By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Will the real UH, please stand up.

University of Hawai'i head coach June Jones gave his team some last-minute pointers during Tuesday's practice. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

"There are a lot of similarities between us," said Hawai'i coach June Jones, who was an assistant coach with the Houston Gamblers in 1984 and Houston Oilers in 1987 and '88.

Here's a closer look:

Houston offense

LWR 9 Leonard Gibson 6-1 205 Fr.
IWR 3 Chad McCullar 5-10 170 So.
LT 75 Phil Hawkins 6-5 312 Jr.
LG 71 Roy Swan 6-2 350 So.
C 76 Rex Hadnot 6-2 330 Sr.
RG 68 Brandon Evans 6-4 340 Sr.
RT 77 Matt Mattox 6-4 295 Sr.
TE/SB 87 Jonathan Pritchett 6-4 245 Sr.
RWR 8 Brandon Middleton 5-11 185 Sr.
QB 4 Kevin Kolb 6-3 220 Fr.
IB 6 Anthony Evans 5-10 215 So.
FB 32 Matt Schirmer 6-0 240 Jr.
UB 7 Shag Moore 6-1 200 Fr.

Outlook: The most amazing accomplishment isn't the trifecta of a 2,700-yard passer (Kolb), 1,000-yard rusher (Evans) and 1,200-yard receiver (Middleton). Nor is it the multiple formations (ranging from five receivers to run options) nor an offense that features such positions as "big slot" and "utility back." What is truly extraordinary is the Cougars do not have an offensive playbook.

"You learn better from doing it day in and day out than you do from studying a playbook," Evans said. "Our lessons are on the field. It's hands-on. That's basically how most of us get our learning done."

Kolb, who also played as a freshman under coach Art Briles at Stephenville (Texas) High, said in this system "nothing's written down. It's just taught, and memorization. It seems to be working. A lot of people had doubts about it when (the coaches) first came in, but it seems to be working. Coach Briles is a brilliant man. A lot of the stuff he does is innovative. In time, people will catch on to what he's doing."

Similar to the Warriors' run-and-shoot offense, the Cougars' attack requires the quarterback and receivers to play off a defensive scheme. "The whole idea of it is to take advantage of the defense," Kolb said. "Whatever (the defenders) do is wrong. With a lot of our shifts and motions, it gets them confused. When they get confused, they don't react as well. That's how we take advantage of the defense."

Houston defense

LE 90 Joe Clay 6-1 260 Jr.
LT 99 Marquay Love 6-0 300 Fr.
RT 62 Kade Lane 6-2 260 So.
RE 93 Eddie McCray 6-3 231 Fr.
SLB 44 Lance Everson 6-2 230 Jr.
MLB 33 Damien West 6-2 245 Sr.
BLB 45 Bryant Brown 6-2 220 So.
LCB 14 Ricky Wilson 5-10 180 Fr.
SS 3 Jermaine Woodard 6-0 215 Sr.
FS 18 Will Gulley 6-4 205 So.
RCB 2 Roland Cola 5-10 180 Sr.

Outlook: Pay no attention to the defensive statistics — 34.5 points and 423.7 yards per game. Or to the season-ending injury to pass rusher Farouk Adelekan or the 17 stitches needed to treat the wounds from defensive tackle Matt Bentley's surfing accident.

"People look at the big yards (allowed)," Everson said, "but the Houston Cougars and the defensive staff, we know what really goes on beyond the statistics."

The Cougars run the same zone-dogging scheme that frustrates the Warriors every day in practice. The Cougars often position the down linemen in a narrow alignment, then try to sneak a linebacker to the line of scrimmage. They also can drop their safeties into a zone coverage, then create chaos underneath with linebacker stunts and cornerback blitzes.

"We want to try and mix coverage and pressure — zone pressure, man pressure, all those type of things — to try and confuse offenses, both protection wise and on pre- and post-snap reads," said Harris, the defensive coordinator. "It's no secret."

Houston specialists

PK 7 Dustin Bell 6-2 230 Jr.
P 43 Jimmy McClary 6-6 225 Sr.
KR 4 Roshawn Pope, 5-10 190 So.
KR 14 Ricky Wilson 5-10 180 Fr.
PR 3 Chad McCullar 5-10 170 So.

Outlook: Bell, who also handles kickoffs, has converted nine of his last 12 field-goal attempts, including a career-best 49-yarder.

In the past two games, McClary has averaged 52.4 yards per punt.

Hawai'i offense

LWR/LSB 84 Britton Komine 5-10 187 Jr.
LWR 85 Jason Rivers 6-2 187 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 14 Tim Chang 6-2 194 Jr.
QB 8 Jason Whieldon 6-0 191 Sr.
RB 6 Michael Brewster 5-6 180 Jr.
RB 1 Michael Bass 5-7 174 Jr.
RB 20 John West 5-10 180 Sr.

Outlook: Both Chang, who is on pace to break the NCAA record for career passing yards by the middle of next season, and Whieldon, who sparked an upset of Alabama, will play, although a starter will not be announced publicly until game time. Because Chang has a better understanding of the run-and-shoot offense, Whieldon received more snaps in the 10 bowl practices. The extra work might be beneficial, especially after last year's Hawai'i Bowl, when an injured Chang had to cede control of the offense to less experienced backups.

Owens, who is second nationally with 7.73 catches per game, is available despite a sprained big toe on his left foot. If Owens can't play, Komine will move into the left slot, and Rivers or Sean Stennis will play left wideout.

In a statistical mystery, the Warriors have not allowed a sack in the three games since their best backfield blocker, 260-pound running back West Keli'ikipi, suffered torn meniscus in his left knee. Keli'ikipi will not play today.

Hawai'i defense

LE 93 Houston Ala 5-11 260 Sr.
LT 97 Isa'ako Sopoaga 6-3 330 Sr.
RT 92 Lance Samuseva 6-0 309 Sr.
RE 98 Melila Purcell III 6-5 245 So.
LB 46 Keani Alapa 6-1 229 Sr.
LB 51 Ikaika Curnan 5-11 224 So.
NB 33 Hyrum Peters 5-8 188 Sr.
LCB 3 Kelvin Millhouse 6-1 205 Sr.
S 42 Leonard Peters 6-1 174 So.
S 17 David Gilmore 6-0 197 Sr.
RCB 37 Abraham Elimimian 5-10 192 Jr.

Outlook: The Warriors are expected to rely mostly on a nickel package to counter the Cougars' multiple offensive sets. In the scheme, middle linebacker Chad Kalilimoku is pulled, Leonard Peters becomes the second safety and strong safety Hyrum Peters moves up to rover, a hybrid of safety and shifting linebacker. The intent is to funnel the action to Peters, who can blitz, defend the inside receiver or cover runs to the perimeter. Offenses often assign a lead blocker to entangle Peters, a show of respect for the Warriors' smallest starting defender.

Most nickel schemes use a three-man line, which minimizes a pass rush. The Warriors, instead, use a four-man front, an alignment energized by rush end Travis LaBoy, who led the Western Athletic Conference with 13 sacks. But LaBoy is academically ineligible for this game. His replacement, Purcell, will make his second career start.

Hawai'i specialists

PK 47 Justin Ayat 5-11 195 Jr.
PK 26 Nolan Miranda 5-8 172 Fr.
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: With 32 percent of his attempts downed inside an opponent's 20, Milne has mastered the sky punt, particularly on Aloha Stadium's grasping FieldTurf. Hitting the point of the football, Milne is able to launch limited-spin punts that do not bounce wildly. Because the Cougars do not try to pressure the punter, Milne will be able to use the more comfortable two-step approach.

The Warriors are one of the few teams to use only one deep returner on kickoffs. Opponents are countering by aiming for the corners, forcing West to expend energy chasing down kickoffs.