Defense turns in strong Saturday

When it comes to football grades, University of Hawaii defensive coordinator Kevin Clune is admittedly strict.

But Clune acknowledged being pleased — OK, "less unhappy" — following Saturday’s practice, the seventh of the Rainbow Warriors’ spring training.

"We’re playing faster," said Clune, who implemented a 3-4 scheme shortly after he was hired in January. "We’re getting there. We’re not at the pinnacle just yet. They are taking steps. They’re way faster than they were during Thursday’s practice."

The more experienced offense controlled scrimmage-like drills in Thursday’s practice. After a day off, the defense rebounded on Saturday for its best performance of the spring.

During the situational scrimmage, the defense made eight stops on 10 third-down plays, including a dropped interception by inside linebacker Julian Gener.

Defensive end Marcus Malepeai and inside linebackers Tevita Lataimua and Jerrol Garcia-Williams played well in the "live" scrimmage in which the quarterbacks were allowed to be hit if they left the pocket. Malepeai had two hurries. Lataimua made two backfield tackles and forced a fumble. Garcia-Williams applied constant pressure.

In the Warriors’ four-linebacker scheme, the inside defenders are not tethered to an area. Lataimua and Garcia-Williams can play in the middle, in the flats or on the line as stand-up ends.

"We’re going to find a way to use all of our great ones," Clune said. "We’re going to put them in different places and bring them from different places. The offenses are going to have to cover their bases."

For Saturday’s practice, the offense had to overcome the rain, a slippery grass field and improved defense. The offense switched cadences, hoping the new snap counts would keep the defense from jumping plays. Instead, the offense was called three times for false starts.

Of the conditions, quarterback Jeremy Higgins said: "We just have to man up and take on the rain. It was wet, so everybody felt slow. We have to pull through that."

To be sure, the offense had some bright moments. Running back Diocemy Saint Juste, who has recovered from a hamstring pull, sprinted for a 20-yard touchdown. Tight end Jordan Pu‘u-Robinson grabbed a scoring pass for the third consecutive practice. And quarterback Ikaika Woolsey, proving his out-of-pocket skills, scrambled away from defenders before throwing to wideout Marcus Kemp for a 35-yard gain.

"We have to fix a few things (on offense)," Woolsey said, "but you can tell we’re moving along."

Quarterback Taylor Graham, who started three games in 2013, has been held out of contact drills to protect his surgically repaired left (non-throwing) shoulder. "We can’t put him in that stuff," Chow said.

Woolsey, who has worked mostly with the No. 1 unit, and Higgins have split the reps in scrimmage-like drills.

Woolsey and Higgins "are real close" in the competition, Chow said. "One guy does something, then the other guy does something."

Higgins said the quarterback battle, which won’t be decided until training camp in August, has improved the offense.

"I feel we’re on the brink of something good, something great," Higgins said.

Clune is cautiously optimistic about the defense’s progress.

"We got a little more pressure today," Clune said after Saturday’s practice. "We got a little more coverage. There were a lot of things going on that helped (the defense) move forward. … I’m never going to be happy. I’m always going to ask for more. They can come out and have the greatest day, and I’m going to ask them to be better. We’re always going to try to keep getting better."