ANALYSIS
Run-and-shoot adds up for UH

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

San Jose State defenders will have their hands full against UH offense that has been putting up big numbers

For three decades, starting with creator Mouse Davis and then with his top disciple, June Jones, the run-and-shoot offense has been a nearly unstoppable football force.

It is a counter-punch system that, in theory, has an answer to every defensive scheme. The offense relies on the simple premise that four speedy receivers — two wideouts and two slotbacks — are difficult to cover when zig-zagging across the open field.

Jones, who implemented the system here when he was hired as Hawai'i's head coach in December 1998, said the run-and-shoot makes mathematical sense.

"Most teams are lucky to have two good corners," Jones said.

As a result, defenses assign the strong safety to cover a tight end or running back in pass situations, and, on blitzes, an outside linebacker will become a pass defender. But UH's third and fourth receivers are starting slotbacks, giving them an advantage in quickness, especially on blitzes, when "your fifth or sixth best cover people have to cover our No. 1s."

During the final session of every practice, UH's starting defense goes against the offensive starters. UH defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa said the defenders' moderate success comes from months of watching the offense and knowing where the receivers will go.

"We cheat," Lempa said, laughing. "That's the way to stop our offense, by cheating."

San Jose State doesn't have that insider information, and here's why it will be kept busy tonight:

UH OFFENSE

• LWR—18 Justin Colbert, 5-8, 170, Sr.
• LSB—84 Britton Komine, 5-9, 184, So.
• LT—70 Wayne Hunter, 6-6, 299, Jr.
• LG—77 Shayne Kajioka, 6-3, 308, Jr.
• C—53 Lui Fuata, 6-2, 315, Sr.
• RG—65 Vince Manuwai,6-2, 309, Sr.
• RT—69 Uriah Moenoa, 6-3, 327, So.
• RSB—21 Clifton Herbert, 5-8, 157, Jr.
• RWR—19 Jeremiah Cockheran, 6-0, 193, Jr.
• QB—14 Tim Chang, 6-2, 191, So.
• RB—24 Thero Mitchell, 510, 210, Sr.
• RB—1 Mike Bass, 5-6, 158, So.

Outlook: There are two theories on how to contain the run-and-shoot offense: Drop two safeties into deep coverage or blitz like crazy.

Most opponents choose Option No. 2. "They figure it's better to put pressure on us than let the quarterback sit back in the pocket and choose who he wants to go to," said Colbert, especially after the Warriors figured a way to beat the two-deep zone by running switch routes or flooding an area with receivers.

But defenses have had limited success in blitzing the Warriors. Last week against Fresno State, UH relinquished a season-high three sacks (one was credited after Chang was called for intentional grounding), but produced two scoring passes. Blitzes have been compared to full-court presses in basketball, except when a basketball team breaks the press, it results in only two points. Beat the blitz, and it could lead to a touchdown. "I like those odds," Colbert said.

Aside from the built-in safety mechanism — at least one of the four receivers will abbreviate a route and race into the flats when heavy defensive pressure is applied — the Warriors are difficult to blitz. First, Chang has a quick pass release that is even more effective because of his three-step drop after receiving the shotgun snap. Even if left unblocked, a blitzer has to sprint at least 10 yards to get to Chang.

Second, not only is the offensive line experienced in identifying blitzes, the sixth blocker — Mitchell or Bass — is assigned to pick up the loose pass-rusher. The UH running back actually is in better position to block a blitzer than a tight end. For instance, a tight end positioned on the right has no chance to block a blitzer storming from the left side.

By blitzing, a defense has one less cover player in the secondary. "You have to (blitz) to mix it is up, but you're not going to do it for very long," Jones said.

In the last two games, Tulsa and Fresno State blitzed heavily against UH, and Chang responded by throwing for 403 yards and a career-high 462 yards, respectively.

UH DEFENSE

• LE—58 La'anui Correa, 6-5, 264, Sr.
• LT—97 Isaac Sopoaga, 6-3, 315, Jr.
• RT—92 Lance Samuseva, 5-11, 290, Jr.
• RE—1 Travis Laboy, 6-4, 249, Jr.
• SLB—44 Matt Wright, 6-1, 225, Sr.
• MLB—54 Chris Brown, 6-1, 255, Sr.
• WLB—10 Pisa Tinoisamoa, 6-0, 218, Sr.
• LCB—3 Kelvin Millhouse, 6-1, 205, Jr.
• SS—33 Hyrum Peters, 5-8, 188, Jr.
• FS—17 David Gilmore, 6-0, 197, Jr.
• RCB—37 Abraham Elimimian, 5-10, 173, So.
• NB—13 Keith Bhonapha, 5-9, 197, Sr.

Outlook: The Warriors' defense has started to find its groove, relinquishing an average of 332 yards and 14 points in the last two games. The defense will receive a boost if Houston Ala, who missed the last two games with a bruised Achilles' heel, is able to play. Ala, who leads the Warriors with four sacks, is the right end in the 4-3 base defense, rush end in the nickel package and nose tackle in the "Okie" scheme, which employs six defensive backs. If Ala can't play, Brown will fill in during passing situations, with Chad Kalilimoku playing middle linebacker.

Millhouse and Elimimian have played well in pass coverage, freeing Peters and Tinoisamoa to blitz more.

UH SPECIALISTS

• PK—47 Justin Ayat, 5-11, 205, So.
• P—49 Mat McBriar, 6-0, 221, Sr.
• KR—20 John West, 5-10, 180, Jr.
• PR—81 Omar Bennett, 5-11, 178, Sr.

Outlook: As a change-up to their usual plan of kicking deep to the left, the Warriors have experimented with squib kickoffs. Most return alignments have four rows of players. Ayat is instructed to place kickoffs over the first two rows, with the ball landing around the 20-yard line, where it is hoped the "Foosball effect" will take take over. "You want the ball bouncing around all crazy so they don't get a good return," Ayat said. Even if the squib is short, the theory is the front-row players are not experienced in handling kickoffs and are unlikely to break away.

SJSU OFFENSE

• WR—1 Kendrick Starling, 6-1, 195, Jr.
• LT—78 Jeff Gordon,6-4, 287, Jr.
• LG—70 Joseph Hayes, 6-4, 302, Jr.
• C—77 LaMons Walker, 6-3, 270, Sr.
• RG—66 Justin Arrington,6-1, 296, Jr.
• RT—59 Tim Provost, 6-6, 295, Sr.
• TE—88 Marcus Helfman, 6-5, 241, Sr.
• WR—10 Charles Pauley, 5-10, 166, Sr.
• WR—11 Jamall Broussard, 5-9, 177, Jr.
• QB—5 Scott Rislov, 6-1, 218, Jr.
• TB—8 Lamar Ferguson, 5-5, 148, So.

Outlook: Because of the Spartans' extensive travel schedule to different climates, head coach Fitz Hill wanted a cold-weather quarterback. He found one in Rislov, who was raised in Pierre, S.D., a town of 15,000 where the winter windchill can plunge to minus-40 degrees.

Rislov, a junior-college transfer, beat out fifth-year senior Marcus Arroyo. With four regular-season games remaining, Rislov already is tied for 10th, with Jeff Garcia, now the San Francisco 49ers' starting quarterback, for most completions (196) by a Spartan in a single season. Rislov needs 33 completions to vault to No. 3. In the last three games, he has completed 87 of 125 passes (69.6 percent).

Rislov has embraced the Spartans' innovative offense, which has formations of up to five receivers or three offensive tackles. Starling was a two-time All-American in junior college, but Pauley is a better receiver, especially on runs after the catch, and Broussard has knack for getting open.

Ferguson, the shortest starter in Division I-A football, and Lance Martin platoon at tailback. Their favorite play is the "counter o-key," in which the off tackle and guard pull.

SJSU DEFENSE

• DE—44 Chip Kimmich, 6-4, 257, Sr.
• DT—54 Larnell Ransom, 6-2, 251, Fr.
• DT—69 Kinji Green, 6-2, 278, Fr.
• DE—56 Philip Perry, 6-1, 242, Jr.
• OLB—35 Onyeka Ossai, 6-1, 213, Jr.
• MLB—9 Paul Okumu, 6-0, 234, Jr.
• OLB—20 Luke LaHerran, 6-1, 233, Sr.
• CB—34 Trestin George, 5-8, 170, Fr.
• SS—33 Josh Powell, 6-2, 194, So.
• FS—38 Gerald Jones, 6-0, 196, Jr.
• CB—22 Melvin Cook, 5-10, 197, Jr.

Outlook: The Spartans will line up with four down linemen — OK, technically three, because Perry stands up — then mix their schemes with the linebackers.

In a 4-3 alignment, a favorite tactic is to drop Okumu into pass coverage and blitz the outside linebackers.

In the 4-2, the linebackers are positioned directly behind the defensive tackles, three yards from their wallets. One strategy is for one of the linebackers to cross over and hit the gap between the center and the guard. The second linebacker will wait a second, then follow the first linebacker through the same gap. If the offensive linemen try to narrow that gap, Perry will storm the backfield. Perry has forced four fumbles this year.

SJSU SPECIALISTS

• PK—13 Nick Gilliam, 5-7, 188, Sr.
• P—39 Michael Carr, 5-11, 201, Sr.
• KR/PR—10 Charles Pauley, 5-10, 166, Sr.
• KR—1 Kendrick Starling, 6-1, 195, Jr.

Outlook: Pauley, who leads the nation in kickoff returns (31.3 yards), has benefitted from the Spartans' man-to-man blocking scheme. Instead of the usual wedge block, Pauley said, "Everybody has to get a man. I try to find the holes."