Even with a changing of the guard, the University of Hawaii football team’s offensive line has continued to improve.
In three Mountain West Conference games, the Warriors have relinquished three sacks. Two were created when a pass rusher eluded a backfield blocker.
After yielding seven sacks in a non-conference road loss to Rice, the Warriors have relinquished a sack every 30.7 pass plays in the ensuing three games.
Part of the success is a more conversative strategy in which quarterback Ikaika Woolsey throws mostly off rollouts or play-action moves. The other part is an offensive line that is relatively healthy.
Kody Afusia was moved to left guard after suffering a hand injury in the opener against Washington. Afusia’s hand healed, the cast was removed and he switched back to center against Nevada last weekend.
"It’s like riding a bike," said Afusia, who owns a mo-ped nicknamed the "Green Goblin."
Afusia is a co-captain and vocal leader. At center, the acoustics are better for shouting out blocking schemes. Afusia said he will defer if left tackle Ben Clarke, a co-captain who played center the previous two years, offers a different perspective.
"We work together," Afusia said.
With Afusia at center, the Warriors turned to Leo Koloamatangi to play left guard. Koloamatangi, a third-year sophomore, was recruited to play tackle.
Koloamatangi used his redshirt season in 2012 to gain weight and strength. He was 236 pounds when he joined the Warriors in June 2012. At the start of the 2013 training camp, he weighed 290.
RAINBOW WARRIORS VS. UTAH STATE
5 p.m. Saturday at Aloha Stadium |
Koloamatangi rotated as the No. 1 right tackle during the 2013 spring training before suffering an ankle injury. He played in eight games as a reserve last season.
Two weeks ago, he was asked to take reps at left guard.
"We’re taught to play every position," Koloamatangi said. "The more positions you can play, the better."
Head coach Norm Chow and line coach Chris Naeole notified Koloamatangi he would make his first UH start against Nevada.
"A lot of people were expecting me to be nervous," Koloamatangi said. "I was prepared. I was ready because of the way coach Naeole prepares us. Anybody who goes in is ready because of the way he prepares us."
Koloamatangi said he was helped playing between two experienced linemen in Clarke and Afusia.
"I’m between two geniuses," Koloamatangi said. "It’s an honor."
Koloamatangi is expected to open at left guard in Saturday’s game against Utah State.
"Coach Chow preaches all the time you have to be ready."
