ANALYSIS
Warriors have decided edge in kicking game

UTEP has converted just one of eight field-goal attempts this year, while UH has blocked a pair of attempts in its past two games

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

As Hawai'i proved in last week's 44-41 football victory over Louisiana Tech, sometimes an outcome turns on a field-goal attempt.

UH, a 27-point favorite tonight, has a sizable advantage over Texas-El Paso in the kicking game. The Warriors' kick-blocking schemes are borrowed from the master of special teams, Frank Ganz of the Kansas City Chiefs. The Warriors have blocked field-goal attempts in each of the past two games.

Meanwhile, the Miners have converted one of eight field-goal attempts — a 27-yarder against Division I-AA Sam Houston State — in seven games this season. Placekicker Keith Robinson could be an "ER" episode. During the offseason he had surgery to remove a tumor from his nasal cavity. He has been bothered by a knee injury since training camp.

The Miners could struggle in that area against the Warriors, who take a unique approach to kick-blocking. While most teams send a kick-blocker from the perimeter, UH attacks from the middle.

While the holder sets up seven yards behind the line of scrimmage, after subtracting the space used by the linemen, the kicker has six yards of room. Tyson Helton, who coaches UH special teams, said the strategy is to push back the blockers even farther. The kick-blocker — either 6-foot-8 Tony Akpan or 6-2 Leonard Peters — takes a two-step start at the snap and then jumps with his arms fully extended.

"The key is the jumper has to time the snap," Helton said. "After he takes his two steps, he wants to get as high as he can get. At the same time, he wants to get an angle to the ball, so he he can reach the shortest point of the ball."

Defenses are not allowed to align a player directly opposite the long-snapper, who is responsible for submarine-blocking the jumper. To counter, UH's defensive tackles are aligned near the snapper's shoulders, then they try to push through the "A" gap — the spaces between the snapper and guards. Using this technique, the defensive tackles can drive back the snapper and guards, allowing the jumper to get closer for the block.

"It's all in the scheme," Helton said.

Here's a look at tonight's game:

Outlook: Palmer, the younger brother of 2002 Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer, will try to boost a ball-control offense that is most efficient when pass completions are at 60 percent or better. That has not happened in any of the first seven games, and twice the Miners' completion rate has been under 40 percent. Palmer has a strong arm and a fearless nature, but UTEP coach Gary Nord cautioned, "his brother went through a very difficult time at (U)SC before he got to his senior year and he had all of that success. Jordan knows he has some work to do."

He will be helped by experienced blockers — three of the team's six seniors are on the offensive line — and speedy Morrow, who can run 40 yards in 4.4 seconds. Jackson, whose actual weight is closer to 150, is a cutback runner who averages 6.6 yards per carry.

But while Crafts has a team-high 21 catches, that isn't nearly enough for an offense designed to first look to the tight end.

Outlook: The Miners, who align in a 4-2-5 scheme, usually rely heavily on bump-and-run, man-to-man coverages. But against a four-receiver set and with Dowdy questionable because of an infection caused by a spider bite, the Miners might mix and match strategies. Cornerback Jahmal Fenner, who has been used sparingly since an altercation with an assistant coach three weeks ago, might move back into rotation.

Outlook: It is no coincidence the offense in general and Chang in particular have benefitted from Owens' return to the lineup two weeks ago after a two-game suspension. During Owens' absence, Chang completed 60 percent of his passes for 637 yards and two touchdowns. In the past two games, Chang completed 69 percent of his passes for 887 yards and 10 touchdowns.

With the two wideouts drawing the starting cornerbacks, Owens is left to face the strong safety, nickelback or No. 3 cornerback. In man coverages, UH coach June Jones said of Owens, "they can't cover him."

In the basic formation, Owens, positioned on the left side, takes the heat off the left wideout. When UH has three receivers on the right, Owens draws the safety away from Cockheran, also an effective receiver against man coverages. "Chad does a great job of getting open in situations where guys are bumping and running on him," Chang said. "He makes things happen, and he wants the ball every single play. That's what I love about him."

Owens said: "I take it as a challenge when somebody comes up and tries to play me one on one. When they try to do that, somebody has to be open, right? I'm trying to come out here and play my butt off and create openings for myself as well as everyone else."

Outlook: The Warriors revert to their basic 4-3 alignment — or so it seems. In fact, they will play a 4-4 intended to contain the Miners' inside running game and short passes to the tight end. Just before the snap, look for Peters or Gilmore to move up. In one variation, Gilmore becomes the right outside linebacker, Curnan moves over to the other outside position, and Alapa and Kalilimoku defend the two inside running lanes. In the second option, Peters moves up as either a run defender, pass defender or blitzer.

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