ANALYSIS
UH defense will be tested by run

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawai'i's run-and-shoot and Rice's multiple-option offenses have had success this season. The defenses will have to step it up

HOUSTON — Today's Western Athletic Conference football game between Hawai'i and host Rice is all about style.

UH's run-and-shoot offense uses four receivers who plot their routes based on the defensive coverage. Rice's multiple-option offense employs three running backs and also chooses plays that counter defensive alignments.

Of course, each team stands by its scheme.

"I'm an option man," Rice fullback Robbie Beck said. "That's what I love. If I had to do it all over again, I would still choose to come here, because I love the option."

UH wideout Jeremiah Cockheran, who played in a run-option system in high school, said he would never consider choosing a school that runs Rice's offense.

"Forget that," Cockheran said. "Our offense is the best."

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

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, 295, Sr.
• RT—69 Uriah Moenoa, 6-3, 327, So.
• RSB—21 Clifton Herbert, 5-8, 157, Jr.
• RSB—4 Nate Ilaoa, 5-9, 204, Fr.
• RWR—88 Neal Gossett, 5-10, 177, Sr.
• RWR—19 Jeremiah Cockerhan, 6-0, 193, Jr.
• QB—14 Tim Chang, 6-2, 191, So.
• RB—24 Thero Mitchell, 5-10, 210, Sr.
• RB—1 Mike Bass, 5-6, 156, So.

Outlook: Chang is hoping to avoid the heat when he faces the WAC's top sacking team. The Warriors have relinquished a WAC-low nine sacks this season, but seven came on perimeter rushes, the Owls' speciality.

In the last two games, UH has allowed five sacks, with Fresno State and San Jose State using a delayed blitz scheme. In UH's offense, the lone running back usually is positioned on the front side (a few steps to the right of the right-handed Chang). On pass plays, the running back first checks the right side for an attempted blitz, and if none is detected, maneuvers to the left to pick up pass-rusher who might slip past the offensive line. Opponents have decoded that tactic, and now wait for the running back to move to the left before sending a blitzer through the front side.

The key will be for the edge blockers, Hunter and Moenoa, to hold their ground, especially against defensive end Brandon Green, who leads the WAC with seven sacks.

"You have to be real patient with your (blocking) technique," Moenoa said. "You can't lunge. It all comes down to technique."

Hunter agreed, saying, "If you lunge, you lose the battle, guaranteed. We know (the pass-rushers) have to come to us, because we're in front of the quarterback, so we just have to wait and be patient, and not try to attack first."

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—93 Houston Ala, 6-1, 250, Jr.
• OLB—5 Chad Kapanui, 6-0, 205, So.
• ILB—54 Chris Brown, 6-1, 255, Sr.
• ILB—10 Pisa Tinoisamoa, 6-0, 218, Sr.
• OLB—17 David Gilmore, 6-0, 197, Jr.
• LCB—3 Kelvin Millhouse, 6-1, 205, Jr.
• S—33 Hyrum Peters, 5-8, 188, Jr.
• RCB—37 Abraham Elimimian, 5-10, 173, So.

Outlook: To counter the Owls' run-option offense, the Warriors, who usually align in a 4-3 scheme, will bring back their 4-4 flex defense. Kapanui, a third-year sophomore who has played four positions at UH, replaces strong-side linebacker Matt Wright. Gilmore, the free safety, moves up to play the other linebacker position on the perimeter. Although Kapanui and Gilmore are expected to flex back into pass coverage, their primary duties are to track the option runs to the outside.

In this scheme, a defender is assigned to cover each of the option threats — the quarterback, two halfbacks and the fullback. Peters, the lone defender in the secondary, becomes the free safety. Not only will he double up on defending the perimeter option runs — he'll either cover the quarterback or the pitch runner, depending on the blocking scheme — but he also must assist in pass coverage.

"My key is to flow to the ball," Peters said. "This is more pressure than I've ever had, but I can handle it, and I'll be fine when the game comes up. I want to be the guy who can take care of the pressure."

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—1 Mike Bass, 5-6, 158, So.

Outlook: The home team has blocked a McBriar punt in each of the Warriors' last two road games. As a result, McBriar has tried to hasten his kicks, a strategy that backfired in last week's home game, when San Jose State was able to set up long punt returns. This week, McBriar has worked on reducing his snap-to-punt time to 2 seconds — UH coaches allow up to 2.1 seconds — without sacrificing his punt's hang time. McBriar believes that shortening his windup, instead of speeding up his three-step takeoff, should resolve the problem.

RICE OFFENSE

• SE—11 Marcus Battle, 5-9, 180, Fr.
• LT—53 Michael Holman, 6-3, 290, Jr.
• LG—75 Keith Meyer, 6-2, 290, Sr.
• C—51 Cotey-Joe Cswaykus, 6-, 280, So.
• RG—68 Clint Crisp, 6-3, 300, Sr.
• RT—69 Chris DeMunbrun, 6-4, 245, Sr.
• TE—82 Travis Thompson, 6-2, 245, Sr.
• QB—1 Kyle Herm, 5-8, 175, Jr.
• LHB—25 Sean White, 5-6, 180, Sr.
• LHB—23 Clint Hatfield, 5-9, 185, So.
• FB—1 Robbie Beck, 5-10, 220, Jr.
• RHB—32 Vincent Hawkins, 5-6, 175, Sr.

Outlook: Although Greg Henderson has glossier statistics (he ranks 10th in the WAC in rushing with 52.8 yards per game), Herm is better at steering the multiple-option offense. Also, Herm is an effective passer, especially when defenses try to crowd the line of scrimmage.

Rice's offense has two triple-option features, each beginning with Beck getting the ball on a dive play. If Beck doesn't get the ball, Herm can sprint to the perimeter and either turn upfield or pitch it to the trailing halfback. In the mid-line option, a scheme borrowed from an area high school coach, Herm can follow Beck through the middle of the defense or pitch it to a halfback, who also can attack the middle.

Beck said he chose Rice specifically because it used the mid-line option. "Any other option offense, I would be a blocker getting, maybe, one touch a game," said Beck, who averages 11.2 carries. "Here, I get more touches than all of the halfbacks."

The Owls also can spread their offense, sending the halfbacks wide or substituting Thompson for a wideout. The offensive switches are effective because the Owls often operate without a huddle.

Although White will start because it's the last game for the Owl seniors, Hatfield is the superior runner. Hatfield will play most of the game.

RICE DEFENSE

• DE—87 Brandon Green, 6-3, 250, Sr.
• DT—90 Jeremy Calahan, 6-3, 270, So.
• NG—96 B.J. Forguson, 6-3, 290, Sr.
• DE—6 Nick Sabula, 6-2, 230, Sr.
• SLB—4 Jeff Vanover, 5-11, 210, Jr.
• WLB—42 Justin Engler, 6-3, 230, Sr.
• LCB—29 Raymorris Barnes, 5-9, 170, So.
• SS—17 Antwan Shell, 5-10, 190, Sr.
• WS—40 Greg Gatlin, 6-0, 175, Sr.
• FS—31 John White, 5-11, 175, Jr.
• RCB—2 Jason Benjamin, 5-7, 185, Jr.

Outlook: With the 4-2-5 alignment, the Owls combine two defensive schemes. They can establish a pass-rush with the four-man front, yet the secondary is aligned in a nickel. That scheme apparently has fooled UH's Chang, who has been intercepted eight times in two games against the Owls.

Forguson is basically a space eater who draws enough blockers to free Green, who can play on either side of the defensive line. Green is fast, but according to UH's Moenoa, "every guy in college football is gifted. He just wants it more than some other guys. That's the difference."

RICE SPECIALISTS

• PK—12 Brennan Landry, 5-9,175, Fr.
• P—8 Travis Hale, 6-3, 200, Sr.
• KR—25 Sean White, 5-6, 180, Sr.
• PR—16 Kevin Ford, 5-11, 210, Fr.

Outlook: The first year of college, as Landry has learned, isn't easy. Landry has missed five of his 14 field-goal attempts, including four of five from beyond 40 yards.

Hale is the listed WAC leader in punting (only because UH's McBriar did not meet the minimum number of attempts), but his 41.0 average is wasted by the Owls' punt coverage. The Owls' net punting average of 30.6 is the second-worst in the WAC.