2002 Statistics

written by Dave Bagchi

There are no secrets to the Hawaii offense- throw, throw and throw. Last season, the Warriors averaged 386 yards passing per game (2nd in I-A, 495 total yds/game also 2nd in I-A) and scored 502 points (35+ point/game 8th in I-A) using their run n' shoot formation. All this and they probably under-achieved!

Junior QB Timmy Chang is ready for an All-American season. Last year, Chang put up a mind-boggling 624 pass attempts for over 4,470 yards. He has a strong arm and, most important, confidence. He will have to improve in his decision-making to take the next step. Chang only completed 56% of his attempts, which is low for a June Jones-offense. Also, his 25 to 22 touchdowns to interceptions ratio is not good. Sacked 27 times with a mere 3.0 yds/rush when not sacked, he must move around better in the pocket. You will hear Chang's name in the 2003 Heisman race as you did for Byron Leftwich last year. The strengths to his game are that he gets better as the game wears on and he is lethal on third down. Hawaii converted 45% of their third down conversions in 2002, a stat unheard of for a team so one-dimensional. He obviously does well once he knows the defense that day. Chang is the make-or-break dimension of this offense. His improvement will immediately translate to more wins.

The key to the run n' shoot is the combination of your quarterback's decision-making ability and the talent and discipline of your receiving corps. All eight of last year's top pass-catchers were wide receivers, six of which return. The air attack will now feature 6'0, 193-pound senior WR Jeremiah Cockheran. He will be flanked by inside receivers Britton Komine and Nate Ilaoa, with senior Clifton Herbert adding time at slotback. Komine and Cockheran combined for 107 receptions for over 1,600 yards and 15 TDs. Clearly, Hawaii will be loaded with depth, experience, speed and variety in the receiving department. Chang has nowhere to look but inward if they cannot produce. Don't forget about young speedster Chad Owens as well. His punt and kick return abilities were good enough to place him on the NationalChamps.net All-American list in 2001 as a freshman. Although injured in several games last year, many around the program feel Chad is the best prospect of the bunch.

Redshirt freshman Samson Satele is expected to replace All-American RG Vince Manuwai . Along with sophomore center Derek Faavi and returning starters Shayne Kajioka and Uriah Moenoa, the Warriors should be fine along the offensive front. Moenoa should be the best of the group by season's end. Also look for backup junior Chad Kahale (337-pounder) to provide depth. In the Hawaii scheme, the role of the offensive line is to be able to allow Chang just enough time to get rid of the ball. The team averaged 5.0 yds/rush, a testament to this line. This compliments the approximately two sacks per game allowed, phenomenal for a team that throws close to 50 times per tilt. They are not a weak link by any means.

The two biggest weaknesses last season were turnovers and the lack of a consistent running threat. The latter of which probably won't change because of Jones' pass-happy philosophy. Still, there is an opportunity to develop the running game a bit more. Consider Hawaii's running game's 5.0 average and 26 TDs… the talent is there. Senior John West, junior Mike Bass and Junior Michael Brewster return. The trio combined for over 800 yards, 6.7 yds/rush and 9 TDs. All three are little, quick guys (under 5'10), so 210 lb. departed Thero Mitchell will be missed (his 11 TDs reveal the need for a "closer" when down near the goal-line.) The player to watch is Sophomore Pesefea Fiaseu, a 5'9, 248 pound beast. The main problem, if/when the running game is held back, will be the man barking the calls, Jones himself.

Turnovers really killed the Warriors in 2002. Five TOs prevented the team from pulling off an upset over Alabama. Hawaii had 41 offensive TOs (26 INTs, 15 fumbles) and ended with a (-14) turnover margin. It is amazing the team won ten games with this careless ball handling. If this number does not go down in 2003, the Warriors will continue to under-achieve. If Chang holds his INTs to under 15, this team will improve immensely.

QB Timmy Chang (PHOTO BY: Jay Metzger)

written by Dave Bagchi

The strength of next year's Hawaii defense will be the secondary. This experienced unit showed improvements as the season progressed. Seven of the eight deep (and all the returning starters) return. Corners Abraham Elimimian and Kelvin Millhouse combined for 20 pass break-ups. Safeties Hyrum Peters and David Gilmore, at the SAM and JILL positions, respectively, also return. Peters (4 INTs, 3 pass BrUps) and Gilmore (3 FF) will be called upon to support the run. The duo combined for 147 tackles. Gilmore is bigger and stronger while Peters is better at playing the ball and man-to-man. The Warriors have depth with sophomores Kenny Patton and Lamar Broadway at corner and senior Leonard Peters in the middle.

The other strength of the Hawaii defense will be the defensive ends. Seniors Travis LaBoy and Houston Ala (13 of the Rainbows' 37 total sacks) are under-sized speed rushers who excel against passing opponents but struggle against the run. The Hawaii plan has been to line up in the 4-3, with a bulked up middle of big tackles and converted linebackers as rush ends. This puts a lot of pressure on the DE to make plays. Maturity to have learned the fore-mentioned requirement of staying in assigned modes (and not becoming one-dimensional) will be the wild-card to make this line work.

Despite allowing 389 points, the Warriors actually showed minor improvements on defense from a year ago moving from 94th to 79th in the nation. The problem of offensive TOs often put Hawaii's defense in precarious positions has to end for the defense to establish any consistency and character. The Warriors still have a lot of question marks heading into 2003.

Gone is LB (Will-Backer) Pisa Tinoisamoa and his team bests in tackles and TFL. Inexperience at LB continues throughout the starting unit. Senior Keani Alapa and Chad Kalilimoku will hopefully step up, but no guarantees.. With all three new starters roaming the middle of the field, look for opponents to take advantage by exploiting them in the flats and with underneath passing . The inexperience will also put tremendous pressure along the defensive line to stop the run.

With so much pressure on the interior tackle combo of seniors Isaac Sopoaga and Lance Samuseva, the Warriors had/will have their problems stopping the run. Sopoaga is active but had problems with stamina after sitting out 2001 with academic problems. He could well be a dominating force when all is said and done. Samuseva struggles, often times getting manhandled at the line, and will be hard pressed to hold on to his starting spot. The Warriors allowed over 168 yards per game rushing, a poor total when you consider the pass-happy WAC. Word is that Hawaii will not be making major changes. So the way to keep Sopoaga and Samuseva fresh will be with depth. The Warriors have that in sophomore Abu Ma'afala and senior Keali'I Aguiar. Aguiar will challenge to replace Samuseva on the starting front. If this unit can improve, Hawaii turns their weak defensive front into something positive. If not, this unit will be the most damaging to any hopes of overall team improvement. If you cannot stop the run….(you make up the rest, ok?)

DT Isaac Sopoaga (PHOTO BY: Jay Metzger)