Q&A with Mack

Asked if he's sticking with the run-and-shoot, Mack said:
"I believe in the run-and-shoot. The players there know the run-and-shoot. I think it's the best offense in the game. The pros are using it. They pretend they don't. It's a read offense, so it's a coaching man's offense. Repetitions, teaching it over and over again, that's what I believe football is all about. Defensive football, fundamentals, techniques -- its a coaching man's offense." (ESPN)

Asked if he felt like staying with their offense would be easier considering the success they have had the last couple years, Mack said:
"People don't realize this, but 85 percent of the people we have back are wearing these rings. We lost some guys on offense that really made it happen. We have our defense back and our offensive line is pretty intact. And because of the teaching it takes some time, but in the spring game we were moving the ball up and down the field. We're moving along. They're throwing by themselves every day." (ESPN)

Asked if he felt they were a little predictable last year, Mack said:
"I don't think we're predictable because we never do the same thing. It's all about reads. It's just like the option. It's the passing man's option." (ESPN)

About how they will be under the center a little more, Mack said:
"The run-and-shoot was all under center with [former Hawaii coach] Mouse Davis and June started out that way in '99 when I was there. Then he went more to the gun, and I think that was good with Colt and the veterans that we had. We're going to do a little bit of both. Not that it's a big deal. It's not a big change; it's part of the run-and-shoot. You can throw your screens. You can throw your quick stuff. I just, as a defensive guy, feel that if you're in the gun all the time, you can widen your ends and just get after it. You saw us play Georgia and that's exactly what they did." (ESPN)

Asked if they will move under center more also because their RBs are a little more seasoned than the bulk of their offense, Mack said:
"You need to run the football. Like Florida, I don't want that to be a long game. I don't want to throw on every snap. Some games you might want to shorten especially early in the season when we're getting acquainted and stuff. And if you throw a ball that's incomplete, the clock stops. We're not going to be a running team. Our run is set up by us throwing the ball." (ESPN)

Asked how much a learning curve their WRs and QBs have, Mack said:
"They've been doing the same things, they just haven't had their reps in the games. [Tyler] Graunke's had 24 games and he's got enough experience, but Inoke [Funaki] really hasn't. He's finished up some games. And then the JC guys, which I like because, you know, Greg Alexander he's played 42 college games. Maybe not in front of 90,000 people, but he's played a lot of games and I've always liked that about JC guys. And he's pretty good. He set the national record for touchdowns with, like, 71, and he can run. He's a big guy that can run. I thought at 240 he'd be this big, fat guy, but he came on his visit during the Pro Bowl week and I thought he was one of the Pro Bowl guys." (ESPN)

Asked about playing Mouton on offense, Mack said:
"He's so quick. He's got God-given quickness. He's a big playmaker. I just really like him. He's a big-play guy. He ran a kickoff back, he ran a touchdown back on defense, and we can just throw out a screen and let him do his thing." (ESPN)

Asked if Mouton is in the Devin Hester-type mold, Mack said:
"Who?" (ESPN)

Asked if Mouton is like Deion Sanders, Mack said:
"Oh, yeah, like Deion Sanders. He's a guy who's a football player. He's got great hands. He's a playmaker. And why not? He's going to be a defensive guy in the future, at the next level, but we'll send him on simple stuff. He doesn't have to know the offense. We'll just get a little package for him." (ESPN)

Asked if a "Go" route would be an example of how they would use Mouton, Mack said:
"Exactly." (ESPN)