Posted on: Saturday, September 27, 2003

Different approach, same goal

By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Analysis

You say run option, I say run-and-shoot.

Toe-may-toe, toe-mah-toe.

Football is football, and despite the obvious differences between Rice's running attack and Hawai'i's passing game, both offenses are designed to spread defenses and create mismatches.

Each offense was customized by its head coach. While Ken Hatfield still requires a running quarterback to either keep the ball or pitch it, his Rice offense is several times removed from the wishbone schemes of his youth.

UH coach June Jones' run-and-shoot has evolved from the version his mentor, Mouse Davis, employed at Portland State in the 1970s. Jones' quarterbacks now take shotgun snaps and the super-sized running back has been added to the offense.

"We spread 'em out with the pass, they spread 'em out with the run," Jones said.

Here's a closer look at tonight's game:

RICE OFFENSE

SE—11 Marcus Battle, 5-9, 180, So.
LT—60 Scott Mayhew, 6-6, 300, Jr.
LG—76 Micah Meador, 6-2, 295, Jr.
C—52 Ben Stephens, 6-2, 300, Sr.
RG—55 Greg Wilson, 6-4, 310, Jr.
RT—69 Chris DeMunbrun, 6-4, 295, Sr.
TE—89 Joe Don Wood, 6-1, 235, So.
QB—5 Greg Henderson, 5-10, 190, Jr.
LHB—42 Marcus Rucker, 6-0, 190, Fr.
FB—Ed Bailey, 5-9, 210, Jr.
RHB—21 Thomas Lott, 5-8, 185, So.

Outlook: Since snapping the wishbone offense several years go, creating the flexbone and its primary play — the mid-line option — coach Ken Hatfield's teams have been among the national leaders in rushing. Created by a Division III coach in Wisconsin, the mid-line option calls for the fullback to run right behind the center. The quarterback reads the defensive tackles, and if one slides over to cover the fullback, the quarterback can race toward the vacated area. If the DTs stay put, the quarterback can follow the fullback. Another option is that while one halfback races downfield for a block, the other attacks the middle. The quarterback can keep the ball or give it to the fullback or halfback.

The Owls also can spread defenses with speed options to the perimeter or play-action passes.

The key is Henderson, who keeps the starting job despite Kyle Herm's recovery from a rib injury. Henderson is durable (he played all but one offensive down in the past two games), strong (bench presses 390 pounds) and a leader. "I like to have control of the whole offense," he said. He will benefit from the return of Battle and halfback Clint Hatfield.

RICE DEFENSE

DE—62 Jimmy Shaw, 6-4, 260, Fr.
DT—90 Jeremy Calahan, 6-3, 285, Jr.
NG—78 Ross Lassley, 6-3, 295, Sr.
DE—47 John Syptak, 6-2, 215, So.
SLB—4 Jeff Vanover, 6-0, 220, Sr.
WLB—48 Adam Herrin, 6-0, 215, So.
ROV—10 Terry Holley, 6-2, 205, Jr.
BAN—37 Michael Merrick, 6-0, 195, So.
CB—20 Patrick Denby, 6-0, 185, Sr.
FS—29 Raymorris Barnes, 5-9, 170, Jr.
CB—6 Dustin Haynes, 5-10, 180, So.

Outlook: Credit the Owls with crafting the umbrella defense that has given the Warriors fits in recent years. In this 4-2-5 scheme, the Owls align the free safety, bandit and rover in zone coverage. The intent is to take away the deep routes and force UH into a rat-a-tat passing game.

"I think that's something you've got to do against (UH quarterback Tim) Chang," said Vanover, who is wearing a soft cast to protect torn ligaments in his right hand. "Chang is a great quarterback, and if you give him a chance to pick on the guys in man coverage, he's really going to have a big day on you. We want to cut out the long touchdowns and make him throw the ball in front of you."

With only three starting defenders weighing more than 220 pounds, the Owls spend several sessions each practice working on tackling. They need the work, having forced a WAC-low two turnovers in three games.

RICE SPECIALISTS

PK—3 Brandon Skeen, 6-2, 190, Sr.
P—85 Jared Scruggs, 6-3, 185, Fr.
KR—11 Marcus Battle, 5-9, 180, Fr.
KR—21 Thomas Lott, 5-8, 185, So.
PR—43 Will Galusha, 5-8, 175, Fr.

Outlook: The Owls are last in the WAC in punt returns (3.9 yards), and after two blowout losses in three games, Skeen has two field-goal attempts (he converted one).

UH OFFENSE

LWR—85 Jason Rivers, 6-2, 187, Fr.
LWR—84 Britton Komine, 5-10, 187, 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, 330, Jr.
RT—70 Tala Esera, 6-3, 285, Fr.
RSB—7 Se'e Poumele, 5-9, 179, Jr.
RWR—19 Jeremiah Cockheran, 6-0, 190, Sr.
QB—14 Tim Chang, 6-2, 194, Jr.
RB—16 West Keliikipi, 6-1, 266, Jr.
RB—1 Mike Bass, 5-7, 174, Jr.

Outlook: Esera, a converted defensive tackle who first practiced on the offensive line last month, will be the third freshman blocker in the starting lineup. But Keliikipi should help buy time for Chang, who will try to patiently work against a defense aligned in zone coverage.

In an attempt to stretch the Owls' defense, the Warriors will send speedy Rivers, Dickerson and Poumele on deep patterns.

If that fails, "we have to pick away," Chang said. "Obviously, they don't want to give up the big shots. That's why we have to pick at it. If it takes one play or 20 plays, our goal is to move the ball. If you take five yards here, seven yards here, another 10 here, eventually it all adds up to the same number, and that's six (points)."

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.
LLB—5 Chad Kapanui, 6-0, 225, Jr.
ILB—56 Chad Kalilimoku, 5-11, 240, Sr.
ILB—51 Ikaika Curnan, 5-11, 218, So.
RLB—17 David Gilmore, 6-0, 197, Sr.
LCB—3 Kelvin Millhouse, 6-1, 205, Sr.
FS—33 Hyrum Peters, 5-8, 188, Sr.
RCB—37 Abraham Elimimian, 5-10, 173, Jr.

Outlook: For more than a month, the Warriors have fiddled with a 4-4 alignment designed to slow the Owls' run-option offense. The scheme calls for backup linebacker Kapanui and safety Gilmore to become outside linebackers. Collaborating with a defensive end or cornerback, Kapanui and Gilmore will try to sabotage option runs to the perimeter. Peters, a strong safety who usually serves as a roving linebacker, will align as the free safety, the last line of defense against play-action passes.

The Warriors also will mix in a nickel package, in which linebacker Keani Alapa replaces Kalilimoku, Gilmore moves back to safety and Leonard Peters becomes the fifth defensive back. While the nickel is usually a pass defense, against the smaller Owls, it can be effective against the run option.

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—1 Mike Bass, 5-7, 174, Jr.

Outlook: Bass gets the first shot to replace punt returner Chad Owens, who is suspended for the next two games. While Dickerson has emerged as an effective returner, the high demands of his new role as starting left slotback (replacing Owens) might allow Michael Brewster to field more kickoffs.

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