Lumbar

Stephen Tsai writes that Colt Brennan and Ikaika Alama-Francis are suffering from lumbar strains, but aren't expected to miss the Idaho game.

Brennan and Alama-Francis were scheduled to undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures last night to determine the extent of the conditions.

Brennan said the condition causes tightness to both hamstrings, and makes it difficult to run "at full speed" during practices. Fueled by adrenaline, Brennan said, "I can run during games." He called the condition an "annoyance."

Hope they're both good to go.

In the same article, Tsai also profiles Ross Dickerson and talks about the problems he's causing!

Last week, head coach June Jones said Grice-Mullins, if healthy, would regain the right slotback job. Dickerson was the starting right wideout before moving to become Grice-Mullins' replacement. Ian Sample is now the starting right wideout.

Yesterday, Jones softened his stance, and said if Grice-Mullins were available, Dickerson would play extensively at both slot positions.

Dickerson said he welcomes Grice-Mullins' eventual return, insisting, "it'll make our team that much more dangerous, another weapon for us in our offense."

As for his role once Grice-Mullins returns, Dickerson said: "I don't think one of us will have to sit. We'll split the reps. Starting doesn't mean a lot to me. Winning games means a lot to me."

Indeed, Dickerson enjoys being healthy enough to play the sport he first embraced in the fourth grade. "I played for the Waipahu Jackrabbits," he said, proudly.

It's a good problem to have, and Ross has a great attitude about it. He's gonna rip it up in these final 7 games!

The article also has news that John Estes got the game ball, The Juggernaut has a lot of injuries and is undergoing an MRI on his knee. Argh, that pains me. Not as much as the pain he's going through I'm sure. And Amani Purcell and Karl Noa have moved from OLB to defensive end.

Dave Reardon writes about the Warriors' hard-hitting defense.

New Mexico State rolled up 448 yards in UH's 49-30 victory Saturday. The game tape, however, shows Jerry Glanville something else: correct assignment and alignment, swarming to the ball and crunching tackles.

"We look at the assignments. Richie (defensive backs coach Miano) just said they went 13 plays in a row in the secondary where everybody did everything exactly the way they were supposed to. With their techniques, their assignments," Glanville said yesterday after his daily jog with Miano. "We look for people who do it the right way, who give us 100 percent hustle and go hit. It ain't that hard to figure out."

UH's style is to collect rent on the massive territory it yields with bruising physical play, often causing turnovers while demoralizing opposing players, sometimes knocking them out of the game.

In its current four-game winning streak, Hawaii has gathered 11 fumbles and interceptions and scored seven touchdowns after them.

I think the defense is playing great. The stats are misleading because the Warriors offense scores so often and so quickly, that the defense has to be on the field more. That's my theory anyway. As of this week, UH is 90th in the nation in time of possession. So maybe I'm not talking completely out my arse.

Reardon also writes that the OLB and corner positions are set for this weekend, with the starters being Gerard Lewis and Myron Newberry at corner, and Brad Kalilimoku and Micah Lau at OLB.

And finally, Kalani Simpson has a great column on how football coaches like to steal from each other.

"One of the things that I've been noticing is that the other teams, the last four games, every team has copied things that (Jerry Glanville's) doing to other teams. And now we're having to block that stuff," Jones said earlier this month.

Yes. That's right. Glanville is coming up with all these great new blitzes, and their teams are taking Hawaii's secrets and turning right around and using these very same plays against UH!

"We've had to block everything Jerry has invented this year," Jones said yesterday. "Jerry's doing a lot of things that we didn't do last year and nobody's done. We had to block 'em, after the other teams haven't showed them all year. All of a sudden they watch our tapes and put them in."

The whole column is a good read, so definitely check it out!

And finally again, don't forget to visit The Warrior Beat for an online chat with Dennis McKnight today at around 9:30am HST!