Hawaii's Sean Schroeder and NAVY's Keenan Reynolds
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HAWAII
0-8, 0-6 in Mountain West
HAWAII OFFENSE
POS. |
NO. |
PLAYER |
HT. |
WT. |
CL. |
X |
9 |
Chris Gant |
6-0 |
190 |
Sr. |
SB |
29 |
Scott Harding |
5-11 |
200 |
Jr. |
LT |
77 |
Mike Milovale |
6-3 |
295 |
Sr. |
LG |
54 |
Kody Afusia |
6-2 |
305 |
Jr. |
C |
71 |
Ben Clarke |
6-3 |
285 |
So. |
RG |
63 |
Ben Dew |
6-3 |
295 |
So. |
RT |
68 |
Sean Shigematsu |
6-5 |
290 |
Jr. |
F |
84 |
Clark Evans |
6-4 |
220 |
Sr. |
Z |
89 |
Keith Kirkwood |
6-3 |
210 |
Fr. |
QB |
19 |
Sean Schroeder |
6-3 |
190 |
Sr. |
RB |
4 |
Steve Lakalaka |
5-10 |
220 |
Fr. |
Sean Schroeder connected on throws near and far, and scooted away from pressure. Yes, during an impromptu snowball fight earlier this week, Schroeder was the most effective — and the smartest. He was the only one to wear a helmet. Despite coming off a warm-and-cold performance against Utah State, Schroeder is an improved quarterback from a year ago, when he was hit 120 times in 11 games, suffered two concussions and incurred a back injury that required offseason surgery. Now Schroeder often keeps his distance from defenders with throws off three-step drops, rollouts or bootlegs. He has found a deep target in Chris Gant and, in times of trouble, looks to Clark Evans as the check-down help rather than force throws to the flats. "He gives us our best chance," coach Norm Chow said, declaring Schroeder the starting quarterback for the fifth consecutive game. There also are roles, if needed, for Taylor Graham, who has the strongest arm among the UH quarterbacks, and Ikaika Woolsey, who probably is miscast as a scrambler. Woolsey ran a four-wide offense in high school. Once again, there were murmurs that Joey Iosefa, limited to one series this year because of a foot injury, will make his return today. It is a prediction that did not materialize the past two games. But Iosefa was the No. 1 back during Friday’s 40-minute practice.
HAWAII DEFENSE
POS. |
NO. |
PLAYER |
HT. |
WT. |
CL. |
LE |
92 |
Beau Yap |
6-2 |
260 |
Jr. |
NT |
91 |
Moses Samia |
6-1 |
295 |
Jr. |
RE |
11 |
Tavita Woodard |
6-4 |
260 |
Sr. |
SLB |
40 |
Jerrol Garcia-Williams |
6-2 |
225 |
So. |
MLB |
56 |
Brenden Daley |
6-3 |
250 |
Sr. |
WLB |
41 |
Art Laurel |
6-0 |
240 |
Sr. |
LCB |
23 |
Dee Maggitt |
5-10 |
170 |
Jr. |
S |
33 |
John Hardy-Tuliau |
5-11 |
185 |
Sr. |
S |
10 |
Marrell Jackson |
6-0 |
185 |
So. |
S |
39 |
Trayvon Henderson |
6-0 |
190 |
Fr. |
RCB |
1 |
Ne’Quan Phillips |
5-9 |
186 |
So. |
For UH, "three-and-outs" will have dual meanings today. Opposing offenses have had extended drives 70.4 percent of their possessions and scored a touchdown or field goal on 49 of 125 possessions. "We need to get them off the field quicker," defensive coordinator Thom Kaumeyer said. The Warriors also have set a goal of containing Navy to fewer than 3 yards per rush. The Midshipmen are averaging 6.49 yards on first down, leading to favorable down-and-distance situations. Of their 110 third-down plays, 40 required 1 to 3 yards for a first down. The Warriors spent the past week emphasizing techniques against Navy’s triple-option offense. That means better open-field tackling, discipline to stick with receivers who won’t always be decoys, and quick thinking. The best way to minimize Navy’s cut blocks is to decide early on a move. An offensive player needs room to set up the cut block. "We’re going to need to be disciplined," safety John Hardy-Tuliau said. The Warriors will be without defensive tackle Saui Matagiese, who has a sprained MCL. With more three-man fronts, Marcus Malepeai, who had a good week of practice, and Kennedy Tulimasealii can rotate as an interior lineman.
HAWAII SPECIAL TEAMS
POS. |
NO. |
PLAYER |
HT. |
WT. |
CL. |
K |
27 |
Tyler Hadden |
5-11 |
195 |
Jr. |
SS |
62 |
Brodie Nakama |
5-9 |
250 |
Fr. |
H |
15 |
Ikaika Woolsey |
6-1 |
210 |
Fr. |
P/PR |
29 |
Scott Harding |
5-11 |
200 |
Jr. |
LS |
31 |
Kawika Borden |
6-1 |
200 |
Jr. |
KR |
22 |
Diocemy Saint Juste |
5-8 |
185 |
Fr. |
For a kickoff specialist, a perfect score is 65, the number of yards between the tee and the goal line. In the past four games, Tyler Hadden’s average is 64.3 yards. Of his 21 kickoffs in that span, 17 reached the end zone. Six of seven kickoffs against UNLV and all five against San Jose State exceeded 65 yards, (the NCAA rounds off any kickoff into the end zone as 65 yards.) He has forced eight touchbacks during that span. It is a remarkable show of strength for Hadden, who overcame hernia surgery during the offseason. At one point this year, UH considered using another player for kickoffs. But Hadden has responded in the past month. Of those four games, Hadden had his lowest average in the one played in high altitude, where the thinner air is supposed to extend a kick’s flight.
NAVY
Record: 4-4 Independent
NAVY OFFENSE
POS. |
NO. |
PLAYER |
HT. |
WT. |
CL. |
WR |
85 |
Matt Aiken |
6-0 |
195 |
Sr. |
LT |
62 |
Bradyn Heap |
6-3 |
288 |
Jr. |
LG |
57 |
E.K. Binns |
6-3 |
287 |
So. |
C |
75 |
Tanner Fleming |
6-2 |
276 |
Jr. |
RG |
64 |
Jake Zuzek |
6-0 |
310 |
Jr. |
RT |
61 |
Brandon Greene |
6-3 |
257 |
So. |
WR |
88 |
Casey Bolena |
6-2 |
210 |
Sr. |
SB |
29 |
Geoffrey Whiteside |
5-10 |
171 |
Jr. |
SB |
20 |
Darius Staten |
5-6 |
190 |
Sr. |
QB |
19 |
Keenan Reynolds |
5-11 |
185 |
So. |
FB |
34 |
Noah Copeland |
5-10 |
214 |
Jr. |
In scouting upcoming defenses, offensive coordinator Ivin Jasper (and former UH quarterback) will go into the archives only to find the present is not so different from the past. "We’ll watch the film and we’ll chuckle, ‘Man, that’s the same stuff we’re running,’ " Jasper said of Navy’s triple-option offense. The formula, used for nearly a decade at UH, relies on the quarterback handing off to the fullback, pitching to a looping slotback or keeping it. There are two paths — the load, in which the action heads toward the perimeter, or the mid-line option in which the QB hands off or follows the fullback’s block into a gap. It’s a read-and-attack offense that counters the defensive coverage. Like most aging things, the scheme is showing some new wrinkles. Keenan Reynolds now can align in a shotgun, if needed, and he has a strong enough arm to hit wideouts on vertical routes. Even when Navy goes without huddling, Reynolds can get the call from the sideline or make the audible himself. If the defense changes the coverage, Jasper said, "he can look at (the defenders) and check a better play. He’s a good player and a high-IQ guy." Jasper said it appears Navy’s offensive menu is "four or five plays, which is true. But at the same time, we added some stuff. It also makes (defenses) spend more time preparing for our new things." Reynolds, who grew up studying quarterback Steve McNair, said: "There’s always an answer. We have our rules, and we go and abide by our rules. It’s very head’s up. There’s a lot of responsibility on the quarterback. I wouldn’t ask for anything else."
NAVY DEFENSE
POS. |
NO. |
PLAYER |
HT. |
WT. |
CL. |
LE |
45 |
Paul Quessenberry |
6-2 |
251 |
Jr. |
NG |
72 |
Travis Bridges |
6-0 |
318 |
Sr. |
RE |
58 |
Evan Palelei |
6-3 |
247 |
Sr. |
SLB |
46 |
Chris Johnson |
6-1 |
207 |
Jr. |
ILB |
53 |
Cody Peterson |
6-3 |
228 |
Sr. |
ILB |
52 |
DJ Sargenti |
6-1 |
216 |
Sr. |
OLB |
13 |
Jordan Drake |
6-4 |
220 |
Jr. |
LCB |
17 |
Kwazel Bertrand |
5-10 |
186 |
So. |
R |
23 |
Chris Ferguson |
6-2 |
195 |
Jr. |
FS |
2 |
Parrish Gaines |
6-2 |
196 |
Jr. |
RCB |
1 |
Brandon Clements |
5-10 |
185 |
Fr. |
Navy’s defensive playbook should be dedicated to Bill Arnsparger and Dick LeBeau. Arnsparger created the framework of the zone blitz with the Miami Dolphins 42 years ago, and LeBeau popularized the scheme with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Navy defensive coordinator Buddy Green studied several variations before settling on a model that resembles LeBeau’s — a 3-4 alignment in which the ends can drop into coverage, the secondary can play two- or three-deep zones, the corners can blitz, and the linebackers swarm to the back or receiver with the ball. Navy’s intent is not necessarily sacks — it has only six in eight games — but to create chaos and hiccups to offensive rhythm. The space-eater — nose tackle Bernard Sarra — is unlikely to play because of health issues. Still, that will not deter the Midshipmen from following this naval command: full speed ahead. "The coaches say to sprint to the ball no matter what," said inside linebacker Cody Peterson, who averages a team-high 10.5 tackles per game. "That’s Navy football defense. It’s part of our culture. Even if we screw up, we’re just sprinting to the ball. I take that to heart. I believe our whole defense does. It’s pretty simple: Swarm to the ball and good things happen."
NAVY SPECIAL TEAMS
POS. |
NO. |
PLAYER |
HT. |
WT. |
CL. |
KO |
43 |
Austin Grebe |
6-0 |
192 |
So. |
PK |
6 |
Nick Sloan |
6-0 |
190 |
So. |
LS |
93 |
Joe Cardona |
6-3 |
230 |
Jr. |
P/H |
11 |
Pablo Beltran |
6-2 |
225 |
Jr. |
KR |
26 |
Marcus Thomas |
5-7 |
165 |
Sr. |
PR |
87 |
Shawn Lynch |
6-0 |
190 |
Sr. |
The Midshipmen’s specialty might be their discipline on special teams. This season, their specialists have been penalized only three times — twice on kickoff returns, once on a punt return. Overall, the Midshipmen had penalty-free games against Notre Dame and Delaware. Then again, Navy’s prolonged possessions often don’t lead to punts. Navy is tied for fifth nationally in fewest punts with 26. It punted only twice against Notre Dame. Pablo Beltran’s punts have resulted in seven fair catches and nine downed inside the 20.