3-4 Defense

The Decatur Daily has an article talking about how Bama is preparing for Hawaii. Here's what they're saying about the UH defense.

Defensively, Hawaii runs a 3-4, a base set that's uncommon in the Southeastern Conference. All three defensive linemen return from last year, and two, ends Melila Purcell and Ikaika Alama-Francis, were second-team all-WAC selections.

That's unsettling for offensive line coach Bob Connelly, who'll be starting a true freshman at left tackle and four others who have started a combined 11 games at their respective positions. Connelly equated Hawaii's pass rush to a gambling style, saying they're "not gap sound every play."

Offensive coordinator Dave Rader was more blunt in assessing the defensive style of former NFL coach Jerry Glanville, who joined June Jones' staff at Hawaii last season and returns six starters.

"He brings so many opportunities at you," Rader said. "He just opens up the book and says here we are, here's all the things we're gonna do, and you've got to figure out how to block us. It's taken a summer's work activity to put together a game plan."

Tide head coach Mike Shula? Even more blunt.

"We've got, by far, our toughest opponent ever since we've been here in our regular season-opener," Shula said.

Even though it's unfamiliar to Bama, the Warriors 3-4 defense was ranked in the bottom 100 in the nation last year, so I can't imagine their coaches are too worried about it. Especially since all the game tape they've seen probably consists of a players missing assignments and freelancing, which might make it seem like UH is not "gap-sound". One can hope! This year, everybody on the UH D should know what their assignments are, and can react instead of think, which should make the overall defense quicker and smarter. We'll see!