VIDEO: UH O-line boosts run and shoot

Safeties Spencer Smith and Aulola Tonga also sustained similar infections.

Taylor's infection most likely was a result of scrapes incurred during the past Saturday's game against Utah State at Aloha Stadium.

Smith said his infection came from cuts he received during the road trip to Nevada two weeks ago.

Tonga said his right elbow became infected after he suffered a cut from the artificial surface in Idaho's Kibbie Dome.

UH officials are somewhat puzzled because there does not appear to be a common denominator.

Of the three cases, Smith's was the worst. He said he was diagnosed with MRSA infection, which is caused by the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, more commonly known as staph.

Last Friday, Smith suffered a setback and was hospitalized overnight. He was cleared to play two hours before the kickoff for the Utah State game.

"It was just annoying," Smith said. "You can't scratch it when it itches."

He said there were red spots on his right arm that were "painful." After the Utah State game, his right arm was in a sling to balance the blood flow.

"I had ringworms all of the time from wrestling, and I thought that was bad," Smith said. "Staph is a lot worse. It's a lot more dangerous."

In Tonga's case, he became concerned when swelling developed on his right elbow.

"I thought it was just a boil," he said. "It was more than that. It was staph. They cut me open and got all of that stuff out. It wasn't like Spencer's. That was worse. Mine was from turf burn."

UH's health-care workers have tried to minimize the risk of contracting infections. They make sure to cleanse and cover wounds, and to keep the locker rooms clean.

BLUMBERG KICKS IN

In May, Brian Blumberg bought a one-way ticket to paradise.

"I didn't take a recruiting trip," said Blumberg, who arrived Aug. 4, two days before the start of UH's training camp. "I didn't have any promises. I just winged it."

Blumberg, in fact, was offered the chance to join the Warriors as a walk-on and to compete for the placekicking job. Scott Enos won the competition, and has handled all of the placekicking duties in the first nine games.

But Enos has been inconsistent in his kickoffs, and he has missed his past three field-goal attempts. This week, UH re-opened the kicking competition.

Enos has been told he is not launching his field-goal attempts within the preferred snap-to-contact limit of 1.3 seconds. Blumberg admittedly does not have as powerful a kick as Enos, but he has a quicker approach.

"Accuracy and speed," Blumberg said, have been his focus since suffering an injury to his kicking knee in 2007.

As a freshman at El Camino that year, a long snap sailed over his head on a punt attempt. After retrieving the ball, Blumberg was struck on his right knee by a defender, causing a tear to the anterior cruciate ligament.

Blumberg was able to resume kicking seven months later. But by the then, he was a different kicker.

"I lost power," he said. "I used to be a power kicker like Scott. I had to flip. Surgery totally spun my game around. I loved kickoffs before. Now I'm a (field-goal) specialist."

Blumberg played for El Camino last year and, at the recommendation of a kicking coach, his videos were reviewed by Chris Tormey, who coordinates UH's special teams. Tormey offered Blumberg a walk-on invitation in May.

Blumberg said his range has improved to up to 50 yards.

"I'm getting a lot more height and a lot more power," Blumberg said. "If we're not going to try anything outside of 40 yards, I don't think I can miss. I just want that opportunity."

Blumberg also is getting a look on kickoffs, as well as safety Kenny Estes, who kicked in high school.

INJURY UPDATES

• Linebacker R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane said he hopes to be fitted with smaller padding for his injured left hand.

"Hopefully, I can wear an MMA glove signed by (BJ Penn lookalikes) Corey Paredes or Mana Silva," Kiesel-Kauhane said.

Kiesel-Kauhane suffered a fracture a week ago. He wore a mummified wrap against Utah State.

"I'm falling apart," he said. "I'm getting old, I'm a senior. I've got to drink my milk, maybe (take) fish oil."

• Safety Richard Torres did not practice yesterday because of a pulled left hamstring. But he is expected to play Saturday against New Mexico State.

It will be a game-time decision on the availability of right cornerback Jeramy Bryant (torn left biceps) and wideout Royce Pollard (hairline fracture of left fibula).

Visit Tsai's blog at http://warriorbeat.honadvblogs.com.