Quotes from training camp

About how he will delay the start of his Warrior career by 1 year, John Manu-Olevao said:
"This is good. It will give me one year to train." (HA)

HA Note: Manu-Olevao said he will take some classes at a local college this academic year. If all goes according to plan, he will have four seasons of eligibility. Manu-Olevao, who is 6 feet 3 and 310 pounds, was one of the best blockers on Kahuku's 2006 state championship team."

HA Note: "Lesu, who is 5 feet 10 and 180 pounds, was named to The Advertiser's 2006 All-State team as an all-purpose player. He also was the O'ahu Interscholastic Association's 2006 Offensive Player of the Year. CCSF is one of the top junior-college football programs in the country. Nick Rolovich, a former UH quarterback, serves as an assistant coach."


About how Jason Laumoli, Brashton Satele, and Siave Seti serve as their primary blockers on kick returns, DM said:
"A wedge back there isn't three guys going 'you go left' or 'you go right.' There's a lot of coordination involved. I could spend an hour with three wedge guys and two return guys and barely cover everything you need to cover. There are so many scenarios — high-pooch kick, onside, power squib." (HA)

HA Note: "McKnight said the three wedge blockers were selected because of their athletic ability and background as runners. Seti, a defensive tackle, was a blocking back last year. Laumoli, a converted offensive lineman, is practicing as a running back. Satele, a linebacker, also was a running back in high school. Laumoli serves as the wedge captain, calling out the blocking schemes. In Saturday's practice, a bouncing kick that was thought to go left went right. Laumoli yelled out "mayday" — the alert for a troublesome kickoff — and pounced on the sputtering football."


About Laumoli's mayday response, Seti said:
"He did the right thing. He always does the right thing. We count on him to make the calls." (HA)


About how the wedge players are supposed to "re-direct" the on-coming defenders, Seti said:
"You don't want to bully them. You want to get in their way, block them to the side, and then work to the next level (of defenders)." (HA)


About serving as a wedge blocker, Brashton Satele said:
"It's fun to block. I really like it." (HA)


About how wedge players are supposed to aim for a shoulder instead of trying to make a straight-ahead block, DM said:
"It takes experience. It's like playing fullback. You're lead blocking. They're trying to come through, we're coming at them. It's who wants it more. You go at it and see what happens." (HA)


About serving as a wedge blocker, Seti said:
"It takes a lot of heart, a lot of determination, a lot of faith in the coaches." (HA)


About how he is looking forward to returning kicks this season, Jason Lane said:
"I'm way more excited this year,. Last year, I'm not going to lie ... a couple of times I got a little shaken up. I was scared to mess up. This year I have so much confidence." (HA)


About how he worked all summer on improving his strength while maintaining his quickness, Lane said:
"The key is to stay fast and flexible. I need to stay focused. If I were more focused last year, coach would have given me more of a shot." (HA)


Happy with the way their secondary has been playing, GM said:
"We're starting to make plays, and that's exciting because we're going against an offense that doesn't make mistakes. Our offense very seldom throws an interception. The offense executes so well that we have to execute well. We're getting closer and closer to where we want to be. (Defensive backs coach) Rich Miano is doing a good job with them." (HA)


About Blaze Soares and his bad shoulder, GM said:
"We're thinking of moving him to the other side so he can hit with his good shoulder." (HA)