Posted by bambi2godzilla on 3/30/2008, 11:18 am
63.249.102.18
Here's a position-by-position look at the Warriors:
Quarterbacks
No. 1: Inoke Funaki. Contenders: Shane Austin, Tyler Graunke, Bryce Kalauokaaea, Kiran Kepo'o, Jake Santos.
Outlook: Graunke, who successfully completed a 40-day suspension, is cleared to participate in spring ball, but not as the No. 1 quarterback. That spot goes to Funaki, who was No. 3 last season. "Who doesn't want to be the No. 1 guy?" Funaki said. "I put a lot of pressure on myself, too, knowing the coaches have me as the No. 1 guy. I want to be as best prepared as I can be. It's good pressure. Sometimes I'll be sitting around the house, and I'll get up and go running."
The previous nine seasons, the UH quarterbacks mostly operated out of a shotgun. This spring, they will work on taking snaps from under center. In the shotgun, defenses often would shift while the snap was in flight. Under center, the quarterback does not have to take his eyes off the defense while taking the snap. The key will be to learn the proper footwork to retreat quickly into the pocket. "It might be tough in the beginning, but it will be worth it," Funaki said.
Running backs
Nos. 1: Daniel Libre and Leon Wright-Jackson. Contenders: Camron Carmona, Alonzo Chopp, Mario Cox, David Farmer, Jake Heun, Jayson Rego, Korey Reynolds.
Libre and Wright-Jackson enter spring practice as the co-No. 1 backs. Farmer, an effective blocker, and Cox, who was suspended for the final three games of the regular season, are the top backups. An intriguing prospect is Heun, who was a short-yardage runner at City College of San Francisco last year. Heun, who played mostly outside linebacker, will try to make the transition to full-time fullback.
Left wideouts — No. 1: Greg Salas. Contenders: Joe Avery, Jimmy Flanagan, Jett Jasper, Daniel Lofton.
Left slotbacks — No. 1: Michael Washington. Contenders: Jon Medeiros, Nate Nasca, Benedict Noy, Miah Ostrowski.
Right slotbacks — No. 1: Aaron Bain. Contenders: Kealoha Pilares, Eric Shaffer, Rick Taylor.
Right wideouts — No. 1: Malcolm Lane. Contenders: Troy Lauduski, Dylan Linkner, Royce Pollard.
Outlook: Last year's four starting receivers have moved on, but the projected replacements are experienced. Seniors Washington and Bain and junior Lane have not redshirted. Salas, who has gained 20 pounds and now weighs 205, enters as the top left wideout. Pilares, who led the Warriors with 388 rushing yards last season, moves to slotback, where he should excel in the open field. Pilares caught a team-high 81 percent of the passes thrown in his direction last season. He had only two drops. In this version of the four-wide offense, the receivers will be given more options on routes. Last year, they ran mostly predetermined patterns.
Offensive linemen
Left tackles — No. 1: Ray Hisatake or Laupepa Letuli. Contenders: Clayton Laurel, Les Soloai, Drew Uperesa.
Left guards — No. 1: Keith AhSoon. Contenders: Brysen Ginlack, Levi Legay, Nathan McKay.
Centers — No. 1: John Estes. Contender: Austin Hansen.
Right guards — No. 1: Clarence "Lafu" Tuioti-Mariner. Contenders: Raphael Ieru, Sila Lefiti, Jared Lene, Joey Lipp.
Right tackles — No. 1: Keoni Steinhoff. Contenders: Cameron Allen-Jones, Aaron Kia, Adrian Thomas.
Utility — Andrew Faaumu, Daniel Johnson, Lucas Kennard, Elmer Lim, Daniel Otineru.
Outlook: A few experiments will be conducted in spring training. AhSoon, who started 13 games at left tackle last season, moves to left guard. Hisatake, who redshirted last season, and Letuli, a fourth-year junior, were expected to compete at left tackle. But Letuli and center Estes suffered pulled hamstrings during the 40-yard sprints last week. Letuli hopes to resume practicing Thursday, although he most likely will have to wait at least a week. During his UH career, Letuli has played tackle, guard, running back, tight end and defensive end. Tuioti-Mariner, who was the top center last spring, opens as the first-team right guard.
Left ends — No. 1: David Veikune. Contenders: C.J. Allen-Jones, Antwan "Tua" Mahaley, Alasi Toilolo.
Left tackles — No. 1: Fale Laeli. Contenders: Josh Leonard, Vaughn Meatoga, Rocky Savaiigaea.
Right tackles — No. 1: Keala Watson. Contenders: Quentin Beaver, Chris Leatigaga, Tuika Tufaga, Keahi Watson.
Right ends — No. 1: John Fonoti. Contenders: Victor Clore, Francis Maka, Bo Montgomery, Elliott Purcell.
Outlook: Veikune was so productive as a reserve last season he was named to the All-Western Athletic Conference first team. Of his 34 tackles, 8.5 were in the backfield. He had seven sacks. Fonoti, finally injury free, is the top right end. Laeli, who is the No. 1 left tackle, will not participate in contact drills while recovering from knee surgery. That will give Leonard and Savaiigaea more reps. Two non-scholarship players from Kahuku High, Tufaga and Beaver, will serve as apprentices to Keala Watson. Tufaga benched 435 pounds and Beaver lifted 425.
Linebackers
Outside — Nos. 1: Adam Leonard, Blaze Soares. Contenders: Po'okela Ahmad, Tyson Kafentzis, R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane, Kevin Konrath, Erik Pedersen, Joshua Rice, Luke Rice.
Middle — No. 1: Solomon Elimimian. Contenders: Mana Lolotai, Cory Paredes, Brashton Satele.
Outlook: Credit Leonard and Soares for playing despite injuries last season. Leonard was recovering from offseason knee surgery when he reported to training camp in August. He played almost the entire season with a broken right thumb. Soares had a shoulder injury that made it impossible to hail a cab. Soares opted not to undergo surgery after the Sugar Bowl, hoping treatment and rest will improve the condition. Last year the outside linebackers were assigned to the left and right. This time, they will be designated strong (on the tight end's side of the formation) and weak. Soares will be on the strong side; Leonard on the weak side.
Left cornerbacks — No. 1: Ryan Mouton. Contenders: MacArthur Cheek, Calvin Roberts, Steve Stepter, Richard Torres.
Right cornerbacks — No. 1: JoPierre Davis. Contenders: Jameel Dowling, Ryan Perry, Chris Thorpe.
Strong safeties — Nos. 1: Keao Monteilh, Erik Robinson. Contenders: Josh Aufai, Kimo Leung-Choi, Evan Miller, Viliami Nauahi, Khevin Peoples, Mana Silva, Spencer Smith, Devion Volta-Johnson.
Free safeties — No. 1: Desmond Thomas. Contenders: Kenny Estes, Le'Marcus Gibson, Dane Kealoha Porlas.
Outlook: Both of last season's starting cornerbacks completed their eligibility, but the top cover defender, Mouton, returns for his senior season. "He's the best corner we've had in the last nine years," associate head coach Rich Miano said. "He's athletic. He has legit 4.3 speed (in the 40-yard dash)." In team testing, Mouton had a vertical jump of 39 inches and a broad jump of 10 feet, 5 inches. He played nickelback with a sore knee, and against Washington, he was used as free safety without having practiced at that position. Dowling, who transferred from Oregon, will compete at cornerback.
The coaches consider Monteilh, Robinson and Thomas as No. 1 safeties, even though there are only two positions. Monteilh, who can play both spots, has recovered from a torn left scapula, evidenced by his 315-pound bench press. Thomas, who was limited because of a hip flexor last season, had a 35 1/2-inch vertical jump in team testing. Robinson won't practice this spring while recovering from shoulder surgery, but Gibson, who had knee surgery in October, expects to be cleared for non-contact drills. Keep an eye on Silva, a transfer from Oregon State and former all-star quarterback from Kamehameha-Hawai'i.
Specialists
Long-snapper — Jake Ingram. Kicker — Dan Kelly. Punter — Tim Grasso (reports in fall).
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