Oh snap, UH offense suffering from pre-snap malfunctions

The University of Hawaii football team’s offense was on a roll after a practice this week.

Each of the players in the white jerseys — the practice color for the offense — was required to roll the width of the practice field. Back and forth. Over and over.

This was the offense’s punishment for committing 10 of 13 penalties in a 35-14 loss to Utah State this past Saturday. (There were two penalties on special teams and one on defense.)

Seven of the offense’s infractions were false starts, including three inside USU’s 30.

"Our false starts in the game are unacceptable," UH center Kody Afusia said.

USU tried to create chaos by shouting out defensive calls while the UH players were going through their cadence.

Despite distractions and other circumstances, the Warriors are trained to focus. It is why loud music blares during practices.

"Discipline," said quarterbacks coach Jordan Wynn, who is one of the play-callers. "You’ve got to be disciplined before the play. Things like holding, that happens. But we can’t false start and do things (against the rules) before the snap."

Of the Warriors’ 34 offensive penalties this season, 21 were pre-snap infractions. Against Utah State, the Warriors had 16 plays in which they needed to advance at least 11 yards for a first down. In the three previous games, they averaged 6.7 plays in which they needed 11 or more yards.

"We have to handle adversity and not make mental mistakes and not make mental breakdowns," quarterback Ikaika Woolsey said.

Against USU, Woolsey had the best performance of his UH career, throwing for 356 yards and a touchdown. But after scoring 14 points in the first quarter, the Warriors did not have a point thereafter. In the second half of the past three games, the Warriors have scored one touchdown and 11 points.

This season, the Warriors have scored a touchdown or field goal on 26.8 percent of their full drives. Of their 123 full possessions, six have been for 75 yards or longer and nine have exceeded four minutes.

In the USU game, Afusia said, "we drove and drove but couldn’t finish it off. It’s something we constantly have to work on. We have to try to get better every day."

The Warriors should receive a boost from running back Joey Iosefa, who has completed a three-game suspension and rehabilitation on an ankle injury. Iosefa is expected to start in Saturday’s road game against Colorado State.

"It definitely feels good to have Joey back," Woolsey said. "He’s a leader. He’s been around for a while. He’s really seasoned. He understands this offense. He’s definitely good to have around our team."