Asked how rewarding it is for him when he hears that someone like Samson signed his first pro contract, JJ said:
“You’re happy for all those guys. And it helps us that they have success, you know, it helps the program. So you’re happy for them personally, and you’re happy for the team. It means more guys will get looked at.” (HSB)
After mentioning that Vince Manuwai was at practice yesterday, JJ was asked about their great tradition of OL:
“You can teach kids to run block, but to have five years of pass blocking (heading) into the NFL … it used to be you’d go to the National Football League and they’d teach you to pass block. We’re just doing it in reverse — we teach it and they go — Dane Uperesa, they just moved him to left tackle. That tells you he can pass block. So the coaches probably think we’re doing it the right way. It’s a by-product of the system.” (HSB)
Asked if he thought more QBs and WRs or more OL from UH would go to the NFL when he came back to UH, JJ said:
“I didn’t have any expectation either way. I knew that obviously we were going to attract skill players, receivers would want to come here. But I knew that the physical stature of the local kids would fit in with the offensive line and if we teach them to pass block, they’re going to have a chance to play. I knew that we (UH) historically, before I got here, I always felt the athleticism in the local kids, in the Polynesian kids, that we would have a chance to get — I mean, you go to L.A. and the top offensive lineman, you’re not going to get him. But we can survive, our school can survive on OIA kids. We can turn them into players. And I think that’s proven that we can do it.” (HSB)
Asked to compare the talent of this year to last year’s team, JJ said:
“Personally, I think it’s equal. The difference is the leadership and the peers, you know the veteran guys are not here. Samson started games for four years. That’s the thing that has to be replaced. And I’ve seen it already in workouts, these guys are stepping up. Some guys in different ways. Michael Lafaele is taking control of the defense. That’ll help us because we lost three pretty good players over there in the front seven. And offensively, Herc (Satele) and John Estes are stepping up, but until they do it in a game and show poise in a game under pressure, and that they can win …
We were on the road and (the opponents) scored quick … you just turn down and look and Samson and Tala and those guys are standing there and they’ve got a look on their faces: ‘We’re going to win.’ Those are things that you’ve got to replace. But the athletic talent is pretty good.” (HSB)
Asked how important it is to have that one leader that everybody fears, mentioning that nobody would mess with Samson, JJ said:
“I don’t know. I’ve had that type guy. I’ve had different kids on different teams that all did it different ways. I think Sam certainly was what you described. I think Hercules and John Estes, without Sam there, will prove that they’re that tough, too. But they’re certainly not going to step into that role while he’s there.” (HSB)
Asked if Michael Lafaele has that kind of presence, JJ said:
“He has that too. He’s a street fighter.” (HSB)
Asked about the level of concern about the offensive line, JJ said:
“I feel very good about our offensive line. I don’t have any concerns. Other than that attitude that, ‘We’re not gonna get beat.’ That’s what we’ve gotta have. You have to have that confidence and you only get it from doing it. You have to do it and then it permeates the room.” (HSB)
Asked how open the jobs are in the offensive line, JJ said:
“The top five is pretty solid. (Larry) Sauafea, Estes, Hercules, Keith Ah-Soon and (Keoni) Steinhoff. Those are the top five. I flipped those guys (tackles) in the spring and I’ll continue (to look at it). I think Keith really feels comfortable on the right side. And Keoni about the same on the left side.” (HSB)
