Although Hawaii's season opener is still more than four months away, the Warriors are planning ahead.

The Warriors devoted a period early in yesterday's practice to defending the option, which will be a regular feature of the offenses they'll face early in the fall.

“;We're not game planning but we just want to get our base option defense in,”; UH head coach Greg McMackin said.

McMackin said Central Arkansas, Washington State and UNLV — the Warriors' first three opponents — all have a form of an option scheme in their offensive packages. They'll also face Navy, coached by former UH quarterback Ken Niumatalolo, and its spread option offense in late November.

McMackin said the Warriors will put in the basics of its option defense in the spring and continue to review in the fall so it'll be ready when an option team comes up on the schedule.

“;We're playing so many option teams, every week we'll have at least a 10-minute session on the option,”; he said.

SCREEN TIME

Normally the team would spend a Tuesday morning in the weight room. Today it's video study.

McMackin said the Warriors will review tape rather than lift as the depth chart takes shape.

The repetitions were widely distributed through the first two weeks of spring practice. McMackin said the top two units will begin getting most the work for the rest of the spring, although the chart won't be “;set in stone.”;

“;We're at a point now here we've got to get into scout teams and work our first and second unit for the rest of our practices,”; he said.

“;We'll go with two units and we just have to figure out who our guys are and who's doing the best and go that way.”;

CLINIC COMING UP

The second Hawaii Warrior Football Coaching Clinic is Saturday. Speakers include Punahou head coach Kale Ane, with UH coaches conducting various sessions.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. Information is available at hawaiiathletics.com or by calling 956-6508.