Dillan Micus:
Had 31 catches for 536 yards last season.

Not that anyone blames the first-year wide receivers coach for the University of Hawaii. After all, he has spent most of his adult life committing to memory some of the most bizarre terminology developed by man.

"The X receiver in our offense is the possession receiver," Margerum fires off. "The Z man is the speed guy.

"The X is on the weak side, away from the tight end. The Z is on the strong side with the tight end. The zebra is on the weak side with the slot with the X on the strong side."

Margerum, who played for the world champion Chicago Bears, moves around those Xs and Zs faster than a New York City hustler playing the shell game. Just when you swear that X is under the middle shell, Margerum lifts it up to reveal the Z.

Rainbows head coach Fred vonAppen doesn't care what the opposition finds, just as long as they are a play late and a touchdown short. That's where Margerum comes in.

If he can discover a mismatch through misdirection, then perhaps Hawaii can find an edge. If not, senior quarterback Glenn Freitas might be throwing more up the elevator shaft than down the field.

"We've got some players falling into place," Margerum said. "Right now, Dillan Micus is an X. So are Ricky Daley and Kevin Badii. Jason Mane, Jason Vaughn and Gerald Lacey are Zs."

Don't feel too badly if some of those names don't roll off your tongue as well as Margerum's. Micus, Lacey and Mane are familiar enough, but Vaughn, Badii and Daley have as much Division I experience as a high school senior.

Lacey is the only fifth-year senior, but nagging injuries have kept him coming on and off the field more often than the team manager during a blistering workout. Last year, Lacey caught only 10 passes in 10 games for 98 yards and one touchdown.

Micus is the top returning receiver. He finished second on the team in 1995 to Eddie Klaneski with 31 receptions for 536 yards and three touchdowns. Mane had nine catches in nine games for 90 yards and no scores.

"I know those numbers are going to improve this year because we're going to throw it a lot more," said Micus, a sophomore from Littleton, Colo. "I love this offense because the receivers play such a big part in it."

As you can tell by the numbers, that hasn't always been the case.

Lacey's career totals wouldn't equal a season's worth for the fifth-best receiver at Fresno State. He has only 36 receptions for 302 yards and three touchdowns.

"I'm just glad I was still around for the coaching change," Lacey said. "It's easier to block in this offense knowing that's not all you're going to do all night.

"This offense keeps you busy. You know something's going to be coming your way. That makes it worthwhile. I like these coaches because they come from successful programs. They know what they're doing."

They also know there aren't enough receivers to go around. That's one reason former quarterbacks Johnny Macon and Jerimi Bourland have been asked to join the ranks.

Margerum also expects a lot from redshirt freshman Josh Hawkins. The other day at practice, a distracted Hawkins dropped several passes during a routine drill.

After the third time, Margerum asked Hawkins to run a few laps and to think about what he needs to do on the field. Later in the workout, the Oak View, Calif., resident caught a long, difficult pass from Macon for a big play.

Margerum was the first to greet him with a high five.

"Josh has the physical tools to be a good receiver," Margerum said. "But he has to work on the mental part. He has to understand that this is a different level."

Margerum also is faced with the difficult task of working the tight ends into the offense with the help of special teams coach Doug Semones. Because there was no tight end in Hawaii's option offense last year, it has been a tough transition.

Former University of Pacific player Ryan Green transferred to Hawaii last spring. The Rainbows also looked at Gary Ellison and long snapper Tyler Tanigawa in the spring to see if they could develop some depth.

"Tyler has turned out to be a pretty good tight end," vonAppen said. "We've also picked up some solid play from (junior college transfer) Zeff Ah Quinn.

"There will be some times when we use a double tight end and one running back. There will also be times where we use one tight end, two receivers and a flanker. We don't have a lot of established depth, but we've got people rotating in and out of there on an experimental basis."

Macon is the latest to join the club. But that may be a temporary move should Freitas get hurt or falter on the field.

"Johnny is a good athlete, who might be able to help us move the ball in certain situations," Margerum said. "We're trying different people and formations, looking for the best combination to help us win this season."