Bess said that the Dolphins WRs are underestimated

About how Miami’s WRs are underestimated, Bess said:
“We’re underestimated. We hear Mel Kiper and Todd McShay saying the Dolphins don’t have receivers. It’s a smack in the face. We can’t buy into it.” (Miami Herald)

All but three starting positions are still available

About how all but 3 starting jobs are still open, Mac said:
“Every job is open except three.” (HA)

About how only C Estes, QB Alexander, and DE Fonoti have nailed down starting jobs, Mac said:
“Everything else is competition. And that’s good. Competition is making us better.” (HA)

HA Note: “McMackin said the Warriors are “2 1/2 deep” at each of the four receiver positions. McMackin said he is not ready to declare the starting guards and tackles on the offensive line, whose No. 1 unit has remained intact all spring.”

Mac praised the skill and athletic ability of the D, but said that the D is:
“not playing with emotion. That usually comes from leaders. If somebody makes a good play, everyone on defense needs to let that guy know he made a good play. Everyone is competing so hard for their positions, they haven’t gotten to that point yet. That point will come naturally, and leaders will be born.” (HA)

About how the depth chart will be fluid until the second week of Fall camp, Mac said:
“We may have to list some people No. 1 as starting points, but everything is open until the second week of training camp, with the exception of three positions.” (HA)

http://sports.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090421/SPORTS0201/904210348/1312&template=UHSports

Quentin Beaver missed practice yesterday due to injury

About missing practice because of a strained rotator cuff in his right shoulder, Quentin Beaver (who aggravated the injury during Saturday’s scrimmage) said:
“I wasn’t supposed to be (playing in the scrimmage). I should have waited.” (HA)

Feature on Jeramy Bryant

About being buried by 293-pound John Estes on a sweep play, the 5′9″, 170-pound Jeramy Bryant said:
“I tried to keep outside contain.” (HA)

About his big block on Bryant, John Estes smiled and said:
“I didn’t really want to hit him. He just bounced off of me.” (HA)

About taking on Estes’ block, Bryant said:
“I had to show my team I’m dedicated. No matter what, I’ll do it.” (HA)

HA Note: “Bryant, who redshirted last season after transferring from Los Angeles Harbor College, is the leading candidate for one of the starting jobs at corner. He also is practicing as a nickelback.”

Praising Bryant, Mac said:
“Technically, he’s very sound. He’s smart. He has a great attitude. He can run. He has great anticipation on the ball. He’s very aggressive. I’m very comfortable with him starting at corner for us.” (HA)

HA Note: “Bryant is a stickler for details. On his first day of unsupervised workouts last summer, when teammates were going through passing drills, Bryant worked on his footwork. He weaved around orange cones. He also did high-step drills on a roped ladder placed on the grass field.”

About why he works so hard on his footwork, Bryant said that DB coach:
“Miano always says you have to map everything out before you go out there. Details are important. The details compensate if you make a wrong break or a wrong read. If your footwork is right, you should be OK.” (HA)

About making time for family, school, and football, Bryant said:
“If you prepare, there’s time for everything. I want to get the best out of every situation. One of the coaches said don’t let ‘effort’ be the reason you didn’t get the job. If I can put in as many hours as I can, if God blesses me with the energy and the focus, there isn’t any reason I can’t give my team 100 percent.” (HA)

HA Note: “Bryant and his wife, Keshauna, have a 2-year-old daughter, Jayana. They spend their free time at the zoo, the beach or visiting his aunt in Wai’anae. Bryant is part Chamorro, although he has never been to Guam.”

About living in Hawaii, Bryant said:
“I don’t think you can find people like the ones who live here anywhere else in the world. I’ve lived in a big city. I’ve been to a lot of places. The people here are so accepting.” (HA)

Mana Lolotai has earned some first team reps at MLB

About the extra running he’s been doing, Mana Lolotai said:
“Coach Cal (Lee) said the LBs have to be the most in-shape guys on the field. Coach expects a lot out of us as linebackers so we have to make sure we push ourselves.” (HSB)

HSB Note: “Lolotai put in a solid day’s work last Saturday and alternated with senior Brashton Satele at middle linebacker in yesterday’s practice. Lolotai has been working primarily with the second unit during the spring, but got a few repetitions with the first unit after an impressive performance in last Saturday’s scrimmage.”

About getting reps at MLB with the first team D, Lolotai said:
“We have to know how to play with each other. Playing with the ones, I get that more fast-paced tempo.” (HSB)

About Brashton Satele and Mana Lolotai both being at MLB, Mac said:
“They’re two of our best players so we just have to find a spot for them. They’re probably two of our top five players this spring.” (HSB)

About how he didn’t get many breaks during Saturday’s scrimmage, Lolotai said:
“It was a mental gut check, you have to dig deep.” (HSB)

About how he spends time with his 2-year-old daughter (Zaiah) when he’s not in classes, meetings, or practice, Lolotai said:
“It keeps me more grounded, I have to be more focused. Not only do I have football, but I have responsibilities at home, too. It kind of works hand in hand.” (HSB)

http://www.starbulletin.com/sports/sportsnews/20090421_Digging_deep.html

Richard Torres (5′7″, 171 pounds) is UH’s top nickel back

HSB Note: “Blitzing off the edge is one of the nickel back’s main duties, sending the 5-foot-7, 171-pound sophomore against tackles Laupepa Letuli (6-4, 320) or Aaron Kia (6-5, 290) in practice.”

About how Torres is an effective blitzer, Rich Miano said:
“People don’t realize how quick he is. He turns the corner. He knows how to knife in there, he knows how to time up the cadence.” (HSB)

About earning the #1 nickel back spot this spring, Richard Torres said:
“It’s just more comfortable. I’m trying to limit the mistakes now that I understand the defense a lot more and be in position to make plays. Now I can react faster.” (HSB)

About how he’s been trying to add weight without reducing his speed, Torres said:
“God made me this way so I have to make do with it.” (HSB)