Options abound in the UH offense

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

The quarterback: "If I'm not touched within 3 1/2 seconds, it'll be a complete pass." — Tim Chang

The left wideout: "Coach Jones taught us to look at whether they're four deep or two deep. It makes the choices so much easier." — Britton Komine

Snap! Crackle! Pop!

"That's how easy it's supposed to look," said Tim Chang, UH's starting quarterback.

But as the Warriors have learned, simplicity is hard work.

"It takes hours and hours of practice to make everything look easy," Chang added. "With this offense" — head coach June Jones' run-and-shoot, a 30-year work in progress — "it takes everyone working together and knowing his role."

UH's offense is, in fact, a counter attack — with the blockers, receivers and running backs responding to what the defense shows. On every play, each of the four receivers has the option of six different routes.

Each offensive player must make not only the right decision, but the same one. Meanwhile, the 25-second clock is at "0:12" when the Warriors break the huddle. Here's what is going through their minds:

On the line

Quarterback: "The first thing I do is look at the free safety," Chang said. "Where he's standing tells me a lot about the defensive coverage. Then I'll look at the number of people in the box (the imaginary rectangle near the line of scrimmage). I'll look at the corners, then I'll look at the outside linebackers and strong safeties. The thing is, over the years from watching films, I process things pretty fast."

Center: "The first thing you want to know is the (defensive) front," Phil Kauffman said. "You want to see what side has the overload (and) look where the (free) safety is and who he's covering. You have to see the field. Like coach Cav (Mike Cavanaugh) said, 'You can't have tunnel vision. You just can't be locked on one guy.' After I see what's happening, then I'll make the (blocking) call."

Right guard: After that, the right guard will "yell out what he sees," Uriah Moenoa said.

Right wideout: "I'm reading the defense based on the corner, (strong) safety and (strong-side) linebacker," Jeremiah Cockheran said. "That's the triangle I'm reading. They tell me where I'll break off my route."

Left wideout: "I always look at the coverage," said Britton Komine, who moved from the slot in the spring. "Coach Jones taught us to look at whether they're four deep or two deep. It makes the choices so much easier. If they're four deep, I try to take advantage of the seams, because they're trying to cover deep so there are a lot of holes shallow. If they're two deep, the middles are probably the most vulnerable. If they're in man (coverage), we try to hit the crossing routes or go up top."

Left guard: Unlike most other college teams, UH's linemen are in a crouching two-point stance. "Usually we want to keep it so we're as tall as the (defender) in the three-point stance," senior Shayne Kajioka said. "I want to be low enough where we are eye-to-eye, but not too low where I'm uncomfortable and can't do anything. It's all preference."

Right tackle: "We're a pass-blocking team, so the two-point stance helps us to set back faster," second-year freshman Dane Uperesa said.

Center: UH mostly uses shot-gun snaps. "When I first tried it, I thought long-snapping was easy," Kauffman said. "It's a whole different story when you've got to snap and you've got somebody on you. You have so many things to worry about. First, you've got to block him with one hand, then control him with the hand you've snapped the ball with."

Left guard: In anticipation of the snap, Kajioka said, "We have a cadence we go on. We listen for that, and we'll move off of that. Having a quarterback back there who's been there for a while is a great advantage. But to me, it doesn't matter. You can put anybody back there and we'll block the same."

Left tackle: As the back-side protector to Chang, Samson Satele said, "If the (weakside) linebacker blitzes, I squeeze over. I try to use my technique and get my hands on him."

Running back: In this offense, the running back is considered to be a sixth linemen (UH ran less than 30 percent of time last season). John West, a 180-pound senior, has had to block pass-rushers who were 70 pounds heavier. "If he comes at us in a more finesse move, I'll use my technique to block him," West said. "If he's coming at a bull rush, most likely I'll chop him — (blocking him) thigh high."

After the snap

Quarterback: "All I need is 3, 3 1/2 seconds," Chang said. "If I'm not touched within 3 1/2 seconds, it'll be a completed pass, given that everyone is on the right page, running the right route. Whether it's a completed pass for 2 yards or a completed pass for 60 yards, if they give me 3 to 3 1/2 seconds, that's enough time."

Right slotback: Even during the route, "I'm always looking at the coverage," Nate Ilaoa said.

Quarterback: "During the summer is when you work on timing," Chang said. "Jeremiah (Cockheran) lived with me during the summer. We went to the park to work out. ... I know he likes (passes) high and away."

Right wideout: When the pass is in the air, "I'm looking at the point of the ball, that little 'X' on the ball," Cockheran said. "That's where I concentrate."

Quarterback: "(Chad) Owens likes it right underneath the chin and on the opposite side of the defender," Chang said. "He's one of those guys if you put it right where he wants it and he's on the dead run, he's hard to stop."

Left slotback: "You can't get too complacent," Owens said. "You have to look the ball into your hands no matter what."

Quarterback: "Komine likes it right on him," Chang said.

Left wideout: "You want to catch it with your hands," Komine said. "If you catch it with your body, you can't keep pumping your arms. That makes it hard to catch it on the move."

Quarterback: "Nate is a beast," Chang said. "I don't think he cares where you throw it. He can catch it off his toes."