Hawaii’s Brennan puts scare in defenses

Vic Shealy leaves the lights on. Makes sense. Why watch a nightmare in the dark when it's scary enough observing Colt Brennan in bright surroundings?

To do so for nearly 30 hours -- which Shealy predicts he will have accomplished before UNLV's football team meets Hawaii and its throw-nearly-every-down quarterback tonight at Sam Boyd Stadium -- puts the Rebels' co-defensive coordinator in Wes Craven territory for editing long episodes of horror.

"They have mastered the relation of knowing where the holes are in a defense," Shealy said. "It's big-time stuff. Their offense is like a puzzle, and I can't imagine there being better pieces out there for it than they have right now."

It's Wednesday and practice has just concluded, and Shealy is explaining what is happening on a large projection screen in the UNLV football offices. We are watching Hawaii against Oregon State last season. Hawaii against Northern Colorado two weeks ago. Hawaii against Louisiana Tech last week. Hawaii against this team and that team. Hawaii on first down and second and third.

This just in: Hawaii likes to pass a lot.

Shealy and the rest of UNLV's defensive coaches are assigned a dilemma tonight no opposing staff has really overcome in a few years, which is to say giving players a strategy sound enough not to allow Brennan one of those "Madden 08" NFL-like eruptions and limit Hawaii to four touchdowns or fewer.

It's a nice little theory to motivate the kids and sounds good in a locker room.

Problem: Hawaii has scored at least 32 points in 12 straight games and Brennan seemingly throws for 400 yards with the effortlessness of a cat sleeping.

It's so ironic. The best way to attack such a complex offensive system is with simplicity. The best way to try to decelerate a potentially continuous flood of four-receiver sets and countless patterns is with patience. The best way to stay in a game with Hawaii is not allow Brennan's statistical resume to overwhelm your thoughts.

"We show them all the film, but sometimes the secondary and linebackers can become so consumed in what (Brennan's) decision-making process is, you create paralysis in your own kids," Shealy said. "As coaches, we understand why he does what he does, but we just want our kids reading the receivers and knowing if he does that, we'll do this.

"You don't want them worrying about every little thing, because then they'll get confused. Just line up and play what you see."

Shealy pushes FORWARD on the tape. Then REVERSE. Then FORWARD. Then REVERSE. He's the movie theater employee with a hand-counter tallying patrons. He points a tiny red dot at the screen just as Brennan rolls toward the side where his running back lines up.

(At this point, it's unknown why Hawaii's offense employs the position, given it has offered just 11 called runs the first two games and twice last week had its backs lose fumbles. Shealy says he thinks any designed run might merely be to give Brennan a play off from having to make a decision. The idea of throwing 101 times in two games is exhausting enough. Imagine doing it.)

Shealy describes the play: FORWARD ... "They're not a true drop-back team." ... REVERSE ... "He throws behind the guard and tackle." ... FORWARD ... "His eyes initially go to the safety. See how fast he comes back to the other side?" ... REVERSE ... "That's what makes him so special." ... FORWARD ... "He looks at the No. 1 option. He's working No. 2 but doesn't have an advantage based on where the safety is." ... REVERSE ... "He scans back from the dig to the shallow to the delay." ... FORWARD ... "He finds the one-on-one matchup and exploits it." ... REVERSE ... "All of it took about two seconds."

To go from the dig to the shallow to the delay, which must really impress those who have any clue what that means.

Shealy's film work has generated other goals: The Rebels can't miss tackles and allow 5-yard gains to become 20. They can't line up incorrectly. They must force at least three turnovers. They must actually make contact or at least hurry Brennan more than once a quarter.

Simply, they must do the things every team that plays Hawaii talks about and yet so few are able to execute.

"It's a high-risk, high-reward offense with thin margins," Shealy said. "They're human. Every ball isn't thrown perfectly. If we can steal a possession, get a tipped ball, do some things to get (Brennan) off schedule ... Our kids are more confident than a year ago. I don't think they'll lose composure."

Things always look so promising on Wednesday ... FORWARD ... REVERSE ...

Ed Graney's column is published Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. He can be reached at 383-4618 or egraney@reviewjournal.com.