1st and Ten – Pitch and catch, run and
shoot – Before the spread offense explosion. About the same time
that the West coast offense hit the west coast. There was the run and
shoot. When the Houston Cougars brought the run and shoot to the
college game (of course, kicking the Bill Yeoman veer offense to the
curb), it seemed as though the run and shoot would be the flavor of the
month by every school across the nation. Alas, if not for June Jones’s
Hawaii Warriors running the run and shoot, it would be a relic along the
lines of the veer, the wishbone and the single wing (okay, so we’ve got
to give some credit to Mike Leach and his version of the run and shoot
as well, but this is about Hawaii, so focus, bro, back to the point).
But, what’s somewhat baffling is that the run and shoot has never
stopped working. Never. Behind the leadership of junior QB Colt
Brennan, the Warrior offense continues to stockpile points and yards as
if playing a video game. Consequently, it’s a simple game when the
Warriors are playing pitch and catch. Brennan’s quick release and
strong arm are a perfect fit, as Timmy Chang’s were in this offense for
12 years. Well, maybe it just seemed that way. Now, add to the mix
receivers like Davone Bess, Ryan Grice-Mullen, Ross Dickerson and Chad
Mock and this offense might be as strong as it’s been in a while. What
makes the run and shoot offense flourish is a complete understanding of
the offense and an undying synergy between QB and WRs. Suffice it to
say, having spent an entire season with each other last year, this
offense will only get better and push the boundaries of what they can do
in the run and shoot. And, as Andre Ware and Jason Phillips once
proved, there really are no boundaries in this offense. Pitch it.
Catch it. Score. Simple game, really, one that June Jones and his
players know how to play.
2nd and Seven – Bookends – In a
3-4 defense, the ‘optimum’ defensive
end would be 290 pound run stuffer who, as a luxury, could rush the
passer decently well. For Hawaii, that might be the reverse - Melila
Purcell and Ikaika Alama-Francis aren’t nearly as big as typical 3-4
defensive ends, but they’ve got the quickness to blow up the edge on
their pass rush. The key for Purcell is to stay healthy and to play the
run a bit better this season. The key for Alama-Francis is to stay
healthy and to play the run a bit better this season. Okay, so Alama-Francis
was actually healthy last year, but the Warriors can’t afford to play
without either he or Purcell at any point this year. With five sacks in
2005, Alama-Francis is the returning leader in that category, but teams
will want to run right at this duo to wear them down and slow that pass
rush ability.
3rd and Three – Give and ye shall
have to score more points – Even with the pass rush of Purcell and
Alama-Francis in front of them, the secondary will have its own problems
stopping the passing games in the WAC. Luckily they don’t have to face
their own offense. In a game that is. The safeties, Leonard Peters and
Brad Kalilimoku, are a solid pair, but Peters is coming off of a knee
injury and Kalilimoku played linebacker last season. When healthy,
though, Peters can be a special player, and Kalilimoku should’ve been
playing safety all along. But, it’s not at the safety spot where the
problem really exists. The corners are inexperienced, inexperienced
and, well, you know the rest. Not the recipe for success in this
conference. They can run, though, which is good (duh). Either way, if
this secondary can’t gel quickly, the offense is going to have to score
a lot of points. That’s not good, either (although the offense can).
4th and One – A Return to WAC
superiority? – When a coaching staff sees the Hawaii Warriors on the
schedule, they immediately fret over having to play against this offense
and never take the game for granted. Sometimes that worry is warranted,
especially when Hawaii is playing at home. Sometimes the Warriors will
show up and that’s about it. Case in point, last season against Boise
State, the Warriors lost a battle 44 – 41, but then went to Louisiana
Tech and got thumped by 32. But, the offense this year is at a
different level than maybe it’s ever been, so stopping them on a
consistent basis is as difficult as quantum physics. However, is that
offense enough to get them into the championship mix in the WAC, as they
were a few years ago? They do go to Boise State, which was about as
ugly a game as ever two years ago and to Fresno State, so on paper it
doesn’t look good. But, get in a track meet with them and you’ll pay.
Dearly. Enough such that they can make a run for a title? Not this
year. But, they’re still fun to watch.