Quotes about the La Tech game

About how it doesn't matter how much their coaches know about JJ's offense, execution by the players is the key, La Tech coach Derek Dooley said:
"It doesn't matter how much the coaches know, it's what the kids know. Coaches sit there all day and plan and come up with great schemes but if the kids can't execute, it doesn't do any good." (HA)


About how it has been difficult for his scout team to simulate the Warriors' offense, Dooley said:
"It starts with the quarterback. It's very difficult to simulate the reads and the throws and how quick he gets rid of it and how accurate his throws are. Compound that with some fast veteran receivers who can run and go up and get it. It's really impossible to simulate. That's the biggest challenge in facing a team like this." (HA)

HA Note: "The Warriors, meanwhile, are unsure of what to expect from the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs, similar to the Warriors, switched from a 3-4 defensive scheme to a 4-3. On offense, the Bulldogs have an imposing offensive line, agile quarterback Zac Champion who is best on play-action throws, and tailback Patrick Jackson, second to Boise State's Ian Johnson in overall running skills. But knowing the opening game would be part of the video exchange between the teams, the Bulldogs did not display their full collection of strategies."


Expecting La Tech to do things that aren't on the game film from their first game, JJ said:
"I'm sure we'll get some different wrinkles from what we know. I'm sure they practiced a lot of stuff in training camp for us, and didn't run it last week." (HA)

HA Note: "The UH coaches tracked the coaching histories of the Louisiana Tech staff. Instead of planning for certain schemes, Jones said, the Warriors practiced "for everything." "

Note: UH also didn't show a lot of things in the UNC game...like the Tampa and other running plays I expect them to use in this game.


About how every day GM comes up with different ways to attack the Warriors' offense in live drills and does not share those plans in advance with him, JJ said:
"Going against our defense daily helps us. They throw everything to us live. I don't tell (McMackin) what to do. He runs what he wants to run. He gives us different looks every day." (HA)

Note: That is an awesome way to prepare the team for games! I hadn't heard about this daily surprise testing for the UH offense...that can only benefit UH on both sides of the ball.


About the daily changes to their D that he uses in live drills, GM said:
"(Jones) works on what (the offense) needs to get better at. We work on what we need to get better at." (HA)


About how all of the defences GM throws at them prepares them, Colt said that by game day:
"we've faced every coverage. We have confidence in our offense. If they drop guys, we'll have more time to throw the ball. If they bring pressure, we have to get the ball out quick. We can do both." (HA)


About how they cannot overlook any game, Bess said:
"I know it's a saying, but we have to take it one game at a time. We want to go 2-0, and then 3-0. But we can't get to 3-0 unless we take care of this game. This is really a big game. A lot of teams in the top 15 have big games this weekend. This game can bump us up or move us back." (HA)


About how La Tech will be tough to beat at home, Colt said:
"One thing is they're going to be at home. They had a good win last week. They're going to have a lot of confidence. They're going to be hungry. They have a sour taste in their mouth when they came to Hawai'i last year, just like we had a sour taste in our mouth after we went down there two year ago. I think it's going to be a real tough, physical game. We have a big challenge ahead of us." (HA)

HA Note: "Louisiana Tech coach Derek Dooley joked that he would petition the WAC to use 12 defenders against the Warriors' four-wide offense. A kind-of-funny thing happened during Thursday's practice: There were 12 defenders on the UH scout team. And yet, Brennan completed pass after pass."

HA Note: "Critics have said the Warriors are not as efficient within an opponent's 20 and on deep passes. But against UNC, Brennan was 3 of 3 on passes that traveled at least 20 yards from the line of scrimmage. The Warriors also have been effective near the goal line. In the past, the Warriors' answer to short-yard situations was a power running play. Now they rely on their quick slots. Bess' pet move is the down-and-out. On paper, it's a simple play."


About their down-and-out near the goal line, Bess said:
"It's three steps and go across. You could even do it." (HA)

HA Note: "But in real time, Bess is a blur. And if a defender cheats to the corner, Bess can change his route on the fly."


About how he likes to run post routes, making quick cuts to pretzel-twist a defender, RGM credit his skills to ladder drills (hop-scotching a series of squares):
"It's all about ladders, and jumping on boxes, and ... to tell you the truth, knowing how to dance. You need quick feet." (HA)


About how La Tech will come out strong and their DL has to control the line of scrimmage, Lafaele said:
"I know they're going to come out with fire. We have to control the line of scrimmage and be aggressive, like a dog on a bone." (HA)


Praising Guyton Galdeira's blocking on special teams, Timo Paepule said:
"Guyton has a heart of a lion." (HA)

HA Note: "Galdeira factored in Washington's and Malcolm Lane's touchdown returns. On Washington's, Galdeira knocked back two guys with one block. On Lane's kick return, Galdeira sealed a lane with a block to the left, then he ran over to the side to block a would-be tackler on the right."

HA Note: "Kelly, meanwhile, is adjusting to the fresh-out-of-the-box Nike footballs, which are more diamond-shaped than oval. When the football are new, the symmetry is sharper, narrowing the sweet spot. With more use, Kelly's kickoffs will boom farther."


About La Tech's star RB Patrick Jackson, GM said that his:
"feet never stop moving. That's what makes him a great running back." (HA)

HA Note: "Jackson will run behind a line whose average blocker is 6-5 and 297 pounds. Both tackles each have started 34 games, and already have earned bachelor's degrees."


About their loss at La Tech in 2005, Colt said:
"Basically, we got our butts kicked." (HSB)


About using the 2005 loss at La Tech as motivation, but not to let any personal grudges get in the way of execution during the game, Lafaele said:
“Once the game starts we have to see them as just players on the other team in the way of what we want to do." (HSB)


About facing La Tech, Sol Elimimian said:
“We’re confident if we do our job, our responsibility. It doesn’t matter who we play. But we just can’t get big-headed.” (HSB)


About how they can't feel too good about themselves after beating UNC, David Farmer said:
"If we got all high and mighty off of -- and all due respect to Northern Colorado -- I mean, that's a game that we were expected to win." (HSB)


Karl Noa, who was on the team when La Tech blew them out in 2005, said about their return to Ruston:
"This isn't really about revenge, but we know they're tough and aggressive on the offensive line, and we have to be ready to play." (HSB)


Expecting Derek Dooley's tendencies to be like his father Vince's, JJ said:
"Their thing is to be physical, show they are tougher than you are and control the game. It's no secret they will want to run the ball." (HSB)


About their key to the game, Derek Dooley said:
"We have to find a way to slow down the best quarterback in the nation and probably the best offense." (HSB)


About trying to stop Colt, Tony Moss (who had 3 INTs last week) said:
"You try to pick up tendencies (on tape). You don't try to read him, just try to execute your defense. The biggest thing is minimize mental errors." (HSB)


Not satisfied with how they ran the ball in their first game, Dooley said:
"We did a good job of running the football. But there were a lot of mistakes up front. The big thing is to improve execution of our passing game and we've got to continue to improve details of the running game. We've got to find some ways to hit some plays throwing the ball." (HSB)


About how Dan Kelly averaged just 59.8 yards per kickoff vs. UNC, JJ said that was unacceptably low but admitted:
"We may have worn him out." (HSB)


About trying to stop UH's offense, Dooley said:
"Certainly nobody's proven that they can stop (Hawaii's offense). And I'm not sure how you slow it down. Somehow, you gotta find a way to affect the rhythm of Colt. It all starts there." (HSB)


About how 6 different receivers caught TD passes last week, Colt said:
"I think it says a lot about the weapons we have." (HSB)


About how they have to prevent the yards after catch and give up FGs instead of TDs, Dooley said:
"Tackling is a premium, because they're going to complete passes, a lot of passes. But the quicker you get their guys on the ground and the more you make 'em work for it, I think that is a critical part of the game. And you gotta play real good in the red zone ... make 'em kick field goals -- that will have a lot to do with slowing 'em down. Now how you do it, if you got any answers on that, let me know." (HSB)