Friday, October 2, 1998

Mustang offense
concerns ’Bows

Wideout Albert Johnson
leads a potent SMU attack
into Aloha Stadium

By Paul Arnett
Star-Bulletin

Anyone wearing a No. 5 jersey to tomorrow night's Western Athletic Conference football game may have a member of the Hawaii defense sitting in his seat.

Tom Williams wants the Rainbows to locate 5-foot-9 receiver Albert Johnson and follow the Southern Methodist wideout wherever he goes.

"My guys are probably tired of hearing me talking about No. 5 (Johnson)," the first-year UH defensive coordinator said. "But stopping him is a key to slowing down SMU's offense.

"The thing is, they like to line him up all over the field. He can come out on the right or the left, at receiver or in the slot. They even have a play where he lines up in the backfield with their running backs. He's small and hard to find, but he can kill you."

Johnson is the big-play man for the Mustangs. In four games -- including two against Southeastern Conference powers Arkansas and Mississippi -- Johnson has 17 receptions for 321 yards and six touchdowns.

What makes him particularly effective is SMU's power running game. Out of the traditional I-formation, Mustangs head coach Mike Cavan likes to run first and ask questions later.

He'll come at you with junior tailback Rodnick Phillips, then let Phillips rest while Kelsey Adams runs free. The two backs have rushed for a combined 654 yards and five touchdowns.

"Their primary goal is to run the football, then try to break a big one with Johnson," Williams said. "They're similar to what Arkansas State does, but a lot better at it."

The Rainbows will counter the Ponies' powerful attack with a depleted defense. Linebackers Stephen Gonzales (ankle), Steve Dietschy (knee) and Rinda Brooks (concussion) are out.

Williams said it's likely Brooks will sit out the remainder of the year and ask the league for a medical hardship. Fellow linebackers Kamuela Cobb-Adams (ankle) and Yaphet Warren (hamstring) might try to play, but they won't be at full speed.

On a brighter note for Williams, projected starting defensive backs Daniel Ho-Ching and Celnell Bobbitt will be available for the first time in several weeks.

Ho-Ching has been slowed by a hamstring pull. Bobbitt will see his first playing time of the season since breaking his lower leg in training camp.

"Just when we get a couple of guys back, another two or three go down, and that's hurt our continuity," Williams said. "Celnell and Daniel won't be at full speed, but it will be good to have them back on the field."

UH offensive coordinator Don Lindsey wishes he could say the same about top wide receiver Dwight Carter (ankle and knee), fullback Avion Weaver (neck) and backup quarterback Josh Skinner (hamstring and concussion).

All three are out for tomorrow's second conference game. Lindsey shifted Bronson Liana from the scout team to the quarterback rotation. Dan Robinson will start against an SMU defense that has had problems pressuring the quarterback.

That's good news for Robinson, who has been sacked 12 times in 11 quarters. SMU has only five sacks in four games.

"But that doesn't really mean anything to me," Lindsey said. "They may only have five sacks, but look at the caliber of competition.

"They've played Arkansas and Mississippi. Our offensive line isn't as stout as those two teams, so Dan still needs to get back and get the pass off as quickly as he can."

The Mustangs attack from a standard 4-3 defense. Much like Utah, SMU shifts and slants on every play. The Mustangs are led by middle linebacker Jason Simonton, who has 43 tackles, including one sack.

Defensive ends Mercury Hall and Luke Johnson also are difficult to handle. They have 62 tackles and figure heavily in SMU's run defense.

"They have a big, active defensive line and a trio of good linebackers," Lindsey said. "These guys have faced better offensive units than we have.

"We still have to worry about ourselves most of all. We're rated 110th of 112 teams in scoring offense (averaging nine points a game). Obviously, that's a concern.

"We need to figure out a way to have a drive where we don't have mental breakdowns, don't turn it over, don't have stupid penalties and don't miss guys who are wide open. Until we're able to do that, we're going to struggle."

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