Warriors focus on pass protection against OSU

CORVALLIS, Ore. » On yet another cloudy day in this northwest town, University of Hawaii football players tried to make their own sunshine.

The offensive linemen played Hacky Sack with a football. The quarterbacks competed in a hit-the-crossbar contest. Then quarterbacks Taylor Graham, Sean Schroeder and Jeremy Higgins took turns long-snapping.

After a week of intensive practices on the Manoa campus, the Rainbow Warriors had a casual-Friday approach to their walk-through session at Reser Stadium, site of today’s game against Oregon State.

The Warriors arrived in Portland on Thursday night, then made the 90-minute drive to the OSU campus in Corvallis. The 45-minute session was intended to work on logistics and such details as running onto the field quickly during substitutions. It also served as reminder that there is room for both business and fun on road trips.

The Warriors certainly needed to focus on something other than last week’s season-opening loss to USC, in which their defense and special teams ­played well while the offense struggled.

"It’s a process," Graham said of capturing an offensive rhythm. "We’re getting there."

Against USC, Graham was hit 16 times, including seven for sacks. Graham was intercepted four times; the receivers dropped seven passes.

The Warriors have worked on their pass protection this past week. David Griffin and Leo Koloamatangi are expected to either start or have expanded roles on the offensive line. The Warriors also implemented schemes to impede the Beavers’ perimeter attack. The Warriors used empty sets three times against USC, resulting in two sacks and an intentional incompletion.

Running back Joey Iosefa and defensive tackle Kennedy Tulimasealii were medically cleared to play. Their roles in this game, if any, have not been determined. Running back Diocemy Saint Juste, who missed a significant portion of training camp because of a hamstring injury, is expected to be used extensively today.

"It feels good to finally get out there and contribute to the team," Saint Juste said.

The Beavers, meanwhile, are a week removed from a surprising loss to FCS member Eastern Washington. While OSU rolled up 527 yards, the defense relinquished 625 yards.

"Hawaii is a physical team," OSU linebacker Michael Doctor said. "They have a big, strong quarterback. They have great receivers. We have to bring our ‘A’ game."

OSU quarterback Sean Mannion, who passed for 422 yards against Eastern Washington, said the game plan has been customized for Hawaii.

"We’re working on improving as a team," Mannion said. "We’re only one game into this thing."

HAWAII OFFENSE

It’s an inaccurate assumption that a quarterback can pore through a menu of options — progressions — and pick the best one. The playlist, in fact, is prioritized. "If ‘1’ is there, you take it," Taylor Graham said. "If not, you go through the progressions. Sometimes you only get to ‘2,’ sometimes you get to ‘5.’ It depends on what the defense gives you. Graham had little reading time against USC. He was hit 16 times, including seven on sacks. With protection, Graham was better than his overall 16-for-41 performance indicated. He completed 14 of 32 passes (there were five drops) when he was not hit; two of nine when he was struck. UH is expected to make alterations to the offensive line. Left tackle Sean Shigematsu has recovered from a bone bruise on his right ankle, but his number of snaps might be limited. David Griffin, a transfer from Mesa College, and Leo Koloamatangi, a second-year freshman who redshirted in 2012, are expected to make their first UH starts. Both have long arms and accurate punches. The hope is improved blocking will open the way for freshman running back Diocemy Saint Juste, who will have an expanded role, and the receivers. Tight end Clark Evans and receivers Marcus Kemp and Keith Kirkwood are expected to play more snaps this week.

OREGON STATE OFFENSE

Sean Mannion’s "a-ha" moment came in the spring of 2011 following his redshirt year as a freshman. "I think that’s the first time I really got it," Mannion said of OSU’s pro-set offense. The scheme is patterned after one of combat’s most effective strategies: death by a thousand cuts. Instead of swiping plays, OSU prefers to nick defenses with screens, hitches, curls and quick outs. Against Eastern Washington, Mannion threw for 422 yards, but only four of his passes traveled more than 15 yards past the line of scrimmage. OSU uses fly sweeps and pre-snap motions from receivers and backs to distract defenses. Woods, who can dash 4.48 seconds over 40 yards, is a threat on traps and stretch runs. Because Woods often gets the ball on draws, defenders have to spend an extra half-second reading the play. Woods also helps Mannion set up his pet move — the play-action pass. Cooks is the go-to receiver; Hamlett, who can align wide, is dependable. Last week, Mannion completed his first 12 passes — only one exceeded 15 yards — and finished 37-for-43. Two passes were intentionally tossed away, a third pass was dropped. He was not sacked or intercepted. "I really like our balance," Mannion said. "We have a lot of personnel we can mix in and out. We have so many concepts. It takes a lot of studying, and it can be advanced, but when you start to master it, it’s fun."

HAWAII DEFENSE

When the scholarship check arrives each month, Brenden Daley makes sure to set aside enough for his favorite extravagance — chocolate milk. He can down as much as a gallon throughout a day. "It does a body good," said Daley, who was deserving of a reward after making 10 tackles (including four in the USC backfield) in the opener. To counter USC’s quickness and elusiveness, UH often went with a cover-2 defense. The strategy was successful, with USC managing four big plays (runs of at least 15 yards, receptions of 20-plus yards). UH only missed 11 tackles in 74 plays. Beau Yap and Tavita Woodard often crashed down to narrow the pocket. Woodard had a brilliant sequence in which he knocked down two passes to the flat. On one, he avoided a cut block, then batted the pass with his left hand. Moses Samia also soared for a deflection. "I guess I got high enough," Samia said. Free safety Marrell Jackson might be limited because of a leg issue. That would elevate Charles Clay into the lineup. In nickel packages, freshman Trayvon Henderson is likely to enter, freeing Clay or John Hardy-Tuliau to play nickel. Safety Kawika Borden also is expected to play extensively.

OREGON STATE DEFENSE

After last week’s upset loss, OSU searched for answers in the dark. "We watched the film," Michael Doctor said, "and learned from it. We regrouped. We realized what we have to do." Maybe it was the absence of tackling drills in spring training and training camp that led to 25 missed or broken tackles last week. Still, OSU was penalized twice for having 12 defenders on the field, relinquished a 49-yard pass on third and 14, and gave up points on nine of 10 full possessions. (Two drives expired because time ran out in the second and fourth quarters.) "We have to play assignment football," Doctor said. "We’re a great team when we play assignment football." Up front, OSU likes to do stunts to open the lanes for the linebackers or allow ends Scott Crichton or Dylan Wynn to loop inside. Mana Rosa is strong enough to hold the point against double blocks, but agile enough to sneak into gaps. OSU often plays a four-across zone in the secondary, although it might try to press against UH’s short-pass attack. Doctor has the range to defend the flats. He credited his speed and endurance to twice-daily workouts during the offseason. "I’m always running," Doctor said. "I might run around Corvallis just to get my conditioning."

HAWAII SPECIAL TEAMS

Tyler Hadden answered questions about his leg strength when his first kickoff of the season went into the end zone. "I was trusting my technique and not trying to kill it," said Hadden, who declared himself fully healthy. During the 2012 season, Hadden said, "I woke up the day after a game (and) felt like I had a strained muscle." He played despite the discomfort. "I thought it was tendinitis," Hadden said. "I told myself I can play with tendinitis." It tuned out he had two hernias. He underwent double-hernia surgery this past January. He credited UH’s doctors and trainers with his recovery. "I’m back to being comfortable and normal, which is nice," Hadden said.

OREGON STATE SPECIAL TEAMS

Trevor Romaine had 10 kickoffs for touchbacks as a freshman in 2011, remarkable because that was the year the tee was on the 30. Last week, four of his eight kickoffs were touchbacks. The other four resulted in average returns of 16.3 yards. Kostol is health again, and will handle the punting duties. Tim McMcullen punted last week. Speedy Bolden (4.46 seconds in the 40) also was recruited by UH. Bolden might be the second-most gifted runner in the family. His mother remains the record holder in two hurdle events for Mount San Antonio College.