Hawaiiguy
Big Kahuna
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Some thoughts on Hawaii. My fifth year capping Hawaii football and basketball. Do this for personal fun and hobby….so if like it, great. If you don’t like it, don’t read it….
- Colt Brennan. Said this early last year, Colt is the Best College QB ever, and the numbers support this. Colt Brennan’s single season TD record (58), COMBINED with the highest ever QB rating (186) may never be broken (Keep in mind that Colt missed 7 Quarters in blowouts, nearly 2 whole games of playing time). Either record may be broken individually, but both in the same year is near impossible. I may be dating myself, but prior to Colt, Ty Detmer was the best College QB I have ever seen. Is Colt an NFL QB? Personally, I think he may be average at best. Remember Klinger, Detmer, Ware, Akili? Sure fire Top 1st Round NFL QBs…..or so everyone thought. Whether he is NFL or not, watch this kid play, he is the most accurate, savvy, exciting QB you will ever see in College Football.
- Our 2nd String QB is a Punk. Tyler Graunke was Hawaii’s starting QB before Brennan, people forget that. Graunke could start on any team and is very, very good. Most people know him as a fiery punk in real life, and he has made no qualms about scoring even more when he plays mop up duty. He has told the Honolulu Press that, “My job is to score points, and I will do my job even if we are up by 50 points”. Don’t be surprised when he comes in when Hawaii is blowing up teams and Graunke still leads the team to a score. How many times last year did you see this guy driving Hawaii late in games to score more?
- Receivers. Bess, Rivers, Grice Mullen return with the 4th spot to be occupied by any number of receivers that have seen extensive playing time. 4.2 40 Malcom Lane will come in and according to June Jones be the next Ashley Lelie…..
- Hawaii’s Schedule. It is a disaster. Hawaii’s schedule was ranked #98 last year. This year it is ranked #116. Hawaii plays two D-IAA opponents, one that only won 1 game last year. Throw in the 7 Teams with a losing record in 2006, including 4 teams that were not even ranked in the 117 D-1 Teams (#136 Idaho, #166 Utah State, #128 UNLV, #129 NMSU). Hawaii fans are in an uproar over Hawaii’s Athletic Director. Our AD, with the help of ESPN, had the chance to play some big name schools on the mainland but put them off until they declined to play. Combine that with no Team willing to come to Hawaii to play, and you have the worst possible schedule.
IF Hawaii goes undefeated, do they deserve a BCS shot? No, absolutely not. Not with a Junior College schedule. Will they get a BCS shot if they go undefeated? Yes, and Hawaii fans better thank Boise State for paving the way with their weak #90 Schedule in 2006.
- Hawaii Recruiting. Success on the field has translated to the best recruiting class in Hawaii’s History. Tennessee had the #1 JC recruiting class in the nation. Hawaii was ranked #4, BEFORE two late signing of two JC All-Americans. By all accounts, every position we lost last year has been made up with existing players or JC All-Americans.
- Defense. Hawaii lost 3 defensive players to the NFL (Purcell, Francis, Leonard). Even with these losses Hawaii will be vastly better. This unit will be killer this year. Hawaii had no returning CBs with experience last year. Hawaii used 8 defensive linemen who had no prior experience. Hawaii’s secondary is all returning (except Leonard) and now has 3 JC All-American CBs. Texas kid Safety Patek (hardest hitting mother around) will be an All-American this year.
The 8 defensive linemen all return, including Penn State transfer Amani Purcell (NFL bound Melia’s younger brother). Amani played as a true Frosh at Penn State, and by all accounts is far, far better than his NFL older brother.
Our linebacking corp is now the best in the WAC with Boise State losing their LB Corp to the NFL. Washington kid Adam Leonard and Solomon Elmimiam are NFL bound and anchor the strongest part of Hawaii’s defense.
New (Previous Hawaii DC) Defensive Coach McMackin. In 1998, June Jones First year in Hawaii. McMackin led Hawaii to #35 in Defense. McMackin returns to Hawaii and will bring back the same adjusting defense.
Hard hitting. An obscure stat: Hawaii led the nation last year in opposing offensive players knocked out of games for partial or entire game length. 21 opposing QB’s, WR’s and RB’s were knocked out by Hawaii’s defense last year.
Irrelevent Stats. When the season starts, people will post the following: “Hawaii turns over the ball too much” “Hawaii doesn’t play defense” “Hawaii doesn’t run enough” “Hawaii can’t play in the cold”. Forget it:
- EVERY year under June Jones spread attack, Hawaii had a negative turnover ratio, EXCEPT last year. Hawaii’s offense by nature will always have turnovers….so throw that stat out. Hawaii has had 6 Winning seasons in 8 years so don’t tell me about turnovers. June Jones could care less when you are going for the home run on every play.
- Hawaii gives up a ton on defense. So did last place defense St. Louis Rams when they won the Super Bowl. Your defense will always give up points and yards when your offense scores on an average of 2 minutes and 20 seconds per drive. Also, your defense will give up a ton when they are on the field more than 30 minutes every game. Ask any coach in the WAC if Hawaii plays defense, they will all say Hawaii’s is near the top.
- Hawaii doesn’t run? Hawaii gained 700 yards from the shovel pass in 2006. The shovel pass is blocked exactly like a Draw Play. June Jones noted, “Every team in the nation should do a shovel pass instead of a draw. It is exactly like a draw, except if the ball hits the ground they rule it an incomplete pass. A zero risk play.” Combine those 700 yards with the 1650 gained in conventional manners and Hawaii “rushed” for 2350 yards in 2006.
- Cold weather? Check out Hawaii’s roster. From Colorado’s Brennan, to Oregon’s Bess, to Penn State’s Purcell, to Nebraska’s Jackson, to Washington’s Adam Leonard, to all our California kids. Hawaii’s roster is loaded with mainland kids. Did 40 degrees affect Hawaii at Fresno? 30 degrees affect Hawaii and NMSU? 20 degrees affect Hawaii at Utah? Hawaii has so many kids from cold weather places and so many Polynesians that played at Mainland JC’s it is a non factor.
Areas of Concern. Hawaii lost 3 offensive linemen to the NFL and 500 pounds in 2 beefy running backs to the NFL. This cannot be made up. Hawaii is Offensive Linemen University (more offensive linemen in the NFL the last 8 years than Nebraska and Notre Dame, combined) and by most accounts has some stud linemen coming up. Our new linemen may have potential, but you cannot make up for lost experience.
NFL bound Hawaii RB Ilaoa was so important to Hawaii last year, I do not see how anyone we bring in can take his place. Bowling Ball Ilaoa had 2,000 yards from scrimmage last year. Hawaii has Air Force transfer Pilares and Nebraska transfer Jackson to take his place. Both are supposedly studs, with Jackson being a human rocket.
Even Hawaii’s blocking back from last year, 300 pound Mauia has been designated the starting FB for the Miami Dolphins…..His blocking was devastating, when everyone was watching Hawaii throw the ball, people in Hawaii were watching Mauia blow up blitzing LBs and safeties…..Can Hawaii make up his loss?
- Hawaii runs the Spread / There is no Rainbows in the name. Mouse Davis created the Run and Shoot in the 1970’s and was a Hawaii Coach the last couple of years. The creator of the Run and Shoot said Hawaii’s offense is not the Run and Shoot and is the Spread, so if the guy who created it said Hawaii doesn’t run it, why should you? Every year some old time idiot calls Hawaii the Rainbows. Hawaii Warriors haven’t been the Rainbows in almost a decade (Since JJ arrived and changed the name).
Just some thoughts I had. Will Hawaii consistently be a good bet this year? I doubt it. They will be laying huge double digits and a favorite in probably every game this year. The oddsmakers, your mom, everyone, knows about Hawaii this year, unlike last year when Hawaii came off of a losing season. Hawaii is NO sleeper, but will be the hunted this year and will catch everyone’s best game.
Will Hawaii lose a game? I think they will. Every team on Hawaii’s schedule still practices just like Hawaii and still plays to win, and most will be greatly improved. Which do I think? Everyone discounts Boise State. Whenever you have your entire offensive line returning with 3 NFL caliber linemen and Ian Johnson running the ball, you have a chance. Boise State won despite Zabransky’s erratic play. They have a young All-American QB now. They have great Coaches. The game will be a Thanksgiving Weekend. Boise will come to play. They are the Champions until someone beats them…..and no one has since they joined the WAC…..
Otherwise…I just hope Phil Steele is right and Hawaii Versus Michigan on New Years Day….. [/FONT]</O
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- Colt Brennan. Said this early last year, Colt is the Best College QB ever, and the numbers support this. Colt Brennan’s single season TD record (58), COMBINED with the highest ever QB rating (186) may never be broken (Keep in mind that Colt missed 7 Quarters in blowouts, nearly 2 whole games of playing time). Either record may be broken individually, but both in the same year is near impossible. I may be dating myself, but prior to Colt, Ty Detmer was the best College QB I have ever seen. Is Colt an NFL QB? Personally, I think he may be average at best. Remember Klinger, Detmer, Ware, Akili? Sure fire Top 1st Round NFL QBs…..or so everyone thought. Whether he is NFL or not, watch this kid play, he is the most accurate, savvy, exciting QB you will ever see in College Football.
- Our 2nd String QB is a Punk. Tyler Graunke was Hawaii’s starting QB before Brennan, people forget that. Graunke could start on any team and is very, very good. Most people know him as a fiery punk in real life, and he has made no qualms about scoring even more when he plays mop up duty. He has told the Honolulu Press that, “My job is to score points, and I will do my job even if we are up by 50 points”. Don’t be surprised when he comes in when Hawaii is blowing up teams and Graunke still leads the team to a score. How many times last year did you see this guy driving Hawaii late in games to score more?
- Receivers. Bess, Rivers, Grice Mullen return with the 4th spot to be occupied by any number of receivers that have seen extensive playing time. 4.2 40 Malcom Lane will come in and according to June Jones be the next Ashley Lelie…..
- Hawaii’s Schedule. It is a disaster. Hawaii’s schedule was ranked #98 last year. This year it is ranked #116. Hawaii plays two D-IAA opponents, one that only won 1 game last year. Throw in the 7 Teams with a losing record in 2006, including 4 teams that were not even ranked in the 117 D-1 Teams (#136 Idaho, #166 Utah State, #128 UNLV, #129 NMSU). Hawaii fans are in an uproar over Hawaii’s Athletic Director. Our AD, with the help of ESPN, had the chance to play some big name schools on the mainland but put them off until they declined to play. Combine that with no Team willing to come to Hawaii to play, and you have the worst possible schedule.
IF Hawaii goes undefeated, do they deserve a BCS shot? No, absolutely not. Not with a Junior College schedule. Will they get a BCS shot if they go undefeated? Yes, and Hawaii fans better thank Boise State for paving the way with their weak #90 Schedule in 2006.
- Hawaii Recruiting. Success on the field has translated to the best recruiting class in Hawaii’s History. Tennessee had the #1 JC recruiting class in the nation. Hawaii was ranked #4, BEFORE two late signing of two JC All-Americans. By all accounts, every position we lost last year has been made up with existing players or JC All-Americans.
- Defense. Hawaii lost 3 defensive players to the NFL (Purcell, Francis, Leonard). Even with these losses Hawaii will be vastly better. This unit will be killer this year. Hawaii had no returning CBs with experience last year. Hawaii used 8 defensive linemen who had no prior experience. Hawaii’s secondary is all returning (except Leonard) and now has 3 JC All-American CBs. Texas kid Safety Patek (hardest hitting mother around) will be an All-American this year.
The 8 defensive linemen all return, including Penn State transfer Amani Purcell (NFL bound Melia’s younger brother). Amani played as a true Frosh at Penn State, and by all accounts is far, far better than his NFL older brother.
Our linebacking corp is now the best in the WAC with Boise State losing their LB Corp to the NFL. Washington kid Adam Leonard and Solomon Elmimiam are NFL bound and anchor the strongest part of Hawaii’s defense.
New (Previous Hawaii DC) Defensive Coach McMackin. In 1998, June Jones First year in Hawaii. McMackin led Hawaii to #35 in Defense. McMackin returns to Hawaii and will bring back the same adjusting defense.
Hard hitting. An obscure stat: Hawaii led the nation last year in opposing offensive players knocked out of games for partial or entire game length. 21 opposing QB’s, WR’s and RB’s were knocked out by Hawaii’s defense last year.
Irrelevent Stats. When the season starts, people will post the following: “Hawaii turns over the ball too much” “Hawaii doesn’t play defense” “Hawaii doesn’t run enough” “Hawaii can’t play in the cold”. Forget it:
- EVERY year under June Jones spread attack, Hawaii had a negative turnover ratio, EXCEPT last year. Hawaii’s offense by nature will always have turnovers….so throw that stat out. Hawaii has had 6 Winning seasons in 8 years so don’t tell me about turnovers. June Jones could care less when you are going for the home run on every play.
- Hawaii gives up a ton on defense. So did last place defense St. Louis Rams when they won the Super Bowl. Your defense will always give up points and yards when your offense scores on an average of 2 minutes and 20 seconds per drive. Also, your defense will give up a ton when they are on the field more than 30 minutes every game. Ask any coach in the WAC if Hawaii plays defense, they will all say Hawaii’s is near the top.
- Hawaii doesn’t run? Hawaii gained 700 yards from the shovel pass in 2006. The shovel pass is blocked exactly like a Draw Play. June Jones noted, “Every team in the nation should do a shovel pass instead of a draw. It is exactly like a draw, except if the ball hits the ground they rule it an incomplete pass. A zero risk play.” Combine those 700 yards with the 1650 gained in conventional manners and Hawaii “rushed” for 2350 yards in 2006.
- Cold weather? Check out Hawaii’s roster. From Colorado’s Brennan, to Oregon’s Bess, to Penn State’s Purcell, to Nebraska’s Jackson, to Washington’s Adam Leonard, to all our California kids. Hawaii’s roster is loaded with mainland kids. Did 40 degrees affect Hawaii at Fresno? 30 degrees affect Hawaii and NMSU? 20 degrees affect Hawaii at Utah? Hawaii has so many kids from cold weather places and so many Polynesians that played at Mainland JC’s it is a non factor.
Areas of Concern. Hawaii lost 3 offensive linemen to the NFL and 500 pounds in 2 beefy running backs to the NFL. This cannot be made up. Hawaii is Offensive Linemen University (more offensive linemen in the NFL the last 8 years than Nebraska and Notre Dame, combined) and by most accounts has some stud linemen coming up. Our new linemen may have potential, but you cannot make up for lost experience.
NFL bound Hawaii RB Ilaoa was so important to Hawaii last year, I do not see how anyone we bring in can take his place. Bowling Ball Ilaoa had 2,000 yards from scrimmage last year. Hawaii has Air Force transfer Pilares and Nebraska transfer Jackson to take his place. Both are supposedly studs, with Jackson being a human rocket.
Even Hawaii’s blocking back from last year, 300 pound Mauia has been designated the starting FB for the Miami Dolphins…..His blocking was devastating, when everyone was watching Hawaii throw the ball, people in Hawaii were watching Mauia blow up blitzing LBs and safeties…..Can Hawaii make up his loss?
- Hawaii runs the Spread / There is no Rainbows in the name. Mouse Davis created the Run and Shoot in the 1970’s and was a Hawaii Coach the last couple of years. The creator of the Run and Shoot said Hawaii’s offense is not the Run and Shoot and is the Spread, so if the guy who created it said Hawaii doesn’t run it, why should you? Every year some old time idiot calls Hawaii the Rainbows. Hawaii Warriors haven’t been the Rainbows in almost a decade (Since JJ arrived and changed the name).
Just some thoughts I had. Will Hawaii consistently be a good bet this year? I doubt it. They will be laying huge double digits and a favorite in probably every game this year. The oddsmakers, your mom, everyone, knows about Hawaii this year, unlike last year when Hawaii came off of a losing season. Hawaii is NO sleeper, but will be the hunted this year and will catch everyone’s best game.
Will Hawaii lose a game? I think they will. Every team on Hawaii’s schedule still practices just like Hawaii and still plays to win, and most will be greatly improved. Which do I think? Everyone discounts Boise State. Whenever you have your entire offensive line returning with 3 NFL caliber linemen and Ian Johnson running the ball, you have a chance. Boise State won despite Zabransky’s erratic play. They have a young All-American QB now. They have great Coaches. The game will be a Thanksgiving Weekend. Boise will come to play. They are the Champions until someone beats them…..and no one has since they joined the WAC…..
Otherwise…I just hope Phil Steele is right and Hawaii Versus Michigan on New Years Day….. [/FONT]</O
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