Receivers on a mission
Posted at 3:37 PM

Saturday, Sept. 20, 2008
Saint Louis' receivers are good. Very good. But they aren't the only good corps out there.

They are very good, not a lot of drops, and seem to be WIDE OPEN against any defense. I know a big part of that is playcalling and the execution of Jeremy Higgins and the O-line. But I would definitely consider SL's receivers among the best.

Who else is at that level?

Leilehua. Rico Newman is a tremendous weapon as a runner and receiver. Edieson Dumlao is a clutch playmaker. The newcomer in Allan Macam's spot is Cheves Aberilla Ramento, who has stepped up big time. The other key is that Leilehua has several solid secondary receivers (like Saint Louis) who hold on to the ball. A very good crew that understands route-running and reads with the best of them.

Radford. Yep, Radford. Though they're D-II, their receivers have size and a coach who believes in the passing game. Shawn Putman-Curry (6-1, 205) has a lot of potential, but they have a solid, balance group, including a 240-pound TE (Andrew Forester). The one thing they don't do a lot of is throw to the RB. Yet.

Punahou. Of course, they're solid. Robby Toma has stickum hands and is possibly the most reliable route-runner in the state. Dalton Hilliard is always effective as a receiver out of the backfield. Galen Arakawa, Michael Suiter, Mark Silverstein, all reliable. Makaula has really developed as a QB, spreads the ball around. If Shutter is healthy and sharp, his chemistry with the receiver corps is stellar. The passing game is at its best when they spread the field, but they had a tendency to stay in TE sets more than usual last week, possibly to protect Shutter's shoulder.

Pac-Five. I know they got blitzed by Iolani yesterday (I saw it). But when Darin Kamealoha is in the lineup, they spread the field and move the ball very well. Defense tend to gravitate to Kamealoha as he runs his routes from the slot or backfield, which opens up lanes for London Amorin, Chaison Baition and Dylan Gomez. Kamealoha had 35 catches for 538 yards and six touchdowns before sitting out yesterday. The other three could surpass 40 receptions each, possible 50. Of course, they don't play average teams most of the time in the ILH, and P.J. Minaya struggled against Iolani's pass rush sometimes yesterday. Not having Kamealoha threw that offense off the rails. They need him back.

There are several other teams with one or two good receivers, but as far as receiving depth goes, these are the ones I like so far. Iolani, with Kela Marciel's move to wideout, has great potential. Kamehameha, very deep.

The trend seems to be that deep WR corps will raise the numbers and even the level of performance for each player. A rising tide lifts all ships. The opposite is true, too. Where one standout WR doesn't have help, defenses can lock in on him and limit his possibilities. It's true with Dalaunte "Taz" Stevenson of Mililani, clearly one of the best athletes in the state, but defenses shade toward him and double him quite often.

Skye Kaapuni of Pearl City, however, continues to rack up massive numbers. Eleven catches for 110 yards and a touch yesterday against Leilehua. Just another 100-yard day for a guy whose team has yet to win a game. How does he do it? With a substantial lead, do defenses back off and give him the stuff in front? Whatever the case, he and his OC get credit from me. He's a weapon and they get what they can from him.

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