The University of Hawaii offensive line has become the quarterbacks’ pocket protectors

It does not take a math nerd to know the importance of a pocket protector.

In three football games this season, the numbers show Hawaii starting quarterback Cole McDonald has benefited from his offensive linemen’s protective services.

McDonald has been sacked three times in 131 pass plays. He was not sacked in the opener against Arizona, and not touched at all in Saturday’s road game against 22nd-ranked Washington.

“Cole has done a great job in the pocket, and those guys up front are working hard and playing hard,” offensive line coach Mark Weber said.

McDonald said: “It’s pretty fun to stand back there in the pocket without any pressure. I know when we’re going up to the line, I don’t have to be worrying. They’re going to have my back.”

As the blind-side tackle, Ilm Manning is mainly responsible for back-side protection. “Just staying committed to the ball, that’s the key,” Manning said. “Just keep on working.”

Four of the five starting linemen entered the season with starting experience. Gene Pryor, who played two games as a redshirt in 2018, is the right tackle. Kohl Levao played that position for 10 games last season before moving to center. Because Levao has been sidelined with an ailment, Taaga Tuulima has started at center the first three games. Tuulima entered the season with 12 career starts.

Pryor said the line’s cohesiveness “started in the film room.”

“We do a lot of studying,” Pryor added. “All that practice, the hours, it really helps you recognize (defensive) fronts. We just got to the point where we move as one.”

As the line developed, McDonald appeared to stay in the pocket longer. “He trusts us a lot more,” Pryor said. “We do our jobs and we do what we can to give him time to throw the ball.”

“That’s the best feeling,” Manning said, “when you protect the quarterback and then he throws a dime to one of the receivers.”

In two seasons at UH, Weber has maintained a system that stresses creativity from simplicity. “We don’t put in a new system every week,” Weber said.

Instead, the linemen train repeatedly on specific areas and keys. “We’re able to anticipate some things and learn the offense at a deeper level than if you’re putting in new stuff every week,” Weber said.

The result is a cleaner performance with fewer mistakes. UH’s line has been penalized six times — three for holding, three for false-starts — in 244 offensive plays this year. Translation: A lineman commits a penalty on 2.4 percent of the snaps. Manning and right guard Solo Vaipule have not been penalized.

“A false-start is too many,” said Weber, who has been pleased with the linemen’s self discipline. “We’ve played fairly clean football games.”

Weber said blocking begins with footwork.

“If they’re fundamentally sound, if they block with their feet — which is the term we use — they’re not going to get called for holding because they’ll be in the right position,” Weber said. “If they have poor footwork, and they’re behind a guy, then they’ll want to reach out and grab. They’re getting more and more sound with their fundamentals and footwork, which leads to fewer holding penalties, fewer hands to face.”

Pryor said: “We try not to commit penalties because it hurts the team. We’re not trying to be mood killers.”