Throw out those football playbooks from the pre-"Lost" years.

For tonight's game between Nevada and host Hawai'i, the offensive themes that will be used were not choreographed back then.

Nevada coach Chris Ault holds the patent on the Pistol offense, a scheme in which the quarterback lines up 3 yards behind the line of scrimmage and the lone running back is positioned 4 yards behind the quarterback. The read offense, aligned in a spread formation, has equal distribution of strength.

The Pistol is so unique it has its own Wikipedia entry.

It has spread nationally. Even Florida, with quarterback Tim Tebow, uses a variation.

The Warriors' run-and-shoot offense, a carry-over from June Jones' four-wide attack, is undergoing more alterations. A month ago, it was modified to a zone-read scheme to complement quarterback Inoke Funaki's elusiveness. The changes called for quarterback draws, play-action passes and rollouts.

The new modifications, implemented during closed-to-the-public practices this past week, will feature personnel changes and schemes borrowed from successful programs at different competition levels.

Despite the brief tutorial window, the Warriors' renovated offense was run crisply during Thursday's crucial practice.

"We've really worked hard," UH head coach Greg McMackin said.

Here's a look at tonight's game.

NEVADA OFFENSE

Outlook: Rich Miano, who coordinates UH's defensive secondary, had a good night's sleep ... a week ago. "That offense," Miano said of the Pistol, "keeps you up at night." It begins with the offensive line, which relies on the "maul" blocking technique. And that, in turn, sets up the nation's second-best rushing offense (305.3 yards per game). The WAC's leading returning rusher, Luke Lippincott, suffered a season-ending injury in the second game. The following week, Brandon Fragger was injured. That opened the way for the understudy's understudy to seize the starring role. Vai Taua has rushed for 736 yards, an average of 6.4 yards per carry.

The thing is, Taua is the Wolf Pack's second-best runner, behind quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who is Young at heart and in body. Last year, local businessman and former UH teammate Kent Untermann called Miano, alerting him to the Nevada quarterback on the ESPN telecast. "He does look like Vince Young," Miano said. "I'm not saying he's a first-round draft pick. I'm not saying he's gonna be a pro's pro. I'm saying he's the best at what he does in college football. He's phenomenal."

Kaepernick has rushed for 613 yards. Take away the 90 yards he lost in sacks, and he's averaging 9.76 yards a run. Last season, the game plan called for crowding the tackle box to pressure Kaepernick and force him to throw. Not such a good idea this year. He has completed 62.5 percent of his throws, with a TD-interception ratio of 10:4. Kaepernick is best on the perimeter, where he has perfect reading vision.

Kaepernick has two reliable outlets. Marko Mitchell is the deep threat, with size (6-3, 210) and speed (4.40 over 40 yards). He averages 19.3 yards per reception. Mike McCoy (24 catches, 7.2 yards per grab) is the possession receiver. But, again, it is the fear of the run that opens the way for the pass, often on play-action throws.

"That quarterback is such a threat every time he's on the perimeter," Miano said. "He can throw it, and the receivers are good enough to beat you. ... I put (Kaepernick) in the 'freak' category. Very few people get in the freak category."

NEVADA DEFENSE

Outlook: Another week, same theme. Nevada, like seemingly every UH opponent, has quick and powerful defensive ends. Dontay Moch has 5.5 sacks, and Kevin Basped has 7.5 tackles for losses. Twenty percent of the Pack's tackles have been in the backfield. Tackle Mundrae Clifton is the strongman (805-pound squat lift) and middle linebacker Joshua Mauga (4.56 seconds over 40 yards) has a safety's speed. Still, it's been all-or-oops for the Pack: No. 2 in the WAC with 20 sacks, but last in the nation in pass defense (333.0 yards per game).

NEVADA SPECIAL TEAMS

Outlook: The Pack is one of the best in setting field position. Brad Langley averages 44.2 yards per punt. More importantly, seven of his punts were downed inside the 20. Of his 25 punts, six resulted in fair catches.

Brett Jaekle is averaging 65.8 yards per kickoff. Eleven of his 47 kickoffs were touchbacks.

HAWAI'I OFFENSE

Outlook: A clear sign that there was trouble came in the third quarter of the 27-7 loss to Boise State. Two shovel passes each netted zero yards. In the previous two seasons, with quarterback Colt Brennan at the controls and his running backs en route to NFL tryouts, the shovel pass was valued currency, worth at least 10 yards, and redeemable whenever defenses sneakily dropped an extra player into coverage. But a hook is of no use without an effective jab, and the shovel pass lost its oomph — and element of surprise — without a rat-a-tat passing attack. Defenses have placed an extra defender near the tackle box, which is the entryway for the shovel pass.

What's more, the Warriors have been receiving precious few post-catch yards from their receivers. The starting slotbacks have a combined yards-after-catch (YAC) average of 3.21 in the past two games — a deficiency amplified because many of their routes are to the flats. Even worse, during that span, their yards-after-hit (YAH) is 0.91. That allowed defenses to either use single coverage on the slots or employ more zones, freeing up a potential blitzer.

"Right now, we have one receiver (left wideout Greg Salas) making plays," McMackin said at his weekly news conference. "I know what I'd do. I'd double him and single up on everybody else. ... We've got to get playmakers out there."

The Warriors are making some personnel changes at the receiver positions, as well as implementing some new schemes that they test drove during training camp but have yet to use in games. The plans won't include running back/slotback Kealoha Pilares, who yesterday was wearing a walking boot to protect a sprained right foot. There will be some surprise replacements.

While quarterback Funaki, 3-2 as a starter, will be in the opening lineup, there are packages ready for what McMackin describes as a "pure passer."

HAWAI'I DEFENSE

Outlook: Defensive tackle Keala Watson had a breakout first quarter against Boise State before leaving with a busted lip (that required two stitches) and then a sprained knee. The lip actually was more troublesome because Watson suffers from von Willebrand's disease in which his blood does not clot quickly. But thanks to a dose of desmopressin (DDAVP), a synthetic hormone that helped stop the bleeding, he was able to return. Watson, a fifth-year senior, is having his best season. His ability to occupy blockers and create enough push opens the way for the linebackers to swoop in for tackles. Watson and defensive tackle Josh Leonard will be key against the Wolf Pack's offensive line.

After starting the first six games on the outside, linebacker Solomon Elimimian will be in the middle for the second consecutive game. The inside is better suited for Elimimian, who makes most of the defensive calls. He needs four tackles to become the Warriors' career leader in that category. Outside linebacker Adam Leonard, who had been bothered by a tight hamstring, will play. In recent games, he sometimes was aligned on the line in a three-point stance.

The improved play of nickel cornerback Jameel Dowling might merit him more playing time. That also could set off a chain reaction that will even allow free safety Keao Monteilh to play some nickelback. Such a scenario would enable the Warriors to play three big-hitting safeties — Monteilh, Erik Robinson and Mana Silva — at the same time.

HAWAI'I SPECIAL TEAMS

Outlook: It's been a tough season for coordinator Ikaika Malloe. He suffered a head gash when he bumped heads with players following a big play against Weber State. Wednesday night, he underwent an emergency appendectomy. But Malloe is back — "he's going to coach from the booth so he doesn't get accidentally hit on the sideline," McMackin said — and overseeing some significant changes. Malcolm Lane will be the kick returner, and Aaron Bain takes over on punt returns. UH is averaging negative-0.33 yards per punt return, worst among Division I schools. Also, Antwan "Tua" Mahaley replaces injured Victor Clore as the wedge-setter on kickoff returns. "Tua deserves it," Malloe said. "He's worked really hard."

Visit Tsai's blog at http://hawaiiwarriorbeat.com.