Outlook: Schroeder has been a pinata this season, being knocked down an average of 10.4 times per game. The thing is, Schroeder is actually a decent runner who doesn’t scramble enough. On non-sack scrambles or keepers, Schroeder is averaging 7.3 yards. Schroeder needs to be more elusive between the tackles. Of the 20 sacks, five occurred outside of the pocket. What will help is more stability on the offensive line. Yet another change is anticipated unless right guard Dave Lefotu can start despite an ankle injury. If not, Winchester-Makainai, who has started a couple of games on the left side, will have to shift to right guard. The Warriors have tried, with some success, to run a deliberate no-huddle offense. But they have shown they cannot maintain the pace for more than a couple of series in a row. The Warriors will get a boost with the return of wideouts Davis, who missed two games because of a hamstring injury, and Darius Bright, who reportedly was ill last week. At 6-5 and 255 pounds, Bright provides a threat as a red-zone receiver, particularly on slants when he can post up smaller defensive backs. Iosefa has recovered from a fractured foot and his knee soreness is not serious. He has rushed for 188 yards in three games, but 127 of those yards were after initial hits.

HAWAII DEFENSE

Outlook: The Warriors are running a bait-and-switch scheme. The initial look is a 4-3 base, but the Warriors are ready to switch into several sub-packages. In one, there is a 4-2-5 look featuring agile linebackers Kamalani Alo and Lance Williams. In another, Falemalu becomes a roving linebacker who can attack from the edge or up the middle. There is a three-man front in which Marcus Malepeai serves as a speed-rusher. The secondary also is flexible. There’s an inverted pyramid with Phillips and Edwards at the corners, Hardy-Tuliau and Charles Clay as the nickelbacks and Jackson at free safety. Against Fresno State’s no-huddle attack, the Warriors must decide whether to flood the second layer with linebackers and defensive backs, or gain push from a four-man front. (The Bulldogs often only have five blockers.) After a drought in turnovers and stopping third-down plays, the Warriors were more aggressive last week when they had five takeaways against Colorado State. "We’re getting more comfortable and playing faster," defensive coordinator Thom Kaumeyer said.

HAWAII SPECIALISTS

Outlook: With sure-handed Harding as the punt returner, the Warriors have been more aggressive in trying to block punts. Hardy-Tuliau, of course, is the specialist. But Marrell Jackson (pictured), who has a partial block last week, is emerging as a weapon because of his long strides and arms. "What you don’t realize about Marrell is he covers ground very quickly," special teams coordinator Chris Demarest said. "His first two steps, he covers ground. He’s at full speed. He can go from Point A to Point B faster than other people. Some of the best punt blockers weren’t the fastest, but they understood angles and leverage. He knows that, and he covers ground quickly."

FRESNO STATE OFFENSE

Outlook: It is not difficult for Carr to imagine he is a character in a real-life video game. At his control are play-making receivers — Adams (nine touchdowns) and Dean (4.36 seconds over 40 yards) — and blur-quick running back Rouse, who is as effective on up-the-middle draws as he is on perimeter runs. Rouse (999 rushing yards and nine TDs) is the second-leading receiver with 49 catches. His specialty is the sprint-shovel play. "It’s a little bit more difficult than playing a video game," Carr said of commanding this offense. "Nobody hits me when I’m on the couch. It’s a lot more painless than playing football on a Saturday." Then again, Carr has been sacked only once every 23 pass plays while completing 68.4 percent of his passes. His TD-to-interception ratio is 27 to 5. "Give the line credit," Carr said. "There’s only five-man protection a lot of the times." Tight end Marcel Jensen is brought in mostly as an interior receiver; he leads the Bulldogs with 15.9 yards per catch. The Bulldogs can align four wide, or three receivers and a tight on the right side with no receiver on the left, or even five wide. Whatever the play, it is run without a huddle and at a brisk pace. The average time between the end of a Bulldog play and the next snap is 22 seconds. It takes physical fitness to participate in this offense. "One of my favorite things to do during the summer is when we’re running that 20th gasser and we can look side by side and encourage each other," Carr said. "That where it all begins."

FRESNO STATE DEFENSE

Outlook: What makes the 3-4 scheme work is that it has elements of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ old Steel Curtain defense, with stout ends, a beast of a nose guard and linebackers who can blitz from all points. Davison does more than hold the point; he re-draws the line of scrimmage with his power moves. Davison has six backfield tackles. Jennings is the sack leader with 4.5. Okpalaugo often aligns as rush end. In other schemes, Brown, the choreographer of the defense, and Toma will attack the inside gaps. The front seven can create chaos because the secondary is in a two-deep zone or four-across coverage. Also, Thomas is one of the best safeties in the country. He has a nation’s-best seven interceptions, with three raced back for touchdowns, and has forced three fumbles. As a former corner and running back, he can use his quickness to run backward or forward. He also is a powerful hitter who has drawn comparisons to Ed Reed. Jones is a shut-down corner. Like most corners, Jones studies the NFL’s Darrelle Revis and Nnamdi Asomugha. But he also is an accomplished chess player. "My dad introduced me to chess when I was 8 or 9," Jones said. "He taught me to take one move at a time instead of trying too quick to take somebody’s king." After every practice, the DBs do footwork drills. They jump rope, hopscotch through a maze of rope ladders and do the Ickey Shuffle, a touchdown dance popularized by former Cincinnati running back Ickey Woods. "It’s old-school training," Jones said.

FRESNO STATE SPECIALISTS

Outlook: For years, the Bulldogs earned a reputation as one of the top kick-blocking teams. Now the emphasis is on returns. Evans, who averages 12.2 yards per punt return, already has taken one back for a touchdown. Evans has been clocked at 4.35 seconds over 40 yards. Shapiro is averaging 41.1 yards per punt. Carr is the pooch punter; three of his four punts were downed inside the 20.