Rookie Hau’oli Kikaha has plenty to learn, but Saints ‘love the quickness, the passion, the way he plays the game’
 

Hau’oli Kikaha is no workout warrior.

Kikaha, who ran through positional drills at the NFL combine but declined to do any of the eyeball-catching physical tests, posted pedestrian numbers at his pro day. None of his numbers, from the 40-yard dash to the bench press to the jumps, would have put him at the front of the line in Indianapolis.

His athleticism shows up most when he’s wearing a helmet. Kikaha, like any rookie who has to mix it up on the line of scrimmage, still has plenty to prove when the Saints put on full pads in training camp, but the pass rusher is able-bodied enough to handle any role defensive coordinator Rob Ryan asks him to play.

“I’ll say this: I’m not really a drill guy,” Kikaha said after the Saints wrapped up summer practices. “But when it comes to playing football, that’s a different story.”


Read more: Rookie Hau’oli Kikaha has plenty to learn, but Saints ‘love the quickness, the passion, the way he plays the game’ | Saints | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Re: Rookie Hau’oli Kikaha has plenty to learn, but Saints ‘love the quickness, the passion, the way he plays the game’
 

Measurables are overrated to some capacity.

The biggest thing that tells me this guy belongs is 32 sacks in 2 seasons, including 19 last year.

He has similar workout numbers to Terrell Suggs and look how he turned out.

I hope Kikaha turns into a beast for us!!

Re: Rookie Hau’oli Kikaha has plenty to learn, but Saints ‘love the quickness, the passion, the way he plays the game’
 

I'm a little worried that he doesn't like running drills. He has great potential but does he have the integrity to force himself to train hard and learn from drills? Drills are essential to make sure everyone does the same thing the same way. I'm a fan of the old saying you play like you practice.

As a rugby player and coach it is important to me that everyone do whatever it takes to get better. I will not tolerate someone who is too good to run drills with the rest of the team. And he better love studying film.

Re: Rookie Hau’oli Kikaha has plenty to learn, but Saints ‘love the quickness, the passion, the way he plays the game’
 

Kind of reminds me of Ninkovich, we got rid of him and look what he has done in NE.

Re: Rookie Hau’oli Kikaha has plenty to learn, but Saints ‘love the quickness, the passion, the way he plays the game’
 

Island warrior ... one of those guys blessed with a lot of natural ability, he lives for the fight, practice/drills are just something you do in the meantime to stay in shape, ;) ... I'm looking forward to seeing how this guy progresses, does he have good initial success until there's enough tape on him or is he able to be a true star in the league? The only knock I have on these koa moku-type guys is being injury-prone at times and IDK if that may be from the lack of practice/working-out ethic because of all the natural ability.

If his numbers are good, won't matter. :)

Re: Rookie Hau’oli Kikaha has plenty to learn, but Saints ‘love the quickness, the passion, the way he plays the game’
 

injury-prone? that is the biggest concern

Re: Rookie Hau’oli Kikaha has plenty to learn, but Saints ‘love the quickness, the passion, the way he plays the game’
 

By that I kinda' mean they're always pulling something, straining something, tearing something, et... and part of that may be due (IMO) to all that natural ability/physique and stuff possibly predisposes them to really not practicing/training that hard (as indicated with Kihaha) because they don't need to in order to get results ... like not doing your stretching before a run or whatever ... but most the guys in the NFL are playing with a torn-something or another, I suppose, so it's probably not that big an issue.

Re: Rookie Hau’oli Kikaha has plenty to learn, but Saints ‘love the quickness, the passion, the way he plays the game’
 

In assessing Hau’oli Kikaha, there were a few things that popped out to me in his scouting reports that I'd comment...

'Hau’oli Kikaha is injury prone' - yes, he's had injury history, but it all stemmed from one injury and his rehab and recovery was terribly mis-managed after the initial damage to his knee; he took charge after re-injurring his knee and sought a competent physician of his choosing , followed that physician's directives and has remained major injury free since...

Hau’oli Kikaha has slow times in his workouts, combine - This was of greater concern to me; but I've started to realize in what I've seen of him in limited, accessible reports so far is that while some of these extremely fast players slow down some when the pads go on, Kikaha's strength is his strength and he's still has effective playing speed with no noticeable slow down when suited up...

Scott Shanle was a smart, instinctive, underappreciated linebacker for the Saints who was maligned by fans because he played with average speed and was usually tasked with assignments that required more than what his body was Blessed; Shanle really put his name out there when disclosing he'd worked-out Kikaha and gave enthusiastic, positive reviews about the Washington linebacker...

I'm betting on Shanle and that we hit gold in the second round...

Re: Rookie Hau’oli Kikaha has plenty to learn, but Saints ‘love the quickness, the passion, the way he plays the game’
 

I've got a good feeling about this guy for some reason... I think he can make an impact if healthy

Re: Rookie Hau’oli Kikaha has plenty to learn, but Saints ‘love the quickness, the passion, the way he plays the game’
 

I was never a fan of Shanle, but you could never doubt his football IQ. Shanle would have been a solid NFL LB coach so Ill take his word on Kikaha.