For Harry Paaga, It’s All About Speed
By Jack Danilewicz
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In his mind at least, long-time Castle defensive coordinator Harry Paaga’s Christmas wish list is always completed well before the beginning of spring football practice in late May.As always, he wants football players who can cover a lot of ground in a short period of time.
“Speed is a must have on defense - speed, speed, speed,” laughed Paaga, a stellar linebacker during his own playing days at the school in the late 1970s. “It’s a great advantage you can have. Speed-wise, this group has potential. Once we get through a few scrimmages and practices, we can get to the point that past defenses (at Castle) have.”
That would be a comforting thought for the Knights Nation, which has grown accustomed to a stout defense through the years. Paaga’s latest challenge, which continued last week when the Knights opened fall practices, is to mold a unit that will consist of several key veterans and newcomers receiving their first dose of varsity football in the OIA’s Red East Conference.
“For the most part, it’s a young defense, so we’re doing a lot more teaching this year,” said Paaga, whose defensive staff also includes David Mahelona, Koa Kamakeeaina, Mark Lum and Tony PangKee. “Being so young, they’re trying to put a lot of work into it mentally and physically, and that’s exciting for us.”
The Knights are returning to a 4-3 base alignment this season, having run a 3-3-5 scheme last year because they were heavy in linebackers and defensive backs, depth-wise, and thinner on the line. Regardless of the scheme, they figure to have one of the top secondaries around, led by Shaydon Kehano, the league’s reigning Offensive Player of the Year in 2008 and a First Team defensive selection as well. Also back are seniors Lowen Rogers, Hans Reppuhn, Henrick Hicks and Garrett Paredes, who is moving between the secondary and a linebacker spot depending on the situation.
“That’s our strength,“Paaga said of the secondary.“We’re real athletic.A lot of these kids, the receivers and slot backs, go both ways. Shaydon is outstanding, a real coachable kid.”
Reppuhn has been nursing a hamstring injury but should be back well before Castle’s pre-season game versus Pearl City Aug. 15.
Paaga also is high on junior Cy Pana, who is penciled in beside Jaysen Ferreira at a linebacker spot.A standout on JV last year, Pana is one of the team’s hardest workers, according to his coach. “He has the drive, and he has good speed. He’s come a long way. We see good things for him.”
Ferreira was a First Team All Red East selection last season and will provide leadership for the unit.“He’s a real good one,“Paaga said. Sesolo Cocker and Ryan Ramirez are locked in a battle for the other linebacker slot.
Up front, the line was dealt a blow when Justin Mana Chang transferred to Waianae, but Paaga liked his depth enough to move back to a 4-3 defense. Isaac Makekau, Makana Tilton and Chris Finau are among those in the rotation in the trenches who should have an early impact this season.
“We don’t always have the prototypical player here, but these kids are stepping up,” Paaga said. “We’re younger, but we have good size, and we’re stronger. We feel good about the line. We have a lot of kids there, and the competition has been good.”
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