’Bows 3-4 set could be
right tonic for D-line
Improved play up front
By Paul Arnett
is necessary if UH hopes to
improve defensively
Star-BulletinIf you want to know where the defensive line is during practice, follow the booming voice of University of Hawaii assistant Doug Semones and you will find it. The second-year coach for the Rainbows can be heard early and often, shouting out words of encouragement one minute, questioning a young player's manhood the next.
"I love being on the defensive line because it's tailor-made for me," Semones said. "It's a great opportunity for me to study under (UH defensive coordinator) Don Lindsey.
"I also love the attitude of our players. They want to get after it each and every practice. We have some talented guys up front who are going to make their presence felt this season."
The Rainbows have shifted from a 4-3 to a 3-4 set, partly because they have more players suited for linebacker than the defensive front. Lindsey said yesterday he isn't sure the move will amount to anything.
"Because you don't know how effective it's going to be until we play some games," Lindsey said. "A front seven is a front seven, no matter how you line them up. We're going to give teams a lot of looks and see what happens."
The Rainbows have seven defensive linemen who will see a lot of action. The top three are Ellie Kapihe (6-foot-2, 251) at end, Bob Pigott (6-2, 290) at nose guard and Ben Bright (6-2, 259) at tackle.
Sam Collins (6-0, 255) is backing up Kapihe, Tony Tuioti (5-11, 274) is behind Pigott and newcomer Matt Elam (6-2, 255) already is No. 2 behind Bright.
Freshman Miles Garner (6-2, 325) also will see plenty of playing time at nose guard. Garner is not in the best physical condition, but Semones likes what he sees in the big guy's athletic ability.
"What's good is all seven guys can be used interchangeably without much drop-off," Semones said. "That level of ability is something we didn't have a year ago.
"We like what Miles brings to the game because he's big with good footwork. Elam also has shown us a lot in fall camp."
UH head coach Fred vonAppen also is keeping an eye on the defensive guys up front. During his long collegiate and pro coaching career, vonAppen spent many a season as a defensive line coach.
Like Semones, he's pleased with the progress of the big uglies in the trenches. He also has taken a special interest in Garner, whom he believes can help the Rainbows establish the point up front.
"Miles has the size and the quickness not only to hold or establish the point," vonAppen said, "but he also can move the point into the offensive backfield. That's crucial to controling the line of scrimmage in the 3-4."
Last year, the line didn't figure into many of the major defensive statistical categories. Bright was the fifth-leading tackler with 51 -- the only lineman among the top 10 -- behind two linebackers and two defensive backs.
The defensive line accounted for only seven quarterback sacks and 13 tackles for losses as a unit, not exactly eye-popping numbers. Semones said he wants to improve on those figures and not let the linemen think they have to hold the point so the linebackers can make all the tackles.
"I told our linemen they could be difference-makers, just like a Bruce Smith or a Charles Haley," Semones said. "They just have to want to do it and learn what we're trying to do as a defense.
"I also like this alignment because it allows us to bring as many guys in on the pass blitz as we need. If offenses have to start accounting for all our linebackers, it could mean improved quarterback sack numbers for the guys up front."
WILHELM GONE: Former Baldwin High (Maui) player Ray Wilhelm has left the team.
VonAppen said Wilhelm apparently didn't like the situation he was in. Wilhelm graduated from Baldwin in 1994. He spent two years at De Anza (Calif.) Junior College before walking on at UH.
The team didn't practice yesterday, but returns to two-a-days this morning and evening.
