Spring Practice news from the local papers

About his fractured tibia that will require about 6 weeks of rehab, Rocky Savaiigaea said about getting the diagnosis on Saturday afternoon:
“I was bitter all of this weekend. But you can’t be bitter at the world. You can’t take it out on anybody. It just happens. It’s part of the game. People get hurt. Nobody is invincible. I was salty, but you have to learn how to cope with it. The great thing is it isn’t in season. It’s better now than later on. It’s a setback for now, but it’s going to make me train harder and come back stronger.” (HA)


About how either Dylan Linkner and Royce Pollard will be moved up to #1 right WR today, Ron Lee said:
"I like what Royce and Dylan have been doing on the outside. And I want to take a closer look at Daniel (Lofton, who has been working out on the left side)." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Linkner and Pollard have shared the repetitions since the previous No. 1, junior Malcolm Lane, sprained his right ankle last week. Lee said Lane will have to earn back his top spot."

About the demotion of Lane, Ron Lee said:
"Malcolm is down to No. 3 and it looks like he's out for a while. He hasn't done anything since spring (practice) started." (HSB)

HSB Note: "At quarterback, Tyler Graunke has pulled even with Inoke Funaki, who entered camp as the No. 1. Graunke has been the primary backup to Colt Brennan the past three seasons, but was suspended in the offseason and lost his heir-apparent status."

About promoting Tyler to co-#1 QB, Ron Lee said:
"I thought he deserved it. He's been getting better. Tyler was down splitting reps with Shane (Austin), now we want him to get more reps. He's focused." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Austin and Jake Santos are equal behind Funaki and Graunke, Lee said. At the crowded running back spot, Lee said juniors Mario Cox and Jayson Rego have helped themselves at recent practices. Daniel Libre and Leon Wright-Jackson are considered co-starters there."

About Rego, Ron Lee said:
"He has a little wiggle, he has some ability when he runs the ball." (HSB)

Concerned about AhSoon's calf injury and Letuli's hamstring injury, Ron Lee said:
"Keith might be out the longest. He's been limping around." (HSB)

About agreeing to move to the DL, which Mack wanted him to do last year, C.J. Allen-Jones said:
"Coach Mack wanted me to switch last year, around spring camp, the same time. I said, 'Coach, I'm a linebacker, I love linebacker.' I didn't see myself moving to another position and learning things all over again." (HSB)

About agreeing to switch to DL after the season was over, C.J. said:
"After the bowl game I talked to Coach Cal (Lee) about making the switch over and they were very excited." (HSB)

About how C.J. and Cameron are adjusting to the DL well, Aranda said:
"Both C.J. and Cameron are very bright. They pick up everything. You tell them one time and then they've got it. C.J. has been on defense as a linebacker, so some things come a little more natural to him. (Last Thursday) was a big day for Cameron in terms of turning a corner with some of the techniques we're teaching him. We're working on minimizing his movements." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Cameron is the bigger of the two at 6-foot-2 and 256 pounds. C.J. is packing 245 pounds at the same height after playing at 218 pounds last year."

About the difference between C.J. and Cameron, Aranda said:
"C.J. is gonna be more of a speed up the field rusher. Cameron is a staunch run stop guy and we're working on his pass rush." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Cameron said the brothers, who live together in Makiki with C.J.'s wife and baby daughter, compare notes nightly. They are competing at different sides of the line, so there's no awkwardness."

About adjusting to the DL, Cameron (who transferred from Marshall 2 years ago and was on the OL last year) said:
"I'm working a lot on technique. It's a rebuilding and learning stage for me." (HSB)

About how he won't learn everything right away, C.J. said:
"I think each day I'm progressing. Give me a week. Next week I'll be good. Tomorrow I'll be good. Every day I just want to make a step to improve my technique. I know I have the speed, I know I have the power. Bring them all together and use them as one." (HSB)

About using Dwight Freeney of the Colts as a role model, C.J. said:
"He goes up against big guys and has to use his speed. I look up to him also for the mental aspect. He's smart, and he has the speed. He has the quickness to get around the guys. Also the guy (Marcus Howard) we played against in the Sugar Bowl. He was just 238, so he used straight speed." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Even if C.J. can't crack the defensive lineup, he'll still be on special teams -- which he's excelled at since his true freshman season of 2004, when he sprang Chad Owens for some of his record-breaking punt returns. But McMackin is confident both Allen-Jones brothers can contribute on the D-line, even if it is a year later than he expected C.J. to make the move."

About C.J. and Cameron, Mack said:
"Both are progressing and learning and both are good athletes. (C.J. will) have to go through a process because he's got his hand down. But I've done it with a lot of players and that position is just an outside linebacker with his hand down on the ground, so he just has to get used to that. He's got such great quickness and power." (HSB)