Thursday, April 3, 2008

Spring Practice Quotes after Day 2

About Mack taking over from JJ, JoPierre Davis said:
"J.J. (June Jones) was my guy, but I felt that this was going to be my year and I knew they would put someone in who was good for us. Coach Mack knows how I play and I respect him so much because he'll talk you through things, not just yell at you. I feel Coach Mack for that." (HA)

HA Note: "Temper the "tough" in "tough love" and JoPierre Davis is your man, or, for the purposes of University of Hawai'i football spring practice, your No. 1 right cornerback. The bruising junior from San Francisco came on strong toward the end of last season as a special teams player and backup cornerback. He finished the season with eight tackles and an interception that he returned for a touchdown. Davis knows much more will be expected of him this season with the departure of starters Myron Newberry and Gerard Lewis. He said his development under new head coach Greg McMackin has prepared him to meet the challenge."

About how he worked really hard after the Sugar Bowl loss, Davis said:
"Going into (the Sugar Bowl), I'll be honest, I didn't expect the outcome. I thought we'd win. But I also knew spring practice was coming around quick and I put a lot of work in." (HA)

HA Note: "Davis said he's been forcing himself to eat throughout the day — not always as easy as it seems given a full schedule of classes — to keep up his weight. He's also continued to hit the weights and strengthen his core muscles, a weakness in years past."

About how he's been working hard to improve himself, Davis said:
"I know some dudes in the league, and they work it like a job. They just work their butts off and that's what it takes to get there." (HA)

HA Note: "A well-carved 6 feet and 200 pounds, Davis has good size for his position and has demonstrated impressive physicality and athleticism in his limited minutes. But Davis didn't truly progress as a Warrior until he fully bought in to what the team was trying to accomplish and how listening closely to his coaches, particularly defensive backs coach Rich Miano, could help elevate his game, McMackin said."

About how Davis didn't improve until he bought into what Rich Miano was trying to teach him, Mack said:
"He was young, a sophomore, and nobody really paid attention to him. When we came in last spring, we saw that he had some physical ability. He tended to play street ball and we worked on getting him to do what it takes to be a good defensive back. The thing is, he bought in to it and he's gotten better and better. I think he can be a big time corner. If he continues to listen to Rich, continues to do well in his academics and continues to grow as a person, he can be playing on Sundays." (HA)

About how the coach's confidence in him, shown in his starting spot right now, has helped his focus and concentration, Davs said:
"It's a whole different feeling. Last year, I was always worried about what other guys were doing. This year, I can focus on what I'm doing. I feel I've done the work. I've worked hard." (HA)

About his D working on single and triple option plays yesterday, Mack said:
"This is just our second practice and this is something we normally won't do until the second or third week." (HA)

About how things will be more intense today because they have their first day in pads (note: rain forced the practice to be cut short), Mack said:
"We'll get some more team, seven-on-seven, and one-on-one stuff going so it'll be more competitive." (HA)

About how having the QB under center makes his job easier, John Estes said:
"It's easier. I don't worry about the snaps too much. You just throw it up there and the quarterback's got it. I don't really think about the snap. I'll just look down to make sure that the quarterback is underneath." (HA)

HA Note: "McMackin is starting the team under center to help players get used to the different style, but he said the team will play just as much in the shotgun formation."

About why they are putting the QB under center, Mack said:
"We want to help with our running game. We want to run bootleg and play-action passes and be a little more well-rounded in our package." (HA)

HA Note: "Under new assistant coach Brian Smith, Estes and his O-line mates are being pushed to refine the techniques necessary to respond to dynamic game situations."

About the different techniques the OL is learning, Estes said:
"Things are a little different. They're a little more refined, with Coach Smith coaching us. There's more (attention) on techniques. There are specific steps he wants us to take for every shade and for whatever the defense is in." (HA)

HA Note: "Defensive lineman Francis Maka is still collecting information from his doctors to forward to the NCAA in support of his petition to be granted an extra year of eligibility due to medical hardship. McMackin said that once the NCAA receives the material for review, Maka will be able to practice with the team."

About reinstating Mario Cox to the team, Mack said:
"I believe in giving everybody a chance and Mario had a rough road last year, but we're taking a look at him, and he's done everything I've asked him. I've been really pleased with him and we just have to see where he fits in. When I knew him before he got hurt last year (hamstring), he had a great attitude." (HSB)

HSB Note: "After the first two spring practices, it's so far, so good for Cox, who was also suspended and reinstated two years ago for not meeting team academic standards, and then doing so."

About how he's 230 pounds now and wants to lose 5 pounds, the 5'11" Mario said:
"Around 225's my ideal weight. That's what I'll try to be at for the season." (HSB)

About how they are working on running the ball more, Mario said:
"We're working on more agility and ball security, more drills to prepare us for carrying the ball in the game. We've got some formations that look more like we'll be running the ball, so that's very exciting." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Cox started a game as a true freshman in 2005, but played sparingly in a total of eight. He redshirted in 2006 while suspended. He regained his spot on the roster last year, and played in five games as a backup before the dismissal in October, rushing four times for 9 yards. Daniel Libre and Leon Wright-Jackson entered spring camp Monday as the two top running backs. Cox and Dave Farmer, who started last year, are right behind them. Offensive coordinator Ron Lee said they -- along with four others listed at running back -- will all get opportunities to show they deserve to play."

About how Mario will have a shot to play, Ron Lee said:
"He'll get a shot (today, in the first full-gear practice). He'll do more with the first team. He needs to be a little quicker. But he'll get a shot this spring." (HSB)

HSB Note: "McMackin said new running backs coach Alex Gerke is a good match for Cox because he is a disciplinarian."

About how Mario will have a clean slate with him, RB coach Alex Gerke said:
"I like Mario. Whatever's happened in the past, to me it's a clean slate. Sometimes I have to make sure he's not off somewhere else and keeping it tuned in, but he's done a great job for me these first couple days and I'm excited to see him get into a little bit better shape, and watch him work this system. No question he's got a ton of talent. The game's played 90 percent mental and 10 percent physical, so mentally if we keep Mario tuned in and he pays attention to detail I think he'll be in great shape." (HSB)

About how he won't squander his opportunity this time, Mario said:
"Everyone's starting off fresh with the new system. After the evaluation, we'll have the best guy out there. So I'm just going to try to make sure I do everything right. What I'm supposed to do, so I don't have any bad evaluations after practice. Basically (McMackin) said I was going to start off with a clean slate. Now that he's the head coach he's going to do his evaluation. Three years into it, I should be mature now." (HSB)

About how they worked against the option (former UH LB Chris Brown portrayed Tebow), Mack said:
"We got 30-40 minutes on the option in today. Way ahead of where we were last year. Sharp, smart players." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Offensive coordinator Ron Lee described the work of his rebuilding group as "better" than the first practice Monday. The guys in white focused on blitz reads yesterday."

About how they need to make progress with the offense each day, Ron Lee said:
"But we've still got a long way to go,. As long as we make progress each day, that's good." (HSB)

Looking forward to their first day of pads and having the D go against the offense, Mack said:
"There will be some poppin' going on. The offense and defensive linemen will go one-on-one. The quarterbacks, receivers, linebackers and DBs will go seven-on-seven, and we'll have some team at the end." (HSB)

HSB Note: "They might have to lock up Brown somewhere to keep the student assistant out of the action. He was looking to initiate contact yesterday in shorts and T-shirt."

About being the option QB going against UH's D, Chris Brown said:
"You know me, I'm always going to try to take it to another level. It was fun pretending to be Tim Tebow. Pretty cool. There were a couple of times I caught myself trying to head-butt guys wearing helmets. I still got that itch in me." (HSB)

Looking forward to the contact today (which didn't happen due to the rain), Alex Gerke said:
"I can't wait to see those guys bang. I know our front seven's outstanding, and I'm excited to watch our offensive line and our running backs banging against those guys. You get better banging against the best." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Daniel Lofton gets a kick out of popping in those old NFL Films clips of his father racing down the field, the ones "with the corny highlight music from the 1980s." Yesterday, it was the father -- Hall of Fame receiver and new Oakland Raiders receivers coach James Lofton -- watching his son run routes during Hawaii's second practice of the spring."

Watching his son practice for the Warriors, James Lofton said:
"When I watch him I can see he's picked up a lot of the things I teach my players, so I think he has some good habits." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Both father and son have adjusted to changes in their football careers over the past year. Daniel, who wears No. 80, as his father did most of his career, was recruited by UH out of high school but signed with California. He spent a year in Berkeley before deciding to join the Warriors last fall, sitting out UH's 12-1 campaign due to transfer rules. Like the rest of the Warriors receiver corps, the 6-foot-3 sophomore is spending the spring learning the nuances of UH's revamped four-receiver attack under new offensive coordinator Ron Lee."

Happy that he didn't learn JJ's offense that well, Daniel said:
"I'm kind of glad I wasn't too far into the (previous) offense. It's all still new to me, so I don't have to switch around anything. I like it a lot. I'm having fun out here." (HSB)

Praising James Lofton, Rich Miano said:
"I've worked out with James in the late '80s and early '90s and that guy had just phenomenal work ethic." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Lofton held the NFL record for career receiving yards with 14,004 when he retired in 1993 and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003, when Daniel was a high school sophomore. Though his exploits filled up many a film reel, James uses more recent footage when dropping tips to help Daniel's game."

About how he shows Daniel film of current games for him to work on things, James said:
"I show him more of the current stuff. They kind of laugh at the way I played because it's a little old school." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Maka, a senior last season, is applying for another year of eligibility due to a year he missed early in his career due to injury while at Arizona. He is allowed to practice while the appeal is being considered but needs to finalize some paperwork before getting on the field."

Wishing he could practice with the team, Francis Maka said:
"I feel kind of lonely on the sideline watching them practice. I wish I was working with them." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Maka recorded 17 tackles, including a sack, in eight games last season before suffering a broken fibula."

Hoping that he gets to play this season and thankful that he was able to be with the Warriors last season, Maka said:
"I'm just thankful coach gave me an opportunity to come out here and play knowing I only had one year. If nothing happens then at least I got the experience. But I'm confident it's going to happen." (HSB)

HSB Note: "Senior running back Dave Farmer suffered a freak injury yesterday, turning an ankle while participating in a fumble recovery drill."

About how Farmer will probably miss practice today, Ron Lee said:
"He's taped up and it looks like he won't practice (today)." (HSB)

About how Mike Washington missed practice due to a dental problem, Ron Lee said:
"He had a toothache and was suffering with that the past two days. They yanked it this morning." (HSB)

HSB Note: "That allowed more reps for left slot candidates Jon Medeiros, Benedict Noy and Miah Ostrowski."

HSB Note: "Quarterbacks coach Nick Rolovich was rightfully proud that there were no botched center-quarterback exchanges during Monday's first practice. But he shook his head while acknowledging three that occurred yesterday."

Feeling like he jinxed the team by talking about their success on Day 1 with the C-QB exchange, Rolo said:
"I should have kept my mouth shut." (HSB)

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