Posted on: Saturday, October 4, 2003

Tulsa, UH have had success on offense

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Analysis:
The Golden Hurricane uses a passing game similar to Brigham Young and is 18th nationally in rushing, while the Warriors have thrown 102 consecutive passes against Tulsa without an interception

In constructing his version of the spread offense, Tulsa head coach Steve Kragthorpe used parts from here and there.

"Coaching is stealing," said Kragthorpe, who was an assistant with the Buffalo Bills the previous two years. "You steal ideas from other people. ... And the circle goes on."

Kragthorpe drew from his own experiences (Texas A&M, Boston College, Northern Arizona) as well as his father's (Oregon State, Brigham Young). In the six-degrees-of-separation world of college football, the bulk of his passing offense was lifted from BYU, which was strongly influenced by ... Tulsa.

Despite opening the season with nonconference road games against Minnesota and Arkansas, Tulsa's offense is averaging 392.5 yards, an improvement of 76 yards per game from last year. Tulsa is ranked 18th nationally in rushing.

Kragthorpe is hopeful the scheme will be effective for Tulsa's Western Athletic Conference opener against Hawai'i tonight. Here's a closer look:

UH offense

LWR—84 Britton Komine, 5-10,187, Jr.
LWR—85 Jason Rivers, 6-2, 187, Fr.
LSB—82 Ross Dickerson, 5-10, 172, Fr.
LT—74 Jeremy Inferrera, 6-2, 281, 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, 205, Jr.
RWR—30 Michael Miyashiro, 5-6, 164, Sr.
RWR—15 Sean Stennis, 5-10, 160, Fr.
QB—14 Tim Chang, 6-2, 194, Jr.
RB—16 West Keliikipi, 6-1, 266, Jr.
RB—6 Michael Brewster, 5-6, 180, Jr.

Outlook: Tulsa has practiced this week with the belief that UH's leading receiver, Jeremiah Cockheran (15.3 yards per catch, four TDs), will be available. The likely scenario is Cockheran, even if he can overcome a sprained right ankle, will cede the starting right wideout job to 29-year-old Miyashiro or the speedy but erratic Stennis. Another option is for Komine to move to the right side, where he has worked out this week. It is believed that Jones' recent stinging comments were meant to motivate Rivers and Dickerson. Jones also could revive expanded plans for slotback Se'e Poumele, whose role was diminished last week after he missed a practice.

For the fourth time in five games, the starting offensive line will change, with Eaton, who is recovering from a sprained ankle, reclaiming right tackle. If Inferrera, who is battling a sore foot, needs rest, Tala Esera, who started at right tackle last week, is ready to go.

Keliikipi said he will have no problem playing despite a broken right thumb incurred when he stiff-armed a Rice defender. Keliikipi, who proved to be vulnerable to ankle tackles, said he has worked on a crouching running style.

The Warriors have thrown 102 consecutive passes against Tulsa without an interception. In last year's meeting, the Warriors' first 58 offensive plays were passes.

UH defense

LE—93 Houston Ala, 5-11, 260, Sr.
LT—99 Lui Fuga, 6-1, 285, 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—42 Leonard Peters, 6-1, 174, So.
RCB—37 Abraham Elimimian, 5-10, 173, Jr.

Outlook: After using a specially designed 4-4 alignment against Rice, the Warriors will revert to their usual 4-3 scheme. The Warriors must overcome two key injuries — left tackle Isaac Sopoaga won't play because of a partially torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee, and free safety Leonard Peters has been bothered by torn ligaments in his left shoulder. Peters, who wears a medical harness, might split duties with David Gilmore, who was effective as an outside linebacker against Rice. Gilmore also is used in the nickel defense, replacing Kalilimoku and becoming the fifth defensive back. With Tulsa's offense capable of spreading wide with four receivers, the Warriors might be in the nickel package more than usual.

UH specialists

PK—47 Justin Ayat, 5-11, 190, Jr.
P—25 Kurt Milne, 6-0, 204, Fr.
KR—6 Michael Brewster, 5-6,180, Jr.
PR—21 Clifton Herbert, 5-7, 159, Sr.

Outlook: Ayat's improved kickoffs have given the Warriors an edge in field position this season. Ayat, who struggled to keep hooking kickoffs inbounds last season, has induced touchbacks on nearly 70 percent of his kickoffs. Ayat credited his success to a conditioning program aimed at strengthening his midsection.

Tulsa offense

WR—82 Romby Bryant, 6-2, 180, Sr.
TE—20 Garrett Mills, 6-2, 214, So.
LT—59 Austin Chadwick, 6-4, 283, Sr.
LG—61 Jesse Stoneham, 6-4, 316, So.
C—63 Derek Warehime, 6-1, 283, Jr.
RG—72 Victor Mercado, 6-3, 312, Fr.
RT—78 Jeff Perrett, 6-7, 312, Fr.
TE—16 Caleb Blankenship, 6-3, 227, Jr.
WR—84 Montiese Culton, 6-2, 174, Jr.
QB—15 James Kilian, 6-4, 214, Jr.
RB—25 Eric Richardson, 5-10, 175, Sr.
RB—23 Uril Parrish, 5-9, 192, So.

Outlook: Like the Warriors' run-and-shoot offense, the Hurricane uses four receivers. Unlike UH's, Tulsa's alignment uses two tight ends instead of smaller slotbacks as the inside receivers. Mills and Blankenship are better receivers than blockers, creating mismatches when running patterns against lighter safeties. Tulsa also has plays in which one of the tight ends drops back to become an H-back or fullback. From this formation, the tight end can be used as a ballcarrier.

Chadwick, who mixes Kid Rock confidence with The Rock build, is the lone senior on the offensive line. But Tulsa has allowed four sacks in four games compared to 16 during that span last year. Kilian, who played eight-man football in high school, has helped buy time with a quick release and nimble feet. Although Tulsa rarely calls for designed quarterback runs, Kilian leads the Hurricane with 202 rushing yards, an average of 6.3 yards per carry.

Richardson will make his 26th career start, but Parrish will enter in the second or third series, then split time with Richardson the rest of the way.

NFL scouts say they are here to watch Bryant, who ran 40 yards in an electronically timed 4.3 seconds during a summer combine.

Tulsa defense

DE—90 Jeremy Davis, 6-2, 262, Sr.
NG—97 Brandon Lohr, 6-0, 250, Jr.
DE—95 Josh Walker, 6-4, 260, Jr.
OLB—32 Jorma Bailey, 5-11, 199, Sr.
MLB—41 Nick Bunting, 6-1, 205, Fr.
OLB—27 Michael LeDet, 6-2, 215, Jr.
SPUR—18 Clint Roundtree, 6-0, 193, Jr.
BAN—3 Kedrick Alexander, 6-1, 197, So.
LCB—7 Jermaine Hope, 5-9, 165, Jr.
FS—47 Max Kraus, 6-1, 175, Sr.
RCB—9 Oliver Fletcher, 6-1, 185, Jr.

Outlook: Instead of going through the charade of opening with a standard defensive alignment, Tulsa cuts to the chase, using a nickel defense the entire game. In the 3-3-5 scheme, Tulsa still manages a four-man rush, blitzing a linebacker or safety.

Against the run-and-shoot offense, the spur and bandit — the two linebacker/safety positions — will be used as defensive backs, most likely collaborating with Kraus to create a three-deep zone. Tulsa is following the trend of forcing Chang to throw short passes.

Bailey, who leads Tulsa with 3.5 tackles for losses, has emerged as the defensive leader. Bailey, who was not an academic qualifier out of high school, supported himself in junior college by working at Bama Pies.

Tulsa specialists

PK—29 Brad DeVault, 6-0, 179, So.
P—5 Chris Kindred, 5-11, 185, Fr.
KR—23 Uri Parrish, 5-9,192, So.
KR—82 Romby Bryant, 6-2, 180, Sr.
PR—13 Jermaine Landrum, 5-10, 158, Jr.

Outlook: DeVault was depressing last season, missing five of 12 field-goal attempts and six of 17 PATs. But with offseason tutoring from former Hurricane Jason Staurovsky and the challenge from two walk-ons, DeVault has improved slightly. He has converted 13 of 15 PATs.

Landrum scored on a 41-yard punt return, and Parrish, who averages 30.1 yards per kick return, took a kickoff and ran 98 yards, although he did not score.

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

—Associated Press