Quotes about Estes and Hercules Satele

Upset when he heard that a UH backed, not starting C John Estes, was named to the updated watch list for the Rimington Award as the best college football center in the US, OL coach Dennis McKnight said:
"In my opinion, right now, John Estes is the best offensive lineman in the country, bar none ... even with one arm." (HA)

HA Note: "Indeed, Estes is not whole, having suffered from a sprained left elbow since Aug. 6. It is an ailment that has kept Estes from practicing regularly."


About Estes' injured elbow, McKnight said:
"It's something he's going to have to deal with. He's going to have to be mentally tough and suck it up. It's going to be sore the whole year." (HA)

HA Note: "Except for a setback in the middle of last week, Estes has made progress since suffering the injury when he landed awkwardly during a drill. The concern is UH's most basic blocking technique — the punch, a two-handed jab to a defender's jersey number — requires full extension of both arms. Estes said he receives daily treatment on his left elbow. He also has changed his weight-lifting routine."


About how he lifts weights differently now, Estes said:
"Mostly I do shoulders. You can't really do any pressing. I'm trying to do low weights, high reps." (HA)


About limiting Estes' punches due to his injured elbow, McKnight said:
"We want him to save most of his punches for game night. He knows what he can and can't do to protect himself. He's like a baseball pitcher. He's not on a pitch count. He's on a punch count. I'm going to allow him about 30 punches a week (in practice). Team blitz (drill), that has to be live and full go. We do that three times a week. The rest of it is to protect yourself, and on Saturday night, 'let's go.' " (HA)


McKnight was an OL in the NFL and said that Estes can play at that level too:
"He has phenomenal leverage and balance. He's football smart and savvy. He understands positions of guys — where to take them, where to grab them, where to keep them in regards to him and the quarterback." (HA)


About serving as an unofficial assistant coach, Hercules Satele said:
"Coach McKnight has two jobs — O-line coach and special teams coach. I'm trying to help out the coach while he's helping out special teams. Hopefully, I'll take a little load off of him." (HA)

HA Note: "During blocking drills, when McKnight is working with the tackles, Satele will tutor the guards and centers."


About how Hercules has been teaching the guards and centets, McKnight said:
"Herc knows what we have to do as a group to get better. I trust Herc with my life. To have him take the centers and guards to work on something, that doesn't worry me at all." (HA)


About how Hercules led the OL during their summer workouts, McKnight said:
"He spent all summer organizing and leading these guys on his own." (HA)


About leading the OL, Hercules said:
"I don't mind. It's almost second nature." (HA)