SEVENTH IN A SERIES
Paper or plastic?
On paper, the Hawaii football team’s offensive line has made an early impression.
"I like them all," said Chris Wiesehan, who will coach the Warriors’ offensive line and coordinate the run game. "We’ll see what they look like with plastic on. It’s a little different when you have to go out and hit somebody and be assignment sound. There are five steaks on the table. The hungriest guys are going to play."
Wiesehan, who was hired in January, said he has few preconceptions of the linemen ahead of Tuesday’s start of spring training.
"We’re going to see what we have on the field," Wiesehan said.
Wiesehan is true to his own uncharted journey to Manoa. If he had followed his original blueprint, he would be practicing law.
"That was one of my options," said Wiesehan, whose post-college playing career was shortened because of an injury.
He then received a tip from an NFL scout about a graduate assistant’s opening at Fort Hays. The job would allow him to complete work on a master’s degree, and to be an on-field coach. Wiesehan figured law school could wait another two years. His law school plans are still in storage.
"When you’re around players, when you’re impacting lives, I really liked the mentoring part (of coaching)," Wiesehan said.
He coached at Purdue, Notre Dame, Northern Arizona and James Madison, and in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. At the end of the 2008 season, he was among the coaches released when Syracuse changed staffs. At the time, he had a long-distance relationship with the woman who would become his wife, a Los Angeles-based producer. He decided to join her on the West Coast.
Wiesehan landed a job as UCLA’s tight ends coach, working under Bruins offensive coordinator Norm Chow. During games, both out-of-the-box thinkers worked together in the coaches box.
"We worked together pretty well," Wiesehan said.
Wiesehan then spent the next two seasons with Winnipeg in the Canadian Football League. The Blue Bombers played in the 2011 Grey Cup, the CFL’s equivalent of the Super Bowl. Wiesehan was in line for college coaching jobs when he received a call from Chow in December.
"He called to congratulate me on a job he thought I had taken," Wiesehan said. When told that job was on hold, Chow, who had been named UH’s head coach, offered a coaching position to Wiesehan. Chow said he would work on the compensation package.
"I said, ‘treat me fair,’ and he did," Wiesehan said.
The timing matched because Wiesehan’s wife wanted to take a break from producing to spend more time with the couple’s child. Wiesehan said his friend, former Punahou athlete Sean Satterfield, helped with the move.
"We immediately dropped into a family situation with his mom and his wife," Wiesehan said.
Wiesehan said he is happy to be back working with the offensive line after coaching receivers in Winnipeg.
"I think that’s where it all happens," Wiesehan said of the trenches. "You have to know it inside-out. That’s why I always gravitated there. If you can handle the front and the protection and the structures of the running game, it will help you as a (run) coordinator."
| TODAY’S POSITION » OFFENSIVE LINE
Chris Wiesehan, who has coached in college and the pros, will be in charge of the Warriors’ offensive line and run game.
» Key losses: Andrew Faaumu, Clayton Laurel, Matagisila Lefiti, Brett Leonard and London Sapolu had a combined 46 starts.
» By the numbers: The Warriors have only one senior offensive lineman (Levi Legay) on the spring roster.
» Key returners: Tackles Legay, Jordan Loeffler and Sean Shigematsu; guards David Lefotu and Chauncy Winchester-Makainai
» Keep an eye on: David Lefotu has drawn comparisons to former Warrior Vince Manuwai. For a 300-pounder, Lefotu is agile and technically sound and has a nasty streak.
» The future: As a left tackle at Hartnell College, Mike Milovale relinquished a half sack the entire 2011 season. He is projected to compete at guard — and right away. The Warriors do not recruit JC players for depth.
» Spring work: After 14 years with the four-wide passing attack, the Warriors are reborn to run. That means all of the offensive linemen will have a hand on the ground at the snap. In the past, the tackles were in a two-point stance. "This offense is predicated on the run game, and being good in the run game," Wiesehan said. "All of the wrinkles Coach Chow has off of the play-action and the magic in his offense are going to start up front with our physicality." Communication is emphasized among the linemen, tight ends, fullbacks and running backs. The tight ends and tackles were placed in the same study groups to promote cohesion. The playbook will be simplified, too. Wiesehan said he does not want a blocker thinking about "nine or 10 calls" each play. "We want to teach concepts, so they can play within a system," Wiesehan said. Because of injuries, 12 offensive linemen played significantly in 2011, with nine appearing in at least 10 games. There were eight starters. Shigematsu, who missed the final 11 games because of a knee injury, is medically approved, although he probably won’t practice extensively until after spring break. Wiesehan also is seeking an elite rotation. "You want your five best up front," he said.
» Final words: "There are a lot of ways to be good in football," Wiesehan said. "We feel good about what we’re doing."
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