HAWAII OFFENSE

Outlook: The Rainbow Warriors have shown flexibility this season, finding success with empty sets against Michigan (5-for-5 passing) and power formations against Tennessee Martin (9.75 yards per play). On power plays, two tight ends will be employed or H-back Kaiwi Chung will align in the slot next to a tight end. Running back Steven Lakalaka is a leaner who has a post-contact average of 4.0 yards and has had only one carry for negative yards in 30 rushes. Lakalaka is averaging 7.8 rushing yards in the red zone. Wideout Marcus Kemp has added a wrinkle to the power set when he jet sweeps across the formation, drawing a defender and clearing a second-level area if Lakalaka breaks past the front-line defense. Kemp’s value as a decoy coincides with his emergence as a big-play threat. Despite being targeted 7.3 times per game, Kemp leads the Rainbow Warriors with 12 receptions for 272 yards, a per-catch average of 22.7 yards. His yards-after-catch average is 9.9. Because Kemp is difficult to tackle — he dragged a defender 10 yards on a TD play last week — he often draws double coverage. “Any time a team keys on you, your teammate is going to be open,” Kemp said. “If I’m not getting the ball, somebody else is. I’m happy when a teammate is scoring.” Kemp has four of UH’s five scoring receptions. The other one went to tight end Metuisela ‘Unga, who was wide open when UT Martin crammed the tackle box on a power play.

HAWAII DEFENSE

Outlook: The Rainbow Warriors have worked extensively on tackling and run defense the past week. The defense missed 13 tackles last week, including two in the backfield. Opposing rushers are averaging 6.1 yards per carry, as well as 6.4 yards on first down and 7.43 on third-and-short (1 to 3 yards). Kory Rasmussen, who alternates between nose tackle and 3-technique, is having a terrific season as an aggressive point lineman. Despite facing double blocks, Rasmussen insisted, “You’ve got to be the hammer, not the nail.” Nose tackle Samiuela Akoteu, who missed the 2015 season because of a foot injury, and defensive end Tevarua Eldridge have been key reserves. Before moving to D-end in the spring, Eldridge had not played the position since Pop Warner. Malachi Mageo has adjusted to hybrid linebacker, where his duties include pass rushing, coverage and setting the edge against the rush. He studies videos of Boston College, where defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa coached last year. Former BC hybrid linebackers Kevin Pierre-Louis and Josh Keyes are in the NFL.

HAWAII SPECIALISTS

Outlook: Each practice, the coverage units are required to go through tackling drills. Last week, the UH specialists whiffed on six potential tackles. This season, the Rainbow Warriors have relinquished two kickoff returns of 40-plus yards and a 79-yard punt return for a touchdown. The ’Bows also are easing punter/kicker Rigo Sanchez’s workload. Alex Trifonovitch, who was recruited as a punter, had three kickoffs last week. “I think (Trifonovitch) has a big leg , and I wanted to get him into some games,” special teams coordinator Mayur Chaudhari said. “If Rigo ever gets a dinger, we’ve got to make sure we’ve got another guy ready.”

ARIZONA OFFENSE (EDGE)

Outlook: Whether it’s Brandon Dawkins or Anu Solomon, a Hawaii-raised quarterback will start for the Wildcats. Solomon’s availability is listed as questionable because of an injured left knee that sidelined him last week. Solomon, who lived in Hawaii until he was 10, is considered the better pocket passer (66.7 percent accuracy). But Dawkins, who moved from Hawaii when he was 8, is a dual threat who might be a better fit for the multiple-look offense. There are variations to the four-wide schemes, with two slotbacks or a slotback and tight end. They also can stack receivers or overload with three or four receivers on one side of the formation. Trey Griffey, son of baseball great Ken Griffey Jr., is both a possession receiver (no drops on 15 targets) and deep threat (17.5 yards per catch). Against BYU’s physical secondary, Griffey averaged 8.0 post-catch yards. On third-and-10-plus situations, Griffey averages 25 yards per catch. Dawkins’ mobility frees the Wildcats from using a sixth blocker. Dawkins averages 7.8 yards on keepers, bootlegs and non-sack scrambles. Last week, Dawkins faked a jet-sweep handoff, then ran 41 yards off inside-zone blocks. Later, he ran to the right on a read-option, then threw back to his left. Nick Wilson, a between-the-tackles runner, averages 127 yards per game.

ARIZONA DEFENSE (EDGE)

Outlook: Defensive coordinator Marcel Yates, who was hired from Boise State in January, implemented a scheme that alternates between 4-2-5 and 3-3-5. It is a mix-and-match defense built on quickness. Example A: Parker Zellers, who is listed as a 247-pound nose tackle, actually aligns in the gap, and attacks off loops and stunts. Example B: Field safety Tellas Jones, whose availability is questionable because of an ankle injury, has linebacker responsibilities. The Wildcats try to mask their intentions with line shifts and aligning five defensive backs horizontally 10 yards from the line of scrimmage. They also use field (wide side) and boundary (narrow side) assignments. If Jones can’t play, Anthony Mariscal will start at field safety. Jakes Matthews will open at middle linebacker in place of Cody Ippolito, who is suspended for the first half because of last week’s targeting penalty. Michael Barton, a graduate transfer from California, also can be used in the middle. “I want to be available at any time,” Barton said.

ARIZONA SPECIALISTS (EDGE)

Outlook: Josh Pollack is averaging 47.8 yards per punt. Not counting a 27-yard run on a busted coverage, opponents are averaging 0.5 yards per punt return. Of Edgar Gastelum’s 10 kickoffs, six resulted in touchbacks. On the other four, the average drive started at the 22. Kickoff returner Tyrell Johnson is the fastest Wildcat, capable of running 40 yards in 4.34 seconds and 100 meters in 10.4 seconds.