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Hawaii football will be sneaky sleeper in Mountain West for 2019

By John Mitchell

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 27: Hawai'i Rainbow Warrior players embrace before the College Football Sydney Cup match between University of California and University of Hawaii at ANZ Stadium on August 27, 2016 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 27: Hawai'i Rainbow Warrior players embrace before the College Football Sydney Cup match between University of California and University of Hawaii at ANZ Stadium on August 27, 2016 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Kent Horner/Getty Images)
(Photo by Kent Horner/Getty Images) /

Defense

Hawaii’s offense was good enough last year to make a serious run at the Mountain West, and while that is likely to be the case once again in 2019, the defense will need to take a step forward from sieve to at least mediocrity to be serious competitors.

Hawaii ranked 100th or worse in most defensive categories in 2018, but are aided by the return of nine starters from a year ago along with 84 percent of its overall production on that side of the ball. When you were as bad as the Rainbow Warriors were on that side of the ball a year ago, returning talent doesn’t always inspire the most confidence, but increased experience should provide for at least a small step forward, which might be all they need.

There’s certainly talent on the defense, led by the return of senior defensive end Kaimana Padello, who was an All-Mountain West second-team performer last season after producing 13.5 tackles-for-loss and 8.5 sacks. He returns alongside all three of last season’s leading tacklers, including linebackers Solomon Matautia and Penei Pavihi, who will have to shoulder even more of the burden with Jahlani Tavai now playing on Sundays.

The secondary was actually the (relative) strength of the Hawaii defense in 2018, ranking in the middle of the pack in the conference. All four of the team’s starters return, and senior safety Ikem Okeke has the potential to be an all-conference performer.

Hawaii’s defense will hope to be more opportunistic, and have some increased good fortune when it comes to bounces, in the turnover department. Hawaii managed just 12 turnovers defensively, leading to one of the nation’s worst turnover margins in 2018. Moving that -9 number closer to even would go a long way in making the unit more competitive, and in turn pushing the Rainbow Warriors toward the top of the Mountain West.

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