ANALYSIS
UH's passing game to face stiff test

Southern California's pass coverage will match Hawai'i receiving corps — at least in numbers; Warrior defense will need to stop Norm Chow's version of West Coast offense

• School comparisons (graphics)

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

LOS ANGELES — To be sure, today's game between visiting Hawai'i and fourth-ranked Southern California is filled with back stories.

After failing to agree on how many videotapes of their games should be exchanged, the teams decided not to exchange any at all.

The Trojans have plastered their bulletin boards with critical comments they attributed to the Warriors — comments the Warriors apparently did not make nor were aired.

With Warrior quarterback Tim Chang featured on the sports cover of yesterday's Los Angeles Times and thousands of UH fans expected to attend the game, the first of this three-game series between the teams has gained more attention than expected. Here's a closer look:

UH Offense

• LWR—84 Britton Komine, 5-10, 187, Jr.
• LWR—85 Jason Rivers, 6-2, 187, Fr.
• LSB—2 Chad Owens, 5-9, 174, Jr.
• 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, 335, Jr.
• RT—66 Brandon Eaton, 6-3, 287, So.
• RSB—21 Clifton Herbert, 5-7, 159, Sr.
• RSB—38 Gerald Welch, 5-8,193, Jr.
• RWR—19 Jeremiah Cockheran, 6-0, 190, 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.

Outlook: When the Mouse Davis-June Jones version of the run-and-shoot was first introduced to the NFL, the offense, with no tight end, was vulnerable to perimeter pass rushes. But Jones eventually solved the problem by dropping back the quarterback into shotgun formation for nearly every snap. The offense — even USC admits — is enhanced when Chang, who has one of the quickest pass releases in college football, is at the controls. Chang has said the offense needs between three and 3.5 seconds to complete any pass. In anticipation of USC's pass rush, UH has added some safety-valve features, and the receivers now can break open in a much shorter time.

Chang, who was suspended for the season opener, will need to work quicker behind a reconfigured offensive line featuring two blockers (Inferrerra and Eaton) making their first NCAA starts. The changes were made because line coach Mike Cavanaugh was disappointed in the Warriors' lack of aggression against Appalachian State. While unpolished, the new offensive line certainly has a nasty side. Cockheran (strained right knee) and Owens (infected left ankle) are not whole, but they will play — a lot — as will true freshman Rivers and second-year freshman Dickerson.

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—11 Kevin Jackson, 6-4, 245, Sr.
• SL#B—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: The Warriors expect rush end Travis LaBoy, who did not practice this week because of a recurring pelvic injury, will be able to play. While Jackson and Melila Purcell have improved, neither has LaBoy's quickness to catch up to ballcarriers running to the opposite side of the field. Line coach Vantz Singletary, who wore a T-shirt with LaBoy's image in practice, said, "I'm not giving up hope."

The key to the defense is Hyrum Peters, UH's best open-field tackler. Against Appalachian State's option offense, Peters played rover in a new 4-4 alignment, often sneaking up into the tackle box, the imaginary rectangle near the line of scrimmage. Although USC is expected to establish the run early, it eventually should resort to the ball-control passing attack. That means Peters will have to cover the tight end or slot receiver. In some cases, the slot receiver will be 6-foot-5, 230-pound wideout Mike Williams, one of the nation's best receivers.

UH Specialists

• PK—47 Justin Ayat, 5-11, 205, Jr.
• P—25 Kurt Milne, 6-0, 204, Fr.
• KR—82 Ross Dickerson, 5-10, 172, Fr.
• PR—2 Chad Owens, 5-9, 174, Jr.

Outlook: Milne, who outdueled Tim Wright for the starting job in training camp, averaged 44.3 yards on three punts in the opener. Milne gets to keep the job for the next two games; he is the only punter on UH's travel roster for this 10-day trip. Despite a blocked PAT attempt in the opener, caused when UH had only 10 players on the field, Ayat is not concerned about the kicking game. UH assistant Tyson Helton set the preferred snap-to-kick time at 1.3 seconds. Against ASU, UH was time at 1.1 and 1.2 seconds.

USC Offense

• FL—83 Keary Colbert, 6-2, 210, Sr.
• LT—77 Jacob Rodgers, 6-6, 305, Sr.
• LG—78 Lenny Vandermade, 6-3, 275, Sr.
• C—62 Norm Katnik, 6-4, 280, Sr.
• RG—57 Fred Matua, 6-2, 300, Fr.
• RT—74 Winston Justice, 6-6, 300, So.
• TE—86 Dominique Byrd, 6-3, 255, So.
• SE—1 Mike Williams, 6-5, 230, So.
• QB—11 Matt Leinart, 6-5, 220, So.
• FB—35 Lee Webb, 6-0, 240, Jr.
• TB—34 Hershel Dennis, 5-11, 190, So.

Outlook: Although offensive coordinator Norm Chow tries to deflect praise, make no mistake, this scheme — the short passes, the wideouts motioning into the slots, the reliance on a pass-catching tight end — has all of the elements of his version of the West Coast Offense that has succeeded at Brigham Young and North Carolina State.

Williams, who is one of the nation's best receivers, uses his large frame and speed (4.5 seconds over 40 yards) to gain position on smaller defenders. To avoid double teams, Williams will align wide on either side or in the left slot. Leinart, a lefty, will try to throw short lead passes, then let Williams do the rest. The best after-the-catch receiver is Colbert, who can run 40 yards in 4.3 seconds.

Still, this offense, like all of Chow's, revolves around the tight end. "I figure it has to be this way because that's the guy people don't cover," Chow said. "You spend all of your time with corners covering wideouts, and those linebackers are trying to defend the running backs." Chow said USC coach Pete Carroll, who was head coach for two NFL teams, had preferred the "big load kind of guy" at tight end. "He finally bought in," Chow added. "He keeps telling me, 'Let's recruit this receiver and make him a tight end.'" Chow currently has more former tight ends (3) in the NFL than quarterbacks (2).

USC Defense

• DE—94 Kenechi Udeze, 6-4, 285, Jr.
• NT—99 MIke Patterson, 6-0, 285, Jr.
• DT—84 Shaun Cody, 6-4, 285, Jr.
• DE—56 Omar Nazel, 6-5, 245, Sr.
• SLB—6 Matt Grootegoed, 5-11, 215, Jr.
• MLB—58 Lofa Tatupu, 6-0, 225, So.
• WLB—51 Melvin Simmons, 6-1, 220, Sr.
• LCB—30 Will Poole, 6-0, 190, Sr.
• SS—20 Darnell Bing, 6-2, 220, Fr.
• FS—27 Jason Leach, 5-11, 210, Jr.
• RCB—8 Marcell Allmond, 6-0, 200, Sr.

Outlook: Hollywood's best sequel is "The Wild Bunch II," also promoted as the "best defensive line in the nation." While the line takes its name from USC's front four in 1969, the scheme it uses is photo-copied from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' playbook. Patterson, who is USC's version of Pro Bowler Warren Sapp, aligns just to the side of the opposing center. In 2002, he amassed 5.5 sacks and led the Pac-10 with four fumble recoveries. Udeze, who can align at either defensive end, has the power to break down the pass pocket from the perimeter, while Nazel uses his first-step quickness to give fits to offensive linemen. "Our defensive line is exceptional," Carroll said.

The Trojans have the rare advantage of being able to rush four down linemen, enabling seven defenders to sit back in pass coverage. For the first time, UH, which floods the passing lanes with four or five receivers, will not have the edge in the numbers game.

Kevin Arbet, considered to be USC's best cover defender, will miss the rest of the season because of a broken right foot. His replacement, Poole, played at Boston College as a freshman before transferring to Ventura College. Bing, who missed three workouts this week because of a high-ankle sprain, returned to practice Thursday. He is expected to start.

USC Specialists

• PK—16 Ryan Killeen , 5-11, 200, Jr.
• P—14 Tom Malone, 6-0, 190, So.
• KR—24 Justin Wyatt, 5-10, 180, So.
• KR—5 Reggie Bush, 6-0, 190, Fr.
• PR—19 Greig Carlson, 5-10, 195, So.

Outlook: Arbet's injury will be felt on special teams, where he was the top returner. Carlson and Wyatt will return punts today. Colbert also has worked out as an emergency returner.