Blind dates are never easy.

They are even more difficult when the picture is blurry.

Tonight's season-opening football opponents — Central Arkansas and Hawai'i — have little in common, making preparation an adventure.

The Bears secured video of some of the Warriors' 2008 games.

But the Warriors' jersey "numbers are hard to see on that dang-gum film, with the green numbers," Central Arkansas coach Clint Conque said.

What's more, if defensive end Fetaiagogo "John" Fonoti does not play tonight, the Warriors will have no returning defensive starters in their opening lineup.

Conque resorted to the Jurassic Park method: create a scouting report from traces of DNA.

Conque said: "Here's the way we approached it: You can see the type of players they've had last year who graduated or moved on to the NFL. They've had several of them. You know the prototypical athlete they're looking for in those positions. We know their secondary is going to be pretty much new. We know the type of athletes they've played with in the past who they're trying to recruit. Maybe a different number and a different kid, but he's going to play similar to what they've played with the past couple of years."

Here's a look at tonight's game:

CENTRAL ARKANSAS OFFENSE

Pos.—Player Ht. Wt. Cl.

WR—19 James Lovett 6-2 192 Sr.

LT—76 Will Merritt 6-5 292 Sr.

LG—74 Matt Dickerson 6-5 284 So.

C—58 Casey Thurber 5-11 278 Jr.

RG—57 Austin Emerson 6-3 292 Jr.

RT—Lane Freiwald 6-7 324 Sr.

TE—80 Rico Moss 6-1 236 Jr.

WB—31 T.J. Adams 6-1 192 So.

WR—83 Preston Echols 6-0 202 Sr.

QB—7 Robbie Park 6-4 212 Sr.

FB—42 Brennan Rushing 6-2 232 Jr.

RB—21 Brent Grimes 5-9 196 Sr.

Outlook: From Pop Warner through college, Conque played linebacker. He was a graduate assistant on defense, and his first coaching job was as a defensive coordinator. Then in 1989, as a McNeese State assistant, he was moved to offense. "I thought my world was coming to an end," Conque said of the move. Instead, "it opened doors for me." He learned from Terry Bowden and Gary Crowton, LSU's offensive coordinator and former BYU head coach. Conque is most familiar with the widely used spread attack, a mash of power running and controlled passing. "Call it oranges one year, apples the next," Conque said. "We run the same concepts."

The offense revolves around Park, who succeeds record-setting quarterback Nathan Brown. Park beat out often-injured Arkansas transfer Nathan Dick. Park, who will be asked to throw mostly off bootlegs and play-action schemes, has been efficient (one interception the past two years) and elusive (two sacks in three seasons). "Robbie Park has a good, strong arm," Conque said. "He knows our system. He understands our blitz control. He's a little more athletic than some give him credit for. You always tell him, 'When you're scared, you run faster.' He can kind of get out of his own way."

Their best receiver, Willie Landers, suffered a season-ending injury during the first practice of training camp. Lovett will pick up the slack, and the coaches are hopeful Echols will revert to his 2007 form, when he caught 34 passes and averaged 15.6 yards per reception. Echols missed the early part of 2008 with an injury, and by the time he recovered, he was no longer part of the No. 1 rotation. Rico Moss is a dual threat as a receiver and blocker. The Bears' best backfield blocker, Nick Cowger, is out with a knee injury.

CENTRAL ARKANSAS DEFENSE

Pos.—Player Ht. Wt. Cl.

DE—8 Markell Carter 6-5 272 Jr.

NG—60 Uriah Perry 6-0 274 Sr.

DT—50 Taylor Scott 6-4 274 Sr.

DE—9 Larry Hart 6-1 248 Sr.

SLB—23 Zach Hyatt 6-0 196 Sr.

MLB—13 Jacob Bane 6-0 234 Sr.

WLB—4 James Lancaster 6-0 229 Sr.

CB—5 Jamie Hill 5-10 192 Sr.

SS—2 Pieri Feazell 6-0 209 Sr.

FS—24 Phillip Johnson 6-10 210 Sr.

CB—20 Anthony Gambles 5-9 174 Sr.

Outlook: The Bears are led by the trifecta of Hart, Scott and Gambles. Hart, who can align at both ends, is a pass-rushing beast. He can run 40 yards in 4.58 seconds. In 12 games last season, he had 21 backfield tackles and 12 sacks. Hart has so many moves the Warriors used four different scout players to simulate him in practice this week. "It kind of starts with Larry Hart," Conque said. "He's a consensus (Division I-AA) All-American. He plays with a hot motor. He's a disruptive player at our level. He's become a complete player. He's getting better leverage against the run."

Scott, a converted defensive end, brings quickness in the Bears' 4-3 scheme. In pass coverage schemes involving five or six defensive backs, Scott becomes a speed-rusher.

The Bears do not employ a true nickelback. Instead, Hyatt becomes a rover in pass situations.

CENT. ARKANSAS SPECIAL TEAMS

Pos.—Player Ht. Wt. Cl.

PK—38 Eddie Carmona 6-0 210 Jr.

DS—57 Austin Emerson 6-3 292 Jr.

H—88 Derek Owens 5-8 162 Fr.

P—35 Jonathan Beard 5-9 170 Sr.

KR—31 T.J. Adams 6-1 192 So.

KR—26 Isaiah Jackson 5-11 176 So.

PR—20 Anthony Gambles 5-9 174 Sr.

Outlook: The large number of returnees on defense correlates to optimism on special teams; the coverage units consist mostly of defenders. Last year, the Bears held opponents to 0.7 yards per punt return. Carmona and Beard are back. Adams, Jackson and Leonard Ceaser each averaged more than 25 yards per kick return last year. hawai'i offense

HAWAI‘I OFFENSE

Pos.—Player Ht. Wt. Cl.

LWO—3 Rodney Bradley 6-0 190 Jr.

LSB—1 Greg Salas 6-2 200 Jr.

LT—77 Aaron Kia 6-5 290 Sr.

LG—64 Ray Hisatake 6-3 315 Sr.

C—55 John Estes 6-2 295 Sr.

RG—74 Raphael Ieru 6-2 315 Sr.

RT—50 Laupepa Letuli 6-4 310 Sr.

RSB—21 Kealoha Pilares 5-11 200 Jr.

RWO—7 Jovonte Taylor 5-9 170 Jr.

RWO—81 Royce Pollard 6-0 175 So.

QB—12 Greg Alexander 6-3 225 Sr.

RB—23 L. Wright-Jackson 6-1 215 Sr.

RB—11 Inoke Funaki 5-11 205 Sr.

RB—25 Alex Green 6-2 220 Jr.

Outlook: The starting offensive linemen are all fifth-year seniors, but aside from Estes, an All-America candidate, the others have combined for 16 NCAA starts. Ieru and Hisatake, whose high school did not field a football team, have never started a Division I game. Kia, Ieru and Letuli have overcome knee problems; Hisatake has made the long transition from defensive lineman. Gordy Shaw is Estes' fourth UH line coach.

Last year, the Warriors had to replace their four No. 1 receivers. The makeover is not finished. Right wideout Malcolm Lane will redshirt this season. Lane was the Warriors' best deep threat, but also the most inconsistent. He caught only 46.7 percent of the passes in which he was the primary receiver. Taylor, whose season was shortened after he contracted a viral infection, is Lane's immediate successor. Taylor, who regained the 25 pounds he lost, was timed at sub-4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash this summer.

In 2008, Salas, who had 57 catches, was the most frequent target, with 96 passes thrown in his direction. That total should increase with his shift from left wideout to slotback. Pilares, who was mostly a running back the past two years, should excel in the open field. Last year, he led the team with a yards-after-catch (YAC) average of 8.18. Bradley, who transferred from Navarro Junior College in January, has declared himself physically fit after overcoming a groin injury. Bradley, who needs only two strides to cover 5 yards, is capable of running 40 yards in 4.4 seconds and long-jumping 10 feet, 2 1/2 inches.

Alexander has improved his reads and anticipation, and he appears to have shortened his long windup. He also plans to scramble less; last year, a burst bursa sac led to swelling in his right knee.

The Warriors plan to utilize their backs as more than blockers this season. Leon Wright-Jackson, Funaki and Green are empowered to play wildcat, in which the running back takes the direct snap. Green is surprisingly a good passer who can throw accurately up to 40 yards.

HAWAI'I DEFENSE

Pos.—Player Ht. Wt. Cl.

LE—90 Elliott Purcell 6-3 255 Jr.

LT—95 Vaughn Meagota 6-2 290 So.

RT—49 Tuika Tufaga 6-2 285 Sr.

DT—92 Rocky Savaiigaea 6-2 305 Sr.

RE—58 Fetaiagogo Fonoti 6-2 255 Sr.

RE—98 Liko Satele 6-2 255 So.

SLB—53 Blaze Soares 6-1 245 Sr.

MLB—50 Mana Lolotai 6-0 230 Jr.

WLB—59 R.J. K.-Kauhane 5-11 225 Sr.

R—24 Aaron Brown 6-1 215 Jr.

LCB—2 Lametrius Davis 6-0 190 Jr.

LS—9 Spencer Smith 5-11 205 Jr.

RS—43 Mana Lolotai 6-0 230 Jr.

RCB—18 Jeramy Bryant 5-10 180 Jr.

NB—19 Richard Torres 5-7 165 So.

Outlook: Fonoti, who is recovering from a bruised left knee, is expected to be used sparingly, if he plays at all. Last week, middle linebacker Brashton Satele underwent season-ending shoulder surgery. Still, only Davis, who transferred from Butte Community College in January, is new to the system. Soares, who sat out last season because of a torn calf muscle, is the Warriors' best pass-rusher. Soares' cousin, Kiesel-Kauhane, is probably the defense's best overall athlete. Kiesel-Kauhane is capable of a maximum bench press of 455 pounds, and a vertical jump of 38 inches. He can bench 225 pounds 35 times. Because of the deep competition at corner last season, Bryant was redshirted. He is considered to be the Warriors' best man-to-man defender.

The Warriors have added three new defensive formations, giving them specific schemes for short-yardage, goal-line and run-option plays.

They also plan to use a rotation system on the defensive line and in the secondary.

Even without Fonoti, the Warriors believe that Liko Satele is more than an adequate replacement.

HAWAI'I SPECIAL TEAMS

Pos.—Player Ht. Wt. Cl.

PK—20 Scott Enos 6-3 235 Fr.

DS—45 Luke Ingram 6-5 210 Fr.

H—11 Inoke Funaki 5-11 205 Sr.

P—31 Alex Dunnachie 6-3 235 Fr.

KR—7 Jovonte Taylor 5-9 170 Jr.

KR—25 Alex Green 6-2 220 Jr.

PR—88 Ryan Henry 5-9 170 Jr.

Outlook: The Warriors have new starters at each of the key special-team positions, including coordinator. Former Nevada head coach Chris Tormey takes over the special teams. Enos and Dunnachie were signed late in the recruiting season; both have been impressive in the preseason. Enos had a slow start after suffering a tight left (non-kicking) hamstring in the first week of training camp. But the soreness went away, and Enos now consistently drives kickoffs into the corners, inside the 5. He has been accurate on field-goal attempts up to 45 yards. Dunnachie's soaring end-over-end punts have caused problems for UH returners. During an Aloha Stadium practice, Dunnachie booted a punt, from 30 yards, over a 50-foot-high backstop. In the past week, Dunnachie's punts have had an average hang time of 5.0 seconds. He also can roll out and launch rugby-styled kicks.

Ingram, the younger brother of former Warrior Jake Ingram, now with the New England Patriots, has improved his snap accuracy since his tight hamstring healed. Taylor will get help from Green on kickoff returns. Green serves as the offset returner, which is mostly a blocking position. But Green is fast enough to be able to field kickoffs away from Taylor.

Visit Tsai's blog at http://warriorbeat.honadvblogs.com.