Tick … tick … tick … ADVERTISING Tick … tick … tick … In meetings, practices and football games, the Hawaii cornerbacks are on the clock — at the mercy of a pass rush, accurate quarterbacks and speedy receivers. “If
Tick … tick … tick …
In meetings, practices and football games, the Hawaii cornerbacks are on the clock — at the mercy of a pass rush, accurate quarterbacks and speedy receivers.
“If we don’t get to the quarterback, at least move him off the spot to affect his throw, we’re probably doing ourselves a disservice,” said coach Nick Rolovich, noting that a pass rush that is not impactful gives receivers more time to get open against corners.
The corners were effective in the Rainbow Warriors’ first two games. In the opener, Massachusetts slotback Andy Isabella was held to five catches for 40 yards; in last season’s regular-season finale between the teams, he had seven receptions for 134 yards. Western Carolina averaged 6.6 yards per pass attempt against UH. The Warriors relinquished only two touchdown receptions to wideouts and slotbacks in the first two games.
But an ineffective pass rush and cushion coverage enabled UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen to complete 22 of 25 passes — one was dropped, another struck the back of a defender’s helmet — for an average of 12.9 yards per throw in last week’s game. Four of Rosen’s five touchdowns went to wideouts or slotbacks.
It appeared that left cornerback Manu Hudson-Rasmussen was targeted early. Rosen’s first four passes went to the right side. But defensive backs coach Abraham Elimimian said not everything is as it appears.
“When things happen, and (the corner is) is the first guy in the area, whether (the receiver is) his responsibility or not, the natural tendency for the untrained eye is to say, ‘Hey, it’s (his responsibility),’ ” Elimimian said. “But a lot of things are going on. … I like the fact that Manu has been asked to do a lot of things this year. People might not understand it. But it’s a pretty tough job.”
Hudson-Rasmussen, who transferred from a junior college in January, is fourth on the team with 16 tackles. He leads with three pass breakups and three passes successfully defended.
“He’s a tough kid,” Rolovich said. “He’s mentally strong.”
Hudson-Rasmussen, Zach Wilson, Mykal Tolliver and Eugene Ford are expected to rotate at the corner position opposite Rojesterman Farris II. Against UCLA, Wilson played 10 snaps, allowing one reception. He also chased down a ballcarrier.
“If you give me 10 plays, I’ll make something of the 10 plays,” Wilson said. “Make a meal out of scraps. That’s what I’ve been told my whole life.”
Wilson was led to believe he would receive an offer from UCLA after attending the Bruins’ camp as a high school freshman, sophomore and junior. But with no offer, largely because he was awaiting a delayed SAT score, Wilson attended Mount San Antonio College as a part-time, not-playing student in the 2015 fall semester. Then, a few days before the spring enrollment period was to end, Wilson received an offer from UH.
Now Wilson is part of a group that gives Elimimian a hopeful outlook.
“If you compare how we were playing this time last year with the corners and this time this year, these guys are way further ahead,” Elimimian said. “When you watch film — and we watch film as a staff —the picture, as they say, is never as good and never as bad.”
