Miners dig into past for defensive playbook

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

EL PASO, Texas — To prepare for tonight's game against host Texas-El Paso, the Hawai'i football team went to the archives, retrieving videotape of the Miners' 2000 season.

After falling to 2-9 last season, during which the move to a flex defensive scheme failed miserably, the Miners returned to basics of 2000, when they won a share of their first Western Athletic Conference championship. Although they have simplified the schemes for a young team with 11 seniors, the concepts of a run-oriented offense and 4-2-5 defensive alignment are the same.

Here's a closer look:

UTEP's passing

SE—82 Terrance Minor, 6-1,185, Sr.

LT—55 Ariel Famaligi, 6-4, 310, Sr.

LG—67 Curtis Castle, 6-3, 270, Sr.

C—52 Chris Kerr, 6-4, 275, Sr.

RG—53 Robert Clayton, 6-4, 290, Jr.

RT—77 Trey Darilek, 6-6, 290, Jr.

TE—83 Jonas Crafts, 6-4, 250, So.

FL—80 Chris Francies, 6-1, 190, Fr.

QB—Jon Schaper, 6-2, 210, So.

The skinny: After allowing an average of 3.2 sacks per game last season, the Miners have relinquished a total of four in three games this year, including zip against Oklahoma last week. But the numbers are misleading because the Miners often run, and when they pass, Schaper either is throwing off a three-step dropback or buying time with play-action moves. Minor, who is the only experienced Miner receiver, tries to get open on comeback or crossing patterns. Crafts, who often is aligned in the slot, is the possession receiver. Second-year freshman Orlando Cruz is a true passer who will play only if the Miners fall way behind.

UTEP's rushing

FB—5 Rovann Cleveland, 6-0, 240, Jr.

TB—4 Howard Jackson, 5-10, 155, So.

TB—3 Sherman Austin, 5-8, 175, Sr.

TB—20 Matt Austin, 6-0, 185, Fr.

The skinny: There were concerns when Jackson, the Miners' fastest player, practiced with a cast on his left hand this week. Team trainers insisted the cast was precautionary, and that Jackson, who is expected to start, is not seriously injured. But Sherman Austin, who suffered a high ankle sprain last week, is listed as doubtful. That's bad news for the Miners, who like to rotate several tailbacks in their run-option offense. The Miners line up in an I formation, with Schaper following Cleveland's blocks. The tackles and guards often pull on running plays, and Schaper, who has carried only 25 times this season, usually pitches to the trailing tailback. The Miners are averaging a league-best 204.3 rushing yards per game.

UTEP's defensive front

LE—44 Kamul High, 6-4, 255, Sr.

LT—71 Sam Clarke, 6-2, 275, Jr.

RT—57 Dan Kerr, 6-4, 265, Jr.

RE—94 Rick Fette, 6-4, 245, Sr.

MLB—43 Robert Rodriguez, 6-1, 235, So.

WLB—25 Camar Jackson, 6-3, 245, Sr.

The skinny: Rodriguez, a preseason All-America candidate, might be benched in favor of Godwin Akinduro, a speedy linebacker who is better at tracking UH slotbacks. In that scenario, the interior linemen and Jackson will be forced to slow the Warriors' rejuvenated running attack. Although the Miners' switched from last year's five-man front, they believe they still can apply pressure through blitzes and line stunts. In one scheme, Kerr will rush hard toward the left guard — a sort of defensive block — with Clarke looping through the vacated area. In another, Clarke and Kerr will criss-cross.

UTEP's secondary

R—11 Tim Woodard, 5-11, 190, Jr.

LCB—15 Weldon Cooks, 6-2, 180, Sr.

FS—16 D.J. Walker, 6-3, 210, Sr.

SS—22 Paul Smith, 6-1, 175, Sr.

RCB—6 Jahmal Fenner, 5-8, 180, So.

The skinny: The Miners' experiment with a five-man secondary has been inconclusive because of numerous injuries. In the second quarter last week, four cornerbacks were out with injuries. Strong safety Mark Dowdy will not play the rest of the season because of a separated left shoulder. Smith, a career reliever, takes his place. Another safety, Marshall Sanford, wears a cast to protect a broken thumb. The team's best cover defender, Fenner, missed the past two games because of a knee injury. He will play tonight, and is assigned to defend UH's Justin Colbert. The Miners rely on a read-and-react defense, although they will sometimes order Woodard to blitz. Most of his blitzes come from the perimeter, when he lines up as a third linebacker.

UTEP's specialists

PK—38 Keith Robinson, 5-11, 210, So.

P—48 Bryce Benekos, 6-6, 200, So.

KR/PR—6 Jahmal Fenner, 5-8, 180, So.

The skinny: Robinson has attempted one field goal, in large part to the Miners' inability to gain good field position the past two weeks. It is just as well, since Robinson is recovering from a knee injury this summer. He was held out from kicking off in the first two games to preserve his leg strength.

UH's passing

LWR—18 Justin Colbert, 5-8, 170, Sr.

LSB—2 Chad Owens, 5-9, 177, So.

RSB—4 Nate Ilaoa, 5-9, 204, Fr.

RWR—88 Neal Gossett, 5-10, 177, Sr.

QB—14 Tim Chang, 6-2, 191, So.

The skinny: In yesterday's practice, Chang easily launched deep passes, showing no indication of pain in the broken right pinkie on his throwing hand. But he did not take a short snap, and doctors insist it might be risky to do so for another two weeks. That means that Shawn Withy-Allen, suddenly No. 2 after Jason Whieldon's departure, will be used in short-yardage situations. While Whieldon was a threat to pass on third-and-1, Withy-Allen is strictly a run-option quarterback.

UH's rushing

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.

RB—24 Thero Mitchell, 5-10, 210, Sr.

RB—1 Mike Bass, 5-6, 158, So.

The skinny: As the blockers approach the line of scrimmage, Manuwai and Moenoa can be seen waving at each other. In fact, they are communicating the blocking assignments — in particular, the intent of the left defensive end, the tell-tale player on running plays. If the left end cuts inside, Manuwai picks him up. If he goes wide, Moenoa blocks him and Manuwai hunts down the outside linebacker. The blockers are required to lock onto a defender for at least five seconds on running plays, even less if Bass is rushing.

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.

SS—33 Hyrum Peters, 5-8, 188, Jr.

The skinny: For the first time this season, the Warriors are expected to open with an eight-man front, with Peters drifting in to become a fourth linebacker. The Warriors also added bulk to the perimeters with Ala, who usually backs up Correa on the left side, starting at right end in place of Travis Laboy, the team's best pass rusher.

UH's secondary

LCB—3 Kelvin Millhouse, 6-1, 205, Jr.

FS—17 David Gilmore, 6-0, 197, Jr.

RCB—37 Abraham Elimimian, 5-10, 173, So.

The skinny: In this version of football's full-court press, the cornerbacks will line up close to the receivers with Gilmore as the lone defender in the secondary. Gilmore, a walk-on, earns his first collegiate start because he has the range to play center field in this alignment and the skills to make open-field tackles.

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—1 Mike Bass, 5-6, 158, So.

The skinny: UH coach June Jones credits the success of the special teams to his mentor, Frank Gansz, a long-time NFL assistant coach. The middle-wedge blocks on punt and kickoff returns come from Gansz's playbooks. UH also borrowed the philosophy of setting up returns instead of attempting blocks on punts. It is why, Jones believes, UH did not suffer a significant dropoff when Chad Owens was replaced as a return specialist to focus on playing slotback fulltime. Jones said Gansz is expected to be in Hawai'i to offer a refresher course this season.