Quotes from training camp

About the bull ring 1-on-1 pass rushing drill gets max effort and concentration from the defensive players, JR said:
"The competitiveness is what it's all about. We try to get them to understand that in every situation there's a winner and a loser. That's true for every down, and you can't illustrate that any better than in a pass-rushing drill. That's the essence of the game: 'It's you and me — let's go!' " (HA)

HA Note: "In one rep, Alasi Toilolo exploded off the snap and collided with Victor Clore, the clash of their pads sending a crackle of energy through their surrounding teammates. The brutal dance was impressive not just in the sustained effort of both players to thwart each other, but in the sophisticated hand and footwork each employed to do so."


About how difficult pass rushing is, JR said:
"Statistically, I believe, pass rushing is the hardest thing to do in sports. If you rush 30 times in a game and come away with two sacks, you had a good day. What other sport can you say that about?

If you complete only two out of 30 passes as a quarterback, you're not going to be quarterback next week. If you make two putts and miss 28, you're not getting a Tour card.

If you connect on two punches and the other guy hits you 28 times, you'll be lucky to hear '8, 9, 10' before you're counted out." (HA)


About their defensive motto "the main thing is the main thing", JR said:
"You're not going to win all the time, so you have to be relentless. You can't take 'no' for an answer. You have to keep pushing, keep pounding that rock or it's never going to break." (HA)


About how he worked all offseason to get a chance to play this year, Fale Laeli said:
"I only have two years left. I have to step it up and get noticed. I just want to play." (HA)


About Siave Seti, JR said:
"He's one of the older guys who are obviously more refined. He has a good day every day. He uses moves that are suited for his body, and he has a great motor." (HA)


About Keala Watson, JR said:
"He's a big banger, more of a power rusher. He's come a long way." (HA)


About Josh Leonard, JR said:
"He's a big guy. He doesn't play the same way as some of the others, but you can't substitute his strength. If he gets his hands inside, he's going to win every time. He needs to know how to counter and how to build off his strength." (HA)


About Toilolo, Korey Reynolds, and John Fonoti, JR said:
"They each have incredible athletic ability and can rush off the corner, but they still don't know what they're doing yet. They're still learning, but they're making progress." (HA)


About restricting Estes from contact until Monday, JJ said:
"I know what he can do, and we have enough time." (HA)

HA Note: "Defensive lineman David Veikune did not practice because of a "sore" neck that is "maybe strained." But he declared himself "good," and hopes to resume practicing as early as today."


About the big hit he put on Desmond Thomas after Thomas intercepted him, Graunke said:
"It's just a lot of adrenaline pumping after I throw a pick. I don't think that much and I saw my opportunity. ... We joke as quarterbacks there should be five orange jerseys on his (butt) if the guy just got a pick but I was just running a little too hard and he cut back right on me and it was either hit him or go by and I hit him. It was just instincts I don't know, I just got mad when I threw the pick. Dez and I are good friends and I apologized to him." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Thomas' second pick in two days got him some points in the close competition at free safety with Keao Monteilh, which coach June Jones said yesterday is "pretty even." It also left him with thoughts of payback."


About Graunke's hit, Thomas said:
"We're not supposed to hit the quarterbacks and I guess they're not supposed to hit us but it's all good. I was sitting there about to pitch the ball and I ended up keeping it and Tyler just comes on a frickin' sprint from 20 yards away straight down and just blows me up. ... Next thing I know, BOOM. ... I think I might have a little something for him tomorrow." (HSB)


About his competitive nature, Graunke said:
"Dez understands I got a competitive nature. The only pick I threw in college I brought the guy down by his neck." (HSB)


About how he's currently 2nd team at DT and DE, JC All-American Josh Leonard said:
"I feel real good about (my play) right now. They're adding me into the nickel and Okie packages." (HSB)

HSB Note: "He excelled as a pass-rusher at Sierra with 33 sacks over two years. Projected starters Amani Purcell and Karl Noa have helped show Leonard the ropes."

About the help he has gotten from Purcell and Noa, Josh said:
"I love it so far, the team's great. Especially the D-line I'm learning from, they have two of the best ends probably in college football ahead of me. They're all real helpful." (HSB)


About Blaze's injury, Brashton Satele can empathize due to his injury last camp and said:
"He's gonna come back. (I'm) just trying to stay healthy. That's the main thing, stay healthy." (HSB)

Even though expectations are high -- he is the son of UH star Alvis and Wahine volleyball standout Lee Ann (Pestana) Satele -- he isn't trying to press his case beyond what he can do on the practice field.
About running with the 3rd team right now, Brashton (son of UH star Alvis and Wahine volleyball star Lee Ann Pestana Satele) said:
"Pretty low on the depth, but trying to work my way up every week. Big footsteps to fill, yeah? Sam (Satele, his cousin), my dad, everybody. Just trying my best." (HSB)


About the injuries to Blaze and Estes, JJ said:
"Right now we've lost probably two of our best players. They're out for a while, we'll get them back by the time school starts (Aug. 20) I hope." (HSB)


JJ said that Calvin Roberts was in Hawaii and enrolled in school and that:
"hopefully he'll be out here tomorrow." (HSB)