Q&A: Timmy Chang Recaps Spring Football Practices
HONOLULU — Over 15 practices spread through February, the University of Hawai'i football team kept August clearly in focus.
After closing 2023 with three wins in their last four games, the Rainbow Warriors jump started preparations for the 2024 season with a series of morning practices at the Clarence T.C. Ching Complex. Along with honing schemes, the Warriors integrated four new coaches to the staff led by third-year head coach Timmy Chang and welcomed several newcomers joining the program in the spring semester.
The Warriors completed their on-field work with their Spring Game on Feb. 25 and Jason Kaneshiro of HawaiiAthletics.com sat down with Chang to get his assessment of the spring.
Now that spring practice is winding down, what were your main objectives for the spring and what did you feel you got accomplished?
Chang: "Really quick turnaround for us, probably the quickest turnaround right in the FBS of the NCAA getting into spring. Our main objective is getting our guys healed up from last season and then developing more guys and developing depth and developing just guys to get better. We feel really good about that, both healing our guys and practicing and getting out there and competing."
Last year you started spring practice early out of necessity. What advantages did you take out of that going into this spring?
Chang: "Schedule-wise, moving it up we ended up getting more lifting in and running on the back end. … They come in as 17-, 18-year-olds, and to develop the body to get it ready to go out there and compete every Saturday, it takes time. So, we did like moving up the schedule last year. The way we start school early and how our system is run, we like focusing on our football early and we can get all that work on the back end."
With having the on-field portion early, does that give the players more time to work on their own as well?
Chang: "Correction-wise, film-wise going through it, it all makes sense. We have two freshman quarterbacks ( and ). One redshirted last year, traveled toward the end of the season. The other is coming in from just playing in December for a (high school) national championship. So, he comes in early and right away after three weeks of training, he's right immersed into spring ball and our playbook and getting reps. Very crucial for his learning and seeing it. As well as the other guys, they get to see themselves on film. … Developing, that's the biggest key."
You have some new coaches, but some familiar faces around here. How have they integrated into the program in the spring?
"You've got a new defensive coordinator (Dennis Thurman) that's been around, has a lot of experience, but really just blended into our culture and has a great personality. … Dennis has done a great job of being a teacher and mentor to the guys and then our kids being able to respond.
"Then you have two guys in Dan Morrison and Jeff Reinebold that are familiar with the place and have lived here and coached here, know the community, know the culture, know the type of kids that we get and they know how to coach. Putting them back in the mix, they're coaching the coaches as well. It's been nice to have that.
"(Former UH offensive lineman) Derek Faavi, another player coming back home to coach for his alma mater. It's exciting for him, it's exciting for us and look forward to building a relationship with him."
(UH quarterback) worked with Coach Morrison back in Texas and little in the fall. How big a benefit is it to have him back on board full time?
Chang: "Dan is a blessing for us, not just to Brayden but to our whole quarterback room. He brings a certain 'it' factor to coaching. He knows how to talk to people, he knows how to communicate. More importantly, he listens, he understands. He has a way of getting the best out of quarterbacks and, more importantly, out of offenses. … Already through spring we can see the imprint and the impact that he's made on our team as well as our offense."
Going into Year 2 of the run-and-shoot, is it night-and-day compared to this time last year?
Chang: "Last year just kind of talking about the plays and going out there and trying to execute them … and having experienced 13 games together and had a spring and a summer, it's all built up to where we are now. The guys look really good. They're performing at a high level and they're only going to get better.
"As our fans know and the people of Hawai'i know and our alumni, the more that these guys get comfortable and the more that they see it, the better the product is, and the easier to recruit to. Guys want to come and play for an offense that moves the ball up and down the field, whether it's throwing or running, putting points on the board and having fun and going out there and winning games."
Dennis Thurman brings in a new defensive system. How have the players taken to the changes?
Chang: "Dennis has a great system, proven with NFL teams and NFL coaches. He's taking an aggressive style of defense that will put the pressure on offenses and quarterbacks and try to create havoc. The guys are flying around, they're excited about it. It's playing to our strengths and that's what we wanted. We wanted a defense that would get after guys and create turnovers and get us back the ball as well as inspiring the fans and the State of Hawai'i as they watch us play. It something they can be proud of."
Now that the on-field portion is done, how important is the next phase of strength and conditioning?
Chang: "You wanna get your guys bigger and stronger and faster, so it is really everything and we're going to pour into that. We'll pour our resources into that, we'll pour our manpower into that. Our kids will continue to develop. You'll see their bodies grow bigger and stronger than they've ever been. … We'll give them a schedule to maintain and they'll get back at the end of May and we'll continue on to training camp and then here comes Week Zero. The plan is set for these guys now it's just keeping them consistent and working through the year.
"We know (August is) going to be here fast. … We'll get the message home and keep them consistent and keep them together and we'll work harder than we've ever done."
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Chang's position-by position breakdown
Quarterbacks
"The quarterback room is pretty unique. I've never been around a group of quarterbacks where all four of them can throw the ball at the level that they're playing at right now."
Receivers
"We put out a starting lineup and two of the guys are 1,000-yard (receivers) and the other two are born and raised Hawai'i guys that get the job done and are special. That's kind of how this place is."
Running Backs
"During the last stretch of the season, we played with an offensive lineman and we played with two walk-ons in Dave (Cordeiro) and Landon (Sims) and they have done amazing. We also get Tylan (Hines) back and Tylan's one of our best offensive players. Then we added and to the mix, so that running back room is really deep."
Offensive and Defensive Lines
"The offensive line is coming along, I'm excited about their progress. The defensive line, there's some guys missing on the edges (during spring). I'm excited to see what the tackles can do with Coach Reinebold. They've been putting a lot of pressure on our quarterbacks during the spring so I'm excited about them."
Linebackers
"The linebacker room, they're missing their main guy in , but it's been good to see Jamih (Otis) and back there together. That's been special."
Secondary
"I thought our corners were one of our strengths last year and they all came back. Virdel (Edwards) is coming back off of injury. (Safety) , special player, he's going to come back off of injury. We've missed about five to six starters on defense this spring but it also gave more time for other guys to get the reps and develop in the process, so to us it's a bonus. We can get our guys healed up, we're going to get them back shortly. They'll be lifting, training, getting ready for another season, but we've also been able to build depth with those guys.
"Really excited about the safety position. , we'll get healthy, excited to see what he's going to do in his second year."
Special Teams
"We've got a battle at kicker right now and we've got a battle and punter right now. So those jobs are being won through the offseason."
