ANALYSIS
Head coaches take hands-on approach

Hurricane-Warriors matchup turns into chess game as Tulsa's Keith Burns serves as defensive coordinator, while Hawai'i's June Jones calls the plays on offense.

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Tonight's meeting between Tulsa and host Hawai'i will involve a matchup of head coaches who specialize in defense and offense, respectively.

Keith Burns moonlights as Tulsa's defensive coordinator, and June Jones owns the patent to UH's run-and-shoot offense.

UH quarterback Tim Chang gives the edge to Jones, who often draws up the Warriors' first five plays on the eve of the game.

"Whenever he gives us the first five plays, my eyes light up," Chang said. "You never know what's going to happen. (Jones) always comes up with something new. You try to call his name sometimes and he doesn't answer you because he's in such deep thought. You never know what that man is thinking."

Here's a closer look at the game:

Tulsa's passing

• WR—82 Romby Bryant, 6-2, 180, Jr.
• WR—84 Montiese Culton, 6-1, 174, So.
• TE—16 Caleb Blankenship, 6-3, 220, So.
• QB—11 Tyler Gooch, 6-0, 188, So.

Outlook: In the last three games, Tulsa has gone to the shotgun snap, hoping to give more time to Gooch. Unlike other shotgun offenses, Tulsa sticks to its basic alignment of two wideouts, although sometimes Blankenship will flex out to become a slot receiver. Gooch is at his best when he's on the run, and he often tries to create plays off scrambles, bootlegs and play-action passes.

The passing package includes loads of screens, quick slants and seam routes. Bryant and Culton are the tallest receiving tandem in the WAC, and Blankenship, when he's used as a slot receiver, creates mismatches against slower linebackers or smaller safeties.

Tulsa's rushing

• LT—59 Austin Chadwick, 6-4, 281, Jr.
• LG—63 Derek Warehime, 6-2, 292, So.
• C—62 Anthony Taylor, 6-1, 287, Sr.
• RG—71 Matt Black, 6-2, 291, Jr.
• RT—69 Tony Katic, 6-5, 317, Jr.
• FB—46 Mark Holata, 6-1, 240, So.
• RB—25 Eric Richardson, 5-10, 170, Jr.

Outlook: For the first time in years, Tulsa's offense includes a fullback. Holata, who is regarded as a third guard, knocked back a Kansas defender 10 yards last week. On some stretch plays, Holata will go in short motion, then serve as a lead blocker while a pulling guard and then Richardson trail. Richardson, who averages 6.2 yards per carry, gained 170 yards in 16 attempts against Kansas two weeks ago.

Tulsa's defensive front

• DE—43 Cory Hathaway, 6-4, 230, So.
• NG—98 Tse Ogisi, 6-2, 284, Jr.
• DT—96 Sam Rayburn, 6-3, 303, Sr.
• SLB—99 Drew Lagow, 6-4, 242, Fr.
• LB—10 Michael Dulaney, 6-2, 231, Sr.
• LB—32 Jorma Bailey, 5-11, 194, Jr.
• Ban—18 Clint Roundtree, 6-0, 191, So.

Outlook: After a Humpty Dumpty-like fall, the defensive line is finally back together again, with Josh Walker and Sammy Umobong returning to boost the depth. Rayburn is the most consistent interior player.

Tulsa tries to shift defensive looks just before the snap, with a linebacker moving up to create a five-man front. If Tulsa opens with a 5-1 front, a defensive end or outside linebacker might drop back into coverage.

Tulsa likes to play games with the interior defenders, with Rayburn and Ogisi criss-crossing. Other times, a defensive end will drop into coverage just before the snap, then loop around as a blitzer.

Tulsa's secondary

• LC—5 Jermaine Hope, 5-9, 155, So.
• Rov—9 Keithan McCorry, 6-0, 181, Sr.
• FS—27 Jeff Thibodeaux, 5-11, 164, So.
• RC—21 Darrell Wimberly, 6-0, 196, Jr.

Outlook: The possible season-ending injury to C.J. Scott disrupts the Hurricane's pass-prevent plans. Scott, a part-time starter last season, usually goes in at cornerback when Tulsa uses five defensive backs, as it plans to do frequently against UH's run-and-shoot offense. Now Sherman Steptoe becomes the nickelback.

Tulsa's specialists

• PK—29 Brad DeVault, 6-0, 193, Fr.
• P—49 Cort Moffitt, 6-3, 247, Jr.
• KR—1 Jerome Janet, 5-11, 182, Fr.
• PR—13 Jermaine Landrum, 5-10, 160, So.

Outlook: The Hurricane's problems on offense and defense are exemplified on special teams. Tulsa has received 29 kickoffs in six games and only eight punts.

UH's 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.
• RSB—4 Nate Ilaoa, 5-9, 204, Fr.
• RWR—19 Jeremiah Cockheran, 6-0, 193, Jr.
• QB—14 Tim Chang, 6-2, 191, So.
• RB—24 Thero Mitchell, 5-10, 210, Sr.
• RB—20 John West, 5-10, 180, Jr.

Outlook: It was only a week ago when the Warriors were concerned about their deep-passing attack. Those concerns were alleviated with the development of the offensive line, which has allowed four sacks in six games, and the addition of Cockheran and Komine to the lineup. Cockheran and Komine give the Warriors their best group of blocking receivers since 1993. Cockheran has three pancake blocks, and Komine, who returns to the left side this week, is such an efficient blocker he is used as a tight end on special goal-line plays. The extra blocking helps Chang, who sometimes buys more time by stepping into the pocket after accepting a shotgun snap. After a six-week internship, Cockheran, who can run 40 yards in under 4.4 seconds and is the tallest receiver on the depth chart, is due for a breakout game.

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—1 Travis Laboy, 6-4, 249, 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: Ala might be limited because of a sore Achilles' heel, opening the way for Laboy to play more. Multiple injuries forced Laboy, who is UH's best perimeter pass rusher, to relinquish his starting job in the third game. It is hoped Ala is not badly hurt. Ala plays in all three defensive packages — 4-3, nickel and Okie (six defensive backs) — and also can double as a defensive tackle.

UH's secondary

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

Outlook: It was no coincidence UH's defense improved the same week Elimimian returned to the lineup after missing two games because of a pulled hamstring. Not only is Elimimian the best corner defender, he also is a sure tackler. When Elimimian and Millhouse are able to cover wideouts one-on-one, Peters can move up as an eighth run defender or perimeter blitzer.

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.
• KR—20 John West, 5-10, 180, Jr.
• PR—21 Clifton Herbert, 5-8, 157, Jr.

Outlook: Brewster is recovering from a sprained right ankle, and might not be available. If so, West would be the lone kick returner. The Warriors prefer to use one deep returner, enabling them to add another blocker for the middle wedge.