Making the defensive secondary a priority, the Hawaii football team promoted Mike Edwards to starting cornerback and shifted John Hardy-Tuliau to free safety.
For the first eight days of training camp, the first-team secondary consisted of Hardy-Tuliau at right cornerback, Tank Hopkins at left cornerback, Richard Torres at strong safety and Kenny Estes at free safety. Edwards had been the No. 2 right cornerback.
"Coach (Greg) McMackin’s theory is to get the four best defensive backs on the field," said associate head coach Rich Miano, who coordinates the defensive secondary. "We’ve been talking about the four best guys, and it’s apparent we have three corners and a safety."
During Saturday’s practice, the switch was made. In the previous schemes, cornerbacks were designated as playing on the left or right side. Now, Edwards will be the boundary cornerback aligned on the narrow side of an opposing team’s formation. Hopkins will be the field cornerback on the wide side.
While Estes will be displaced as a starter in the base 4-3 defense, he will have a role when UH is in the 45 scheme involving five defensive backs.
The Warriors have two 45 defenses. If an offense is using three receivers, Hardy-Tuliau will shift to nickel corner, and Estes will play free safety. If an offense spreads out but still is a rushing threat, Estes or Kamalani Alo will play nickelback.
McMackin said Edwards, who played eight games as a Tennessee freshman in 2009, was deserving of a starting job.
"It was about being patient and learning from John, Tank and Rich," Edwards said. "I wanted to work my way in."
Hardy-Tuliau embraced the move.
"I’ll do what I can to help the team," said Hardy-Tuliau, who played nickelback as a freshman last year. "It’s the same techniques, but a different position."
As an experiment, Hardy-Tuliau practiced as a free safety for two days during spring drills.
"John is smart, and he’s an athlete," Miano said. "He can play anywhere."
