JAKE PATEK
position · strong safety
key stat · second on team with three forced fumbles

23 Gerard Lewis	3 Myron Newberry	24 Desmond Thomas

COMPARISONS

Many good players have come and gone, but overall the secondary has not been Hawaii’s greatest unit over the decades. Cornerbacks Jeris White, Hal Stringert, Dana McLemore, Abe Elimimian and Quincy LeJay were big-time players. Blane Gaison, Nate Jackson, Rich Miano and Mark Kafentzis were great leaders and hard hitters at the safety spots.

POSITIVES

Jake Patek, a baby-faced assassin last year, has beefed up.

He has also become a strong leader. He is a hard hitter and relies on good instincts that keep getting better as he spends more time in the secondary after playing linebacker in junior college.

Myron Newberry and Gerard Lewis have good speed and are fairly reliable against the run despite their size. Newberry is an excellent technician, and Lewis has a nose for the big play.

NEGATIVES

At 5-9, Newberry and Lewis are almost always at a height disadvantage against the wide receivers they cover. Sometimes despite perfect coverage, they are out-jumped for balls.

There are many viable candidates for the safety spot next to Patek, but chances are whoever it is won’t make fans forget about Leonard Peters, at least not right away. Peters was the spiritual leader of the defense last year and he will be missed.

RICH MIANO / SECONDARY COACH

“Three of our starters are back, and they came back ready to perform. That’s a good starting point. It’s been a dead heat at the open safety spot between Desmond and Keao. We also have Dane Porlas, who is experienced, and some exciting newcomers.”