QBs know someone must start executing

On another SPF-50 morning in Manoa, quarterback Ikaika Woolsey coolly led the Hawaii football offense down the field during a two-minute drill.

For this practice, at least, Woolsey showed he could take the heat.

The Warriors have a bye this weekend. But Woolsey, a third-year sophomore, will make his fifth start in a row for the Oct. 4 road game against Rice in Houston.

Head coach Norm Chow praised Woolsey’s leadership, athletic skills and comprehension of the offense.

But Chow said: "There has to be some productivity there."

Woolsey has struggled with his accuracy, completing 45.9 percent of his passes this season. This is his line: 56.3 percent in the first quarter; 47.4 in the second quarter, and 38.6 in the second half.

He has connected on 11 of his past 29 throws, an accuracy of 37.9 percent.

"We’re getting the right plays out there for our guys," Woolsey said. "Players are making the plays. The execution part is what we’re lacking now."

There have been times the receivers have had difficulty creating space against press coverages. There have been times Woolsey has missed open receivers, mostly when he is pressured, sometimes when he is not.

Woolsey said there are times when he "over-thinks," and becomes "robotic."

"That’s something I have to fix," Woolsey said. "I just have to play free and be confident in myself. There’s no doubt I have absolute confidence to get it done. I have to focus on those little things and come out and play loose."

He showed that during Wednesday’s two-minute drill, when he hit wideout Keelan Ewaliko on a fourth-and-3 pass.

"It’s a big week for us to just get fundamentally sound and get our execution down," Woolsey said.

Taylor Graham, who ascended to No. 2 quarterback this week, completed his first eight passes in the scrimmage-like sessions. In the two-minute drill, Graham led the Warriors 60 yards, capped by wideout Duke Bukoski’s 19-yard touchdown catch.

"During a bye week, you want to focus on your fundamentals and prepare for the next opponent," Graham said. "You get two weeks. That’s good. We’re going to do our best to take advantage of it."

Graham and Jeremy Higgins were bracketed at No. 2 in the first four games, although Higgins was summoned first as Woolsey’s replacement the past two weeks. Higgins suffered a fracture in his left (throwing) hand. Coupled with a wrist injury, Higgins’ season — and UH career — has ended. He will serve as a student assistant the rest of the season.

Graham, who started three games last year, has made the most of his backup role.

"You want to be playing out here," Graham conceded. "We’re competitors. I’m no different from anyone else. At the same time, I want this team to be successful. My role so far has been being supportive and encouraging and trying to help whoever’s out there … just be there to support them for whatever they need."

The past couple weeks, it appears Graham is making quicker decisions in practice. Graham, like Woolsey, is trying not to over-think decisions.

"I’ve been told many times I’m a perfectionist by many people," Graham said. "I think that’s a good thing, but it also can bite you in the butt if you don’t handle it properly."

Beau Reilly, who was promoted from scout team, was the No. 3 quarterback on Wednesday. He completed a 60-yard scoring pass to tight end David Manoa during the scrimmage-like session.

As a first-year Warrior, Reilly is not made available to the media for interviews after practices.