Quotes from the Star-Advertiser's 2010 Football Preview

About how Moniz has improved from last season, offensive coordinator and QB coach Nick Rolovich said:
"He's got not only zip, but he has better control. Some guys can throw it hard. You hear a lot in recruiting that 'this guy's got a cannon.' But it's kind of hard to catch cannonballs. You have to make the throw that's necessary on that play and I think he has a good range of abilities.  (Last year) he had enough to get it to the distances we asked him to get, but it's the control aspect. He doesn't have to just throw it as far as he can. He can throw it where he wants to." (HSA)


About how strengthening his right arm during the offseason has paid off for him, Moniz said:
"I feel I can make a lot of those throws I couldn't make last year just because I got stronger. A lot of those throws became a lot easier, and in smaller windows it's easier to squeeze it in." (HSA)


About trying to learn all he can from Rolo and Mouse Davis, Moniz said:
"I'm trying to pick Coach Rolo's brain, pick Coach Mouse (Davis') brain to the point where I can coach the offense. That's pretty much what I need to be, a coach on the field, be able to know everything and see everything." (HSA)


About how he changes UH's offense when he plays video games, Alex Green said:
"When I play, I change the offense to like a triple option. We run the ball all game." (HSA)


About how Alex Green and Chizzy Dimude understand their offense better this year, RB coach Brian Smith said:
"Now they have an idea what we're doing, so it allows them to be more confident in themselves. It helps them run a little more fluid and more decisive. They're looking like veterans." (HSA)


About how his increased understanding of the offense pays off for him on the field, Chizzy said:
"I feel I play a lot faster now because it's second nature to me now." (HSA)


About how Mouse Davis has been refining their technique, Greg Salas said:
"He's helping us get real specific, making sure we get to our landmarks and really getting on us for not doing things the right way. That's going to help us out a lot with the detail and how specific we have to be on our routes." (HSA)


About how their receivers are talented enough and just need to execute now, Mouse said:
"It's all a matter of execution. We have the talent to be good; now we have to go out and execute." (HSA)


About how the increased precision under Mouse could improve their offense, Salas said:
"(The offense) is the same, just cleaning it up. We got a little sloppy at times, that was our fault being new at the position and not really knowing what we're doing real well." (HSA)


About returning from his injury, Rodney Bradley said:
"It definitely made me more anxious, seeing where I left off and the kind of season I was having before the injury. I'm trying to get back to where I started and let that be my floor and continue to go up." (HSA)


About how their OL has to quickly make adjustments on each play, LT Austin Hansen said:
"We have to make sure we make ours real quick so they have time to do what they need to do." (HSA)


About how practicing against their complex defense helps them get better, Hansen said:
"The more repetition we have against our defense just helps us get better.  The defense has 150 blitzes we're running against.  They're giving us the best test we can have and we're trying to pass it." (HSA)


About how they need a lot of DL depth despite using just 4 DL in their base package, DT coach Tony Tuioti said that:
"we need to find eight guys that can play." (HSA)


About how the DTs role in the defense is to sacrifice themselves to enable their teammates to make plays, Haku Correa said:
"We might not make plays, but we're doing our job.  It's not about making plays, it's about helping our teammates make plays." (HSA)


About the importance of the LBs to any good defense, Corey Paredes said:
"The coaches were telling us how the greatest defensive teams in the NFL, the heart is the linebackers.  The good defenses have solid linebackers the team can trust.  We're in an important position to lead the defense." (HSA)


About the pride that their LBs have, defensive coordinator and LB coach Dave Aranda said:
"There's a lot of pride in that group.  A lot of good football players, guys who understand football." (HSA)


Praising Corey Paredes, Aranda said:
"Corey's earned the respect of the guys.  He's a good hitter and one of our more talented blitzers.  The guys look to him because everything he has he's earned." (HSA)


About Paipai Falemalu's height and reach give them more range at OLB, Aranda said:
"We didn't have any of those guys last year, so we really had to try to manufacture some stuff." (HSA)


About how their DBs support each other, Jeramy Bryant said:
"It's like having a big brother in a fight.  You know you're going to have somebody who is going to be there when they're supposed to be there.  It's a comfort level for me because we're on the same page." (HSA)

"It's just really good having friends back there.  Not just teammates, but friends." (HSA)


About how they return all of their DB starters and numerous other DBs with playing experience, CB coach Rich Miano said:
"This year there's eight to 10 guys who had extensive playing time last year, so I think we're taking the playbook a step further.  Obviously we're getting better at what we did last year, and we have a better understanding of what we're trying to do." (HSA)


About how their DBs understand each other better since they played together last season, Mana Silva said:
"We had chemistry last year, but we're taking it to another level.  It's critical in that we know each other's tendencies.  I feel real comfortable with those guys.  The game has slowed down for us a lot, so it's going to help us make more plays back there." (HSA)


About how working together all of last season will enable their DBs to be an effective unit, safeties coach Chris Tormey said:
"They can rely on each other to be where they need to be, which allows each individual player to focus on his responsibility." (HSA)


About the need for consistency, punter Alex Dunnachie said:
"One of the things coach told me is it's better to be consistently good than occasionally great." (HSA)


About the competition he faces from freshman Tyler Hadden, kicker Scott Enos said:
"I don't think it's going to come down to strength; it's going to come down to consistency." (HSA)


About how he needs to kick the ball quicker, Enos said:
"At this level, one of the main things is timing.  Because they've got some big buys out there getting up and blocking kicks and you have to get it off. ... Instead of waiting to make sure the hold's going to be there you just gotta trust those guys." (HSA)


About his trust in Luke Ingram, Dunnachie said:
"I feel so comfortable knowing that ball's coming in the same spot every time." (HSA)


About how Dunnachie is improved this season, special teams coordinator Chris Tormey said:
"We've worked hard with him on his mechanics and his drop and he's got a lot more confidence in it now.  Having been through it and understanding what it's like to kick under game conditions, he's going to be so much more comfortable when it comes to game time and let his ability take over." (HSA)


About how kickers need to focus on their job and not worry about anything else going on, Enos said:
"As a kicker you can't worry about what's going on around you.  Kicking is 90 percent mental at this level; you just have to zone them out and do your job." (HSA)


About his sudden growth spurt during the middle of high school, 6'2" Salas said:
"I was 5-5 going into my junior year.  I hit a growth spurt.  I grew like 7 inches one day.  I went to school and my friends were like, 'Did you get taller?'  I said, 'Dude, I think I did, literally overnight.'  I was looking in the mirror, and I said, 'I look taller this morning.'  I have no idea what happened." (HSA)


About the need to excellent peripheral vision, Salas said:
"You have to be able to see defenders come from all angles.  You have to know when the side defender is coming.  You don't want to get blasted." (HSA)


About how he was first able to dunk a ball as a high school senior, Salas said:
"I always tried to dunk in front of the (football) coaches.  I finally did it.  It was cool to dunk a basketball." (HSA)


Asked how comfortable he is about giving his 2 new coordinators greater responsibility, Mack said:
"Just like you try to get the players in the right position to make plays, I'm just trying to get our staff in the right positions to do their responsibilities and I feel real good about how things are going.  

Dave has been with me for five years, he knows the package as well as anybody.  I didn't bring Mouse (Davis) in to mentor.  Rolovich is in charge of the offense.  Mouse is here to coach the receivers.  Just like Dave can bounce something off me because I've done it a long time, Rolo can bounch something off Mouse. ... When things get tough they have guys who've been there.

They get all the paperwork done, they get all the game plans done through talking to the other coaches so they all contribute to it." (HSA)


Asked what role he will have in play-calling, Mack said:
"My name goes on the wins and losses so I can over rule anything, but I'm confident in those guys who are calling the plays.  Sometimes when you call a timeout, then there can be discussion on it because you have a little time.  But for every down and distance, field position, personnel grouping, they've already selected the calls they're going to make.  So I'm able to do more head coaching things, I'm able to run the game and I'm basically in all three rooms right now.

It's tough calling defense and being a head coach, I think offensive guys can do it more.  Defensive guys, you can't make a mistake or it's a touchdown.  I know this, I really believe in the guys who are teaching them." (HSA)


Asked how much more they can do with greater experience on both sides this year, after rebuilding on offense 2 years ago and the defense last year, Mack said:
"I feel really good about these guys.  One, their attitude and conditioning.  I also feel good because we have enough seniors that we have leadership, but a lot of the leadership is in the junior class.  This is a young team if you really look at it.  They're real competitive.  They're fast, we recruited to speed and we still have the big buys.  We have to look at the offensive line just because they haven't played together.  We're new at linebacker, but how linebackers are really good athletes.  The defensive line is really a strength of our team." (HSA)


Asked how he's changed or refined his approach after two seasons of being a head coach, Mack said:
"We're doing the same things.  We're running the run-and-shoot and we're running the (defensive) package I've always run.  I told Dave I want to run the same package, I just want it to look different.  Rolo's doing a great job with all of our skill guys and we know what we're doing.

We have to get better continuously.  Every game is important because we want to go to a bowl game and we wasted a game last year.  We can't waste any games.  It's pro style.  Every game is as important as any other game.  We'll have 48 hours to celebrate or get over the feeling of a loss and then we get right into the next game. ... We're looking for a great starting point and then get better from there." (HSA)


Asked how big a challenge will it be to prepare for the various offensive styles you'll face, especially early in the season (USC, Army and Colorado), Mack said:
"We've been working on all three of those.  We've got all three of those teams broken down.  Of course we'll get a couple extra on Colorado, but we've got them broken down from last year.  We've got Army broken down.  We've got our plans for them, we've worked on the option.  We'll be smart with it and just play our game." (HSA)


Asked why he kept playing in 1998 with a ruptured disk in his back as they continue losing, Tony Tuioti said:
"When you're 0-12, all you have is each other." (HSA)


About how he had back surgery in January 1999 and played for JJ and Mack during the 1999 season, Tuioti said:
"I missed all spring, fall practice.  I caught up on the fly during the season." (HSA)


About the respect that UH's players have for how Tuioti played through pain for UH, Vaughn Meatoga said:
"You have that respect for him, that he played in the trenches.  Someone who hasn't been there doesn't know the pain that comes when you take on the double-team.  He knows the strength it takes to do some of the things we do.  He once did it, and he did it well.  I saw some clips.  He was a ball of energy, unstoppable motor.  Coach Mack showed us clips.  He stood out." (HSA)


About how he learned a lot about Tuioti despite only being at UH for a year, Kaniela Tuipulotu said:
"I've heard the stories.  He played like an animal.  He wasn't always the biggest, but his heart was huge." (HSA)


Asked if he was frustrated with not being able to do any hand's-on coaching last year, Tuioti said:
"Coach Mack gave me a great opportunity." (HSA)


About how Tuioti prepared all of last year to be a coach, Meatoga said:
"Last year he was in the background, but he was real observant, taking notes, watching how we respond to things.  He looked real anxious, looked like he wanted to get in the action.  I'm glad he's our coach this year." (HSA)


Praising this DL group, Tuioti said:
"We've got some good guys that want to work hard.  They're eager to learn and get better.  They're taking ownership and believing in themselves and each other.  Every single day they've been focused.

On the D-line you've got to be selfless.  If that means taking on double-teams so the linebackers can run free and make plays, that's what we'll do.  I don't mind if we have no sacks, but if the quarterback is 1-for-20, I'll take that any day.  We can be effective in a lot of ways, like batting balls down.  Last year we have just three batted balls.  I thin, we had double-digits in the spring." (HSA)


About calling Meatoga "gold", Tuioti said:
"It was Lance (Samuseva), it was Mike (Lafaele).  right now it's Vaughn.  The torch is being passed." (HSA)


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