Depth on Hawaii 'D' takes big hit

Hawaii defensive ends Fruean, Watson and Amani Purcell could be out for the season

The Hawaii defensive line still looks fine on paper -- the sheet listing the probable starting lineups for Saturday's game at Utah State. The first three reads the same way it has all season: Melila Purcell at left end, Michael Lafaele at nose tackle and Ikaika Alama-Francis at right end.

But this is a unit that relies as much on its plentiful depth as it does the skill of its starters, and three ends in the playing rotation may be done for at least the rest of the regular season after injuries suffered Saturday in UH's 68-10 victory over Idaho.

UH HONOREES Hawaii players have received six WAC Player of the Week awards this season Sept. 18 Offense: RB Nate Ilaoa Oct. 9 Offense: QB Colt Brennan Oct. 16 Offense: QB Colt Brennan Oct. 23 Defense: DE Melila Purcell Special Teams: KR Ross Dickerson Oct 30 Special Teams: KR Ross Dickerson

Renolds Fruean (ankle), Keala Watson (knee) and Amani Purcell (knee) will spend the next several weeks rehabilitating.

"My guess is they are all out," said coach June Jones, who hopes they will be able to return in time for the Dec. 24 Hawaii Bowl (which UH will play in if it wins at least one of its remaining five regular-season games).

"I feel bad about the guys who got hurt. Hopefully we'll get them back before the bowl game. But I don't know the severity until they fight through and we see what they can do and can't do."

Jones said none of the injuries are the result of illegal chop blocks, in which a second opponent blocks a defender low while the defender is already engaged high with another blocker.

Second-year freshman offensive lineman Laupepa Letuli joined the defensive line yesterday, and is already No. 2 on the depth chart at right end. That means the Warriors are planning on him playing plenty -- maybe.

"A lot of that has to do with him," defensive line coach Jeff Reinebold said. "How fast he can learn it and how fast I can teach it. I think he's going to have to demonstrate in practice that he won't put the other guys at risk because he doesn't understand what he's doing. I know he's going to play hard. That's his profile. That's the kind of kid he is."

Defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville said the move of the 6-foot-3, 285-pound Letuli is probably not just a stop-gap measure.

"June talked to him about how it'd be a chance to get on the field right away. He has a chance of getting in and playing. June recommended him for his tenacity, his quickness, his running," Glanville said. "The last time we took an offensive lineman (Mike Lafaele) ... he is now the best nose tackle in the WAC."

Letuli said he played some defensive tackle at North Torrance (Calif.) High School.

"I just want to help Coach Jones, do whatever he needs. I just came over because the other guys went down, just filling in," Letuli said. "We'll see how it goes."

Left end David Veikune (6-3, 258) will likely get more playing time, too. Undersized but scrappy Victor Clore (6-2, 230) is a project who needs to gain weight, but he might be needed.

The Warriors finished the game Saturday with nose tackles Rocky Savaiigaea and Lawrence Wilson at the ends and Kahai LaCount at nose.

"I think everybody in this group has the mentality they have to pull on the rope a little harder now," Reinebold said. "Other guys are going to have to step up. Young guys are going to have to mature faster than maybe we anticipated they were going to have to mature."

The Specialist, Part II:

Kick returner Ross Dickerson won the WAC special teams player of the week award for the second time in a row, after returning the opening kickoff 100 yards Saturday. The Vandals made sure not to kick it his way again.

Timo Paepule, who made a key block to spring Dickerson, doesn't expect many more kicks to his former Saint Louis School teammate who is now fifth in the nation at running them back.

"Why should they kick it to Ross? Who would want to kick it to Ross? I doubt they'll kick it back there. If they do, we'll take another one to the house," Paepule said.

Some teams will take a chance, special teams assistant Dennis McKnight said.

"Oh yeah. Coaches always have pride. That's how you motivate and fire your team up. 'Eh, (bleep) them and go down and kick their (bleep). We're gonna kick it to them anyway.' And it's nice to fire your guys up, but you better make sure you can cover," McKnight said. "That's bull (bleep). You do what's best for the team. You give the other guy their props."

Kicking an idea around:

Jones said freshman Briton Forester will continue to kick PATs and short field goals at home, while incumbent Dan Kelly continues with kickoffs and longer three-pointers -- after this week, for sure.

"When we're at home we'll continue to do that," he said. "I don't know about the road game. We'll see. Injuries might allow me to take two kickers, I don't know."

Jones was asked about leaving punter Kurt Milne at home, since he's kicked just once in the last two games.

The coach laughed.

"Maybe that's the guy we leave home. No, we might need him. Kurt hit the ball the one time good (46 yards). It's kind of hard to stand over there and stay loose and he did a pretty good job."

Getting noticed:

UH quarterback Colt Brennan is slowly starting to get some national attention.

In ESPN.com's Heisman poll of analysts, including former players and coaches, Brennan received one fourth-place and two fifth-place votes this week, putting him in an eighth-place tie. Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith received all 15 first-place votes.

The others ahead of Brennan are (in order) Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn, West Virginia running back Steve Slaton, Rutgers running back Ray Rice, Michigan running back Mike Hart, West Virginia quarterback Pat White and Ohio State receiver Ted Ginn, Jr.