pass. I kind of want to blame the receivers coach there (maybe the receivers were too engrossed on running the right route over finishing the catch) but at least that position coach was (in my opinion) better than his young predecessor. At that time the most reliable receiver was Camanse-Stevens (at making and securing catches) which caused his rise up the depth chart. Guys who can catch will play more. Ursua has remarkable physical tools (I hope it’s still in tact) and Kumoku Noa has developed this weird (it’s uncanny in my opinion) instinct to get open and find separation in tight spaces sideline to hash mark (not as much over the middle like Ursua yet, maybe he was still a little fragile for that). But you could see potential in both of them because of the catching ability. They got quick guys (Byrd, Reed) physical guys (Timoteo, Laulu) big targets (Greeley, Torres) and the scout guy they’re high on (Kamaka, Leeth) so the possible combinations are endless, they just have to work on securing the catch better than those previous years corps. Oh, and from what I understand be ready to do a lot of running too. It is gonna be exciting to see. The Good Old Days of the Run and Shoot. Wow!
Regarding Superstar Advertiser as per yesterdays post.
Your #18 post may or may not be right, is up to you whatever your opinion is. But the #17 post was so disrespectful and unnecessary. No need to do that.
Any Top JC slots that used the R n S
Checking JC stats Coaches?
Minnesota west R Colston reciever??
Great Afternoon All!
WTG BaseBows!
Line it up…Do it again!
10- couldn’t agree more, both as he a quality young man and that he was fairly unreliable last year. I actually think from what I saw at the tail end of last year, Noa is more physical and dynamic. As to Ursua, he is arguably the best player on the squad- with all due deference to Javai.
Ursua is a game changer, but may be too fragile. I hope Reed & Holly will be proficient runners. We do need
We do need speed on the outside WRs to stretch the field.
Loss of Collie no biggy! Butta fingas! Loss of Brown also no biggy, slow delivery. but who will be calling the plays? Anybody know?
#20
I think Drake Stallworth can stretch the field. Armstrong-Brown will be a good isolation target opposite him. The depth I think will have to come from Ursua, Stubblefield (hopefully he can contribute), and Noa unless the true freshmen are ready. I hope he (Stallworth) is fast as Ewaliko and can become the next Jason Rivers.
No. 12
UH plays 13 regular-season games this year. You need to add a victory or loss to your prediction.
Stephen, you don’t want to engage with a bot … could be a Russian one. LOL.
I few weeks ago, I had this in mind in regards to preseason slot back spots
SB: John Ursua is a lock, Noa looked good at the end of last season. Look for JC Cedric Byrd to be in the mix. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Tristin Kamaka sneak in for a few plays.
It will be like apples and oranges in comparing the 2017 disasterous Warrior football season, to what’s coming up this year with the Run and Shoot offense. I predict, for what it is worth, that our Warrior football team will end up with a record of 11-2.
Kumoku Noa is going to be an outstanding receiver for UH. Nobody is tougher in the PAC 12 in going over the middle than his brother, Kanawai Noa. Moku has the same kind of toughness and work ethic.
Vanderbilt?
Wow, Dylan Collie must be really smart.
Isn’t Vanderbilt the only academically respected university in the SEC?
As reflected by their middling football program, I think the school has maintained their integrity.
Northwestern football and basketball.
Harvard and Yale basketball.
These are two examples of schools that shouldn’t be this good in athletics.
Baylor was a Big 8(12) doormat for years.
And then…
24.
Jill Stein will be the finishing touch to the probe.
Almost 100% football guy but it was an unusual treat to watch the MBB on Fox and the Baseball team via Big West TV yesterday-pretty good day. GoWarriors!!
The 2 young Noa brothers show the same toughness as their father Henry Noa who played for UH. Not that big but very very tough.
GOOD MORNING, HAWAII!
#4 – thanks A-House for the offer. Discovered The Great Courses Plus and been busy exploring that site and its over-abundance of riches. You might want to Google it.
New post: http://www.hawaiiwarriorworld.com/?p=45446