VIDEO: UH defense prepares for Utah State offense

One year, it's a ballet class. Another, it's Bikram yoga.

Anything, Smith said, to help "with flexibility."

Smith's dedication earned him the starting strong safety's job.

For Saturday's homecoming against Utah State, Smith also is expected to be used as the nickelback in situations when the Warriors employ five defensive backs.

The 5-foot-11, 205-pound junior will fill in for safety/nickelback Richard Torres, who is suffering from a pulled left hamstring.

"With his versatility, he can play so many positions," said associate head coach Rich Miano, who coordinates the defensive secondary. "He plays free safety, strong safety, nickel. He can blitz, and he can play (pass) coverage."

In UH's nickel (4-2-5) and Okie (3-3-5) schemes, the nickelback serves as a rover, linebacker and blitzer. "It's fun," Smith said. "I don't mind the physical part."

Smith said he has learned by studying former teammates Leonard Peters, Jake Patek, Myron Newberry, Gerard Lewis and Ryan Mouton.

Smith said he is a "visual learner."

"I can get all of the techniques just by watching," Smith said. "If I watch somebody back-pedal a certain way, I can kind of emulate him. Coach Miano always says mental reps are just as important as physical reps."

Such attention to detail helps make Smith a graceful dancer. He has earned top grades in hula and ballet.

"I heard all of the big guys, like Chad Johnson, were taking ballet," Smith said. "I thought I might try it. It changed my balance. ... Growing up, I thought it was for girls. It helped me out a lot. It improved my balance and my speed. I noticed that week after week. It was beneficial."

Perhaps the most grueling class was Bikram yoga. That discipline involves working out in a steamy room set to about 100 degrees. He took the class in Kaimukí.

"One time, I couldn't even move," Smith said. "I just laid there for 10 minutes. It felt like I was in an oven. And then I had to do stretches that hurt. It was most intense workout except for wrestling. No, it was the most intense."

But, again, the program improved his flexibility.

"And that helps your speed," Smith said.

POLLARD PARTICIPATES

Wideout Royce Pollard, who has missed the past three games because of a stress fracture in his left fibula, participated in warmups yesterday.

He wore a light brace on his left shin. The fibula is the non-weight-bearing bone in the leg. The MRI showed a tiny crack. "It's like the size of pencil lead, point 2," Pollard said.

He added: "The doctors told me if the pain is bearable, I can get out there. The pain isn't gone, but it definitely is bearable."

He said he eased into the workouts. He ran short routes, with minimal cuts.

"Probably on Thursday, I'll try sprinting really hard," Pollard said.

DUNNACHIE TO BLAME

Alex Dunnachie accepted the blame for punts of 7 and 10 yards against Nevada.

Bad luck? "It has nothing to do with luck," he said. "It's the fundamentals. I couldn't perform when I needed to. It's just mechanical issues."

He said he believed he shanked both punts because he dropped the football too far to the right of his cleat.

And, he said, "I was kicking it too hard. I have to relax and play the coverage."

He said Luke Ingram's snaps have been accurate, and the new three-player shield of blockers gives him enough time.

"It's not (Ingram's) fault," he said. "We haven't dropped a snap all year. There's nothing wrong with the protection. No one is coming at me. It's all on me."