The Hawai'i football team is going with the retro theme when it opens spring training tomorrow.

That passive-aggressive offense that went through several transformations last year is going back to the original air-it-out model.

Greg McMackin, who enters his second spring as UH head coach, also promises to roll out more attacking schemes on defense and special teams.

The approach is as basic as taking the SAT: Go with your first answer. And McMackin, whose promotion was based largely on the thriller instincts he relied on as a decorated defensive coordinator, is returning to a philosophy he knows best.

"We want to attack in all three phases," McMackin said.

Last year, McMackin had to rebuild an offense that had only two holdover starters from the Sugar Bowl team. With the quarterback situation unsettled, the run-and-shoot offense became a change-on-the-run scheme, custom-fit each week to the personnel.

But Greg Alexander has emerged as the starting quarterback and, despite losing the starting slotbacks, there is depth, speed and talent at the four receiver positions.

"We're going to run the pure run-and-shoot," McMackin said. "We're going to let it fly and try to have fun."

There also are changes in the coaching staff. Gordy Shaw is the offensive line coach, replacing last year's tandem of Brian Smith and Alex Gerke. Gerke is now at Utah State, and Smith is coaching the running backs. Offensive coordinator Ron Lee will work more with the receivers.

Chris Tormey, a former Nevada head coach, is the special teams coordinator. He also will coach the safeties.

Assistant head coach George Lumpkin, who was a roving instructor last season, will coach the defensive ends. Dave Aranda, who worked with the ends last year, will focus on the defensive tackles.

Here's a look at the Warriors entering the spring:

QUARTERBACK

Contenders: Greg Alexander, Shane Austin, Steele Jantz, Bryce Kalau'oka'a'ea, Bryant Moniz, Brent Rausch.

Spring work: Unlike last spring, when the projected top quarterback was coming off a 40-day suspension and two transfers were on the Mainland, there is a clear No. 1 — Alexander. Like most quarterbacks in the run-and-shoot offense, Alexander struggled to grasp the schemes in his first year. "His head was swimming," quarterbacks coach Nick Rolovich said. A tell-tale sign was not in Alexander's interceptions or sacks, but the number of deflected passes. Being indecisive led to Alexander trying to hurry, which led to side-armed throws. In reviewing videos of last year's games, Alexander noted that his worst plays corresponded with low deliveries. Alexander appears to be more confident. And Alexander, who once spoke Mumble as a second language, has developed into a leader, often taking charge of unsupervised offseason workouts.

Raush improved once he learned that not every pass needed to be at full speed. "Four or five throws (a game) are hard; the rest are control throws," Rolovich said.

Keep an eye on: Moniz, who once led Leilehua High to a state championship. The top two spots are filled, Austin goes on scholarship after this semester, and three freshmen arrive this summer. But Moniz has impressed teammates with his strong arm, mobility and moxie.

RUNNING BACK

Contenders: Kimo Alo, Joey Cadiz, Inoke Funaki, Kahekili Kalalau, Kennedy Carlson, Daniel Libre, Jayson Rego, Leon Wright-Jackson, Hogan Rosehill.

Spring work: Funaki, who started six games at quarterback, makes the move to "bulldog," a slotback/running back hybrid. Funaki is elusive (he averaged more than one broken tackle per scramble last year), but he must learn to block to earn playing time. He gained weight and now is 210, and he received tutoring from Kealoha Pilares, who is moving to slotback.

Wright-Jackson has had impressive workouts (37 1/2-inch vertical jump, 9-foot-8 1/2 broad jump). But he needs to prove he has recovered from the painful foot injury that forced him from two games. Libre is petitioning for an extra season that will allow him to play in 2009. But the coaches aren't optimistic, and he will receive limited reps in the spring.

Keep an eye on: Rosehill, nicknamed "Bulldoza," who shut down Punahou's Manti Teo in the 2008 state basketball final. Rosehill, at 223 pounds, is competing for a role as a blocking back.

RECEIVER

Left wideout: Joe Avery, Craig Bell, Rodney Bradley, Jett Jasper, Daniel Lofton, Greg Salas.

Left slotback: Ryan Henry, Matt Kiel, Jon Medeiros, Nate Nasca, Corey Paclebar.

Right slotback: Dustin Blount, Miah Ostrowski, Kealoha Pilares, Rick Taylor.

Right wideout: Malcolm Lane, Troy Lauduski, Royce Pollard, Billy Ray Stutzmann, Jovonte Taylor, Mike Tinoco.

Spring work: The focus will be on improving the post-catch yardage. Pilares, who moves from running back, should help. His yards-after-catch (YAC) average was 8.18, more than 2 yards better than the most productive slot. Pilares has fully recovered from an ankle injury, as evidenced by his offseason test results — team-best 39-inch vertical jump, 315-pound bench press. Blount, Henry, Medeiros and a slimmed-down Ostrowski should compete for playing time.

Lane has missed most of the offseason workouts because of an illness. He is expected to receive limited work this spring. That should open the way for Pollard, who has impressed teammates with his quickness (sub-4.5 seconds in the 40) and sure hands. Jovonte Taylor, who had to withdraw from school after suffering a viral infection, is healthy again.

On the left side, Salas has worked out with the slotbacks. He won't move there, but there are some plays in which Salas will motion into the slot, giving Alexander a taller target. The plan is for the inside receivers to draw defenses away from the wideouts. Last year, Lane caught only 46.7 percent of the passes in which he was the intended receiver.

Keep an eye on: Bradley, who, on a dare, was asked to jump as high as he could in the UH weight room. He touched the ceiling. With his open palm. "I've always been able to jump," said Bradley, whose reach is 8 feet 1. He can touch nearly 11 feet off a vertical jump. With his speed (4.4 seconds) and height (6-1), Bradley is expected to stretch coverages. He'll start off at left wideout, but he is capable of playing both sides.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Tackle: Andrew Faaumu, Aaron Kia, Clayton Laurel, Brett Leonard, Laupepa Letuli, Adrian Thomas,

Guard: Kahai Choy, David Garness, Brysen Ginlack, Austin Hansen, Ray Hisatake, Raphael Ieru, Daniel Johnson, Lucas Kennard, Matagisila Lefiti, Levi Legay, Joey Lipp, Daniel Otineru, Steven Ikaika Rodenhurst, Tuiatua Tuiasosopo, Drew Uperesa.

Center: John Estes, Bronson Tiwanak.

Spring work: In 2005, just before bolting for Oregon State, line coach Mike Cavanaugh signed a group of can't-miss blockers. In 2009, they are fifth-year seniors, and only one — Estes, a Rimington Award candidate — has fulfilled the promise. Now three more members of that class are counted on to stabilize an offensive line that relinquished an NCAA-record 59 sacks last season. Kia, Ieru and Letuli enter spring training as No. 1 linemen. Each appears to have overcome past injuries and inconsistency. Kia is at left tackle, Ieru at right guard and Letuli moves to right tackle.

In addition to playing both guard positions and left tackle, Letuli has practiced at tight end, defensive end and running back during his UH career. Letuli drew praise when he squat-lifted 520 pounds two weeks ago, a 115-pound increase from a year ago.

Ieru, who has overcome tendinitis in his knee, also appears to finally be healthy. He bench-pressed 405 pounds, and benched 225 pounds 31 times.

Kia lost weight after suffering from severe flu-like ailments following the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl. He weighed 274 last week; he wants to gain at least another 10 pounds by the end of spring training.

Hisatake, whose high school did not have a football team, is set to open at left guard. He said it took him most of last season to adjust to the switch from tackle. The previous year, he was on the defensive line.

Keep an eye on: Leonard, a junior-college transfer who probably is the most agile of the tackles.

DEFENSIVE LINE

End: Cameron Allen-Jones, Abraham Cavaco-Amoy, Victor Clore, John Fonoti, Jake Heun, Waylon Lolotai, Tua Mahaley, Elliott Purcell, Bo Montgomery, Aaron Rink, Liko Satele, Alema Tachibana, Alasi Toilolo.

Tackle: Quentin Beaver, Haku Correa, David Hafoka, Geordon Hanohano, Chris Leatigaga, Ikaika Mahoe, Vaughn Meatoga, Rocky Savaiigaea, Tuika Tufaga, Keahi Watson.

Spring work: The first part is easy: Fonoti is set at defensive end. The second part, well, not so much. Purcell gets the first shot to succeed David Veikune, who has the potential to be a first-day pick in next month's NFL draft. Not only was Veikune, who has bench-pressed 520 pounds, a menacing pass rusher, he also was an effective run stopper. The replacement candidates are not whole. Purcell, Rink, Mahaley and Toilolo are pass rushers. Lolotai is coming off a church mission. Heun, who moves from running back, missed all of last season because of a herniated disc. Clore and Allen-Jones might have the best combo skill. Clore surprised the coaches by power cleaning a team-high 331 pounds. He has both the quickness and power to align opposite a tight end or to the outside shoulder of a tackle.

There are four solid tackles for the two spots — Tufaga, Savaiigaea, Meatoga and Hafoka. Tufaga, who is not on scholarship, bench-pressed a team-high 455 pounds. Savaiigaea has recovered from a torn triceps. Meatoga had a team-best 550-pound squat. Hafoka is a junior-college transfer.

Keep an eye on: Hanohano, who fits the role of athletic interior lineman. In McMackin's 4-3, tackles are required to be mobile. "We don't want just space-eaters," defensive coordinator Cal Lee said. It is why a strongman was cut last spring, and why Hanohano meets the requirements.

LINEBACKER

Outside: Po'okela Ahmad, Paipai Falemalu, R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane, Art Laurel, Joseph Malabuyoc, Marc Moody, Vili Nauahi, Cory Paredes, Josh Rice, Blaze Soares.

Middle: Josh Andrews, Mana Lolotai, Brashton Satele.

Spring work: All-WAC linebackers Adam Leonard and Solomon Elimimian completed their eligibility, and Soares, who missed last season because of an Achilles' injury, will not participate in contact drills this spring. Satele, a fifth-year senior, welcomes the opportunity to fill the leadership role. "Somebody has to step up," Satele said. "Why not me?" Satele certainly plays the part. Satele, who will make the defensive calls, spends hours studying videos. He also lifts every day. "I dedicated myself to getting stronger," said Satele, who can bench more than 400 pounds. This offseason, he expanded his workouts to include power cleans. "I didn't like it before, but I like it now," he said.

Kiesel-Kauhane earned the nickname "Neanderthal" because, according to Paredes, "he's another breed." Kiesel-Kauhane, who weighs 221, is capable of benching 450 pounds. He benched 225 pounds 35 times, and had a vertical jump of 38 inches.

Keep an eye on: Falemalu and Laurel. Falemalu, who underwent successful shoulder surgery last October, will be held out of contact drills this spring. He was one of the top recruits of the 2008 class. Laurel, who enrolled at UH in January, is quick for a 230-pounder.

DEFENSIVE SECONDARY

Corner: Chris Black, Jeramy Bryant, Steven Christian, Lametrius Davis, Melvin "Tank" Hopkins, Marvin Judd, Kawika Ornellas, Fesootai Papalii, Steve Stepter, Cody Walker, Lewis Walker.

Safety: Rykin Enos, Kenny Estes, Jordan Gomes, Keanemana Silva, Spencer Smith.

Nickelback: Richard Torres.

Spring work: Last year's entire starting secondary completed its eligibility. Junior-college transfer Aaron Brown should be one of the top contenders at safety, but he doesn't enroll until the summer. Estes, Silva and Smith should get the bulk of the work as safeties on the first team this spring. Bryant appears to have locked down a corner's job. He also is capable of playing nickelback. Davis will split time between corner and free safety. By the end of spring, he'll settle at one position. Hopkins, Black, Christian, Lewis Walker and Ornellas will rotate at corner. "Overall, the group has no stars, but it's a focused, concentrated group," associate head coach Rich Miano said. "I'm really impressed with their work and determination."

Keep an eye on: Gomes, whose future is probably on special teams. He's only 5-10 and 160, but he benched 355 pounds, and did 19 reps of 225 pounds.

SPECIALISTS

Kicker: Brett Symonds.

Punter: Kenny Estes, Spencer Smith.

Long-snapper: Chad Preacher.

Spring work: With a kicker, two punters and a long-snapper arriving this summer, the focus this spring will be more on schemes. The Warriors plan to be more aggressive, giving the green light to try to block kicks and punts.

Keep an eye on: Funaki will be the holder, a position he played three years ago. Funaki gives at least the threat of a fake.

Visit Tsai's blog at http://Warriorbeat.honadvblogs.