UH defense thin at ends

[IE]

In the desert heat, the Hawai'i football team froze.

During a position drill, defensive end Jake Heun swore, then hobbled to the makeshift training area.

A trainer cut off the tape wrapping Heun's right ankle, then Heun took off his sock and right shoe. But after the trainer massaged Heun's foot, Heun declared himself OK. Soon after, he resumed practicing.

This time, a crisis was averted. There was concern because the defensive-end position continued to thin.

After yesterday's practice, head coach Greg McMackin said it was unlikely defensive ends Fetaiagogo "John" Fonoti and Paipai Falemalu would play in tomorrow's road game against Nevada-Las Vegas.

Fonoti has not practiced since suffering a hyper-extended left kneecap more than two weeks ago.

Asked if he would sit out his third consecutive game, Fonoti said, "I think so."

"John is really trying," McMackin said. "He's walking. He tried to run (Wednesday)."

McMackin said Fonoti can tolerate the pain. But the injury has limited Fonoti's mobility, a key part of his pass-rushing job.

"What are you going to do?" McMackin said. "He can't really cut."

Fonoti has been undergoing electronic stimulation and intensive rehabilitation.

"If (playing) is going to make it worse, I'd rather wait," McMackin said.

Falemalu, who is the Warriors' best pass-rushing end, suffered a high sprain to his right ankle. He was on crutches yesterday.

"I'm mad that I cannot play," said Falemalu, who is used mostly in the three-man front. "But I have to sit out until I'm 100 percent. I don't want to go out there and get hurt."

Liko Satele started the first two games in place of Fonoti at right end.

McMackin said Heun will open at left end. Heun was expected to start there last week, but Elliott Purcell was in the opening lineup. Purcell, who is suffering from a deep contusion in his left quadriceps, said his health is at 80 percent.

In the past Saturday's 38-20 victory over Washington State, Heun played mostly right end. Asked how many times he practiced on that side, Heun said, "None."

"They scrambled to throw guys in," Heun said.

Heun had opened the season as a backup middle linebacker before moving to end. He said he still is not as comfortable attacking out of a three-point stance.

Against Washington State, he said, "I probably played a little more standup than I should have."

UH NOT 'MESSING AROUND'

Yesterday's practice marked the final full workout before tomorrow's game. The Warriors have a 90-minute, walk-through session scheduled for today at Sam Boyd Stadium.

McMackin praised his team's focus during this two-game, two-city trip that began Sept. 9.

"We've been on a business trip, and that's how they've acted," McMackin said. "We haven't had a guy late (to a meeting or practice). We haven't had a guy messing around. I'm proud of how they've reacted to situations."

While it is legal for players older than 21 to drink or play table games, McMackin said, "they're not gambling and they're not drinking. We don't have any prima donnas."

McMackin said he imposed a strict schedule of practice, meetings, meals and study hall.

"You'd think we'd be working on football the whole time," McMackin said. "We're not. We keep it like we're going to school."

In addition to this 11-night road trip, the Warriors also travel to Louisiana Tech this month. McMackin said the Warriors on the travel roster will only have nine class days in September.

He said his players are keeping up through online lessons and tests administered by the two academic counselors traveling with the team.

"It's tough to make up (classes) on the road, but they're really working hard to do that," McMackin said.

 

[LDB]

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR WRITEUPS IE.... APPRECIATE YOUR WORK!

 

[johnnyb.]

i believe UNLV runs the spread, defensive ends are the reads for the QB.
you need a lot of fresh ends to defend this type of offense. these injuries might lead to plenty of scoring.

 

[LT21]

I live in Hawaii, and I'll say this. We are in for a let down against UNLV.

 

[IE]

UNLV to gamble with spread


In this casino city, the goal is to cover the spread.

That is the Hawai'i football team's wish when it faces Nevada-Las Vegas' spread offense tonight in Sam Boyd Stadium.

This version of the hybrid sprint-option/four-wide attack was created in Salt Lake City, when UNLV coach Mike Sanford was lab assistant to inventor Urban Meyer. Meyer then left to Utah to become Florida's head coach, eventually leading the Gators to two national titles.

The Warriors kept their notes from last year's meeting against Florida ? Meyer answered their request to write a critique of that game ? and have worked on defending the option since spring training.

Here's a look at tonight's game:

HAWAI'I OFFENSE

Pos. No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl.

LWO 3 Rodney Bradley 6-0 190 Jr.

LSB 1 Greg Salas 6-2 200 Jr.

LT 77 Aaron Kia 6-5 290 Sr.

LG 64 Ray Hisatake 6-3 315 Sr.

C 55 John Estes 6-3 300 Sr.

RG 74 Raphael Ieru 6-2 315 Sr.

RT 50 Laupepa Letuli 6-4 310 Sr.

RSB 21 Kealoha Pilares 5-11 200 Jr.

RWO 7 Jovonte Taylor 5-9 170 Jr.

QB 12 Greg Alexander 6-4 225 Sr.

RB 23 L. Wright-Jackson 6-1 215 Sr.

RB 25 Alex Green 6-2 220 Jr.

Outlook: Last year's problem was Alexander too often held onto the ball as the Warriors set an NCAA record for most sacks allowed. This year's problem is Alexander too often does not hold onto the ball on scrambles. Alexander has lost four fumbles in the first two games, including an oopsie on the Washington 1 when the Warriors, up 35-0, were going for the knockout. The ball-security issue is surprising because Alexander lost only two fumbles last year while absorbing several big hits. On the asset side, Alexander is making quicker reads. Against Washington State, almost all of Alexander's completions were to the primary option. Much is made of a quarterback's patience in going through a read progression of options. But the first option is always the best option. "The deal is to take what they give us, and quickly throw the ball where it needs to be thrown, and get the ball to the weapons we have as receivers, and just move the chains," said quarterbacks coach Nick Rolovich, who calls the offensive plays. "(Alexander) understands that."

Bradley and Salas have offered football's version of the give-and-go. Salas often draws double coverage, and when he breaks off a route sharply, that frees Bradley to sprint into a vacated area, usually off a post route. Of Bradley's 10 receptions, three finished in the end zone. Bradley also has developed into an effective down-field blocker for Salas and Pilares ? a role he relishes as part of a tradeoff for more touches. Bradley graduated from a run-oriented Navarro JC team. "I caught the same number of passes in practices (at Navarro) as I do in our practices," Bradley said. "The difference is in the games." Bradley acknowledged that running sprints every day this summer, including for four weeks in Texas' scorching heat, have helped his fourth-quarter stamina. "When you're in shape, you don't realize you're running hard," Bradley said.

The success of the passing game has opened the way for Wright-Jackson and Green. The Warriors have four basic running plays, but they are difficult to defend when a down lineman is replaced by a nickelback. "In some three-man fronts, I want the ball so bad," Green said. "There are only two guys in the (tackle) box, and if you make a move, it's off to the races. When you get the ball in this offense, you have to make it happen. You never know if it's going to be your last touch.".

HAWAI'I DEFENSE

Pos. No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl.

LE 5 Jake Heun 6-2 250 Jr.

LE 90 Elliott Purcell 6-3 255 Jr.

LT 95 Vaughn Meatoga 6-2 290 So.

RT 49 Tuika Tufaga 6-2 285 Sr.

RE 98 Liko Satele 6-2 255 So.

SLB 53 Blaze Soares 6-1 245 Sr.

MLB 59 R.J. Kiesel-Kauhane 5-11 225 Sr.

WLB 41 Corey Paredes 5-11 230 So.

NLB 24 Aaron Brown 6-1 215 Jr.

LCB 2 Lametrius Davis 6-0 190 Jr.

SS 9 Spencer Smith 5-11 205 Jr.

NB 19 Richard Torres 5-8 175 So.

FS 43 Mana Silva 6-1 220 Jr.

RCB 18 Jeramy Bryant 5-10 180 Jr.

Outlook: The Warriors will be without right end Fetaiagogo Fonoti (hyperextended left kneecap) for the third consecutive game. Paipai Falemalu, who has a high sprain of his right ankle, also will not play. Falemalu emerged as the best pass-rushing defensive end, usually attacking as the left end when the Warriors go with a three-man front on long-distance situations. But the losses have been manageable because the Warriors have used different personnel groups for each of their seven defensive packages. This week, they added an eighth package, one that actually is better suited for Heun's MMA style. In one scheme, the ends resemble tackles. "We're still ends, right?" Heun said to Purcell. Purcell said they were tackle-like ends. "OK, it's defensive tackle-esque," Heun said.

There also are schemes where linebackers play on the defensive line, corners act like outside linebackers, and safeties become rovers. And then all or some revert back to traditional roles ? all without changing the lineup. The chameleon-like options are the benefits of a defense that does not huddle.

Davis, who is regarded as a physical man-to-man defender, gets the first shot at left corner. Tank Hopkins, Lewis Walker and Kawika Ornellas also will rotate at that spot. Bryant is 10 pounds lighter than Davis, but hits just as hard. "Jeramy is slight, but he's powerful," head coach Greg McMackin said. Hawai'i SPECIAL TEAMS

HAWAI'I SPECIAL TEAMS

Pos. No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl.

PK 20 Scott Enos 5-9 180 Jr.

LS 11 Inoke Funaki 5-11 205 Sr.

P 31 Alex Dunnachie 6-3 235 Fr.

KR 7 Jovonte Taylor 5-9 170 Jr.

KR 25 Alex Green 6-2 220 Jr.

PR 88 Ryan Henry 5-9 179 Jr.

Outlook: There is nothing like a splash of cold water to help focus. During field-goal drills this week, the players and coaches surrounded Enos. They yelled at him. An assistant coach jingled keys. And then somebody threw cold water on his face as he made his approach. Enos converted the field goal. "The worst is probably the water because you can feel it," Enos said. "You have to zone it out." Enos has learned to do that since high school, when an opponent used a megaphone as a distraction. "It doesn't matter what anybody does," he said. "You have to make the kick. There are no excuses for missing. The other team isn't going to be quiet when you try to kick during the game."

UNLV OFFENSE

Pos. No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl.

WR 4 Phillip Payne 6-3 200 So.

WR 88 Ryan Wolfe 6-2 210 Sr.

LT 75 Matt Murphy 6-4 300 Jr.

LG 63 Sean Tesoro 6-2 290 Fr.

LG 70 Jason Heath 6-3 280 Fr.)

C 66 John Gianninoto 6-4 290 Jr.

RG 59 Joe Hawley 6-3 310 Sr.

RT 73 Evan Marchal 6-7 310 Jr.

TE 44 Kyle Watkins 6-2 240 So.

WR 85 Jerriman Robinson 6-2 190 Sr.

QB 2 Omar Clayton 6-1 205 Jr.

QB 6 Mike Clausen 6-2 210 So.

TB 32 Channing Trotter 5-8 200 Jr.

Outlook: Clayton made his NCAA debut in the 2007 game against UH, entering in the second half and scoring on a 31-yard run. Since then, he has developed into the most accurate passer in school history. He was intercepted four times in 2008. Clayton suffered a sprained posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the fourth quarter last week. Mike Clausen threw two scoring passes in relief. Clayton practiced this week, and has been declared fit to start. "When it happened, I didn't think it was anything serious," Clayton said. But the coaches were cautious, and checked for swelling in the knee after each practice. "You've got to be mobile running the spread offense," Clayton said. "Any injury can prevent you from doing your job."

Because of a still-developing running attack, the Rebels get ground yards on stretch plays or fly patterns in which in-motion wideouts take handoffs. Clayton also might be asked to take off on designed runs. But the real threat comes from Clayton's arm and towering receivers. Wolfe is the combo speed-possession guy (14 catches in two games; 4.5 seconds over 40 yards). "I try to work hard in the offseason to get bigger and stronger so I can give out some rather than take all of the punishment," Wolfe said. His workouts include plyometrics to improve his first-step burst, and yoga, which "keeps me flexible."

Murphy, the back-side blocker, allowed one sack last season. Hawley is the most aggressive blocker. If Tesoro isn't ready because of a knee injury, Heath, the backup center, moves to left guard.

UNLV DEFENSE

Pos. No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl.

DE 91 Preston Brooks 6-3 255 Jr.

DT 99 Isa'ako Aaitui 6-3 305 Jr.

DT 68 Martin Tevaseu 6-2 335 Sr.

DE 93 Malo Taumua 6-1 270 Jr.

WLB 33 Jason Beauchamp 6-3 240 Sr.

MLB 56 Ronnie Paulo 6-1 240 Jr.

SLB 24 Starr Fuimaono 6-0 210 Jr.

LCB 26 Deante' Purvis 5-10 190 So.

SS 5 Chris Jones 6-2 190 So.

FS 13 Marquel Martin 5-11 190 Sr.

RCB 10 Quinton Pointer 5-10 185 Jr.

Outlook: Fuimaono has five stars tattooed on his body, one for each sibling. "There are six kids, but I don't need a star," said the man named Starr. Fuimaono has recovered after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder in 2007 and suffering a torn ACL last year. "I'm trying to show my team I've still got it," he said. His coaches agree: Fuimaono and Paulo make the on-field defensive calls.

The Rebels would prefer to use a 4-3 base. But they have had to adjust against four-wide offenses. Against UH, expect their best play-maker, Beauchamp, to move from weakside linebacker to rush end. Taumua will slide over to the other side, replacing Brooks. And backup strong safety Terrance Lee will enter as the nickelback.

Pointer is the best cover defender. But, in an oddity, Taumua has the Rebels' lone interception. The 'Aiea High graduate was recruited as a defensive tackle, where he played through last year. "I get hyper a lot, and I like to work out," Taumua said. "I just started losing weight. My strength coach had a hard time keeping my weight on." The solution was to move Taumua to defensive end. "It's been good for me," he said.

UNLV SPECIAL TEAMS

Pos. No. Player Ht. Wt. Cl.

PK/P 37 Kyle Watson 5-9 215 Sr.

LS 43 Kamu Kapanui 6-0 245 Sr.

H 45 Brandon Lamers 5-11 190 Sr.

KR 26 Deante' Purvis 5-10 190 So.

KR 10 Quinton Porter 5-10 185 Jr.

PR 25 Mike Grant 5-10 185 Jr.

Outlook: Kapanui, a Kamehameha Schools alumnus, is one of eight Rebels on the active roster who already have earned bachelor's degrees. Kapanui has been named the captain of the special teams for this game.

Touchdowns are automatic 7-pointers. Watson has converted all 45 PAT attempts in his UNLV career.