ANALYSIS
Warriors, Wolf Pack to air it out, gamble on defense

Expect Hawai'i quarterback Tim Chang and Nevada's Zack Threadgill to test the passing lanes tonight against aggressive defensive schemes.

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Tonight's football opponents — Hawai'i and Nevada — appear to be linked at the playbook.

At least in concept, the teams are philosophically the same, with each believing in a wide-open passing attack and go-for-broke defensive schemes.

Here's a look at the Western Athletic Conference game:

NEVADA'S PASSING

• WR—80 Nate Burleson, 6-2, 187, Sr.
• WR—81 Maurice Mann, 6-1, 172, Jr.
• WR—9 Tim Fleming, 6-1, 183, Jr.
• TE—89 Erick Streelman, 6-5, 250, Sr.
• QB—14 Zack Threadgill, 6-2, 211, Sr.

Outlook: In high school, Burleson was nicknamed "Cadillac" because of his long and smooth strides. This season, he has been a Hummer, leading the nation with 10.6 receptions per game. Burleson, who can run 40 yards in 4.31 seconds, is best on slant patterns. Last year, he showed his versatility by playing cornerback against UH.

Fleming is a sure-handed receiver often used on 10- to 15-yard out patterns. He also has run fade patterns in the red zone.

Nevada tries to spread its offense with sets that feature three tight ends or up to five receivers. A favorite play is to send four receivers deep on vertical routes.

NEVADA'S RUSHING

• LT—78 Alan Parker, 6-5, 305, Jr.
• LG—62 Chris Hines, 6-2, 290, So.
• C—66 Cody Johnson, 6-4, 286, Sr.
• RG—79 Isaiah Ross, 6-3, 318, Jr.
• RT—59 Harvey Dahl, 6-5, 303, So.
• RB—34 Matt Milton, 6-0, 211, Fr
• RB—40 B.J. Mitchell, 5-8, 190, Fr.

Outlook: Nevada is adjusting to life after Chance Kretschmer, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in the second game. Kretschmer, who led the NCAA in rushing last season, still is the Wolf Pack's No. 2 rusher statistically.

Milton, who does not have Kretschmer's driving strength, is used mostly on zone stretches, in which he will follow a caravan of blockers to the perimeter. On one play, "the horn," the center pulls. Johnson, an Outland Trophy candidate as the nation's best lineman, returns to center after filling in at tackle because of Dahl's injury.

Brenton Kendrick, a converted linebacker, is expected to become the short-yardage runner.

NEVADA'S DEFENSIVE FRONT

• DE—55 Jorge Cordova, 6-2, 241, Jr.
• DT—56 Derek Kennard, 6-1, 270, Jr.
• DT—95 Chris Barry, 6-3, 285, So.
• DE—42 J.D.Morscheck, 6-1, 220, Jr.
• MLB—10 Daryl Towns, 6-0, 238, Jr.
• ILB—26 Logan Carter, 6-3, 203, Fr.
• WLB—19 Carl LaGrone, 6-3, 221, Jr.
• R—25 Paul Jolley, 5-11, 212, Sr.

Outlook: Nevada has amassed four sacks this season, two fewer than its total in last year's game against UH. Last year, Wolf Pack defenders were able to decipher the Warriors' pattern of down-blocking, in which the right side of the offensive line attacked toward the left. The tactic leaves the UH running back, usually aligned to the right of the quarterback, to block the rush-defender approaching from the right side. But Nevada was able to storm the backfield by also looping the middle linebacker around UH's right side, creating a two-on-one advantage against the running back. The strategy was so successful, Nevada is expected to try it again, with Towns serving as the looper.

NEVADA'S SECONDARY

• LCB—29 Chris Handy, 5-11, 175, Fr.
• FS—39 Keone Kauo, 5-11, 181, So.
• RCB—8 Marlon McLaughlin, 5-10, 177, So.

Outlook: Safety Ronnie Hardiman, who suffered breathing problems because of an asthma attack, did not make the trip. Kauo, who had 13 tackles in last week's game against Nevada-Las Vegas, earns his second consecutive start.

In recent weeks, defenses have dropped their safeties into two-deep zone coverages to slow UH's run-and-shoot offense. But Nevada is expected to stick with an aggressive man-to-man scheme, counting on the pressure to come from the front side. McLaughlin is considered to be the Wolf Pack's best cover defender.

NEVADA'S SPECIALISTS

• PK—36 Damon Fine, 5-9, 150, So.
• P—37 Derek Jones, 6-3, 237, Jr.
• KR/PR—8 Marlon McLaughlin, 5-10, 177, So.

Outlook: Fine, a welterweight, is considered to be, pound-for-pound, the Wolf Pack's strongest player, particularly in squat lifts. Fine, who kicked a school-record 58-yarder last year, has not missed a kick from inside 40 yards this season.

UH'S PASSING

• LWR—18 Justin Colbert, 5-8, 170, Sr.
• LSB—2 Chad Owens, 5-9, 177, 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, 6-3, 309, Sr.
• RT—69 Uriah Moenoa, 6-3, 327, So.
• RSB—21 Clifton Herbert, 5-8, 157, Jr.
• WR—88 Neal Gossett, 5-10, 177, Sr.
• RWR—19 Jeremiah Cockheran, 6-0, 193, Jr.
• QB—14 Tim Chang, 6-2, 191, So.

Outlook: This season, the Warriors are finding out what happens when a counter-puncher faces an opponent who won't punch. Defenses have decided the best way to stop the Warriors' deep passing is to drop two safeties into deep zones. Before the shotgun snap, the safeties are usually 15 yards from the line of scrimmage. By the time Chang completes his three-step drop, the safeties are 30 yards from the line of scrimmage. That has made it difficult for the wideouts to overcome the safeties' head start. While receivers running underneath the coverage have been open, the run-and-shoot offense is not nearly as effective without the deep threat. Nevada might not use a two-deep zone, but it still will try to deny the over-the-top passes. To invigorate the offense, Cockheran will play more, with Gossett, who starts on the right side, sometimes sharing time with Colbert on the left. Cockheran, who can run 40 yards in under 4.4 seconds, is the tallest receiver on UH's two-deep chart.

UH'S RUSHING

• RB—24 Thero Mitchell, 5-10, 210, Sr.
• RB—6 Michael Brewster, 5-6, 176, So.
• RB—20 John West, 5-10, 180, Jr.

Outlook: Mike Bass will miss his second consecutive game because of a partially torn posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Although Brewster — who made several key blocks last week, as well as the best run by a Warrior this year — worked out with the first team this week, Mitchell, recovering from a strained right shoulder, is expected to start. West, fully recovered from an ankle sprain, also will be in the rotation. With Nevada's tendency to stack blitzers on one side, the UH running backs will be needed more as blockers tonight.

UH'S DEFENSIVE FRONT

• 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.
• SLB—44 Matt Wright, 6-1, 225, Sr.
• MLB—54 Chris Brown, 6-1, 255, Sr.
• WLB—10 Pisa Tinoisamoa, 6-0, 218, Sr.

Outlook: Last week, the Warriors actually played better on the early downs than in third- and fourth-down situations. The struggles could be traced to the nickel package, in which Wright is replaced by a fifth defensive back, and speed ends Travis Laboy and Kevin Jackson enter as pass-rushers. Last week, Boise State attacked the nickel with power runs. The Warriors spent the week working on playing disciplined defense. It is hoped Laboy's best skill — creating chaos in the backfield — can be tempered on running plays. Keani Alapa, who sometimes will replace Brown in passing situations, is developing into a dependable pass-defender.

UH'S SECONDARY

• LCB—37 Abraham Elimimian, 5-10, 173, So.
• SS—33 Hyrum Peters, 5-8, 188, Jr.
• FS—17 David Gilmore, 6-0, 197, Jr.
• RCB—3 Kelvin Millhouse, 6-1, 205, Jr.

Outlook: While freshman Kenny Patton played well as a starter the past two weeks, the return of Elimimian provides the Warriors with an effective tackler and a player experienced enough to cover Nevada's Burleson. Elimimian, who missed the last two games because of a pulled right hamstring, declared himself fit.

UH'S SPECIALISTS

• PK—47 Justin Ayat, 5-11, 205, So.
• P—49 Mat McBriar, 6-0, 221, Sr.
• KR—6 Michael Brewster, 5-6, 176, So.
• PR—21 Clifton Herbert, 5-8, 157, Jr.

Outlook: The Warriors believe they have cleared up the problems that led to Boise State blocking a punt for a touchdown last week.

Although Chad Owens practiced returning punts this week, Herbert will get the first opportunity tonight.