Former Hawaii cornerback/returner Mike Edwards is hopeful his football prayers can be answered in the three-day NFL Draft that begins today.
Whether or not they are fulfilled, his journey is being captured on video.
A Cleveland-based video crew has been following Edwards this week, recording his workouts, telephone chats with NFL officials and time spent with his family.
Edwards said he has had extensive interviews with 18 teams. He also said he has been invited to individual workouts, although he declined to identify the teams.
Edwards said his birthday wish is to be drafted. His birthday is Friday.
DEFENSE DOMINATES
The defense dominated most of the situational scrimmages during Wednesday’s final full practice of spring training.
Spring training concludes today with the Black-White game.
“It went well,” UH coach Norm Chow said. “The defense came out strong. The offense came back and did some things.”
The defense has opened sluggish in the past three practices involving situational scrimmages. In Tuesday’s drills, linebacker TJ Taimatuia said, the offense “really kicked our ass.”
In the rain on Wednesday, the defense seized control early. Taimatuia, linebacker Julian Gener, and safeties Ryan Pasoquen and Charles Clay intercepted passes. Gener’s pick was parlayed into a 50-yard return for a touchdown.
“We thought we’d go out with a bang,” said Gener, who transferred to UH in January. “It was a collective effort. Everybody had a piece of the pie. Everybody was eating.”
Taimatuia’s interception was grabbed off a deflection. Taimatuia did not have an interception during the 2012 season.
“I had one last spring,” Taimatuia said. “I think it’s a spring thing for me. Fall is about getting to the ball.”
Clay said it was important for the defense to “bounce back from” Tuesday.
“It was fun today,” Clay said. “Everybody was flying around, doing their thing.”
Defensive coordinator Thom Kaumeyer said the defense still gave too much cushion on pass routes in the red zone and short-yardage situations.
“We have to understand the situation where the field gets reduced,” Kaumeyer said. “We played a little soft in the red zone. We have to tighten things up.”
But Kaumeyer was pleased with the pressure and forced turnovers.
“We had a good start,” Kaumeyer said. “That’s something we preached. The last couple of days we started slow when we had those team periods. We wanted to start fast. We started fast. Plus, the assignment was there. Usually, in the last practice, people are just trying to get through. The defense picked it up. They wanted to finish strong.”
The offense also had its moments. UH implemented spread-offense plays this spring.
One non-play proved to be key. After a play, two players engaged in a hold-me-back scuffle.
“Somebody shoved a guy after the play was over,” Chow said. “Instead of getting off the field, all of a sudden it’s first-and-10 (following a penalty). It was a great lesson to be learned. We need composure. When you shove a guy, who gets hurt? It’s the 100 other guys on your football team who get hurt.”
DEE-LIGHTFUL PROGRESS
With his abbreviated first name, there should have been no doubt which side of the line of scrimmage Dee Maggitt was destined to play.
But Maggitt said he was a slot receiver and running back through his sophomore year of high school. It was then Maggitt moved over to defense.
At UH, Maggitt often is overlooked compared to higher-profile recruits. This spring, Maggitt has been used at the cornerback position vacated by Edwards.
Maggitt has worked on his footwork, balance and hip movement through yoga and tai chi. He also has tried to improve on the press-coverage techniques demanded in UH’s schemes.
“Dee is having a really good spring,” Kaumeyer said.
