Bryant Moniz has made it a three-player competition for the backup QB

HA Note: "After 75 minutes and 77 full-speed scrimmage plays yesterday, there still is no resolution in the competition for the Hawai'i No. 2 quarterback's job. When training camp opened Aug. 6, Brent Rausch and Shane Austin were in a dead heat to serve as the primary understudy to starter Greg Alexander. But head coach Greg McMackin said Bryant Moniz, a third-year sophomore, has entered the race."

HA Note: "The placement is important because starting Wednesday, the Warriors will begin working on plays specifically designed for the Sept. 4 opener against Central Arkansas."

Mac said that starting Wednesday, Greg Alexander will get most of the practice reps, with the #2 QB getting the rest and the other QBs will:
"have to learn by osmosis." (HA, HSB)

"We want No. 1 to get a certain amount of reps, and No. 2 to get a certain amount of reps. The first guy is going to play in the game. The second guy has to be ready. He has to have enough reps. The third guy has to be ready without getting a lot of reps in case something happens and he has to finish the game." (HA)

HA Note: "McMackin indicated that freshmen Corey Nielsen, David Graves and Cayman Shutter will serve as scout quarterbacks this year. All are expected to redshirt.

Rausch, who worked with the first-team offense, completed 7 of 11 passes for 57 yards in the full-speed scrimmage. Austin was 6 of 9 for 28 yards. Moniz completed 8 of 12 passes for 65 yards. He was intercepted once, and threw the scrimmage's only touchdown pass, 19 yards to Jon Medeiros."

Praising Moniz, Mac said:
"(Moniz) has that football mentality. He makes plays. He can run. He throws the ball really well. He understands the offense. He goes through his progressions, and he's getting better and better. He's worked his way into the competition for the backup job." (HA)

About how they had Alexander sit out their scrimmage, Mac said:
"I thought it was a good workout. Our objectives were to look for a backup quarterback, which is why we kept Greg out. We were able to do a lot of evaluations." (HA)

HSB Note: "After a shaky start against the top two defensive units, including an interception by Aaron Brown, Moniz went 4-for-4 on his fourth series and hit Kealoha Pilares for a 19-yard TD while working against the backups. He finished 8-for-12 for 78 yards and also showed a knack for scrambling out of trouble. UH head coach Greg McMackin said Moniz, a Leilehua graduate who transferred from Fresno City College, began the day "slashed" on the depth chart with Rausch and Austin. Rausch was 8-for-12 for 60 yards, while Austin went 5-for-9 for 31."

Praising the play of their 3 backup QBs during the scrimmage, Mac said:
"We were looking for the backup quarterback and Bryant did some good things; all of them did some good things. We're going up (to the office) right now to evaluate it." (HSB)

Asked if Moniz's performance in the scrimmage helped him in the #2 QB competition, QB coach Nick Rolovich said:
"Yes, but he's been helping himself all along. This has been a three-horse race for a couple of weeks now." (HSB)

Asked how much Moniz's stock rose yesterday, Offensive coordinator Ron Lee said:
"A lot." (HSB)

About how Moniz has been doing well, Ron Lee said:
"He makes plays, sliding around, kind of what you're looking for. He's shown it through camp." (HSB)

HSB Note: "THE LEILEHUA grad and transfer from Fresno City College completed eight of 12 passes for 78 yards. He was intercepted once, but two of his incompletions should've been caught."

About how Moniz is doing well despite being hampered by injury, Ron Lee said:
"He's got a sore shoulder and he still makes plays. His arm will get better. He's doing this without his best stuff." (HSB)

HSB Note: "He's not very big, listed at 6-feet and 185 pounds, but is clearly the most athletic of the quarterbacks. Moniz also has a feel for the game that helps him get out of trouble, turning losses into gains. He's quick -- with his arm, his legs, and his mind."

Asked about his spin move to avoid a sack yesterday, Moniz said:
"I don't know, just reaction." (HSB)

After Moniz threw a 19-yard TD on a post pattern, Ron Lee joked near Moniz:
"We don't have that route." (HSB)

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http://www.starbulletin.com/sports/sportsnews/20090822_defense_stars_in_uh_scrimmage.html

http://www.starbulletin.com/columnists/furtherreview/20090822_moniz_makes_his_move_to_become_uhs_no_2_qb.html