Navy, Mana Silva, Ken Niumatalolo

Jason Kaneshiro writes about the UH defense prepping for the Navy offense.

"It's the execution of the option," Hawaii head coach Greg McMackin said. "You might have people in the right place, but these guys really execute their technique. The academies are very disciplined, they're full-speed players. I coached at the Naval Academy; I know what kind of players we're playing (against). So we're in for a big challenge."

In the Warriors' preparation this week, freshman quarterback David Graves will be squarely in their sights as he plays the role of Navy playmaker Ricky Dobbs on the scout team.

"I ran a lot of option through high school, so I'm going to try to give the defense the best look I can," Graves said. "It's just quickness and precision. The best (option) offenses, the quarterbacks run it clean."

Stephen Tsai writes about defending against the cut block.

Unlike more traditional offenses, the triple-option features cut blocks, in which a slotback or receiver dives toward the feet or ankles of a defensive back or linebacker.

The technique is legal if it is done in the open field and the defender is not engaged in a block. Still, the blocking technique has drawn criticism, most famously from Notre Dame coaches, who claim it is dangerous.

"Cutting is tough," said UH associate head coach Rich Miano, who coaches the defensive secondary. "You have to be prepared."

The keys are quick feet and strong hands. This week, the Warrior defenders will be coached to shove away feet-seeking blockers.

"We have to watch our legs so they don't get cut-blocked," safety Spencer Smith said. "We have to use our hands really well."

Silva is drawing inspiration from his lookalike and fellow Big Island resident.

"You've got to sprawl like BJ Penn," Silva said of the MMA champion. "You've got to go to your knees, get back up, and make a play."

Speaking of Silva, he'll be today's guest on The Warrior Beat Show today at around noon.

HawaiiAthletics.com has more quotes from Greg McMackin's Monday press conference.

Bill Wagner of HometownAnnapolis.com has quotes from Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo.

This will be an emotional game for Niumatalolo, a native of the North Shore town of Laie and a 1989 graduate of Hawaii. Niumatalolo earned three varsity letters as a quarterback for the Rainbows then served two seasons as a graduate assistant at his alma mater.

"Ultimately, it's not about me. It's about our team and our program. But I'm excited to go back. This will be a fun game," said Niumatalolo, admitting he has been looking forward to this trip for a long time.

"We're getting ready for a football game. Hawaii is playing for a bowl berth so they're going to be highly motivated. We have to make sure from a schedule-point that we don't treat this like a bowl game. We want to make sure we have a normal week," he said. "We've got to make sure we're ready to go because this team has its back to the wall. This is a game they really want to get."

Niumatalolo is a cool coach.

Navy has five Hawaii natives on its football roster and all will travel with the team to Hawaii. That is notable since slotback and special teams performer Aaron Santiago is the only one that is usually on the travel roster. The other four are scout team members who would not normally make a road trip.

This is a good thing that head coach Ken Niumatalolo does to lift the spirits of those guys on the scout team. When Navy played Rice, Niumatalolo traveled every player from the greater Houston area. When Navy played SMU the following week, he brought every player in the program that hailed from the Dallas-Forth Worth region.

Ferd Lewis takes a look back at Niumatalolo's time at UH.

In addition to coaching, he carted around the head coach's exercise bike, brought box lunches to the video crew and dropped off coaches' kids at school. And he got snickered at by friends who questioned where it would ever get him.

But his hard-earned dues eventually won him an assistant position at UH followed by stops at Navy and Nevada-Las Vegas. When Johnson left Navy for Georgia Tech two seasons ago, Niumatalolo was the clear pick as his successor.

For someone who grew up in Hälawa, crossed the overpass to Aloha Stadium to sell newspapers, watch Hula Bowl and Pro Bowl practices, win a Prep Bowl with Radford High and play for UH, Saturday's step onto the sidelines figures to be a chicken-skin moment.

And you can take the boy out of the island, but...

"Our first team meal will be an L&L (Drive-In) katsu, teri beef combo (take out)," said Ken Niumatalolo, Navy's Hawai'i-bred head coach. "We'll have a mixed barbecue plate one night."

Already Niumatalolo has had Hawaiian music, including songs by Brother Iz and Keali'i Reichel, played at their workouts last week.

With Navy playing the University of Hawai'i at Aloha Stadium Saturday, "I want them to get in the mood," Niumatalolo said.

A call to the football office in Annapolis, Md., is greeted with, "Aloha! Navy football."

And Dave Reardon has some news and notes.