’Bows banged up
but ready for Rams

The loss of Tim Carey is painful,
but it's the defense that's
really wounded

By Paul Arnett
Star-Bulletin

Granted, the offense lost its starting quarterback to injury, but it's the defense that might suffer most this weekend at Colorado State.

If you look at the projected starting lineup from fall camp and the one UH defensive coordinator Don Lindsey is poring over this week, there are several key players missing from the list.

Starting up front, top tackles Ben Bright (ankle) and Matt Elam (neck) won't make the trip to Colorado. That forces Lindsey to start Olen Rosehill at left tackle -- the third different starter in five games -- with Sam Collins backing up him and starting right tackle Ellie Kapihe.

Nose tackle Tony Tuioti, who hasn't played since spraining his knee against Cal State Northridge, is back, but he's not in top playing shape.

Things aren't much better at linebacker. Projected starting outside linebacker Rufus Ayeni hasn't recovered from a sprained knee and hasn't played at all this year. And inside linebacker Stephen Gonzales, last season's top tackler, is bothered by ankle and shoulder pains. He might play this weekend, but even if he does, it's likely he will seek a medical hardship and miss the rest of the season.

Which takes Lindsey to the secondary. It's here that projected starting cornerback Robbie Robinson has barely played since spraining his ankle two days before the season opener against the University of Minnesota.

Robinson swears he's finally free of the pain, but he's not in game shape. Neither is fellow cornerback Al Hunter, who is still nursing a sore shoulder suffered in the loss at Nevada-Las Vegas. He will play, but it's still difficult for him to lift his left arm above his shoulder.

"Throw in the fact that linebackers Brian Chapman (ankle) and Doug Rosevold (shoulder) aren't at full speed either, and you can see we're definitely facing a challenge," Lindsey said. "The injuries aren't an excuse, but there are things we have to overcome against a very good football team.

"I don't think there's much difference from the team that was picked to win the WAC and this one. They are very good offensively with a lot of big-play potential at quarterback, receiver, tight end and running back.

"We would have a hard time with them if everybody on our team were fit as a fiddle. Considering how banged up we are, it's even more of a challenge."

Lindsey expects the Rams to try to run the ball with Damon Washington, who already has 453 yards on the ground in four games. If the Rainbows are able to control that, look for quarterback Moses Moreno to seek top wide receiver Geoff Turner on the perimeter. Turner had two receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown against the Rainbows last year.

"They have many weapons at their disposal," Lindsey said. "I don't think they've played their best game yet. I just hope it isn't against us."

UH offensive coordinator Wally English hopes the same thing. He has spent the past two weeks working feverishly to get Josh Skinner and Johnny Macon up to speed at quarterback.

Because neither is a pure drop-back passer like injured quarterbacks Tim Carey and Dan Robinson, English has taken his team indoors to Klum Gym to work on plays in secret that best accommodate Skinner and Macon.

"We had two weeks to work with Josh and we're going to do some things more in tune to what he can do best," English said. "He's not a big, tall quarterback like we need in this offense.

"But he does work well on the perimeter, throwing the ball on the run, that type of thing. We're just going to try to do the best we can given the circumstances."

English expects the Rams to come at the Rainbows in a standard 4-3 defense. Establishing a running game will be paramount to keep the defense off the field, especially considering the thin Rocky Mountain air.

Don't be surprised if the Rainbows run a little option, since Macon and Skinner are familiar with that style of play.

"We've got to keep them guessing," English said. "They'll come at us in a 4-3, but they like to overshift to the tight end side. They'll give us multiple coverages, but cover two (a zone with two safeties deep over the top) is one of their standard modes of attack.

"It will be a challenge for us, no question about it. You can't lose two quarterbacks like Tim and Dan, and not expect to notice it."

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