The controlled-passing schemes of the West Coast Offense, popularized by the success of the San Francisco 49ers in the late 1980s and early 1990s, have been fashionable for a football generation.

But its Northwest-born cousin, the four-wide offense, also has influenced the sport, as well as inspired small-budget programs. Today's opposing head coaches — Hawai'i's June Jones and Michigan State's John L. Smith — are among the coaches who have roots in Northwest football programs.

"You see (four-wide offenses) all over America today," Smith said. "People are starting to spread the field. Because a defense can't take everything away, you're seeing more (offenses) going to it."

Smith said his mentors were Dennis Erickson, Jack Elway and UH assistant coach Mouse Davis, whose run-and-shoot version set records at Portland State.

"Mouse invented it, and if he didn't invent it, he brought it over on the Mayflower," Smith said.

Smith said the four-wide offense — in which the receivers are split wide and run patterns reacting to the defensive formation — "gives the underdog a chance. You don't need to recruit big guys. You can play with little guys who can run around. It's just run and catch. It's fastbreak football. Why line up against somebody and play in a phone booth? You can spread it out, and you don't have to play in a phone booth. That's where it all came about. It's awesome."

Here's a look at today's game:

UH OFFENSE

LWO—81 Ian Sample 5-10 189 Sr.

LSB—7 Davone Bess 5-9 187 Fr.

LT—70 Tala Esera 6-4 295 Jr.

LG—64 Samson Satele 6-2 305 Jr.

C—59 Derek Fa'avi 6-1 273 Sr.

RG—66 Brandon Eaton 6-2 295 Sr.

RT—72 Dane Uperesa 6-5 315 Jr.

RSB—1 Ryan Grice-Mullen 5-10 174 Fr.

RWO—82 Ross Dickerson 5-10 185 Jr.

QB—15 Colt Brennan 6-2 190 So.

QB—6 Tyler Graunke 5-11 184 Fr.

RB—3 Bryan Maneafaiga 5-9 200 Sr.

RB—4 Nate Ilaoa 5-9 230 Sr.

Outlook: In baseball, the "purpose pitch" — aimed high and tight — is a strategic gesture meant to keep a batter from crowding the plate and, later, making him vulnerable to sliders down and away. UH's football version of the purpose pitch is a designed quarterback run. In past seasons, opponents would counter attack the Warriors' four-wide offense by cramming the passing lanes. Now, when Brennan or, especially, Graunke take off on designed running plays, it sets up the next passing play. For instance, if UH has the ball on the right hashmark, with three receivers aligned on the left and one on the right side, opponents no longer can place four or five defenders on the left side for fear the quarterback will run to the weak side. But by going to a balanced defensive alignment, opponents are left with the difficult task of covering the three left-side receivers one-on-one or, worse, short-handed.

Slotback Jason Ferguson, who's out for the season after suffering torn knee ligaments, would have excelled against single coverage. His immediate replacement, Grice-Mullen, is quick and sure-handed, but still learning to read defenses.

Ilaoa, a slotback once banished to fat camp, has shed 20 pounds in four weeks, and is making a comeback as a running back.

UH DEFENSE

LE—12 Karl Noa 6-4 240 So.

NT—97 Renolds Fruean 6-4 275 Jr.

RE—91 Ikaika Alama-Francis 6-8 250 Jr.

SOLB—45 Tanuvasa Moe 6-0 220 Sr.

SILB—51 Ikaika Curnan 5-10 235 Sr.

WILB—43 Brad Kalilimoku 5-11 205 So.

WOLB—1 K. Kamakawiwo'ole 6-3 240 Sr.

LCB—24 Kenny Patton 6-0 184 Jr.

FS—22 Lamar Broadway 6-0 186 Sr.

SS/NB—15 Lono Manners 5-10 199 Sr.

SS—20 Michael Malala 6-2 195 Jr.

RCB—9 Ryan Keomaka 5-10 186 So.

Outlook: In his UH debut last week, defensive coordinator Jerry Glanville lived up to his daring reputation by calling for blitzes nearly ever play. But frustrated by the Warriors' inability to parlay blitzes into hurries or sacks, Glanville scheduled a cram session. "We stayed up until midnight brewing up a new mix," he said.

The revised formula will not involve free safety Leonard Peters, who will miss at least six games because of torn knee ligament. Last year's best perimeter rusher, Melila Purcell III, has been on crutches this week because of a sore foot.

To energize the defensive rotation, a pair of freshmen — inside linebacker Solomon Elimimian and free safety Kirk Alexander — will receive extended playing time. Glanville also added John Fonoti, an aggressive pass-rusher, and safety B.J. Fruean to the 60-player travel roster. Both are freshmen.

Four nose tackles will rotate, led by Renolds Fruean, who has recovered from a sore hip flexor. Noa, a quick pass rusher, is Purcell's understudy. Glanville said Noa, in a 10-yard span under game conditions, is the Warriors' third-fastest defender.

UH SPECIALISTS

PK—99 Daniel Kelly 6-3 199 Fr.

P—25 Kurt Milne 5-11 208 Jr.

KR/PR—27 Andre Taylor 5-11 171 Jr.

Outlook: The original plan called for Taylor to redshirt this season. But that idea was scrapped after Taylor displayed quickness and no-fear attitude as a scout-team wideout. Taylor will return both punts (replacing Ferguson) and kickoffs.

Against USC last week, Kelly tried to pooch kickoffs away from All-America returner Reggie Bush. This time, Kelly will try to place kickoffs in the corners. His improved confidence and technique have lengthened his kickoffs in practices.

MSU OFFENSE

LWO—6 Matt Trannon 6-6 227 Sr.

LT—72 Stefon Wheeler 6-5 330 Sr.

LG—74 Kyle Cook 6-3 295 Jr.

C—51 Chris Morris 6-4 305 Sr.

RG—71 Gordon Niebylski 6-3 312 Sr.

RT—66 Mike Gyetvai 6-7 307 So.

TE—89 Ryan Woods 6-4 259 Sr.

SB—32 Jerramy Scott 5-10 186 Jr.

RWO—3 Kyle Brown 6-1 210 Sr.

QB—5 Drew Stanton 6-3 222 Jr.

RB—20 Jason Teague 5-9 193 Sr.

Outlook: The key to MSU's 3 1/2-wide offense (it uses a tight end instead of a second slotback) is Morris, a strongman who is both effective as a pass-blocker and run-sledgehammer. On long trap plays, he is the rare pulling center. Wheeler also is an aggressive back-side blocker.

Stanton is a multi-gifted athlete — he had a hole-in-one last year and he is expected to join the MSU baseball team in the spring — but his duties will be reduced in football. With depth at the lone running back position and a diversified passing attack, Stanton will have fewer demands to run. There is a large skill gap between Stanton, a strong-armed passer, and his understudy, second-year freshman Bryan Hoyer.

Teague is the starting back, and 6-foot, 245-pound Jehuu Caulcrick is the bruiser. Caulcrick rushed for 140 yards and three touchdowns last week. The best might be speedy freshman Javon Ringer (4.4 seconds over 40 yards), who, at 5 feet 9, is difficult to track behind the imposing offensive line.

MSU DEFENSE

Rush—93 Nick Smith 6-6 265 So.

DT—96 Domata Peko 6-2 320 Sr.

DT—92 Clifton Ryan 6-2 302 Jr.

SLB—40 Michael Bazemore 6-3 270 Sr.

MLB—43 Kaleb Thornhill 6-1 240 So.

WLB—41 David Herron 6-1 246 Jr.

Ban—27 Sirdarean Adams 6-0 222 So.

BC—12 Ashton Watson 5-11 189 Sr.

FS—29 Greg Cooper 5-11 189 Jr.

SS—36 Eric Smith 6-1 202 Sr.

FC—9 Demond Williams 5-9 174 Jr.

Outlook: The Spartans align in a unique 3-2 formation, with the outside linebackers often roaming in the flats — where, no coincidence, the Warriors often target. Herron, a cover linebacker in a defensive end's body, is proficient in defending screens. He was third on the team in solo tackles (59) last season.

Defensive coordinator Chris Smeland employs the eagle schemes he used at UH in 1992, when he ran the Warriors' defense, including the tactic of dividing the cornerbacks into field (wide side) and boundary (narrow side) defenders. Watson is the Spartans' best cover defender.

MSU SPECIALISTS

PK—11 John Goss 6-3 218 Jr.

PK—26 Kyle Mayer 6-1 210 Jr.

P/KO—8 Brandon Fields 6-6 230 Jr.

KR—9 Demond Williams 5-9 174 Jr.

PR—3 Kyle Brown 6-1 210 Sr.

Outlook: Fields is probably the Big Ten's most dominant punter since Reggie Roby. His career punting average of 47.1 yards tops the Big Ten list. Fields also can be used on kickoffs.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.