Spring Day 3 Wrap-Ups

Stephen Tsai writes about the Warriors working in a tight end.

For the record, June Jones, architect of the four-wide offense, said Cameron Allen-Jones is a big running back learning pass routes. Jones has not used a tight end in his first eight seasons as UH head coach.

But Allen-Jones was aligned as a tight end and, at 6 feet 2 and 265 pounds, resembles a you-know-what.

"It's like a wing tight end," Allen-Jones said of his position.

I remember Reagan Mauia lining up as a tight slot while Nasti was in there for a couple plays last year, but that was for blocking. Sounds like it'll be expanding this year. June got some tricks up his sleeve!

Dave Reardon writes about the official arrival of defensive coordinator Greg McMackin.

"You know, when we got to looking at tape we're really still doing the same things as in '99, with zone blitzes and all that kind of stuff. So it's going to be a fast transition for the players."

...

McMackin said speed is a key component to his defense.

"We try to get the fastest guys on the field. It goes back to the Miami days," McMackin said. "We really only have two defensive linemen. The ends are like outside linebackers. They can run. So we have two linemen that are big, 280-300 pounds, like Mike's (Lafaele) a great example. And we have about six of those guys. They're going to get up the field and set another line of scrimmage. Basically we have guys who can run and blitz. The kids are picking it up already."

I'm getting excited already!

Stephen Tsai talks to McMackin about his reasons for coming back.

"I really came here for two reasons," McMackin added. "One, to work with June Jones. The other is to help coach Jones and the players and coaches get a WAC championship. What June has done here is amazing. I'm really excited and humbled to be back."

...

"I'm going to be here as long as June's here," McMackin said. "This is the last guy I'm going to coach with. He's like family. We were together a long time in the USFL. He's from Oregon. I really think he's the best coach in the game. I really do, and I've been with a lot of great coaches."

We'll miss Jerry, but I'm glad we got Greg back.

And finally, Kalani Simpson writes a great profile of UH cornerback JoPierre Davis, who was on the scout team last year.

So he rededicated himself. ("I wasn't working as hard as I should have been working," he said.) He kept coming back. He's back this spring. He has a fresh start.

"I didn't have nothing against (Jerry) Glanville," Davis said. "He was a good coach. It was real hard-nosed, it was good for me. But now it's ... now, you can make mistakes and he'll (Greg McMackin) still give you a chance."

It's those mistakes that did Davis in, trying so hard not to make them. But he's working harder now, he's smarter now (he's humbler now).

He'd been training this offseason to show Glanville the player he'd become. Instead, now there's a new system, a new guy to impress. That's fine.

"I don't want to say it's total opposite," Davis said, "but Glanville, you mess up you're out of the game. (McMackin's) like, you mess up, we've got the best player in there."

Davis thinks he can be that best guy. He's confident that way.

Great to hear. It's gonna be a great defense this year.