Reviews of the Warriors based on Spring Practice

Evaluating their Spring Practices this year, Mack said:
"We did a lot of good things this spring." (HSA)


Praising the speed of 6'5" DE Desmond Dean, Dave Aranda said:
"He has a great get-off. He has long strides. He's able to eat up a lot of grass. And he has a great motor." (HSA)


Asked for his assessment of the UH football tame based on spring practice, Stephen Tsai said:
"Spring training is supposed to be devoted to teaching fundamentals, and building depth charts and team unity. What adds intensity to the Warriors' workouts is the "Survivor" element. Up to 30 players — mostly walk-ons — will be cut this week to make room for this summer's newcomers. Reminded that every play of every drill is captured on video by the so-called "eye in the sky," there was a serious tone to each practice. Every mistake was magnified. Every one-on-one drill was intensified. It was interesting watching which players would emerge as contributors and which would watch their football dreams die." (HSA)


Asked for his assessment of the UH football tame based on spring practice, Dave Reardon said:
"When Kenton Chun made a field goal Friday night at the Warrior Bowl, Bobby Curran playfully announced, "Hawaii 3, BYU 0." Works every time, the Ching Field denizens laughed again this year. But, hey, what if UH really could play the Cougars or some other team in the spring finale, instead of itself? Then we would know whether to be horrified by or elated over eight sacks (and you could sell tickets and make planny money, too). OK, it's true the defense is always ahead of the offense in these things; how far is acceptable? Once again the offensive line is rebuilding. Here's some good news from the scrimmage that can't be turned on its head into a negative: Zero dropped passes — not bad for a receiving unit losing three starters, including two probable NFL draftees." (HSA)


Asked for his assessment of the UH football tame based on spring practice, Ferd Lewis said:
"The sight of white-haired, 71-year old University of Hawaii assistant football coach Dick Tomey sprinting — yes, sprinting — between stations at some Warriors practices said a lot about this spring.

It symbolized the urgency to overhaul special teams, Tomey's point of responsibility and an area of prime need for the Warriors.

UH's punt and kickoff return stats were among the most dismal in major college football last year, including a meager 3.8 yards averaged per punt return. So bad was the situation that by season's end the Warriors were asking their punt returners to merely fair catch the ball.

From returning kicks to blocking them it seemed there was a genuine emphasis this spring, an attention to fundamental detail and wide-open competition.

The Warriors will need to be successful on special teams in the fall, because while the defense should be a force, as advertised, the offense is, not unexpectedly, taking time coming around." (HSA)


Asked for his assessment of the UH football tame based on spring practice, Jason Kaneshiro said:
"Transition in the offensive skill positions has usually been accompanied by some pronounced growing pains throughout Hawaii's run-and-shoot history. Most of the rough years included a change at quarterback, and Bryant Moniz's return alleviates concern in that part of the equation. But the Warriors must still replace three-fourths of the starting receiver unit in an offense relying heavily on timing and chemistry. They appear to have answered one of the big questions of the spring with Miah Ostrowski and Billy Ray Stutzmann asserting themselves at the pivotal slot receiver spots. With a veteran unit returning on defense, a second season under defensive coordinator Dave Aranda figures to help the Warriors play more aggressively on that side of the ball. The secondary was hit hard by graduation, but cornerbacks Tank Hopkins and John Hardy-Tuliau appear ready to step forward, and senior Richard Torres provides stability at safety." (HSA)


Asked for his assessment of the UH football tame based on spring practice, Mike Cherry said:
"The running back position experienced a resurgence last season thanks to the hard-running style of Alex Green, who became the first UH back to rush for 1,000 yards in a season since 1992. I believe Sterling Jackson is ready to pick up that torch and run with it. The 6-foot 220-pounder isn't as agile as Green could be, but he possesses the power that will make defenders regret getting in his way. Just as impressive, though, has been the depth of backs offensive coordinator Nick Rolovich has at his disposal. It will be interesting to see how the duties will be spread among John Lister, Joey Iosefa and Hogan Rosehill, all of whom are bruiser-type backs capable of picking up the blocking assignments that are vital to the position. There might not be a single back who surpasses the 1,000-yard mark in 2011, but as a unit they could be a force." (HSA)


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