ANALYSIS
Warriors, Mountaineers have plenty of questions remaining

ASU has a new quarterback and a varied offense, while UH will be without suspended starter Chang for the season-opener

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Pictures don't always tell the whole story.

Although Appalachian State and Hawai'i have exchanged videotapes of their 2002 football games, there are many unanswered questions entering tonight's season-opening game at Aloha Stadium.

The Mountaineers have a new quarterback and, although they are known as a run-option team, they also attack out of several formations.

"There are so many different variations," said Rich Miano, who coordinates UH's pass defense. "We have to prepare for a lot of things."

Meanwhile, UH is starting a new quarterback (Jason Whieldon, in place of suspended Tim Chang) and two second-year freshman tackles.

"I've been around very little teams that throw it, and never been around a team that throws so much as Hawai'i," ASU coach Jerry Moore said.

When ASU defensive coordinator John Wiley was an assistant coach at Texas in 1987 and '88, he faced Houston when it ran the run-and-shoot offense. But Wiley noted UH coach June Jones' version has the quarterback in the shotgun.

Of UH's and Houston's offenses, Jones said, "The formations are similar, but we don't run the plays they ran."

Here's a closer look:

ASU OFFENSE

• SE—6 Sterling Hayward, 6-0, 180, Sr.
• TE—80 Daniel Bettis, 6-2, 240, So.
• LT—61 Michael Porter, 6-4, 260, Sr.
• LG—77 Ricky Epps, 6-1, 260, Fr.
• C—78 Ross Grall, 6-0, 280, Jr.
• RG—70 Jeremy Robertson, 6-3, 285, Fr.
• RT—75 Grant Oliver, 6-4, 280, So.
• FL—22 Davon Fowlkes, 5-7, 165, Jr.
• QB—7 Richie Williams, 6-2, 175, So.
• FB—40 Stewart Adams, 6-1, 230, So.
• RB—24 Sean Jackson, 5-6, 155, Sr.

Outlook: Any quarterback controversy was quelled when Williams was named captain following a team vote. "He's nothing special, but he's a good team player, and the players kind of rally around him," coach Jerry Moore said.

The Mountaineers have a menu of run-option plays out of the I formation — speed (with Williams and Jackson racing to the perimeter), lead (Adams leading the caravan to the outside) or half-line (Williams either handing off to Adams or following the fullback through the gap between the guard and center).

In some instances, the Mountaineers will line up with four wideouts, although their aerial game is best on play-action passes. Williams is dangerous on the move, even against blitzes, because of his elusiveness.

But the top priority is to deny the run, which is difficult when the shifty 5-foot-6 Jackson can hide behind an offensive line that averages 6-2 1/2 per blocker. In a backup role last season, Jackson averaged 5.3 yards per carry.

ASU DEFENSE

• LE—93 K.T. Stovall, 6-2, 245, Sr.
• LT—95 Omarr Byrom, 6-1, 250, Fr.
• RT—99 George Carr, 6-3, 285, Fr.
• RE—90 Leon Moore 6-3, 240, Sr.
• SLB—21 Daniel Traylor, 6-1, 215, Sr.
• MLB—55 Jerelle Carter, 5-10, 220, Jr.
• WLB—36 Sam Smalls, 5-10, 230, Sr.
• LCB—15 Jay Lyle, 6-0, 165, Jr.
• SS—8 Jeremy Wiggins, 5-10, 180, Fr.
• FS—13 Michael King, 6-1, 200, Fr.
• RCB—3 Derrick Black, 5-8, 180, Sr.

Outlook: While most opponents of the run-and-shoot offense try to crowd the secondary with a fifth or sixth defensive back, the Mountaineers instead will front-load their defensive attack, with blitzes from all angles and the down linemen maneuvering free with twists and stunts.

Stovall, who had 15 backfield tackles last season and 20.5 career sacks, aligns on the quarterback's front side, a strategy that could induce hurried passes. Stovall, who joined ASU as a 215-pound linebacker, can bench press 380 pounds and run 40 yards in 4.83 seconds. An accomplished artist, Stovall, when asked what he draws, deadpanned, "double teams."

Moore was a pass-rushing menace when he played defensive tackle last season; he will be a bigger threat coming off the perimeter.

The Mountaineers' most active defender is Smalls (11.0 tackles per game in 2002), who will play despite a hairline fracture in his jaw. Wiley described Moore, Black and Stovall as "our bell cows."

The Mountaineers are expected to open with their safeties in a cover-two shell, then realign at the snap.

ASU SPECIALISTS

• PK—25 Erik Rockhold, 5-8, 180, Sr.
• P—85 Nate McKinney, 5-11, 220, Sr.
• KR—9 Jermane Little, 5-10, 170, Jr.
• KR—3 Derrick Black, 5-8, 180, Sr.
• PR—22 Davon Fowlkes, 5-7, 165, Jr.

Outlook: In 2001, Rockhold converted 77 percent of his field-goal attempts, the third-best accuracy rate in school history, and made his final six kicks. But last year he was used on one PAT and no field-goal tries. His replacement made 65 percent of his field-goal attempts. Fowlkes, whose two cousins are pro soccer players, averaged 13.3 yards per punt return, which would have ranked him third if he played in the Western Athletic Conference.

UH OFFENSE

• LWR—84 Britton Komine, 5-10, 187, Jr.
• LSB—2 Chad Owens, 5-9, 174, Jr.
• LT—64 Samson Satele, 6-3, 289, Fr.
• LG—77 Shayne Kajioka, 6-3, 302, Sr.
• C—59 Derek Faavi, 6-1, 273, So.
• RG—67 Phil Kauffman, 6-0, 290, Jr.
• RT—72 Dane Uperesa, 6-5, 318, Fr.
• RSB—4 Nate Ilaoa, 5-9, 211, So.
• RWR—19 Jeremiah Cockheran, 6-0, 190, Sr.
• QB—8 Jason Whieldon, 6-0, 191, Sr.
• RB—20 John West, 5-10, 180, Sr.
• RB—1 Mike Bass, 5-7, 174, Jr.
• RB—6 Michael Brewster, 5-6, 180, Jr.

Outlook: Kajioka and Owens are the only two starters who were in the 2002 season-opening lineup. Satele and Uperesa each will play with strained shoulders. Kauffman, who was used at left guard and center in training camp, has returned to the position he played last season.

Cockheran has emerged as the team leader, a distinction affirmed when he was voted co-captain, and he has challenged the other receivers to a season-long "pancake" contest. Ilaoa led the receivers with double-digit pancake blocks last season, "and he had a shoulder injury all year," Cockheran said.

UH has made minor adjustments to accommodate Whieldon, who will make his first career start, adding some rollout plays. In practice this week, Whieldon has been successful on deep passes.

UH DEFENSE

• LE—93 Houston Ala, 5-11, 260, Sr.
• LT—97 Isaac Sopoaga, 6-3, 336, Sr.
• RT—92 Lance Samuseva, 6-0, 309, Sr.
• RE—11 Kevin Jackson, 6-4, 245, Sr.
• DE—1 Travis LaBoy, 6-4, 254, Sr.
• SLB—46 Keani Alapa, 6-1, 229, Sr.
• MLB—56 Chad Kalilimoku, 5-11, 240, Sr.
• WLB—51 Ikaika Curnan, 5-11, 218, So.
• LCB—3 Kelvin Millhouse, 6-1, 205, Sr.
• SS/NB—33 Hyrum Peters, 5-8, 188, Sr.
• S—17 David Gilmore, 6-0, 197, Sr.
• FS—42 Leonard Peters, 6-1, 174, So.
• RCB—37 Abraham Elimimian, 5-10, 173, Jr.

Outlook: In recent years, the nickel package — in which Hyrum Peters becomes the rover, Gilmore is the deep safety and LaBoy replaces Ala at left end — has been employed more frequently. While most nickel packages are used in passing situations, the Warriors' scheme doubles as an effective run defense. Against an option offense like ASU's, the key defender is Hyrum Peters, who is in charge of tracking the ballcarrier.

In UH's base 4-3 defense, Alapa has been moved a few steps back, freeing him from grasping tight ends and tackles.

UH SPECIALISTS

• PK—47 Justin Ayat, 5-11, 205, Jr.
• P—25 Kurt Milne, 6-0, 204, Fr.
• KR/PR—2 Chad Owens, 5-9, 174, So.
• KR—82 Ross Dickerson, 5-10, 172, Fr.

Outlook: Despite a late-season slump, the coaches believe Ayat has the strength to surpass Jason Elam's school-record, 56-yard field goal. Ayat picked Whieldon as his holder and had a vote in under-sized Tanuvasa Moe serving as long-snapper on place kicks. Ayat participates in an extensive weight-training program, although as a kicker, he is allowed one oddity. He does not take practice kicks on the sideline before attempting field goals.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.

GETTING TO THE GAME

Aloha Stadium parking: $5 for passenger vehicles and $15 for commercial trucks and buses. Parking gates will open at 2:30 p.m. with turnstiles opening at 3 p.m.

Alternative parking: Leeward Community College (free parking, $2 shuttle service available); Kam Drive-In ($5 per vehicle, free shuttle service); Radford High School ($3, no shuttle service). Fans can listen to KKEA 1420 AM for live traffic updates.

Private bus service:

Roberts Hawai'i School Bus. Cost: $5 roundtrip. Reservations required, call 832-4886 for reservations and information. First route: Koko Head Elementary School, 4:15 p.m.; Hawai'i Kai Park 'n' Ride, 4:30 p.m. and Bank of Hawai'i at Kahala Mall, 4:45 p.m. Second route: Mililani Mauka Park 'n' Ride, 4:15 p.m. Third route: Keolu Elementary School, 4 p.m.; Windward Mall Shopping Center on Alaloa Street facing Sears, 4:15 p.m.

Gomes School Bus Service. Cost: $5 roundtrip. First come, first serve. Call 239-6755 for information. Routes: University of Hawai'i (Sinclair Circle, University Avenue near Dole Street, 4 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.); Mililani Mauka (Ukuwai Street at Makaikai Park 'n' Ride, 4 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.); Village Park (Royal Kunia Park 'n' Ride, 4:45 p.m.); Enchanted Lake (intersection of Keolu Drive and Hele Street, opposite Enchanted Lake Shopping Center, 4:25 p.m.); Kane'ohe (intersection of Kane'ohe Bay Drive and Makalani Street, opposite of Windward City Shopping Center, 4:35 p.m.).

Prohibited items at Aloha Stadium: Weapons, coolers, backpacks, outside food or beverages, bottles and cans, fireworks, air horns or noisemakers, umbrellas, illegal contraband

Permitted items (must pass security check): Fanny packs, purses and handbags, adults with baby items to care for their child. All baby items must fit in a diaper bag. Strollers must be stored under your chair