Expect Changes In Pearl City Defensive Play With Kamaka

Del.icio.us

Chargers’ defensive coordinator Kai Kamaka Sr. Photo by Leah Ball, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

When newly installed Pearl City defensive coordinator Kai Kamaka Sr. crossed paths again with Kahuku Head Coach Reggie Torres recently, the Red Raider coach had a question for him.

“He (Torres) said,‘I thought you retired,’” Kamaka Sr. relayed.“I said I thought I did, too, but it’s nice to be back.”

In a sense, Kamaka Sr. never left football - at least in mind-set.

“Football has been a big part of my life,” he said. “There’s something that intrigues me about it. It’s like a big chess match.”

Kamaka Sr.‘s latest appointment, on the Pearl City staff, came when son Kai Kamaka took over the Charger program during the off-season. His coaching resume includes stints at Waipahu under Sam Delos Reyes, where he held a variety of positions including that of defensive coordinator, and, more recently, with the Pearl City Highlands Pop Warner program. In between, Kamaka Sr. took seven years off from coaching.

As for returning to the high school game after an 11-year absence, he’s already gotten used to the long hours that go with coaching.

“We’ve been going since February with only six days off from Monday to Friday,” he said, “but if you don’t put in the time, you don’t get anything done. The kids also have to know you’re with them.”

The Chargers are in the midst of their summer work-outs and 7-on-7 passing league games with the beginning of fall camp set to begin at the end of the month.With the beginning of the prep football season approaching rapidly, these days are especially important at Pearl City, where the staff is working to minimize the transition issues that are often a byproduct of any coaching change.

In Kamaka Sr.‘s case, that means overhauling the Charger defense.Pearl City will run a 4-3 with “variations” not unlike the scheme he ran during his stint at Waipahu.

“I’d like to have an aggressive defense - I was taught to be aggressive,“says Kamaka Sr.,who was a stellar linebacker for Waianae during his own playing days in the late ‘60s. “Now, you have to be aggressive with some smarts in there.

“We play assignment football,” he said of installing the 4-3. “It’s assignment first, and then react.The 4-3 fits our personnel. We’re a lot quicker than I thought, especially with our linebackers.”

On that note, junior-to-be Cyrus Coen will anchor the Charger defense from his linebacker position after a promising sophomore season.

“I like his speed, and he has a feel for the game,” Kamaka Sr. said of Coen. “Also, he’s a great student in school. He’s real disciplined and leads us by example. We’ll have a young defense this year.”

In addition to teaching their own version of the 4-3, Kamaka Sr. and his assistants have emphasized defending the pass first and foremost for much of the summer as they anticipate facing their share of spread teams in the fall.

“We’ve been working at defending the pass and making the run secondary,“he said. “A lot more teams are throwing the ball now. Our own offense is so complex (to defend in practice). It used to be old(school) football - three yards and a cloud of dust.”

In Kamaka Sr.‘s mind, the Chargers have had a productive off-season with 45 to 47 players showing up for their summer workouts on a daily basis.

“We’re surprised at how quickly the kids have moved toward what we want. There are a lot of things we have to change as far as attitude and work ethic, but they’re ahead of schedule right now, we think. We have to introduce a lot of new techniques, but we’re gonna be OK.”