The most difficult performance can be the hana hou.

It was a lesson the Hawaii football team learned in last year’s 3-9 rubble.

“Last year was a struggle for everybody,” Nick Rolovich said of his second season as head coach. “It was the hardest season I’ve ever been involved with. There were a lot of things that affected our players in a negative way. I also needed to do a better job of us not getting complacent after the (Hawaii) Bowl win (in 2016).”

Rolovich conceded he did not keep his “foot on the pedal.” He also acknowledged the run-and-shoot offense, which was successful from 1999 through 2011 in Manoa, would have offered more possibilities in 2017 than the run-pass option (RPO) schemes that were carried over from the previous season. But how do you dump an offense — even a limited one — when it delivered the Warriors their first non-losing season since 2011 and first bowl victory since 2006? “I was proud of that (2016) team,” Rolovich said. “I was proud of that staff.”

The 2016 offense was a hybrid scheme — part RPO, part spread — to match the personnel Rolovich and his staff inherited. For the most part, it worked, with Dru Brown handing off to Dicoemy Saint Juste, keeping the football on bootlegs, or throwing to wideouts or tight ends out of three-receiver sets.

Brown was 6-4 as a starter that year.

But Rolovich’s version of the run-and-shoot also would have advanced the offense, spreading the attack with four receivers and utilizing Brown’s running ability.

That was the direction Rolovich was steering toward in 2010, when he was UH’s offensive coordinator, and he wanted to make use of quarterback Bryant Moniz’s elusiveness. That was what Rolovich debated doing with his quarterback last year.

After Brown announced he was transferring, Rolovich announced the resurrection of the run-and-shoot.

This version is expected to have many elements of the 2011 scheme, with four or five receivers and a mobile quarterback, according to Rolovich, “to put more pressure on the defense. … You have to have guys to be man free.”

He also will continue to be the play-caller, a role he assumed in the final four games of the 2017 season.

“Coaching the run-and-shoot is what I feel most comfortable with,” Rolovich said. “I feel the best about it. It’s something that when you’ve been in it, you know how special it is. … There’s a complexity and uniqueness to football, maybe to everything, with the run-and-shoot.”

There are six new assistant coaches on this year’s staff. There will be a new starting quarterback. The defense has been rebuilt and energized.

“I feel very good waking up to what this team is starting to develop into,” Rolovich said.

POSITION BY POSITION

Quarterbacks

Last month’s excursion to Schofield Barracks served as leadership training and, with tutorials on preparing weapons, as a metaphor for restocking arms. Last year’s starting quarterback, Dru Brown, and No. 3, Cole Brownholtz, transferred. But Cole McDonald, the top understudy to Brown, proved in spring training to be more than a running quarterback, hitting all the branches on the passing tree and speed-reading the coverages. McDonald also was co-organizer of the player-run practices this offseason.“He took it to heart,” Rolovich said, adding that playing quarterback “isn’t just something you wake up and do. You have to throw on your own. You have to enjoy it. It can’t be a chore. He put in a lot of work.”

True freshmen Jeremy Moussa and Chevan Cordeiro bring different attributes. Moussa probably has the most powerful arm among the QBs. Cordeiro has deep knowledge, having grown in Saint Louis School’s run-and-shoot, which has many of the same reads as the Warriors’ version. The Warriors had bet the futures market with Cordeiro, securing a commitment before he even started a high school game. “There are certain guys on this island who haven’t been wrong when they recommended a guy,” Rolovich said. “Chevan was part of that deal.” Cordeiro was named the Star-Advertiser’s 2017 offensive player of the year.

Justin Uahinui, who redshirted as a freshman last year; graduate transfer Kolney Cassel, who played in June Jones’ run-and-shoot offense at SMU for two years; and Moorpark College transfer Tanner Darling are in the mix. Larry Tuileta is training with the U.S. Olympic volleyball team and will miss most of training camp.

Slotbacks

Imagine holding separate auditions for the roles of brothers. John Ursua, who was leading the country in receiving before suffering a season-ending knee injury, and Cedric Byrd, a human blur, are considered the top playmakers. But they did not practice together this spring while Ursua was on the mend. Byrd was paired with Tristin Kamaka, Jason-Matthew Sharsh and Dakota Torres during drills. Rolovich likened Ursua to two former UH slotbacks who played in the NFL. “He’s a little bit of Kealoha (Pilares), a little bit of Davone (Bess),” Rolovich said. “He has the start-and-stop ability like those two.” Byrd is fast (4.4 seconds over 40 yards), elusive and, now, a little stronger (35 percent increase in his squat lift). Rolovich is optimistic Ursua and Byrd will work well in tandem. “It’s not an individual thing in receiving,” Rolovich said. “If you’re a slot, you have to have a relationship with an outside receiver to your side, but also that other slot when you get into trips (three receivers on one side).” The past three years, Torres was a tight end, a position that does not exist in the four-wide offense. Presented with relocation offers — linebacker or running back — Torres picked slotback. He presents matchup problems because of his size and post-up moves.

Wideouts

Devan Stubblefield, who is healthy after years of knee issues, and Marcus Armstrong-Brown exited spring training as the top wideouts. Drake Stallworth, Sean Rooks and Kumoku Noa also got substantial work in the spring. But Kalakaua Timoteo, Isaia Leeth and Karson Greeley did not meet the eligibility requirements to play this coming season, and Davine Tullis was dismissed from the team. The Warriors did not waste time filling the vacancies. This past week, John Johnson of Antelope Valley College, Joseph “JoJo” Ward of Tyler College and James Green of Cathedral City High announced they were joining. They bring speed and versatility. Each also can align in the slot, as well as contribute on special teams.

Running backs

A committee has been formed to replace Dicoemy Saint Juste and Ryan Tuiasoa, both of whom have graduated. The Warriors appear to have backs for every situation. Freddie Holly, who has improved physically, and Miles Reed, who redshirted last year, provide speed. Justice Augafa, who is moving from rover, is a dual threat as a runner and receiver. Hekili Keliiiki, who is a year removed from serving a two-year mission, and Dayton Furuta are the sledgehammers. “Dayton Furuta was probably the surprise of the spring,” Rolovich said of the converted linebacker and H-back. “He was very productive. He’s a smart player. He was kind of lost for his first three years as far as position. I think the change in offense gave him an opportunity. He went from a guy who ‘let”s try there’ to ‘he’s going to play a lot for us.’” There’s a spot available if Melvin Davis can gain medical clearance from a leg injury.

Offensive line

As the story goes, the City College of San Francisco coaches told their players to pick leaders, then they closed the locker room. When it was reopened, Kohl Levao stood proudly as a captain. Levao is imposing (6-5, 320), Google smart, and possesses the nastiness that coaches pretend not to like in O-linemen. Levao, who joined the Warriors as a tackle this summer, also represents the new generation of UH blockers. Only guard JR Hensley and center Taaga Tuulima remain from last year’s rotation. Dejon Allen, John Wa‘a and Chris Posa graduated. Fred Ulu-Perry accepted a medical retirement. And center/guard Asotui Eli chose not to play this season while recovering from knee woes. But the Warriors were quick to fill the pukas. Emil Graves, who redshirted last season, is an active guard who can hold the point or pull. Joey Nu‘uanu-Kuhi‘iki, who moved from the defensive line, excelled at offensive tackle this spring. “A fresh start gave Joey a restart,” Rolovich said. Micah Vanterpool, who redshirted last year; Kamuela Borden, who joined UH in January after serving a two-year church mission; Alesana Sunia, and newcomers Gene Pryor, Ernest Moore, Ilm Manning and Alex Dalpe provide competition and depth. Rolovich said Solo Vaipule is capable of playing center as a freshman. Kaiwi Chung also has moved from H-back to center. Chung is 5-10 and 270 pounds, but he can back squat 500 pounds and he grew up around NFL centers Olin Kreutz and Dominic Raiola. “I know football-wise, he’ll give us everything he has,” Rolovich said of Chung.

Defensive line

Corey Batoon is the Warriors’ eighth defensive coordinator since 2011 and, perhaps, one of the most innovative. The Warriors’ base is a four-man front, but that’s just a starting point. These are numerous possibilities in terms of formations and methods. The Warriors list 22 defensive linemen, with many serving multiple roles. Zeno Choi, who will represent UH at this week’s Mountain West Media Summit in Las Vegas, can align at end, 3 technique (across a guard’s outside shoulder) or, even, nose tackle. Newcomer Kendall Hune also has three-position capabilities. Samuela Akoteu, Eperone Moananu and Doug Russell are more prototypical reset-the-line interior defenders. Nose tackle Azia Seei, who is listed optimistically at 5-10, is a nuisance for O-linemen to block. Blessman Ta‘ala, who is fully recovered from a high school knee injury, was the pleasant surprise of spring training. “He was our strongest bench-presser as a true freshman this year,” Rolovich said.

The Warriors beefed up an anemic pass rush (24 sacks in 359 pass plays) with the addition of six heat seekers — Jeffrey Keene, Derek Thomas, Zach Ritner, Jonah Kahahawai-Welch, Jonah La‘ulu and Mason Mata‘afa. In UH’s system, ends align with a hand in the dirt or upright, tight or wide. The new ends are quick off the edge. Rolovich said Keene will “give us the pass-rush ability I thought we lacked last year. Ritner is a tireless defender, evidenced by his passion for spear-fishing off the Southern California coast. Returnees Kaimana Padello, Pumba Williams and Tevarua Eldridge are better fits for the new up-tempo defense.

Linebackers

In a mash-up of geography and geometry, the tackle box — the imaginary rectangle near the line of scrimmage — has become Jahlani Tavai’s domain. Of his 124 tackles last season, 89 were in the tackle box, with 79.5 percent achieved on running plays. Geek translation: Tavai, who aligns in the middle, in space, and on the edge, is a tough barrier. Batoon said Tavai is comparable to former Ole Miss middles Deterrian Shackelford and C.J. Johnson. Both of them, like Tavai, made the transition from end to middle linebacker. Solomon Matautia emerged as a multi-level player (4.5 tackles for loss, team-high three interceptions). Jeremiah Pritchard, Penei Pavihi, Scheyenne Sanitoa and Paul Scott had solid springs. Manase Time is one of the top additions. The unit is fluid, with Tavai and Matautia as mainstays, and the third drawn from the linebacker pool, by flexing a defensive end, or moving up a defensive back. Malachi Mageo is still awaiting clearance on an injury that forced him to miss the 2017 season.

Defensive backs

The secondary is divided into three categories: safeties, corners and multiples. Manu Hudson-Rasmussen was recruited to play safety, but need issues forced him to play corner last year. This year, he is split between safety and nickelback, a hybrid whose duties range from blitzing to pressing inside receivers. “The focus is different for him now,” Rolovich said of Hudson-Rasmussen. “I’m excited for his season.” Two Bishop Gorman High graduates are now safeties, with Kalen Hicks moving from rover and Ikem Okeke shifting from outside linebacker. Dany Mulanga is back at safety after a stint at linebacker. Jay Dominique also has progressed at safety. Donovan Dalton and freshman Kai Kaneshiro are viewed as safeties who can play nickel. Cornerbacks Ro Farris and Eugene Ford lead one of the most dependable units. They are both tall (Farris is 6-1, Ford is 6-2) and quick. Zach Wilson, who was viewed as a starter before suffering an injury, is healthy again. Akil Francisco, Mykal Tolliver and Damario Mclean will be part of the rotation. Every scholarship cornerback is at least 6 feet tall.

Specialists

After going 4-for-9 on field goals, including not attempting any in five games, the place-kicking competition is open. Alex Trifonovitch, who made three of the field goals, will begin his season as kicker after switching from punter a year ago. Ryan Meskell, an Australian who had not played in an American football game until last season, was used mostly on kickoffs. He will be given a shot as a point-scoring kicker. Michael Boyle, who redshirted last year, also can punt. Nino Alibegic, who was featured in Netflix’s “Last Chance U,” and Kekoa Sasaoka, a former All-State kicker from Kahuku, are transferring to UH from junior colleges. As a second-year freshman, Stan Gaudion averaged 42.1 yards on roll-outs and straight-away punts. Noah Borden, who handles long and short snaps, made four special-team tackles last year.