Friday, September 3, 1999

University of Hawaii Football
1999 season preview

9 -- Dan Robinson
Quarterback

He is the central figure in the Hawaii offense. Tall, rangy and strong-armed, the senior is the one player who cannot afford to get hurt. Last year, he threw for 2,155 yards and 11 touchdowns. He may double those numbers in June Jones' run-and-shoot.

---

QB Robinson won’t
be able to pass up
this opportunity

By Paul Arnett
Star-Bulletin

The run-and-shoot offense, first designed by Mouse Davis 36 years ago, is one of the most borrowed formations in today's game.

Teams around the National Football League and in college use some variation of it every day. The four-wide receiver set was perfected by Davis at Portland State a quarter-century ago. Nobody had thought about emptying the backfield and using five wide receivers until Davis envisioned it.

3 -- Dwight Carter
Wide receiver

He might not be the fastest of the receivers or have the most secure hands, but he has been one of the better route guys during fall camp. Last year, he topped the Rainbows in receptions with 40 for 567 yards and three touchdowns. Carter is a leader in the huddle and on the sidelines. He also has a good grasp of the run-and-shoot.

---

Granted, the West Coast offense is probably used by more teams in its purest form, but that doesn't mean the run-and-shoot hasn't had an influence on the high-powered passing attacks.

"We would have continued to have success in Atlanta had we been given the time to do so," said Davis, who worked for June Jones during Jones' reign as head coach of the NFL's Atlanta Falcons. "We got them Jamal Anderson. Heck, if you can't win with a stallion like that, then you're in trouble."

20 -- Avion Weaver
Running back

He has waited all his life to be the feature back in a collegiate offense. With the departure of close friend Charles Tharp to Western Illinois, he has a chance to be the man. At 5-10, 221, the junior not only has the speed to turn the corner, but the power between the tackles. He's a good blocker and solid receiver, making Weaver a critical part of this new offense.

---

Davis has since retired, but Jones carries on the family tradition of the run-and-shoot. He won't employ it in its purest form, either. There will be a tight end used in certain situations. But Jones has taken this offense into the NFL and made it a viable commodity.

"It's a great offense," quarterback Dan Robinson said. "It spreads out the defense. There is somebody open on every play. You just have to be able to find him and get him the football."

63 -- Adrian Klemm
Left offensive tackle

He has moved up and down the line so often, you'll pardon him if he lines up at right tackle or tight end by mistake. This year, Jones promised him left tackle would be his home. Klemm has been hotly pursued by several college all-star teams, including the Hula Bowl. The UH coaching staff believes he'll be playing on Sundays for years to come.

---

That will be one of the challenges for UH. As Robinson put it: "The good thing is, you know this system will be here for years to come. This year's freshmen will be running the same thing as this year's seniors, and that's how you build a winning program."

And that's what Jones came here to do. Yes, the run-and-shoot can work, given the right kind of recruiting and the time needed to get everyone on all the myriad pages of the playbook.

Jones already has done a good job of recruiting on short notice. Whether that translates to instant success on offense or a payoff down the road, he won't know for sure until they play some games.

"I'm anxious to see where we're at," Jones said. "Against a team like USC, you're going to find out in a hurry."

---

http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu