Hawai'i, San Jose successful of late

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Ignore the big picture.

Hawai'i quarterback Nick Rolovich will make his fifth consecutive start tonight against San Jose State at Aloha Stadium. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

After opening with five consecutive losses, the Spartans have won two in a row. At 2-2 in league play, they still are in the WAC chase.

"They're scary," UH assistant coach Rich Miano said. "If you watched their tapes, you'd swear they were 6-1."

The Warriors have won four in a row after a 1-2 start. Their final five regular-season games, including two WAC meetings, are at home.

Here's a closer look at tonight's game:

Spartan passing

WR—3 Edell Shepherd (6-1, 170, Sr.)
WR—1 Casey Le Blanc (5-10, 193, Sr.)
QB—14 Clint Carlson (6-2, 217, Sr.)

The buzz: Carlson has provided a boost since replacing Marcus Arroyo two weeks ago. While Arroyo has a stronger passing arm, Carlson is more accurate. Carlson, a 25-year-old senior, doesn't panic, and he is a wise scrambler.

Le Blanc is a possession receiver with speed. Shepherd is the big-play guy, finding openings on deep comeback routes (in which he will sprint downfield and then make a U-turn). Defenses have not been able to stop him with double or press coverages.

Spartan rushing

LT—74 Chris Fe'esago (6-3, 328, Sr.)
LG—70 Joseph Hayes (6-4, 291, So.)
C—64 Bruno Contreras (6-2, 306, Sr.)
RG—78 Joel Tautuaa (6-4, 365, Sr.)
RT—59 Tim Provost (6-6, 287, Jr.)
TE—89 George Campos (6-4, 260, Sr.)
TB—4 Jamar Julien (6-0, 225, Jr.)
HB—31 Lamar Martin (5-11, 201, Fr.)

The buzz: The Spartans' best tailback, Deonce Whitaker, won't start because of a knee sprain, but he will be available. Julien, who is bigger than Whitaker and can run 40 yards in 4.4 seconds, moves from H-back to tailback. Julien will try to attack the perimeters on toss sweeps, following Martin's blocks. Campos, who is considered a third tackle, will join in the caravan. The Spartans stay fresh by rotating seven offensive linemen.

Spartan defensive front

DE—93 Kevin Michaelis (6-4, 254, Sr.)
DT—45 Brandon Miles (6-0, 252, Jr.)
DT—50 Larry Dawson (5-11, 290, Sr.)
DE—99 David Coats (6-2, 245, Sr.)
LB—49 Alvin Dean (6-0, 226, Sr.)
LB—83 Ethan Allen (6-3, 228, Jr.)
LB—6 Patrick Battle (5-11, 228, Sr.)

The buzz: Allen (no relation to the furniture people) becomes the Spartans' fourth starting middle linebacker this season. The team's leading tackler, Onyeka Ossai, has several nagging injuries and will spell Allen. The Spartans like to drop a defensive lineman or linebacker into zone coverage, then attack with five or six. One tactic is to overload to one side (often there is nobody across from an offensive guard) and run a scheme in which one defensive lineman will try to draw a double block while another loops around the traffic jam.

Spartan secondary

LCB—5 Alex Wallace (5-10, 169, Sr.)
SS—22 Melvin Cook (5-9, 188, So.)
FS—37 Larry Thompson (6-0, 188, So.)
RCB—11 Willie Adams (5-10, 171, Sr.)

The buzz: There is age at safety (Thompson is 27) and experience at the corners. Shaun Fletcher, who has recovered from a hernia, will provide depth at cornerback.

Spartan specialists

PK—13 Nick Gilliam (5-8, 170, Jr.)
P—97 Bryce Partridge (6-3, 185, So.)

The buzz: Partridge's family tree includes two uncles who were pro punters. Rick Partridge was the Buffalo Bills' punter for three replacement games in 1987. Jeff Partridge was named to the USFL all-star team in 1985. Gilliam has a more noteworthy relative. His aunt, Sally Socolich, wrote, "Bargain Hunting in the Bay Area." Gilliam is valuable on attempts up to 39 yards, converting 7 of 8. He's 1 of 5 from 40 and beyond.

Warrior passing

LWR—18 Justin Colbert (5-7, 160, Jr.)
LSB—85 Channon Harris (5-8, 151, Sr.)
LT—53 Lui Fuata (6-2, 313, Jr.)
LG—76 Manly Kanoa III (6-4, 320, Sr.)
C—66 Brian Smith (6-2, 284, Sr.)
RG—65 Vince Manuwai (6-2, 285, Jr.)
RT—69 Uriah Moenoa (6-4, 331, Fr.)
RSB—2 Craig Stutzmann (5-11, 194, Sr.)
RWR—8 Ashley Lelie (6-3, 187, Jr.)
QB—12 Nick Rolovich (6-2, 200, Sr.)

The buzz: The Olsen twins are proof that similar circumstances do not always yield the same results. While UH's protection schemes have remained unchanged since offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh's arrival in 1999, the offense has assumed a different shape with each quarterback. In 1999, Dan Robinson stood in the pocket before throwing to the wideouts. Last year, Tim Chang ran designed scrambles inside the blocking zones while searching for cutting receivers. Rolovich, who has started in the four games since Chang suffered a wrist injury Sept. 29, has been able to improvise, buying time by running out of the pass protection. Rolovich's scrambling — favored by his teammates — gives him more than the 3.5 seconds designed for each pass play as well as forces opponents to blitz cautiously.

Warrior rushing

RB—1 Mike Bass (5-6, 158, Fr.)
RB—24 Thero Mitchell (5-10, 215, Jr.)

The buzz: To break the trend, Bass is being used more in short-yardage situations instead of the power-running Mitchell, instilling some doubt in defenses.

While Stutzmann is averaging 5.8 yards per carry on slotback handoffs, the speedy Harris (4.4 seconds over 40 yards) has the potential to run for more yards.

Manuwai leads the team in "hunting," a skill in which a player effectively blocks two defenders in succession.

Warrior defensive front

LE—58 La'anui Correa (6-4, 267, Jr.)
LT—70 Mike Iosua (6-3, 272, Sr.)
RT—92 Lance Samuseva (5-11, 285, So.)
RE—1 Travis Laboy (6-5, 253, So.)
SLB—44 Matt Wright (6-1, 222, Jr.)
MLB—54 Chris Brown (6-2, 258, Jr.)
WLB—10 Pisa Tinoisamoa (6-0, 210, Jr.)

The buzz: In the past two games, the trifecta of Brown, Iosua and Samuseva was a Bermuda Triangle for inside running attacks. Iosua and Samuseva have been able to occupy two blockers each, and Brown has been attentive in tracking ball carriers. This week, the emphasis is inverted, with the ends and outside linebackers needed to slow the Spartans' perimeter runs.

Warrior secondary

FCB—17 Kelvin Millhouse (6-1, 198, So.)
FS—12 Nate Jackson (5-10, 163, Sr.)
SS—3 Jacob Espiau (5-10, 196, Sr.)
BCB—33 Hyrum Peters (5-8, 190, So.)

The buzz: With cornerback Abraham Elimimian not expected to start because of a sprained ankle, Peters, who played nickelback last week, will get the call. The Warriors will return to dividing the cornerbacks into field (coverage of the wide side) and boundary duties. There is a possibility that when the Warriors use five defensive backs, Jackson will move to cornerback, Robert Grant will play free safety and Peters will shift to nickelback.

Warrior specialists

PK—47 Justin Ayat (5-11, 203, Fr.)
P—49 Mat McBriar (6-1, 202, So.)

The buzz: After missing four of five field-goal attempts against Southern Methodist Oct. 6, Ayat has converted six in a row, including from 50 and 55 yards, in the past three games. Now he said he will try to work on his kickoffs. Four of his kickoffs have sailed out of bounds, each penalized by the opposing team starting at its 35. Ayat said the combination of being anxious and trying to place a kickoff in the left corner has hurt his control.

San Jose State (2-5, 2-2 WAC)

Date—Opponent Result

Sept. 1—At Southern California L, 21-10
Sept. 8— At Colorado L, 21-10
Sept. 29—At Arizona State L, 53-15
Oct. 6—At Louisiana Tech L, 41-20
Oct. 13—Southern Methodist L, 24-17
Oct. 20—At Texas-El Paso W, 40-28
Oct. 27—Tulsa W, 63-27