The Mountain West forgot to send me a preseason football poll ballot this year. Or maybe it’s intentional because they didn’t receive my check to "share travel costs" with the continent-based reporters.
Just as well if the scribes don’t make it out here. Nothing to see, according to their own voting.
And why wouldn’t the media pick the Rainbow Warriors to finish 2013 last in the Western Division, following what transpired last fall?
In case you need a reminder, Hawaii was 1-7 in its first year in the league and outscored 323-167. If the losses had been closer, we could see the logic of expecting a lot of improvement in the win-loss column in the second year under a new coaching staff with new systems and players.
UH will be better than last year (it would be nearly impossible not to be), but it likely won’t be improved enough to more than double its conference wins, if that.
The Warriors deserve more respect, especially since they beat UNLV, you say? Correct, but UH plays at Vegas this year … a place where it’s been lucky to escape with all its fans and even players (remember 2003), let alone a win. In 2011, there was that inexplicable (on the surface, anyway) 40-20 beatdown at Sam Boyd Stadium.
I’ve heard fans say the voters didn’t take into account a stellar UH recruiting class.
I agree that even after you strip down the hype, this is a decent incoming group. But other than defensive tackle Kennedy Tulimasealii (a great get who half the Pac-12 was chasing) will any of the newcomers make a sudden impact? That question became even more important with the recent foot injury to running back Joey Iosefa.
The latest report is Iosefa might be ready to play in the season opener against USC. But foot injuries can be tricky and recurring.
Iosefa’s rehab is one of the biggest things to watch in the weeks leading up to the start of the season, right up there with how well the offensive line coalesces and which receivers can separate from cornerbacks and hence, their competition on the depth chart.
Don’t forget it was also a foot injury that limited Iosefa to eight games last season. Then, Will Gregory was a decent replacement, but he’s gone now.
Opportunity knocks for Steven Lakalaka, Diocemy Saint Juste and Aofaga Wily. Still, if he’s not available, Iosefa will be sorely missed for his experience and versatility. Iosefa is a multi-faceted weapon and perhaps the Warriors’ best all-around offensive player. He can run, catch and the former high school quarterback can even throw. He’s a tough game-planning problem for opposing defenses. UH was 0-4 when he didn’t play last fall and 3-5 when he did.
So when coach Norm Chow says his offense will simply pass more if Iosefa is out, there’s really more to it than that. Unless one of the new running backs steps up as a threat, it will be harder to throw successfully. The Warriors can’t afford to be one-dimensional on offense.
And, speaking of injuries, if UH gets hit at defensive tackle like last year, don’t worry about any of that. None of it will matter.
Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783 or on Twitter as @dave_reardon.
