In defending — and promoting — the University of Hawai'i football team's four-wide passing offense, head coach June Jones has repeatedly said, "We are who we are."

In the first two games, both blowout losses to heavily favored opponents, the Warriors went against type, implementing options runs and quarterbacks scrambles, mostly to ease the development of an inexperienced lineup. But the plan always called for the Warriors to return to what they have done best during Jones' UH tenure: Pass on 70 percent of the plays. That was supposed to have been the game plan for today's Western Athletic Conference opener against host Idaho.

But when the UH coaches reviewed videotapes of the Vandals' first three games, they noticed a defensive scheme similar to the one used by top-ranked Southern California, the Warriors' season-opening opponent. It is no coincidence that Idaho head coach Nick Holt was a USC defensive assistant three years ago. Now, the Warriors do not appear so willing to abandon all elements of an experimental scheme relying on a mobile quarterback.

"For us, it's like getting ready for what we got ready for a couple of weeks ago," UH quarterback Colt Brennan said.

UH backup quarterback Tyler Graunke, who also is expected to play, said: "They run the same kind of defense and they have the same tendencies. It's pretty much the same look as SC's. Hopefully, we'll have a better result."

Here's a look at today's game:

HAWAI'I OFFENSE

LWR—81 Ian Sample 5-10 189 Sr.

LSB—7 Davone Bess 5-9 187 Fr.

LT—70 Tala Esera 6-4 295 Jr.

LG—64 Samson Satele 6-2 305 Jr.

C—59 Derek Fa'avi 6-1 273 Sr.

RG—66 Brandon Eaton 6-2 295 Sr.

RT—72 Dane Uperesa 6-5 315 Jr.

RSB—1 Ryan Grice-Mullen 5-10 174 Fr.

RWR—82 Ross Dickerson 5-10 185 Jr.

QB—15 Colt Brennan 6-2 190 So.

QB—6 Tyler Graunke 5-11 184 Fr.

RB—48 David Farmer 6-0 240 Fr.

RB—3 Bryan Maneafaiga 5-9 200 Sr.

Outlook: In the first two games, opponents with aggressive zone coverages and skilled man-to-man defenders forced the Warriors to shorten their passing attack to inside screens, shovels and hitch patterns. Of the Warriors' 92 passes this season, eight have been in the air at least 20 yards from the line of scrimmage, and only two of those were caught. This week, assistant coach Ron Lee challenged the receivers, particularly wideouts Sample and Dickerson, to catch deep passes. "I would say half of their routes are deep," Lee said. "We need them to run deep, catch it, and then do something after the catch. That would really help us open it up for the other guys."

Dickerson said his recovery from a sprained ankle should improve his receiving yardage. He leads the Warriors in yards-after-the-catch average (YAC) with 9.57 yards. Sample's YAC is 5.42.

Brennan, who is recovering from a sprained right (throwing) shoulder, will start. He said rest and a cortisone shot last week eased his rehabilitation. Eaton (pulled hamstring) and Uperesa (sprained right ankle) will be in the opening lineup. Maneafaiga, who is recovering from a pulled left hamstring, yesterday missed his fourth consecutive practice but is expected to play today. Slotback Nate Ilaoa (pulled hamstring) is questionable.

HAWAI'I DEFENSE

LE—98 Melila Purcell III 6-5 266 Sr.

NT—93 Keala Watson 6-3 320 Fr.

RE—91 Ikaika Alama-Francis 6-6 250 Jr.

SOLB—45 Tanuvasa Moe 6-0 220 Sr.

SILB—51 Ikaika Curnan 5-10 235 Sr.

WILB—43 Brad Kalilimoku 5-11 205 So.

WOLB—1 K.Kamakawiwo'ole 6-3 240 Sr.

LCB—24 Kenny Patton 6-0 184 Jr.

SS—15 Lono Manners 5-10 199 Sr.

FS—8 Landon Kafentzis 6-0 202 Sr.

RCB—35 Keao Monteilh 5-11 170 So.

Outlook: After averaging more than 14 missed tackles per game last season, the Warriors have whiffed on a combined 13 in the first two games this year. Credit goes to new defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville's emphasis on gang tackling. "His philosophy is to swarm to the ball," Moe said. "If someone misses a tackle, another guy will be right behind."

Glanville said: "If you miss a tackle, you have to play the funnel — force the ballcarrier into the crowd. The way we coach is, if you miss him but play the funnel and chase him inside, he'll get pounded after a yard."

Watson, Monteilh and Kafentzis will make their first collegiate starts. Watson replaces Renolds Fruean (sprained right ankle) and Kafentzis is in place of Leonard Peters (torn knee ligaements). Monteilh has outplayed two other cornerbacks. If Curnan can't play because of a sprained ankle, freshman Solomon Elimimian will make his first NCAA start.

HAWAI'I SPECIALISTS

PK—99 Dan Kelly 6-3 199 Fr.

P—25 Kurt Milne 5-11 208 Jr.

KR/PR—27 Andre Taylor 5-11 171 Jr.

Outlook: Milne has found success as the WAC's only "option punter." Milne will jog to his right before punting. The technique, he said, increases the chances of placing a punt in the alley between the yard numbers and the sideline. Of Milne's seven punts, one has been returned.

IDAHO OFFENSE

LWR—3 Matt Askew 6-4 194 Jr.

SB—5 Daniel Smith 5-11 210 Jr.

LT—68 Nate VanderPol 6-6 314 Jr.

LG—50 Jade Tadvick 6-5 304 Jr.

C—72 Adam Korby 6-2 290 Fr.

RG—65 Kris Anderson 6-3 291 Fr.

RT—73 Desmond Clark 6-3 317 So.

TE—80 Keith Greer 6-2 252 Jr.

RWR—19 Wendell Octave 6-1 190 Jr.

QB—8 Steven Wichman 6-3 223 Jr.

RB—32 Rolly Lumbala 6-2 247 So.

Outlook: The Vandals also employ a one-back offense, but their version features three receivers and a blocking tight end. They try to confuse opponents by spreading wide their offense, then running switch-crossing routes. The key is Wichman, a confident quarterback who has completed 63 percent of his passes. Wichman also has generated a loose atmosphere.

"I've been known to crack my fair share of jokes in the huddle," he said. "I want to make sure everybody is relaxed and having a good time. When you're relaxed, you don't make as many mistakes."

Lumbala is a physical runner, but with a yards-per-carry average of 3.3, not a suitable replacement for Jayson Bird, who suffered a season-ending injury two weeks ago.

IDAHO DEFENSE

DE—58 Ben Alexander 6-0 212 So.

DT—92 Jeff Edwards 6-3 265 Sr.

NG—94 Ryan Davis 6-0 267 Jr.

DE—99 Mike Bonelli 6-2 241 Sr.

SLB—31 Josh Bousman 6-2 221 So.

MLB—47 Cole Snyder 5-11 222 Sr.

WLB—40 David Vobora 6-1 217 So.

LCB—10 Jason Martin 5-9 178 Jr.

SS—49 D.J. Dykes 6-3 201 So.

FS—3 Jevon Butler 6-0 208 So.

RCB—2 Herb Cash 5-11 172 Sr.

Outlook: From the 4-3 alignment to the two-deep zone employing man-to-man coverage on the wideouts, the Vandals are USC Lite. The Vandals will try to force the action with zone blitzes, sending heat-seeking safeties and linebackers into the backfield.

The Warriors will be on the lookout for Snyder, who is averaging 14 tackles per game this season. The Warriors have been instructed to watch the "wanderer" — Snyder — who will stroll to a blitz-launching point before the snap. With wire-rimmed glasses and a librarian's shh-shh voice, Snyder masks his hunter's instincts. "Off the field, he's a nice guy," Wichman said. "On the field, he's got a little fire."

Snyder is an experienced hunter who has killed bears, cougars, elks and deer. "We eat the elk and deer," he said. "We sell the hide and gall bladders (of bears and cougars), stuff like that."

IDAHO SPECIALISTS

PK—43 Mike Barrow 5-11 157 Jr.

P—14 T.J. Conley 6-3 210 Fr.

KR—37 DeAngelo Ramsey 6-2 201 Jr.

PR—23 Wes Williams 5-10 165 Fr.

Outlook: In three games, Barrow has converted 5 of 7 field-goal attempts, besting last year's disastrous 4-of-12 performance.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.