After returning yesterday morning from an 11-night football trip, the Hawai'i football team was ready for a little R&R.

Review and replenish.

While the players were given the day off, the coaches returned to their offices to review video of Saturday's 34-33 loss to Nevada-Las Vegas.

"There were some good things and some things we need to work on," offensive coordinator Ron Lee said.

The coaches were pleased with the improved play of the offensive line. Quarterback Greg Alexander had enough time to go through his read progressions.

Slotback Kealoha Pilares, despite the after-effects of stomach-flu-like symptoms, had the best game of his career. Pilares also did well as the kick returner in place of Jovonte Taylor, who suffered a sprained ankle on the Warriors' second play of the game.

Taylor was walking without crutches after the game, and he vowed to be ready for the Sept. 30 road game against Louisiana Tech.

Royce Pollard filled in for Taylor at right wideout.

The Warriors are hopeful of replenishing an active roster that has been peppered with injuries.

Fetaiagogo Fonoti, who started every game at defensive right end last season, has not played this season while recovering from a hyper-extended left kneecap. Fonoti can run straight ahead but has difficulty making cuts. He was on the past trip's 66-player travel roster. Because the Louisiana Tech game is a Western Athletic Conference event, the travel roster is reduced by two. Even if his availability is in question, Fonoti is expected to make that trip.

Defensive end Paipai Falemalu also is hopeful of being available for the Louisiana Tech game.

Against UNLV, the Warriors had crafted a defensive strategy with Falemalu partially in mind. To defend against both UNLV's spread passing attack and run-option schemes, the Warriors wanted to go with a 3-3-1-4 defense. In the sliding scheme, linebacker Blaze Soares often moved up to the line of scrimmage as a stand-up pass rusher, and the nickelback — Aaron Brown or Richard Torres — acted as a linebacker.

Falemalu is the Warriors' best pass-rushing defensive end in a three-man front. But he suffered a high sprain of his right ankle three days before the UNLV game.

The Warriors will resume workouts this morning.

They are expected to have a day off tomorrow, then resume full-scale practices Wednesday.

The Warriors do not play this weekend. They leave Sunday for Dallas, where they will train for two days. The Louisiana Tech game is on a Wednesday night.