Sunday wrap-up

I apologize for the delay. My mother-in-law is having some medical issues. We’re wishing her a speedy recovery.

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The Warriors practiced in full pads for the first time this spring. Of note:

> Two play-making receivers — slotback John Ursua and Marcus Armstrong-Brown — are being held out of practices while recovering from ailments. No worries, UH fans, they’ll be fine. Another reason for comfort: slotback Cedric Byrd and wideout Isaia Leeth are having breakout springs. Byrd appears to be the fastest Warrior. That was apparent on his 45-yard TD on a seam route. What was impressive was his his second-gear speed. He thought he was slow into the route, but then he increased his speed to catch up to Justin Uahinui’s long pass. Leeth has several things going for him: He’s tall (6-3), physical, athletic and can cut quickly. Of his five catches in the full-contact scrimmage, three went for first downs. The Warriors did not even work on any red-zone plays, but it is apparent he will be tough to defend on corner routes.

> The Warriors entered with depth concerns on the offensive line. But two newcomers to the group — Joey Nu‘uanu-Kuhi‘iki, who moved from the defensive line, and Kamuela Borden, who spent the past two years on a church mission — have been a boost at tackle. They got additional reps the past week because Micah Vanterpool had been battling an illness. Nu‘uanu-Kuhi‘iki, as expected, is a punishing run-blocker. But he also has been skilled in pass pro. Same as Borden.

> With Kyle Gallup’s departure, there are only three true quarterbacks on the spring roster. Cole McDonald has been doing some good things (6-for-10 in the scrimmage). Jeremy Moussa has displayed a powerful arm. And Uahinui has shown he wants to be part of the conversation. He came out of Farrington’s hybrid — run-heavy concepts out of West Coast formations — but Uahinui can reach the tips of all branches of the passing tree.

> New DC Corey Batoon has introduced several formations, fronts and sub-packages this spring. One of the tools is a defensive line that doesn’t just stay put. That’s benefited a guy like Zeno Choi, an interior lineman who spent a lot of time at end last season. Choi is making use of the directives to slant and stunt. The theory is this: Make offensive lineman try to block moving targets. Meanwhile, the linebackers and nickels are filling gaps the d-line, not the opponent, are creating.

> Does anybody hit a gap harder than linebacker Jeremiah Pritchard?

> One of the more interesting battles is at nickelback. Manu Hudson-Rasmussen, Cameron Hayes and Donovan Dalton have been effective in covering spaces that were left open the past few seasons. Hayes had a pick-six in the scrimmage. In the 7-on-7 drills, Hudson-Rasmussen had a pick-six against … Nick Rolovich, who took a quarterback turn. Rolovich jokingly threatened to revoke Hudson-Rasmussen’s cost-of-attendance check.

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UH’s Oklahoma drills:

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The baseball ‘Bows have had a 4-1 Big West start before, as recently as 2016. But this one was crafted all on the road.


The ‘Bows are averaging 13.6 hits per Big West game. Jackson Rees and Neil Uskali are effective as 1-2 starters, and Dylan Thomas (9 saves) is the best closer in the league.

Regardless of today’s outcome — first pitch is at 10 a.m. Hawaii time — the ‘Bows have won the first two Big West series of the season.

COMMENTS

  1. Nelekona April 8, 2018 8:07 am

    First!


  2. tommui April 8, 2018 8:09 am

    GOOD MORNING, HAWAII!

    Wishing your Mother-in-Law’a quick recovery!


  3. Maddog50 April 8, 2018 8:13 am

    While interested in overall progress really interested in development of unknown OL. Unless Borden fills out quickly he will be in the wings for a bit. The arrival of several OL in fall camp will go a long way, but some of these guys are getting a tremendous chance to gauge themselves and develop-GoWarriors!!!!


  4. Da Punchbowl Kid April 8, 2018 9:32 am

    Good morning Gangeez! How are you today, Judge?

    Mahalo for the chock-full-‘o-details post, Stephen! Prayers for your mother-in-law.

    Looks like the Warriors are off and running with the RnS! Like what we’re seeing from the defense!

    GO WARRIORS!!!


  5. clyde April 8, 2018 9:43 am

    Family always comes first. Wishing Wena’s mom a speedy recovery.


  6. HawaiiMongoose April 8, 2018 9:49 am

    Thank you ST for the detailed report! Hope your mother-in-law is well soon.


  7. Stephen Tsai April 8, 2018 9:52 am

    Maddog:
    Kamuela Borden looks pretty big now.
    How big? Not sure. True freshmen are off limits for interviews.


  8. Maddog50 April 8, 2018 10:30 am

    Thanks for update-roster had him at 250-realize he’s older and on a different regimen. Tackles almost have to be 290 and up these days-hope he does well we can use it. Go Warriors!!


  9. kahuna April 8, 2018 11:17 am

    Tackles are usually matched up with Defensive ends and I think having good feet , long arms and quickness is more important than weight. A guard being 290+is a must because of all the bulk and traffic on the interior line but most offensive tackles are matched up one on one with DEs so even if Kamuela is only 285, he can get the job done by being smart, being tough and using proper technique.


  10. kahuna April 8, 2018 11:21 am

    BTW…we will be running the Run and Shoot. Most of the time , the offensive linemen will be backpedaling and get in pass protection mode so its even less important to have bulk.


  11. Akamai Okole April 8, 2018 11:49 am

    Great Morning All!

    Nearing the mid-point of Spring. Time to start separating wheat from chaff…


  12. Akamai Okole April 8, 2018 11:50 am

    Healing thoughts to Wena’s Mom.


  13. Whitey April 8, 2018 1:14 pm

    Get well and speedy recovery to St mom in law.


  14. Peskadot April 8, 2018 1:50 pm

    Does anyone know what the official orange color is from the retro Kelley Green and Orange baseball uniform? I no can find em.


  15. suckkabooya April 8, 2018 3:30 pm

    Doug Russell looks nice and heavy.


  16. bg April 8, 2018 4:01 pm

    ST, despite your worries with Wena’s mom, you always take care of this blog. We can’t thank-you enough for our daily fix!


  17. roygbivs April 8, 2018 5:41 pm

    Well-wishes for your M-I-L, no apology necessary ST!! That’s most important, family….. blog can wait a day or more for your insights.

    Warriors look ⤴️⬆️🔼 up for the challenges ahead… gotta love dat!!


  18. Just a guess? April 8, 2018 6:22 pm

    #14 – I believe that was part of the color of Sheridan’s baseball uniform, which UH baseball team either used or adopted?


  19. Stephen Tsai April 8, 2018 11:09 pm

    By the way, from what I’ve observed, the o-line coach is a good dude. O-line will be OK.


  20. KOH I NOR April 8, 2018 11:22 pm

    Nice videos. And to correct a spelling on earlier blog. It is “Huntington Beach, California.” Not Hunington beach.

    Ok.


  21. KOH I NOR April 8, 2018 11:24 pm

    Looks like a better team. We’ll see.


  22. KOH I NOR April 8, 2018 11:28 pm

    Yeah, whatever. I think They’ll at least or most come in tied for 3rd in the West division of the Mountain West conference. 7-6 overall prediction. Still too shabby on the review.


  23. ai-eee-soos April 8, 2018 11:51 pm

    JC PK Nino Alibegic commits

    by BigWave96744 » Sun Apr 08, 2018 9:53 pm

    BigWave – hope you don’t mind me posting this here.


  24. KOH I NOR April 8, 2018 11:52 pm

    Once a Warrior, always a Warrior. It was go bows. Get with it. Go Warriors.

    I’m a fare weather fan. Bad weather, out of there. It works.


  25. ai-eee-soos April 9, 2018 1:14 am

    Re-posting this …

    *****************************

    JC PK Nino Alibegic commits

    by BigWave96744 » Sun Apr 08, 2018 9:53 pm

    BigWave – hope you don’t mind me posting this here.

    *****************************


  26. tom-warriornation April 9, 2018 6:30 am

    ST: best wishes for your MIL; and a great writeup for us diehard fans!

    Cedric Byrd sounds like another John Ursua but faster; and Isaia Leeth sounds like another Ashley Lelie. Justin Uahinui sounds like another Bryant Moniz. Can I ask who recruited these players? Exciting to hear about our new DC & OL coaches. Why is Rolo taking some snaps–shouldn’t he be giving it all to his QB’s?

    Anyone else going to Westpoint on Sept 15; so far got a group of 50 fans sitting together on the sidelines–the other visiting fan section is in the endzone (I hate sitting here since you can’t see the plays on the other end of the field).


  27. tom-warriornation April 9, 2018 6:36 am

    Join 50+ UH fans at the UH-Army game in Westpoint this Sept 15; situated next to a scenic river.

    Email: tomkitaguchi@yahoo.com or text me 415-324-0585.

    http://goarmywestpoint.com/sports/2015/3/6/GEN_2014010113.aspx?path=football


  28. tom-warriornation April 9, 2018 7:01 am

    SteveM: who is the head of the Tsaiko Maui Chapter; is it Whitey or Duffer; and who are the other Tsaikos on Maui? Last week on Maui; I had a nice get-together with Haleakala & Bruno Ariyoshi, who played on the 1955 UH team that beat Nebraska. Bruno played Guard both ways (1 of the 8 players who played the whole game; 60 minutes in 95 degree heat):

    http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/CFHSN/CFHSNv09/CFHSNv09n3f.pdf


  29. NotNasti April 9, 2018 9:16 am

    FYI: Former UH wideout (transferred to Cal) and current Packers WR and return man arrested at LAX for making a joke about explosives in his bag. At the Hawaiian Air counter, he was asked about aerosols, flammable liquids and explosives in his luggage. He turned to his female companion and asked her if she remembered to pack the explosives and was arrested.


  30. NotNasti April 9, 2018 9:17 am

    Sorry Trevor Davis was arrested at LAX.


  31. UH4eva April 9, 2018 11:08 am

    All the best for family and speedy recovery ST. Thank you for posting the Oklahoma drills. Always love watching. Players and coaches always get so excited.


  32. Maddog50 April 9, 2018 12:47 pm

    Couple things-this spring football session is somewhat special. With the arrival of about 20 or so players in the fall it like a micro session for many others in terms of development. Of theses 20 or so arrivals I figure 10-15 to be impact guys (depth chart). The fall group will be like an entirely new team-that willbring fresh attitude and competition. I for one like it. As far as reports of T Davis making a joke about explosives-if true I hope he gets a nice fine and a few other perks! No laughing matter at all-


  33. Stephen Tsai April 9, 2018 1:18 pm

    New post: http://www.hawaiiwarriorworld.com/?p=45717


Comments are closed.