Posted on: Saturday, October 18, 2003

Warriors, LaTech expected to air it out

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Analysis:
Defenses should have their hands full in trying to stop the top two passing teams in the conference. UH plans to unveil a new pass rush scheme against Bulldogs.

If you have a big chunk of free time today, spend it watching the football game between Hawai'i and host Louisiana Tech.

With the league's top two passing teams facing off, the game's length should easily approach four hours — maybe longer, considering this is the Bulldogs' homecoming.

Not only do the Warriors lead the Western Athletic Conference in pass offense, they average a clock hiccupping 22.7 incompletions per game. The Bulldogs average 19 incompletions.

Here's a closer look:

UH offense

WR—1 Marque Davis 6-0 195 Sr.
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 61 273 So.
RG—69 Uriah Moenoa 6-2 330 Jr.
RG/RT—66 Brandon Eaton 6-3 287 So.
RT—74 Jeremy Inferrera 6-2 281 Fr.
RSB—38 Gerald Welch 5-8 190 Jr.
L/RWR—84 Britton Komine 5-10 187 Jr.
RWR—19 Jeremiah Cockheran 6-0 190 Sr.
QB—14 Tim Chang 6-2 194 Jr.
RB—16 West Keli'ikipi 6-1 260 Jr.

Outlook: On his left wrist, Chang holds the key to UH's success. Every week, the Warriors change signals, and Chang wears the new menu of between 14 and 24 plays on a water-proof sheet taped to his left wrist. The Warriors' first 10 offensive plays of the game are pre-determined, although Chang has the right of first refusal. "That shows how much trust Coach (June) Jones has in this team," Chang said.

Before the snap, Chang, by checking the position of the safeties, is supposed to be able to decipher whether the deep routes will be heavily guarded. More often that not this season, the deep patterns have been clogged, either because the safeties are in a deep zone or the cornerbacks are jamming the receivers. Of Chang's 11 TD passes, only one has exceeded 25 yards. For now, Chang is willing to take advantage of the open spots underneath the defensive secondary. Last week, he received his highest grade in the coaches' rating system factoring accuracy and decision-making.

Chang will receive a boost with the return of Cockheran, who missed the last two games because of a sprained right ankle. Komine probably will open at right wideout, but Cockheran is expected to play.

Inferrera, who started four games at left tackle, returns to the lineup as a starting right tackle. Eaton, who is recovering from a sprained left ankle, is available at right guard if Moenoa can't play because of back spasms.

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—1 Travis LaBoy 6-4 254 Sr.
SLB—46 Keani Alapa 6-1 229 Sr.
MLB—50 Lincoln Manutai 6-0 224 Jr.
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 5-10 191 Jr.

Outlook: To counter the Bulldogs' wide-open passing attack, the Warriors will unveil their "Joker" defense, a scheme using three pass rushers on the defensive line. Defensive end Melila Purcell will align at defensive tackle and, teaming with Ala and LaBoy, will turn up the heat on quarterback Luke McCown. The tactic also calls for linebackers Manutai and Curnan to cover the two inside running lanes, and safety David Gilmore to replace Alapa. This defense is good only as long as the Bulldogs test the air waves. If the Bulldogs turn to a power running game, then the Warriors will revert to their usual 4-3 alignment, with Sopoaga and Samuseva as the traditional space-eaters.

In any scheme, Curnan stays on the field. After amassing 15 tackles in the first three games, Curnan has 36 in the last three, including 22 unassisted stops.

UH specialists
PK—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: Milne's 40.2 average is remarkable considering he is using a one-step technique to avoid block attempts. Of his 29 punts, five were downed inside the 20 and six resulted in fair catches. Despite a bruised right knee, Ayat leads the WAC in field-goal accuracy, converting nine of 11.

Louisiana Tech offense
WR—14 Chris Norwood 6-1 181 Sr.
WR—88 Transmissian Davis 6-0 175 Jr.
LT—68 Lester Brown 6-5 296 Jr.
LG—64 Aaron Lips 6-5 292 So.
C—56 Marcus Stewart 6-2 298 So.
RG—55 Jordan Lang 6-4 293 Jr.
RT—72 Adrian Gonzalez 6-5 297 Jr.
TE—84 Aaron Capps 6-6 250 Jr.
WR—7 D.J. Curry 5-10 180 Sr.
WR—19 Erick Franklin 5-11 181 Sr.
QB—11 Luke McCown 6-4 200 Sr.
RB—20 Ryan Moats 5-8 201 So.

Outlook: Bulldog coach Jack Bicknell said Gary Crowton, Brigham Young's head coach, is the inspiration for this wide-open attack, which employs four receivers, although one of them usually is a tight end. The Bulldogs offense spreads from sideline to sideline, sometimes in a stack formation, with a receiver just to the inside of the wideout.

McCown, who is ranked seventh in the NCAA in career total offense (11,391 yards) creates fits with his scrambling ability. The athletic McCown won a slam dunk contest during an all-star basketball tournament in high school.

To keep defenses honest, the Bulldogs will attack the perimeters on tackle-trap plays.

Louisiana Tech defense
LE—99 Jemelle Cage 6-1 276 Sr.
LT—96 Chris Van Hoy 6-4 293 Jr.
RT—95 Lacorey Street 6-7 314 Sr.
RE—49 Wendell Crowe 6-3 239 So.
BUCK—51 Antonio Crow 6-0 230 Sr.
MLB—47 John Nash 6-0 237 Jr.
WLB—8 Jerry Hamilton 5-11 210 So.
BCB—28 Kevin Brown 6-0 171 Sr.
SS—27 Lee Johnson 6-2 198 Jr.
FS—21 Michael Johnson 5-10 193 Sr.
FCB—1 Corey Brazil 5-8 190 Sr.

Outlook: Expect the Bulldogs to blitz often against the Warriors' sixth different offensive line in seven games. The Bulldogs' zone-press defense is similar to the one used by the Warriors in 1999. The Bulldogs move around their cornerbacks, depending on which hashmark the ball is placed. Brazil, who covers the wide side, is the best pass defender.

The Bulldogs have six interceptions, eclipsing last year's season total of five.

Louisiana Tech specialists
PK—23 Josh Scobee 6-2 186 Sr.
P—37 Dustin Upton 6-0 206 Sr.
KR—82 Eric Newman 6-0 185 So.
KR—14 Chris Norwood 6-1 181 Sr.
PR—1 Corey Brazil 5-8 190 Sr.

Outlook: Thanks to off-season tutoring from NFL kicker Matt Stover, Scobee got his groove back. He has converted a league-high 13 field goals this season, becoming the Bulldogs' career leader in points by a kicker.

Brazil, who averages 17.3 yards per punt return, is ranked fourth nationally. With six returns in five games, he met the NCAA's minimum of 1.2 returns per game.

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