By refining his form while standing still, Kealoha Pilares may be better positioned to keep the Hawaii offense moving.

Since Mouse Davis began tutoring the Warriors receivers this summer, Pilares has heeded the run-and-shoot architect’s emphasis on the fundamentals — beginning with his starting point at the line of scrimmage.

"Stance is a big thing to him because it’s a timing offense and if you have any false steps it throws everything off," Pilares said. "He started off with that and still continues to stress it, and everything built up from there. This is his offense; he knows what to do."

Attention to such details could help Pilares, a senior slot, and an experienced UH receiver corps build on their production of last year, when the Warriors finished third in the nation in passing offense.

"You can’t underestimate the importance of that," Davis said of a receiver’s setup. "The difference so often in a catch is 3 feet or 2 feet and … with a bad stance that can make that much of a difference. Then the execution off what happens with the defense is obviously extremely important."

Going into his senior season, Pilares wants to focus on the intricacies of playing in the slot after shuttling between positions the past two seasons.

A running back as a freshman, Pilares was the Warriors’ leading rusher during their Sugar Bowl run. He became a slot receiver his sophomore season, but returned to the backfield when injuries ravaged the depth chart. He split his junior year between slotback and wideout, moving outside when Rodney Bradley suffered a broken leg midway through the season.

As one of the primary reads in the quarterback’s progression, Pilares averaged 6.8 catches per game in the slot through UH’s first six games. After moving outside, he averaged 2.8 touches over the next five games before breaking out for eight receptions for 102 yards and two touchdowns against Navy.

"It was all about the team," said Pilares, who closed 2009 second for UH with 66 receptions for 690 yards. "Rodney went down and they asked me to step up."

While the ball came his way less frequently, moving outside deepened Pilares’ understanding of the offense and heightened his appreciation for the wide receivers’ efforts in stretching the defense.

"Royce (Pollard) and Rodney, I give them so much props for doing that," Pilares said. "It’s hard out there. Most of the time their work gets overlooked."

With Bradley back to full speed, Pilares feels back home at the "Y" receiver, with fellow senior Greg Salas at the "H" receiver spot.

"He’s really improved himself as a receiver," said Davis, who familiarized himself with Pilares’ game through reviewing the Warriors’ game tapes of last year. "I say he’s improved himself because he worked on it. He went to the Jugs machine and caught a lot of balls and he’s catching the ball a lot better than last season."

Pilares, a three-time academic All-WAC selection as a kinesiology and recreation science major, has also distinguished himself with his gains in the weight room since he arrived on campus as a relatively slight running back.

A reluctant lifter while at Damien, he’s bulked up to 205 pounds while maintaining his quickness and remaining a fluid runner. His power clean of 356 pounds led the team in offseason testing.

"He has all the physical attributes to be a great player; now he just has to do it on the field," strength coach Tommy Heffernan said.

"He’s not a vocal guy; he just goes out and gets the job done. That’s the kind of guys we need. I hope he has a great year, because he deserves it."