University of Hawaii’s quarterbacks hope to make the grade

That incomplete pass in the 7-on-7 drill was seemingly just another play in another University of Hawaii football practice this training camp.

But that pass, like every throw in every drill, is captured on two bird’s-eye camera angles, reviewed and scored on a six-category system, and will be part of the process in determining the Rainbow Warriors’ starting quarterback.

“We grade every single rep when (quarterbacks) go against the defense,” quarterbacks coach Craig Stutzmann said.

Cole McDonald, Jeremy Moussa, Chevan Cordeiro, Kolney Cassel and Justin Uahinui are competing at quarterback this camp. Tanner Darling has moved to wideout, and Larry Tuileta has not practiced while training in volleyball.

Since the first snap of camp, the quarterbacks have been judged on decision making, accuracy, completions, incompletions, interceptions and technique. Two points are awarded for doing the right thing, one point for a questionable play, and zero for an inadequate rep.

“You add up all the points, divide them by possible points, and that’s your grade,” Stutzmann said.

But gray matters. If a quarterback flushed from the pocket completes the on-the-move throw, he receives two points. “If you’re scrambling just to scramble, you’re a zero for the decision making, but you’ll get two points for the completion,” Stutzmann said.

Stutzmann said technique is based on mechanics, such as footwork and dropbacks.

“Accuracy is important,” Stutzmann said. “If you’re supposed to put (the pass) on the (receiver’s) outside shoulder and it lands inside of him, that’s going to be a one. If he completely misses the guy, that’s going to be a zero.”

There is some flexibility in the scoring. “Just the other day, Jeremy Moussa was three of 10,” Stutzmann said. “But he had five drops in his group. Really, he should have been at 80 percent (accuracy). We do take a lot of those things into consideration.”

Stutzmann said the matchups are rotated to ensure fairness. For instance, a quarterback might work with a first-team offense against a second-team defense, and then switch around the next day. “You want to make sure you have the proper amount of reps with the different groups,” Stutzmann said. “Chemistry is big.”

The quarterbacks also are graded on making the best choices instead of targeting only a favorite receiver.

“You don’t want to force feed,” Stutzmann said. “There’s a difference. When you’re playing man to man, then you’re looking for matchups. If you’re playing zone, it’s really more about decision making, and also situational football. This offense isn’t based on feeding people as much as it is to feed the open receiver.”

Stutzmann said intangibles are also a consideration. Stutzmann said it is important for a quarterback to trust the coaches, play-caller and the system.

Stutzmann said: “When (head coach Nick Rolovich) says, ‘this safety is getting off the hash, I want you to put your eyes here and go back side and stick it in the window,’ who will actually listen and be able to go through that whole thing, do what he says, and put the ball in the window? If the window is not there, does he have the ability to move and make the coaches look even better? It’s trust and play-making ability. You’re giving the guy the answer to the test. Is he going to do it his way?”

Rolovich said the point system is based on basic requirements.

“We like completions,” Rolovich said. “We like production. We like good decisions. We like accuracy. Whether or not there’s a point system, you should be practicing that way.”

Rolovich added: “It’s an incredibly complex position, and a lot of the things off the field and personality wise come into play. Everybody is getting reps. We’re getting better.”