That wolf call on Thursday was the coming-of-rage signal for the Hawaii football team’s defense.
After an uneven start, the defense dominated in the second half of the Warriors’ second scrimmage of spring training.
“The defense is looking really good,” quarterback David Graves.
The Warriors failed to make stops on three third-and-9 plays in the first half. But at the break, the defense went to its wolf scheme.
UH’s base defense is a five-man front consisting of two tackles, two ends and a strongside linebacker. The wolf involves a front consisting of a nose tackle, two ends and two linebackers.
“It gets four (line)backers on the field,” defensive coordinator Thom Kaumeyer said.
It also puts two athletic pass-rushers at the edges.
Against the wolf defense, the Warriors rushed 10 times for minus-14 yards, and the quarterbacks were 4-for-13 for 55 yards. Safety Bubba Poueu-Luna made a leaping interception in the end zone.
“I was surprised I made it,” Poueu-Luna said, smiling. “Coach (Kaumeyer) told us big-time players make big-time plays.”
The defensive secondary received a boost from the pass rush. Defensive end Beau Yap and outside linebacker Darryl McBride worked in tandem on the strong side of the formation. Yap would read the right tackle before making his move, opening the way for McBride to storm the backfield. McBride had two hurries and collaborated with Yap on a sack.
Yap said he spent the offseason working on his quickness. He shed 6 pounds, and now weighs 263.
“I like this defense,” Yap said. “We just fire out and react after that.”
A couple of weeks ago, McBride suffered a sprained ankle that required him to be on crutches for two days. He said intensive treatments and daily aspirin quickened his recovery.
McBride has bounced from position to position during his three-year UH career. He said he is comfortable with the new wolf defense.
“We howled when they put that package in,” McBride said.
Haku Correa also has made an easy transition. Correa missed most of the 2011 season after having surgery for a displaced ankle fracture. Correa plays defensive tackle in the Warriors’ base defense and nose tackle in the wolf scheme.
Despite facing double blocks, Correa powered his way to sack Graves.
“I feel great,” Correa said. “I’m excited to be back. I love playing this game.”
Kaumeyer said the Warriors will rely mostly on the base defense. He said the wolf defense is “something we want to use in case there are injuries (to the defensive linemen) or, maybe, to change up the pace.”
He said multiple schemes allow the Warriors to use more defenders. He wants a defensive rotation of at least 18 players. The strategy opened the way for several players, such as linebacker Dylan McCagg.
McCagg redshirted in 2011 after transferring from San Diego Mesa College. He made consecutive big hits during Thursday’s scrimmage. On the first, he tackled wideout Trevor Davis on a reverse for a 2-yard loss. He followed that with a knockdown of running back John Lister, who was trying to make a cutback move.
“Dylan made a couple of big plays,” Kaumeyer said. “He’s going to be involved. We’re going to have a lot of role players. We feel we don’t have to play with only 11 guys all game. I think we can use different packages to get more guys on the field.”
