FRESNO STATE OFFENSE

To teammate Nikko Motta, quarterback Derek Carr is a hero and GOAT (greatest of all time). "He’s the man," Motta said of Carr, who is averaging 373.7 passing yards with 12 TDs and one pick in 164 throws. Carr played last year despite a torn abdomen that made it difficult to roll out of bed, much less the pocket. This preseason, Carr’s newborn son spent three weeks in neonatal intensive care because of a medical problem. Carr rotated between school and the hospital. Days after his son came home, Carr led the Bulldogs to an overtime victory over Rutgers. Eight days ago, Carr was at the controls in an upset of Boise State. Carr’s football IQ, quick release and powerful right arm are boosted by tall and speedy receivers, a tight end designed with LeBron James in mind, and gritty linemen. The no-huddle attack, with Carr always in the shotgun, gives defenses little time to ponder. The Bulldogs can align in double-snake formations and the diamond (with four receivers on one side), but all of that is part of football’s basic strategy: create mismatches. Bunch sets can leave the weakside receiver or back to face a lone defender, or force defenders to guess who is going long or short. When defenses give cushion, the receivers run slants and bubble screens. When the corners press, the receivers go vertical. Isaiah Burse (27 catches), Davonte Adams (18 TDs in 16 career games) and Josh Harper (13 TDs in 19 games) get most of the publicity, but Greg Watson, a converted QB, is just as good. Josh Quezeda, a BYU transfer, is averaging only 3.29 yards per carry, but he has converted 75 percent on third-and-short runs.

HAWAII OFFENSE

Taylor Graham was listed as day-to-day this week because of a shoulder subluxation suffered against Nevada. Graham was injured when he dipped his left (nonthrowing) shoulder at the end of a scramble. Until then, he was having his best game, in part because he was under center 83 percent of the snaps. In the first two games, Graham was hit 23 times. He was hit on three of 30 plays against Nevada. In Graham’s absence, Sean Schroeder and Ikaika Woolsey split the majority of snaps this week. They were effective in shotgun and under center. Schroeder sells the play-action plays when he is under center. Woolsey’s scrambling enables him to create from any formation. Woolsey showed his arm strength with deep passes on the run. With running back Joey Iosefa out because of foot surgery, Diocemy Saint Juste is expected to make his first start. Saint Juste credits his quick-cut moves and acceleration to years of soccer. This season, Saint Juste is averaging 5.6 yards after eluding or breaking a tackle. The Warriors are shuffling the offensive line again, with Mike Milovale expected to move back to left tackle. They would like to reduce mistakes. Against Nevada, UH’s offense was penalized eight times. There were four first-and-at-least-15 situations. The Warriors have addressed the problems in video reviews and practices. At least there is effort. UH is "messing up going 100 mph," Kody Afusia said.

FRESNO STATE DEFENSE

Of the 184 plays in last week’s game against Boise State, one of the biggest was nickelback Jonathan Norton’s breakup of a fourth-and-6 pass with 56 seconds remaining. After the game, Nikko Motta told Norton: "You need to stop charging me for haircuts now since you’re big-time." At 5-6 and 175, it took time for Norton to prove he could cut it with the Bulldogs. Coach Tim DeRuyter noted Norton was a good player who inspired teammates, a so-called "glue guy." It took Norton earning a 3.0 GPA this spring to receive a scholarship for his senior season. "He’s a guy who is loved by everybody on this team," DeRuyter said. "To see him make that play, I think that’s huge. It adds to that moment." The Bulldogs attack out of a four-man front, although only the ends and Tyeler Davison are staples. Unlike most wide-bodied nose guards, Davison drives like a center, preferring to re-set the line of scrimmage rather than eat space. Donovan Lewis, Nat Harrison or Ejiro Ederaine often align as stand-up rush ends. Karl Mickelsen had 16 tackles against Boise State. Derron Smith, who has both FS interceptions, plays center field, while Charles Washington is comfortable moving into the tackle box. The Bulldogs pestered Boise State by mixing coverages and blitzes. Sometimes they went with a man-free blitz, sometimes both outside linebackers crashed the backfield. All of it is part of what DeRuyter calls changing "the clock in a quarterback’s head." The theory is alternating the schemes prevents opposing quarterbacks from finding a rhythm.

HAWAII DEFENSE

UH missed only nine tackles against Nevada, but three came on a 68-yard completion that should have been a sack or breakup. Defensive coordinator Thom Kaumeyer advocates a more descriptive category. "If he gets away from an arm tackle, that’s not a missed tackle," he said. "That’s not playing your scheme." This week, the Warriors emphasized fundamentals, tackling and forcing the action toward the pack. "We need to make stops," Kaumeyer said. "We can’t have our offense go 80 yards all the time." Beau Yap has recovered from a mild concussion, but defensive end Iuta Tepa was awaiting clearance. Defensive tackle Kennedy Tulimasealii has been getting work as an end in the 4-3 base scheme. UH will miss weakside linebacker Julian Gener, who was scheduled to undergo elbow surgery on Friday. Art Laurel, who also can play the middle, will stay put on the weak side. There is a possibility strongside linebacker Jerrol Garcia-Williams can spell Laurel. TJ Taimatuia is quietly having a strong season. Taimatuia had six tackles against Nevada, but he set up a sack/fumble by narrowing the pocket. "When you go to Coach Tony Tuioti’s Pass Rush School, you graduate with TFLs and sacks," Brenden Daley said. Tuioti praised Taimatuia’s transformation. Against Nevada, Taimatuia chased down a speedy ballcarrier at the perimeter. "He wouldn’t have made that play a year ago," Kaumeyer said. Taimatuia said he lost 15 pounds by eating smaller-portion meals, drinking 2 gallons of water each day, and increasing his cardio workouts.

FRESNO STATE SPECIAL TEAMS

Isaiah Burse, who is majoring in criminology corrections, has repeatedly helped the Bulldogs lock up good field position on punt returns. Burse is second nationally in punt returns with an average of 25.1 yards, including touchdowns of 61 and 58 yards. Following an opponent’s punt, the Bulldogs’ average drive starts at their 38. In contrast, only four of Garrett Swanson’s punts have been returned, for a combined minus-7 yards. The Bulldogs’ net-punting average of 41.0 is skewed because of quarterback Carr’s two pooch punts. Opponents are averaging a net of 30.4 yards on punts. Dillon Root, who was recruited as a running back, has played slotback and cornerback at FS. He is capable of running 40 yards in 4.38 seconds.

HAWAII SPECIAL TEAMS

In the first two games, Woolsey took more snaps and scored more points as the holder. He provides a post-touchdown threat because of his elusiveness and strong arm. Scott Harding also is a running threat on rugby-style punts. Those two are among the options for a UH team that has struggled to move the ball offensively. Tyler Hadden is the most dependable kicker. Joe Uglietto might help out on kickoffs. While Chris Gant has handled all of the kickoff returns, Kwamane Bowens might be ready to get some work. After being put in timeout by the Mountain West for a game, Chris Demarest is back to coordinate the special-team units.