Head coach Greg McMackin said he would consider using a defensive lineman as a blocker if it would cure Hawaii’s kick-protection problems.

"It’s always been offensive linemen" on kick-protection units, McMackin said, but now "it may be a defensive lineman. It’s going to be a tough, hard-nosed mother that’s not going to get pushed out of the way, I tell you that."

This season, six UH place-kicks have been blocked — and at least one more deflected — including two blocks in Saturday’s 28-27 road loss to San Jose State.

A blocked extra-point kick resulted in the Spartans’ two-point conversion, and the blocked field-goal attempt cost the Warriors an opportunity to extend their lead to eight points with 5:41 to play. Travis Johnson raced into the B gap (between the left tackle and left guard) to block the PAT and into the A gap (between the left guard and long-snapper) to block the field-goal try.

After the first block, McMackin recalled, "I asked (assistant coaches) Gordy (Shaw) and Dick (Tomey) if they fixed the (B) gap, and they had. They had another person in there. We went for the 42-yard field goal, which should have been a piece of cake, and it got blocked."

McMackin indicated candidates have been identified for the kick-protection unit.

"We don’t need auditions," McMackin said. "We just need a guy that can do the job."

McMackin added: "We met as a coaching staff and we’re changing our scheme and we’re changing our personnel. We’re going back to an interlocking (blocking) scheme. We obviously can’t do what we’re doing now."

McMackin absolved the snap, hold and kick as the problems. Kenton Chun was the kicker for the PAT; Tyler Hadden was the field-goal kicker.

"Nobody’s fault," McMackin said. "I take responsibility for everything." But during a booster-club meeting Monday, Tomey, who coordinates UH’s special teams, took responsibility.