Warriors willing to run

BOISE, Idaho » Hawaii football coach June Jones never refers to the Warriors offense as the run-and-shoot, although most of the rest of the football world does.

Usually he just calls it "what we do." He said earlier this week it's because the four-receiver schemes have evolved into something very different from what Tiger Ellison first devised decades ago to what Jones' mentor (and current special teams coach) Mouse Davis built upon and what Jones continues to tinker with now.

Hawaii vs. Boise State Where: Bronco Stadium Kickoff: 2 p.m. TV: KFVE (Ch. 5) Radio: 1420-AM The line: 15

Maybe UH can work out a travel deal by re-naming the attack "Hawaiian Air." And before anyone takes that too seriously, when the Warriors go into an old-fashioned short-yardage formation, it can be called the "Augie T." That would be in honor of the man who seems to have become the unofficial UH comedian, since he performed at the Letterman's Club dinner, and last night here in Boise.

What isn't funny for Hawaii fans is the Warriors are a 15-point underdog in the team's biggest game of the season tonight. Here's what to look for:

When Hawaii has the ball: A basic UH offensive premise is to set up the run with the pass, which goes against conventional football thinking. It worked very well against UNLV last week, as Colt Brennan completed his first nine passes, creating enough space for Nate Ilaoa to rush for more than 100 yards.

Jones raved about the Warriors' offensive-line play last week, saying: "They pass-protected about as good as I've seen."

Starting center Sam Satele said the Warriors are looking forward to doing some more run-blocking, too.

"I want to see how they act when Nate Ilaoa runs for 200 yards," said Satele, who has dealt with a painful bruise to his collarbone area.

Slotback Ryan Grice-Mullins had a slight groin strain earlier in the week, but seemed fine at yesterday's walk-through, and backup tackle Keoni Steinhoff's hamstring is better enough for him to play if he must.

Boise State's defense is a little more conservative with less blitzing under new coordinator Justin Wilcox, and it's working so far, as the Broncos lead the WAC in all major defensive stats and are seventh in the nation with just 8.0 points allowed per game.

When Boise State has the ball: After two games, UH's defense looks like it might be Hawaii's best since guys like Mark Odom, or maybe even Al Noga roamed the WAC. But the task is very difficult this week, since the Warriors must stop a multi-faceted Boise State attack, and its rank of 26th in the nation against the run could quickly evaporate.

"I'd rather play Alabama again than go up against this," defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville said.

Ian Johnson has emerged as one of the best running backs in the nation, going for 149.3 yards per contest. The goal for the Warriors is to string him out and not let him pick a hole and get into the second and third layers of the defense.

"We can't let him attack us vertically," defensive line coach Jeff Reinebold said.

The trick to containing quarterback Jared Zabransky is the opposite; UH must contain him and not let him roll out where he is dangerous as a runner and passer.

The Warriors may have to do this without two starters; the availability of inside linebacker Solomon Elimimian (knee) and cornerback A.J. Martinez (groin) will be game-time decisions. The replacements are Brad Kalilimoku and C.J. Hawthorne.

Special teams: This is where the game was won and lost last year at Hawaii. BSU blocked two kicks and returned two for scores, including a 2-point conversion when Orlando Scandrick returned a blocked extra-point try that would've tied the game for Hawaii.

"I gave it to them. I'm not going to give it to them again this year," UH kicker Dan Kelly said. "Everything was perfect except my kicks."

The Warriors have improved in the kicking game from last fall, but Boise State still holds a decided edge.

"Special teams is a big factor in every game we play," Scandrick said.

Broncos punter Kyle Stringer might be the best in the nation. He averages 48.5 per kick. Last year, he dropped a snap against UH, but picked it up and ran for a first down, and BSU eventually scored. Davis called it the turning point of the game.

KEY MATCHUP
The Hawaii Warriors vs. themselves

Talent is not the question. Hawaii has plenty, probably more than Boise State, and there's even some depth this season. What the Warriors need to pull off an upset tonight is to not beat themselves with turnovers, dropped balls, penalties and special-teams mistakes.

Hawaii got away with 11 penalties for 92 yards (including three personal fouls) and four turnovers last week because it thoroughly dominated UNLV physically and schematically.

At Alabama, the Warriors might have won if the receivers hadn't dropped four passes in the first half. Penalties also hurt in that game. So did a botched punt that led to a safety for the Crimson Tide. It was reminiscent of the train wreck that was Hawaii special teams in 2005, particularly in the Boise State game.

Although Boise quarterback Jared Zabransky has a history of offensive risk-taking, it's unlikely the Broncos will beat themselves at home. But the Warriors must be careful not to do so themselves. They can't win if they give the football away.

"That's a must for this week," Hawaii coach June Jones said. "If we don't take care of the ball at a place like this it's going to be a long day."

---