2011-2012 Football Previews – WAC Conference – Hawaii Warriors
The Hawaii Warriors capped off one of their best seasons in recent years with a 62-35 loss at the hands of Tulsa in front of a home crowd in the 2010 Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, and now will look to 2011 as a season to build upon with success.
2011 Western Athletic | Hawaii Warriors Football Preview
Coach: Greg McMackin
2010-11 Record: 10-4 (7-1)
Hawaii Warriors Gambling Odds from Bodog.com to win BCS: 50-1
Hawaii Team Page – Players Stats – Roster – 2011 Schedule –>
Going into the 2010 season, the Warriors’ hopes were high.
They had one of the best young quarterbacks in the nation, a great system for him to shine in, and a aspiration to make a statement in their next-to-last season in the WAC.
Unfortunately, the team fell short in their opening game against USC, and that in turn set the stage for a successful, but disappointing season.
With their best win coming against fellow WAC member Nevada, 27-21, the team got stomped by Boise State, and would eventually have the same outcome in their bowl game.
But 2011 brings a fresh start, and the roster will have one more season under their belt, so let’s take a look at how the team will look going into the new year, by breaking down both the offense and defense.
Offense:
The spread offense may have been invented elsewhere, but in Hawaii they have perfected it in the past few seasons.
Up and down the offense, their playmakers overachieve year after year, and 2010 was no different.
Starting quarterback Bryant Moniz tore apart nearly every defense he faced in 2010 en route to passing for an eye popping 5,040 yards and 39 touchdowns. Moniz finished the year completing a remarkable 65 percent of his passes.
Moniz is, and should be, involved in nearly every Heisman conversation right now, but he will need a lot of players to step up and perform.
The team lost all three of their top skill-position players in wide receivers Greg Salas and Kealoha Pilares, as well as running back Alex Green.
Between these three players, there was over 4,00 yards of offense and 47 touchdowns. But, again, this is a system that allows virtually any player step in and perform.
Senior running back Chizzy Dimude is expected to start this season behind Moniz. Dimude has had a bit of a peculiar career at Hawaii, but is thirsty to show what he can do.
In all, the team is in a good spot on offense going into the new year in a conference that will be without powerhouse Boise State.
Defense:
While the team retains the majority of its defensive players from a year ago, the Warriors’ defense will sway in the direction of one player: senior linebacker Corey Paredes, who led the team with 151 tackles, including 88-solo tackles, four interceptions and five passes defended in 2010. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Paredes is far and away the most important returnee, and is the heart and soul of the defensive front seven, and it shows when he is on the field.
The linebacker corps is solid all around, and the squad can dominate any team when they are at their best. Junior Aaron Brown is the perfect Robin to Paredes’ Batman. Brown was successful in 2010, and will no doubt be better in 2011.
With these two, Hawaii has one of the best linebacker duos in the nation, but the rest of the defense will have to step up at a high level.
There is no doubt that the offense can score points, but for this team to progress to the next level, the defense will have to hold their own, and allow the Warriors’ spread attack enough time to its business.
2011 Hawaii Prediction: 3rd in WAC –
The team’s offense is going to look completely different with the exception of Moniz. This won’t fair well in their last season in the WAC. It is hard to pick this team to finish the season undefeated with Nevada and Fresno State breathing down their neck.
2011 Hawaii Warriors Schedule
9/3/11 10:15 PM ET COL
9/10/11 12:00 PM ET @WASH
9/17/11 10:00 PM ET @UNLV
9/25/11 12:00 AM ET UCDAV
10/1/11 7:00 PM ET @LTECH
10/14/11 9:00 PM ET @SJST
10/23/11 12:00 AM ET NMXST
10/29/11 5:00 PM ET @IDAHO
11/6/11 12:00 AM ET UTAST
11/12/11 12:00 PM ET @NEV
11/20/11 12:00 AM ET FRSST
11/26/11 11:00 PM ET TULNE
12/4/11 12:00 AM ET BYU
