Defense wants to cut time on football field

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Next to being the Johnson Hall janitor or Campus Center bookstore cashier, one of the most difficult jobs on the University of Hawai'i campus belongs to the football team's defensive coordinator.

Defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa begins his second year at UH. Advertiser library photo • Aug. 14, 2000

For a defense, being on the field for long periods, "doesn't make you more energized," said Kevin Lempa, UH's defensive coordinator.

Last year, several opponents tried to use the clock to their advantage, calling more time-consuming running plays.

"If you can't stop the run, you'll be out on the field for a long time," Lempa said.

It also does not help that UH's four-receiver scheme is unlike most offenses across the country. In practices, Lempa struggles to find players to simulate an upcoming opponent's offense. The Warriors' run-and-shoot offense does not have a fullback or tight end.

But once, when asked if his run-and-shoot offense is a detriment to his team's defense, UH coach June Jones noted that a defense also has control as to how long it stays on the field.

"He's right," Lempa said. "We can try to get the ball back to our offense faster."

To that end, Lempa is reshaping the defense. In 1999, when Greg McMackin was the team's defensive coordinator, the Warriors lacked overall speed on defense. So McMackin, who preferred a high-pressure scheme, decided to create speed by realigning players. Cornerbacks became safeties, safeties became linebackers, linebackers became defensive ends and defensive ends became defensive tackles. Suddenly the Warriors were faster, although somewhat undersized.

But while the strategy was effective in 1999, it backfired last year, Lempa's first at UH, when the Warriors were overpowered by highly regarded runners, such as Texas Christian's LaDanian Tomlinson, San Jose State's Deonce Whitaker, Wisconsin's Michael Bennett and Nevada-Las Vegas quarterback Jason Thomas.

"It hurt us being light at linebacker," Lempa said.

In spring practice last March, Lempa moved defensive ends Chris Brown and Joe Correia to linebacker, and middle linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa to outside linebacker.

The moves "took away our depth on the defensive line, but hopefully it will stabilize our running attack," Lempa said.

The contingency plan is that in passing situations, Lempa will replace a defensive lineman and linebacker with extra defensive backs.

Lempa also is attempting to balance the second-to-worst turnover margin in the Western Athletic Conference last year. UH lost the ball 33 times and created 26 turnovers, a per-game average of minus-0.58. Lempa estimated the Warriors dropped more than 20 potential interceptions.

UH has spent preseason training working on stripping the ball from ballcarriers.

"There's a big emphasis on, 'We'll make (opposing offenses) get out quicker, so we can get the ball back to our offense.'" Lempa said.