When it comes to boosting the Hawaii football team’s aerial attack, there are no quick solutions.

Instead, the Rainbow Warriors, who lack receivers with sprinter’s speed, will continue to rely on technique and precision to create separation from clingy pass defenders.

Coach Norm Chow said the Warriors will need to call deeper plays to keep defenses from cramming the tackle box. In a 17-16 loss to Washington last Saturday, only four of the Warriors’ 23 catches went for at least 15 yards.

That game also showed the Warriors could not match the Huskies’ overall speed. Washington wideout John Ross has been timed at 4.29 seconds over 40 yards.

"Not everyone owns a 4.2," said Luke Matthews, who coaches the UH receivers. "There are a lot of other ways to get open."

Matthews reportedly ran 4.6 seconds in the 40 as a Utah receiver in 2012. He started nine games that senior season, with one of his catches going 41 yards.

Matthews, who was promoted to full-time assistant coach this summer, implored his receivers to work on the first-step takeoff, the release, and attacking a route.

"A lot of times as a receiver, it’s more than just top speed," Matthews said. "If it were that easy, we’d just recruit guys who can run fast. There are a lot of things you have to add into that to be (a successful receiver). … Everybody can run. It’s doing the little things within your route that will get you open in the end."

The Warriors have tried to create mismatches by sending receivers in pre-snap motion and allowing quarterback Ikaika Woolsey to buy time with scrambles and rollouts.

Sophomore wideout Marcus Kemp said he uses his 6-foot-4 frame to his advantage against smaller defensive backs.

"I don’t have the speed," Kemp said. "I have long strides. I can get past defenders. My height makes up for the speed difference. The 5-8 corners who run the 4.2s? If they throw it up to me, I’ve got a foot on them."

When Washington linebacker Shaq Thompson deflected an Ikaika Woolsey pass, Kemp made like a power forward getting position for a rebound. He boxed out 6-foot safety Marcus Peters and made a leaping catch.

"That’s what I came here to do," Kemp said. "It’s to have the mismatch on the smaller guy."

Kemp aligns as the X receiver who usually draws man-to-man coverage.

"To make up for my speed, I have to do a lot of technical things right," Kemp said. "I’ve got to be able to produce on my routes, and make the strong catches in traffic and when someone’s on my back."

Matthews said the most important thing is to make the catch. During special-teams sessions, receivers are required to catch passes from the JUGS machine on the sideline.

"Anything you do after the catch is extra, a bonus," Matthews said. "Obviously, you want guys who can make plays after the catch. But the first job is to make the catch. Without the ball, you can’t make a play and go downfield."

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