Quotes about Samson starting at C as a rookie

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/dolphins/content/sports/epaper/2007/07/25/0725satele.html

About having a rookie start at center, Jim Langer (NFL Hall-of-Fame center who didn’t start until his 3rd year) said:
“I don’t think it’s a position you necessarily want to be in, having to play a rookie at such a crucial position. I guess if it were my line, I probably wouldn’t want to have the newest member making all the line calls, regardless if he’s the center or not. That being said, you have to make do.” (PBP

About starting Samson as a rookie center, Miami OL coach Hudson Houch (who was SD’s OL coach when rookie C Nick Hardwick started) said:
“He’s going to have to learn all of the defenses, and he’s going to have to make most of the offensive line calls. I think he’s ready to take that role on. It doesn’t come easy, but since he’s a pretty dedicated guy, I think he’ll be very successful at that position.” (PBP)

PBP Note: “Satele certainly has the size (6-foot-3, 300 pounds) to back up Houck’s talk. He also draws raves about his athletic ability from two guys who would know — fullback Reagan Mauia and guard Tala Esera, fellow Dolphins rookies who also played with him at the University of Hawaii.”

About how Samson has to change his leadership style and be more vocal as a starting C, Cam Cameron said:
“It’s like you hear me say about the quarterback position, center is a leadership position. If a guy puts his hand on that ball and he’s not a leader, you’re in trouble.” (PBP)

About how he led by example at UH, Samson said:
“I told coach Hudson straight up that I’m not a vocal guy. But if he wants me to be, I’ll be. I’m a leader by actions. That’s what I’ve been living by since I played Pop Warner.

I want to get everybody’s respect through my actions first and then be a vocal guy. I can’t just be a vocal guy and not show these guys what I can do before I tell them what to do.” (PBP)

About how Samson has been making progress as a leader, Houch said:
“People believe in him as a leader. Right now, I don’t think he’s a very verbal leader, but he’s certainly a leader in terms of work ethic and caring about his job.

If you’re a rookie, it’s hard to really speak up and control the group. But considering he’s a rookie, he’s doing a pretty damn good job of it.” (PBP)

Random Quotes from the WAC Preview

About their improved depth on the OL, JJ said:
“Over the last few years we’ve gotten deeper. We’re losing three offensive linemen to the NFL, but I think we’ll be OK. The first year we had five guys on the offensive line. If we lost one we’re done. The next guy wouldn’t have played at Grant High School (Jones’ alma mater in Portland, Ore.).” (HSB)

Colt said that his new hairstyle was so he could bond with his starting WRs, as they all sport dreadlocks:
“They thought I would never do it. They think I’m some prissy boy.” (HSB)

Quotes about NMSU and UH

Asked what it will take to beat UH this season, NMSU coach Hal Mumme said:
“More (points and yards) than last year.” (HA)

About last year’s 49-30 UH win, Mumme said:
“And, it was pretty much like a defensive struggle.” (HA)

Mumme said the defensive coordinators:
“just wanted to keep (both offenses) under 1,000 yards.” (HA)

About how they try to emulate UH, Mumme said:
“Boise has kinda set the fantasy benchmark for everybody in college football that’s not a Bowl Championship Series member. Everybody wants to be like Boise but when we look at our league and when we do things, we try to emulate Hawai’i a lot. We study them quite a bit. Obviously June (Jones) and I have some of the same ideas on offense. We study them a lot and we really admire them a lot.” (HA)

HA Note: “Jones tabbed the Aggies as “the sleeper” team in the WAC this season and Mumme compared his quarterback, junior Chase Holbrook, with where UH’s Colt Brennan was last year in terms of development.”

Quotes about Colt

About Colt, Idaho LB David Vobora said:
“He’s an awesome player. I’ve been in a game that I literally felt, that no matter what we called, Colt Brennan was going to complete a pass. There was literally times I’d call this or call that, a check out of this, and just pray: ‘Can we at least get someone within 5 feet of him?’ He’s impressive. Stopping him is impossible. Slowing him down will be a task.” (HA)

About Colt (UH’s leading returning rusher) and his mobility, Fresno St DE Tyler Cutts said:
“From a defensive line perspective, it’s tough, because he’s a double threat. He can run and he can throw. He’s quick. He’s deceptively elusive. He changes up your pass rush. You’re a little more hesitant because you don’t want to lose contain. He’s much harder to defend than a guy who’s a pocket passer.” (HA)

Idaho CB Stanley Franks talked about playing against Colt when they were in junior-college:
“I was a receiver at the time, so I got to stand on the sideline and really study him. He’s a very smart quarterback. You can’t blitz him. He’ll run right by you. And he has that composure. He’s so cool back there you wouldn’t even know he’s playing a game. He never gets too high or too low out there.” (HA)

About how he had been told before that Colt had a low-throwing motion, Clutts said:
“He must have changed it. The last time we played Hawai’i, he wasn’t throwing low. You still have to get your hands up when you rush him. Even if you don’t knock it down, it disrupts the vision of the quarterback and the receivers have trouble seeing the pass come out. But that’s not easy against him.” (HA)

Asked if Colt’s accuracy was god-given or a result of coaching, JJ said:
“It’s God-given. You can improve a quarterback’s technique, his fundamentals. But when you get under pressure you go back to what comes naturally and you either hit the guy or you don’t. Jeff George, Dan Marino and Colt are the only guys I’ve seen sometimes release the ball and their right foot is off the ground.” (HSB)

Asked about the significance of throwing the ball with the right foot off the ground, JJ said:
“I don’t know what it means, but I’m gonna start looking for it in high school (recruits).” (HSB)

Mana Silva transferring to UH

2006 Kam-Hawaii graduate Keanemana “Mana” Silva said that he’d be able to get his release from Oregon State to transfer to UH:
“it won’t be any trouble” (HA)

HA Note: “Silva said he wishes to transfer because of family concerns. He declined to disclose those reasons. But he was in good academic standing at OSU.”

About his time at Oregon State, Silva said:
“It was fun. I had a good experience. The coaching staff at Oregon State was really good. There are a lot of Hawai’i kids over there. I felt like I was at home.” (HA)

Silva redshirted last season and will have to redshirt again due to transfer rules, and said:
“I know I have to wait another year, but I want to get on the field already. I’ll wait one year, and plan for the 2008 season.” (HA)

The 6’1″, 210-pound (4.5 in the 40) Silva who wishes to play safety said about going to UH:
“I’m really excited about going home.” (HA)