ANALYSIS
QB playmaking could be the key

Broncos have the WAC's most productive offense, run by Ryan Dinwiddie; the Warriors will start Jason Whieldon, who is expected to share time with Tim Chang

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

If it is true that everyone has a double in this world, then University of Hawai'i slotback Chad Owens might have found his football twin in Boise State receiver Tim Gilligan.

Both are 5 feet 9, moonlight as punt returners and play with brush-fire intensity. Gilligan is faster; Owens has more tattoos.

"We've got some similarities," Gilligan said. "When I watch him on ESPN, he kind of resembles me, and I kind of resemble him. We run alike. It's pretty nice to watch someone who's your size and having success like I'm having."

Owens, who was on crutches Tuesday and Wednesday, did not compete in contact drills this week because of a sprained big toe on his left foot. Because he did not practice on Wednesday, he will not start, in accordance with team rules, although he hopes to play. That toughness, teammates to both players say, is another trait Owens and Gilligan share.

Here's a closer look at tonight's game:

Boise State offense

• WR—87 Tim Gilligan, 5-9, 180, Sr.
• WR—83 Jerry Smith, 5-10, 174, Sr.
• LT—73 Daryn Colledge, 6-5, 276, So.
• LG—68 Tyrone Tutogi, 6-1, 277, Sr.
• C—66 Mike MacLeod, 6-2, 286, Sr.
• RG—70 Michael Ansel, 6-3, 299, Jr.
• RT—60 Jason Turner, 6-4, 269, Sr.
• TE—91 Derek Schourman, 6-2, 215, Fr.
• QB—7 Ryan Dinwiddie, 6-1, 192, Sr.
• FB—30 Greg Swenson, 5-10, 219, Sr.
• TB—3 David Mikell, 5-11, 205, Sr.

Outlook: The offense was expected to suffer somewhat this season with the departure of Brock Forsey, who rushed for 135 yards for the Chicago Bears last week. But the Broncos still have the WAC's best offense this season, averaging 43.6 points and 494.8 yards per game. Dinwiddie has emerged as the leader of the multiple-look offense. UH coach June Jones rated Dinwiddie as college football's best quarterback. "He makes plays," Jones said of Dinwiddie, whose touchdown-to-interception ratio (28 to 4) is tops among NCAA passers. Dinwiddie refuses to throw into double coverage and is willing to throw away a pass rather than take a sack. He has rushed for 12 touchdowns. "He rarely makes mistakes," UH cornerback Kelvin Millhouse said. "He's very accurate, and he's not afraid to tuck it and run for 5 or 6 yards."

The Broncos operate out of several formations, but no matter the look, there are two basic strategies: Give the ball to cutback runner Mikell off trap plays or get the ball to Gilligan by any means. Gilligan has 66 receptions, 28 more than any other Bronco, and he is at his best when he motions into the slot, drawing single coverage from an outside linebacker or strong safety. But he also will be the fastest player on the field tonight, speed he uses on streak, post and corner routes.

"Our coaches know where to put us and where to get us the ball," Gilligan said.

Boise State defense

• LE—92 Julius Roberts, 6-5, 24, Jr.
• LT—90 Paul Allen, 6-2, 293, Sr.
• RT—69 Dane Oldham, 6-3, 270, Sr.
• RE—96 Mike Williams, 6-2, 45, Fr.
• SLB—13 Travis Burgher, 6-1, 212, Sr.
• MLB—25 Korey Hall, 6-0, 225, Fr.
• WLB—40 Andy Avalos, 5-10, 222, Fr.
• R—1 Chris Carr, 5-9, 184 Jr.
• LCB—6 Julius Brown, 5-10, 187, Sr.
• FS—21 Wes Nurse, 5-10, 195, Sr.
• RCB—16 Gabe Franklin, 5-10, 181, Jr.

Outlook: The Broncos have a defensive scheme seemingly lifted from the Warriors' playbook, with the front seven shifting and twisting, creating chaos in the trenches.

Brown and Franklin have enough closing speed to play off of the wideouts yet make tackles. The wildcard is Carr, who is both a run-stopper (61 tackles, fourth on the team) and pass defender (three interceptions against Nevada last week).

Boise State specialists

• PK—85 Tyler Jones, 6-1, 200, Jr.
• P—42 Kyle Stringer, 5-8, 185, Fr.
• KR—1 Chris Carr, 5-9, 184, Jr.
• KR—24 Donny Heck, 5-11, 201, Jr.
• PR—87 Tim Gilligan, 5-9, 180, Sr.

Outlook: Two years ago, Gilligan was illegally flattened twice on punt returns, leading to a "halo rule" that has since been rescinded. With the Broncos often in punt-blocking mode, Gilligan has limited protection on returns. Still, he does not like to use his fair-catch signal. "I like to be a playmaker," said Gilligan, who averages 12.4 yards per punt return. "The only way a punter can stop me (from returning a punt) is kick it out of bounds or kick it a mile high."

Hawai'i offense

• LWR/SB—84 Britton Komine, 5-10, 187, Jr.
• LWR—85 Jason Rivers, 6-2, 187, Fr.
• LSB—82 Ross Dickerson, 5-10, 172, Fr.
• LSB—2 Chad Owens, 5-9, 174, Jr.
• LT—70 Tala Esera, 6-3, 283, Fr.
• LG—64 Samson Satele, 6-3, 289, Fr.
• C—59 Derek Faavi, 6-1, 273, So.
• RG—69 Uriah Moenoa, 6-2, 330, Jr.
• RT—66 Brandon Eaton, 6-3, 287, So.
• RSB—38 Gerald Welch, 5-8, 190, Jr.
• RWR—19 Jeremiah Cockheran, 6-0, 190, Sr.
• QB—8 Jason Whieldon, 6-0, 191, Sr.
• QB—14 Tim Chang, 6-2, 194, Jr.
• RB—6 Michael Brewster, 5-6, 180, Jr.
• RB—20 John West, 5-10, 180, Sr.
• RB—1 Michael Bass, 5-7, 180, Jr.

Outlook: To help Whieldon in his first career start against a Division I-A opponent, UH coach June Jones is expected to provide a smaller menu of plays. Whieldon has a strong arm and a feisty attitude. "He's a quarterback," UH assistant coach Dan Morrison said of Whieldon, a description Morrison and Jones use for passers with athletic and leadership skills. There are three designed quarterback draws to take advantage of Whieldon's elusiveness.

Chang's recent struggles coincided with running back West Keli'ikipi's knee injury. As a pocket passer, Chang needs extra time to wait for pass routes to fully develop. Keli'ikipi is an offensive lineman who runs; Brewster is a running back who blocks. Chang is scheduled to play in several series tonight. Keli'ikipi, who is recovering from a torn meniscus, is not expected to play.

If Owens is not available because of the foot injury, Dickerson probably will start. Komine, who played slotback last season, has worked out at that position this week.

Hawai'i defense

• LE—93 Houston Ala, 5-11, 260, Sr.
• LT—97 Isa'ako Sopoaga, 6-3, 336, Sr.
• RT—92 Lance Samuseva, 6-0, 309, Sr.
• RE—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—33 Hyrum Peters, 5-8, 188, Sr.
• FS—17 David Gilmore, 6-0, 197, Sr.
• RCB—37 Abraham Elimimian, 5-10, 191, Jr.

Outlook: In recent games, Peters moved up into the tackle box — the imaginary rectangle near the line of scrimmage — to create an eight-man front. But the Broncos' accurate passing attack will force Peters to play as a true strong safety (defending outside running plays and cover inside receivers). Without an eighth defender in the box, Curnan and Alapa will have to provide more help for Kalilimoku in defending the two interior running lanes.

The Warriors, who play almost exclusive man-to-man coverage with their cornerbacks, will be further challenged by the Broncos' pass routes. The receivers like to run out-and-up patterns, which are difficult to defend without help from the safeties.

Hawai'i specialists

• PK—26 Nolan Miranda, 5-8, 172, Fr.
• PK/KO—47 Justin Ayat, 5-11, 195, Jr.
• P—25 Kurt Milne, 6-0, 204, Fr.
• KR—20 John West, 5-10, 180, Sr.
• PR—21 Clifton Herbert, 5-7, 159, Sr.

Outlook: Because of the Broncos' aggressive rush, Milne will shorten his usual two-step approach. With a one-step approach, the snap-to-kick time is 1.7 seconds, a saving of two-tenths of a second. UH is holding opponents to a WAC-low 2.5 yards per punt return.

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