Hawaii football: Practice No. 4 is shell day
For today’s practice, the Warriors donned shoulder pads for the first time in training camp.
That meant an escalation in contact during 11-on-11 situational drills.
“It gave us a little taste of what football’s like,” quarterback Cole McDonald said of the two-hour practice on UH’s grass field.
During the team segments, the Warriors worked on situations, such as third-down plays with varying lines to gain.
McDonald made two highlight-worthy plays. He teamed with Jason-Matthew Sharsh on an 85-yard touchdown. On another play, McDonald rolled to his right, then fired back to Melquise Stovall in the left flat.
Quarterback Chevan Cordeiro also used his quickness to elude a manhunt and then loop a 25-yard pass to James Phillips.
Cornerback Zach Wilson had another strong practice, sacking Cordeiro on a corner blitz and breaking up two passes. After practice, cornerback Rojesterman Farris II started a chant of “Free-zy Willie” — a plea to turn loose Wilson for more opportunities.
“It feels good to be back in pads again,” Wilson said.
GO WARRIORS !!!
Was that Wilson sack on Cordeiro a third down play? lol
It’s gonna be a great season! Go Warriors!
How does the Dline look.
Nice post – good to see big plays on both sides of the ball. The march to battle is on!
GO WARRIORS!!!
Will they be in full pads tomorrow?
H-Man
I believe it will be full pads tomorrow.
I think Wilson was similar to Mautautia last season in some ways. Expectations were high on both of them and despite pretty good numbers you could see the struggles for them on video. Wilson is compulsive and follows his instincts (Mautautia also to a lesser extent). Often looking to make the big play and overextending as far as discipline. If Wilson can be schemed in a certain way that can allow him to be aggressive he will make an impact. He has the mentality and physicality. Mautautia has to stay a little more disciplined I think. Let the “big play” happen under control instead of trying to make it or force it. Then he will be “unreal” I think. He has good instincts. You could see it Sophomore year. Can be All MWC. Wilson is different though, just scheme him right. He can impact too. Free him, he’s ready now. Can Do.
Free Wilson; yes future all MWC!
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Can we get some video clips??
or at least some pics or 11on11?
Spidey:
UH doesn’t allow video of 11-on-11s.
Or 7-on-7s.
Or anything that involves formations.
But I can get some cool shots of people scissor-stretching.
So, from what I can tell — factoring my vantage point and impending heat stroke — this is how they’ve been lining up:
LWO Jared Smart
LSB Melquise Stovall/Jason-Matthew Sharsh
LT Ilm Manning
LG J.R. Hensley
C Kohl Levao
RG Solo Vaipulu
RT Gene Pryor
RSB Cedric Byrd
RWO JoJo Ward
QB Cole McDonald
RB Fred Holly/Dayton Furuta
LT Ernest Moore
LG Michael Eletise
C Taaga Tuulima
RG Alesana Sunia
RT Joey Nuuanu-Kuhiiki
Lincoln Victor is having a terrific camp.
Love to hear it. Can’t wait to see it. Go Warriors “D”.
Are they going to give Victor a shot at returning punts and kicks? Seems like he would be a great punt returner with his shiftiness and quickness. Chad Owens 2.0.
Sad to see Kade Greeley in the transfer portal yesterday, I think he could have been a weapon. We seem stacked at receiver right now and that’s just the way things fall sometimes.
Also, UCLA has 7 players listed on the portal for offense alone….Chip must be cleaning house out there. New coaches always want “their guys”.
Anyone else in the transfer portal from UH?
With all the returning starters, coaches, talent and depth, we shouldn’t lose to Arizona.
My concern is we still don’t have anybody that can get to the QB except for Padello who is more situational. I’m hoping Welch emerges as a legit pass rusher.
I think (my opinion) UH’s defense does need situational pass rushers, especially from the interior. The pocket needs to collapse from the inside-out more often. Zeno was the only (Akoteu sometimes through sheer side to side determination and Hune first half vs La Tech) interior guy who could disrupt with quickness and that was often with the aid of the “nuts crowd noise” adrenaline.
Padello is real quick and will be an “every down” guy. Unreal disruptor like we’ve never had here before. I think maybe best ever “disruptor”. But he is not real intimidating physically. I feel like he will command some form of double teaming this season, Guarantee he will be schemed for a lot more. Left Tackles will swallow their pride in film sessions and request help. So that will leave a lot of one on one battles on the interior (DT’s or blitzes) where UH needs to leverage Padello’s respect. Some quick off the ball or swim technique (like David Tanuvasa or Kila Kamakawiwo’ole Sr.) interior guys in a specific/specialty nickel or dime package where pressure could come from anywhere quickly. Would be different. Harder to prepare for. I think Batoon has the personnel. He also has more talent and speed in the secondary to “pause” QB/WR timing. Important I think to reach that next level. Imagine the possibilities now. Can do. Awesome
My take on practice No. 5 this morning. Offense far from being game ready. First pass from scrimmage, Cole throws an INT to Eugene Ford. Defense had the day, except for a couple of plays. Miles Reed ran for about a 50-yd TD with the 2s. Otherwise the running game got stuffed on most plays. Chevan threw about a 30-yd TD to Phillips. I thought Phillips had the best day of the receivers.
Kaimana is just unreal for his size, but as a per se, disruptor, I’m not sure anybody has come close to Al Noga—despite playing mostly from the interior, he would come off the edge, and from a linebacker stance….and he dominated folks, every week.
Interception? Wow
Boolakanaka
Yep agreed. To me Al Noga was less a “disruptor” specialist (like Padello is) and more of a complete “consummate” Defensive Tackle. Best ever Defensively. Vs run, pass rush, goal line, vs. double teams, vs option, chase downs, swim moves, spin moves, bull rush. Was unreal that guy. First team All-American. We need to find/make one more like him.
I remember one home game (was little drunk that time so I cant remember who the opponent was) where Suianoa inserted Freshman Padello (he was SO small) as a 3 technique hand in the ground DT. Took out Moala so the contrast was stark. It seemed so desperate at the time because the D-line was getting dominated. He didn’t really make a “big” play that series (he was in from first down) but you could see the skill set. Quick off the ball, was able to fight across blocks (although he did have to back pedal and give some ground) effectively, and he did string out an off tackle run. I’m hoping that Ritner and Kahahawai-Welch can discover their confidence in that similar way and emerge as productive “cornerstone’ guys. Their bodies are filling out pretty good. Just the speed and technique has to match. Can do.
#20. from David McCracken, Hawaii News Now
Hawaii head coach Nick Rolovich was encouraged by the effort and play of his defensive unit, but couldn’t say the same about his offense.
“Loved the intensity of the defense. I thought the offense poor,” Rolovich said. “Just the energy – the energy wasn’t there. And the defense took full advantage of that.
The offense is gonna have some quiet times during their breakfast they’re about to eat. They got a wake up call.”
Defense usually ahead of offense first couple days but this seems different. Like next level. Consistent with intensity and effort. Different from last season. Sounds like it surprised Rolovich. Maybe H-Man too? Vanilla offensively so I wont worry about one “bad” offensive outing. Lots of time to “iron out” efficiency AND effort. Defense. Time to “turn the corner”. Can do.
New post: https://www.hawaiiwarriorworld.com/?p=50408