Three times, University of Hawai'i turnovers had put the Warriors' defense on a perilously short field Saturday.

Even more than that, a sputtering three-and-out offense and special teams breakdowns had added to the defense's burden with repeated back-to-the-wall field position.

But linebacker Solomon Elimimian adamantly wasn't having any of it in the wake of a 45-7 loss to Oregon State.

None of the handing off of blame. None of the pointing of fingers. No "ifs ..." and "buts ..."

The way Elimimian looked at UH's plight, the defense didn't do its job. And it needs to get tougher. Period.

"We have to stop them (opponents) regardless of field position," Elimimian said. "We have to be better than that."

This from someone who had shared the team lead in tackles (10) for the game but still demanded more of himself as he does those around him. But, then, perhaps nowhere on the UH sideline has the pain of the 1-2 start been felt more than among the proud defense.

A unit that was supposed to help carry the Warriors this season has been asked to do more each succeeding week and may be tasked with an even heavier burden from here on if quarterback Tyler Graunke and offensive lineman Keith AhSoon are out for a prolonged period with injuries.

If there was ever a time for the UH defense to rise above the challenges that confront it, it is now. But, realistically, how much can it do until the other components improve?

With a more productive offense or better executing special teams, the UH defense probably wouldn't rank 108th among 119 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) teams in scoring defense at 39.3 points per game.

But UH has the most turnover-prone offense in the country (119th with 11 in three games). Only Southern Methodist (8) has had more passes intercepted than UH (7). Moreover, UH has some of the worst kicking game coverage statistics, ranking 111th in kickoff return defense (27.3 yards per play) and 105th in punt return defense (21.6 yards).

To Elimimian, those statistics are unfortunate but inconsequential to the avowed mission of the defense: getting stops. "We just have to man up more in those situations," he said.

If there is a fault to be found with the overworked defense, it is that the Warriors have been unable to take some of the edge off the offense's foibles by forcing turnovers of their own. UH has gotten opponents to cough up but two turnovers in three games and none from Florida or Oregon State.

"We have to do a better job," Elimimian said. Indeed, you get the feeling if the Warriors are to turn around their fortunes, it will have to be the defense that shows the way.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.