Yesterday's first of 15 days of University of Hawai'i spring football training was distinguished by what was missing — the defense.

For the second half of the Warriors' two-hour practice, the entire defense was in a meeting room, studying the new 4-3 scheme that will be implemented this week. The Warriors used the 3-4 defense the past two seasons under Jerry Glanville, now Portland State's head coach.

During the meeting, it was announced that Solomon Elimimian will remain at middle linebacker while Adam Leonard, who led the Warriors with 115 tackles last season, would move to weak-side linebacker. Blaze Soares is the top contender at strong-side linebacker.

"It's another opportunity to learn, gain more experience, and get another viewpoint at linebacker," Leonard said of the switch from inside linebacker.

He said he will have to learn different techniques and reads. But "overall," he said, "it's a good opportunity to make plays."

The talk is George Lumpkin, who coached outside linebackers last season, will be in charge of the defensive ends this season. If the move materializes, as expected, Cal Lee, who coached the inside linebackers last year, would coordinate all of the linebackers this year. In the 3-4, the outside linebackers often blitz; in the 4-3, the defensive ends pass rush. The switch should be seamless for Lumpkin.

Lumpkin, who has been at UH for more than 30 years, has the second-most seniority in the athletic department.

UH coach June Jones said Lumpkin, as of "right now," is the outside linebacker coach. But that could change by the end of the week, when the waiting period ends and the Warriors can fill their remaining coaching vacancy.

The leading candidate is Greg McMackin, who attended practice as an unpaid "observer." McMackin was the Warriors' defensive coordinator in 1999, Jones' first season as UH's head coach.

PRACTICING ON OUTSIDE

The starting slotbacks the past two seasons — Davone Bess and Ryan Grice-Mullins — practiced as wideouts yesterday.

"This is our third spring (at UH)," Bess said, "and (Jones) wanted to make it fun for us, and not so, 'Oh, another spring.' We're going to play there and mix is up."

Jones said: "It keeps their head in it. Sometimes you do the same things over and over, you get bored."

But Jones indicated the moves might not be a spring fling.

"This will give us a lot of flexibility next year to plug guys in where we need to put them," Jones said. "It gives us the ability to put different pressures and matchups on."

Bess and Grice-Mullins will be juniors in the fall, and there is a glut developing at the two slotback positions in the Warriors' four-receiver offense. Michael Washington, Aaron Bain and Jason Ferguson will be juniors, and freshmen Mitch Farney, Eric Shaffer and Rick Taylor are pushing for playing time.

"There have been a couple of guys who have had to sit behind two great slots and watch a lot of football," quarterback Colt Brennan said. "Last year our depth was really on the outside receivers. We moved those guys inside when we needed to. I think this year is going to be the opposite. Our depth is really on the inside. We'll move a few guys when we need to, and keep everybody rolling."

Bess, whose future in the National Football League is at wideout, made the easy transition yesterday.

"It's pretty much the same stuff," Bess said.

As for the possibility of playing wideout in the fall, Bess likened it to the prospect of being used as a punter or punt returner.

"I'm just waiting for the command," Bess said. "I just take orders. I'm one of the troops. (Jones is) George Bush."

TUIOTI-MARINER ON RISE

After four years and several position changes, Clarence Lafu Tuioti-Mariner appears ready to earn a starting job.

Yesterday, he was the center on a first-team offensive line that included left tackle Aaron Kia, left guard Hercules Satele, right guard John Estes and right tackle Keoni Steinhoff.

"My time just came," Tuioti-Mariner said. "I've been waiting for it all of these years."

As a freshman in 2004, he was named one of the top scout players. But despite overcoming several injuries, he did not ascend the depth chart as a defensive tackle, nose tackle or offensive lineman.

"At first I was really mad," he said. "But I knew I had to wait. There were a lot of good guys ahead of me. I had to be patient."

At one point, he was considered for a move to running back. But Dennis McKnight, who coaches the offensive linemen, believed Tuioti-Mariner would be a suitable center.

Tuioti-Mariner said he received tips from last year's centers, Samson Satele and Marques Kaonohi, and some help from 2005 starter Derek Fa'avi.

"They taught me the techniques and the calls to make," Tuioti-Mariner said.

Brennan said he is working to "form a bond" with Tuioti-Mariner. Brennan and Satele were close friends.

"Lafu has a lot to learn still," Jones said. "But he's a player. He's a 300-pounder. He's got real good leverage. He'll have an opportunity to show what he can do this spring."

Tuioti-Mariner said: "I'm really happy coach Jones is giving me a chance. There are guys who are bigger. I want to prove I can do the job."

In the meantime, he is moonlighting as a recruiter. His younger brother, offensive guard Max Tuioti-Mariner of Corona (Calif.) High, is one of the nation's top high school prospects. He already has received offers from Southern California, UCLA, Arizona, Miami, Colorado, Oregon and Oregon State.

"I'm recruiting him," Clarence Tuioti-Mariner said. "I have to. I always tell him: 'You want to be the best, come to the best.' I'm not trying to put pressure on him, but every so often I say, 'Hey, man, we've got a spot for you.' I think we have a chance. My brother says he likes UH because they gave me an opportunity."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.