Defense is often a matter of adjustments.
 
A year ago, the University of Hawai’I football team’s defensive unit was in the midst of adapting to the schemes implemented by a new coaching staff.
 
Now with a full season and a spring running the system constructed by co-defensive coordinators Jacob Yoro and Eti Ena, the Rainbow Warrior returnees have spent the summer and fall camp working to speed the transition for the current group of newcomers to the program.
 
“The first thing is our leaders have done a great job of acclimating these guys to our culture and what we believe in and what we’re trying to build here,” Yoro said. “When you’re trying to build a defensive unit it’s about a pack mentality, and our leaders have done a great job of incorporating those guys into that.”
 
A defensive staff led by Yoro, who also oversees the safeties, and Ena (defensive tackles) has guided the efforts to blend the talents of the first-year Warriors with the experience already within the unit heading into a season that opens Saturday at Vanderbilt.
 
The Rainbow Warriors departed for Nashville, Tenn., on Tuesday ahead of the Week Zero matchup with the Commodores with a defensive depth chart featuring seven returning starters — linemen Jonah Kahahawai-Welch, John Tuitupou and Andrew Choi; linebackers Logan Taylor and Isaiah Tufaga; cornerback Virdel Edwards II and safety Peter Manuma. The first unit also includes safety Meki Pei, who made four starts in 10 appearances last season.
 

 
Taylor led the Warriors with 85 total tackles last season with Manuma third (70) followed by Pei (53) and Edwards (50). Kahahawai-Welch posted a team-high 7.5 tackles for loss. Edwards tied for lead with three interceptions and Manuma had two picks in 2022.
 
Yoro characterized the returning group’s growth since last season as “night and day.”
 
“Their understanding of our schemes, their understanding of the nuances of our calls is allowing them to play free,” Yoro said. “And then when we make a mistake, it’s a lot easier to correct because of all of the information they understand.
 
“You don’t fit everything perfect all the time, but that’s why you build layers in your defense, guys being able to get each other right. What’s beautiful right now is the guys being able to communicate with each other between plays and getting things corrected.”
 
Three newcomers occupy the top line at their positions — nose tackle Kuao Peihopa, nickleback CJ Williams and cornerback Cam Stone. Two freshmen, linebacker Jamih Otis and nickle Elijah Palmer, also earned places on the two-deep.
 
The process of integrating the new faces into the fabric of the established culture predated the start of fall camp to player-run workouts over the summer.
 
For Stone, that meant bonding with a new set of teammates he lined up against last season as an honorable mention All-Mountain West Conference cornerback/kick returner at Wyoming. He was selected to the watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award, annually presented to the nation’s top defensive back.
 
“I felt accepted right away,” said Stone, who posted three tackles and broke up three passes in his visit to the Clarence T.C. Ching Complex last season and ranked second in the MWC with 12 passes defended (two interceptions, 10 pass breakups.  “Because I was a familiar face in this conference, that probably played a part, and it’s a big family environment. So they brought me right in and I’m grateful for them.”
 
Williams made the cross-country trek from Florida in early summer and echoed Stone’s appreciation for the welcome he received upon arrival.
 
“Honestly, football is the same everywhere you go, the Xs and Os, but what makes the difference is the relationships,” Williams said. “Can I trust you? Can I talk with you? Can we adjust this and can it be on a snap? Everything in football happens in a split second. Do I really know you, or is it just I line up in the same helmet as him.
 
“Summer PRPs, bonding outside of practice, the fellas took me in right away.”
 
From the perspective of those already on island, the attitudes of the additions accelerated the bonding process.
 
“I can’t say enough about how they are about their business,” said Taylor, one of the Warriors’ captains this fall. “These guys came in with a mind-set of, ‘it’s time to get to work.’ It hasn’t been hard to enforce the culture, people have adapted.”
 
As the Warriors continue work toward the opener, they can find motivation with a turn of the head.
 
“The chemistry is so fun, being able to trust the guy to the right and left,” Taylor said. “I’m going to be able to do my job because I trust that you’re going to do it right.
 
“More than anything else, we’re going to do it for the guys to the right and the left.”
 

 
The new faces in the unit extends to the coaching staff with Jordan Pu’u-Robinson (defensive ends) and Steve Irvin (cornerbacks), joining Yoro, Ena and linebackers coach Chris Brown.
 
Pu’u-Robinson played for the Warriors from 2012 to ’14 and served as a graduate assistant in 2021 and quality control assistant last year. Irvin previously coached at the University of San Diego and spent 2018 and ’19 in the MWC with San Diego State.
 
“Jordan played here, he understands the culture here, he’s been coaching a few years in a support staff role and he’s made a great transition into his group,” Yoro said. “He’s a young, bright, smart coach and we’re excited to have him with us.
 
“Coach Irvin is a very experienced coach. He’s been at a variety of different places that had success, so I have a tremendous amount of respect for him and he’s been a great addition for us.”
 

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