The wildcat is the wild card for the Hawaii football team’s offense.
The Warriors’ top quarterbacks — David Graves and Jeremy Higgins — struggled during Tuesday’s practice. Those performances coincided with head coach Norm Chow’s decision to implement the wildcat, a back who takes the direct shotgun snap.
Running back Joey Iosefa ran most of the wildcat plays. Receiver Allen Sampson, who is recovering from a torn ACL, also took a brief turn.
“In the wildcat, you usually get a guy who can run but can’t throw, or a guy who can throw but can’t run,” Chow said. “Joey can run and throw. That threatens the defense. They can’t gang up. They have to account for every player. He makes the game 11 on 11.”
The wildcat scheme gave Iosefa several options. He handed off to wide receiver Billy Ray Stutzmann, who turned a fly sweep into an 8-yard rush during the scrimmage-like session. On a third-and-6 play, Graves motioned to the right, then Iosefa took the snap. Iosefa threw to Graves for the first down.
“It was a simple hitch,” Iosefa said.
Iosefa was a high school quarterback in American Samoa. He joined the Warriors as a linebacker before moving to running back as a second-year freshman in 2011.
“I thought I lost my quarterback skills, but I still had a little bit,” Iosefa said.
Chow said: “I might have to use him in more of the offense than I thought.”
Running backs coach Keith Uperesa praised Iosefa’s versatility.
“He can do multiple things,” Uperesa said. “He’s a very talented young man. He loves the game. He’s passionate about it. He’ll do anything for the ballclub.”
Chow said the starting quarterback’s job remains open. Graves and Higgins have taken most of the snaps this spring. Ikaika Woolsey has gotten some work. Justin Alo has a hand injury and will not participate in the final two practices of spring training. Taylor Graham is required to redshirt in 2012 after transferring from Ohio State in December.
“I’m disappointed in David’s performance today and I’m disappointed with Jeremy’s performance today,” Chow said after Tuesday’s practice, the first since Saturday’s workout on Maui. “I’m disappointed with the entire practice. The fire wasn’t there. I don’t know why. Maybe they left it on Maui.”
Fullback Dustin Elisara tore knee ligaments during the Maui practice. With Jared Leaf out with an undisclosed illness, tight end Waylon Lolotai and linebacker Justin Vele moved to fullback.
“When Dustin Elisara went down, coach Uperesa called me in,” Vele said. “The coaches had a meeting. They were moving guys around, and my name came up. He said they needed guys at fullback. They tried to tell me as nice as they could. Defense is my pride and joy, but it’s for the team. I’m treating this (move) as a blessing.”
There was a scary incident when defensive end Siaki Cravens suffered a serious shoulder injury. He was on the ground for about 15 minutes while being treated by the trainers. He was carried into an ambulance, where he was treated for another 15 minutes, before being taken to a hospital.
