Sunday, September 28, 2014

Redemption

A game Air Force Football fans have been waiting for since Tim Deruyter left Colorado Springs was played Saturday September 27th 2014. Deruyter was the Falcons defensive coordinator 7 years ago and his gambling, aggressive style forced turnovers and sacks and resulted in wins and bowl games. Since his departure several years ago the Falcons defense has been searching for an identity. They found it Saturday night. Air Force showed flashes of a better defense against sub par opponents the first 3 games this season. But the true test would be against Boise State. The Broncos are balanced, deep, experienced, and used to getting everybody's best game. Last night the Falcons defense played with a snarl, a motor, a passion, an anger, that Springs football fans have not seen in years. 7 Turnovers were forced by Air Force. 7. They only had 9 all of last year. 5 interceptions, 3 by Weston Steelhammer. Another inspired game by Jordan Pierce. A fierce pass rush led by Alex Hansen, and Nick Fitzgerald. 4-4th down stops. A blocked field goal. And, imposing your will on the Bronco offense. And it all led to a 28-14 win over the Broncos. The mastermind behind all this? Steve Russ, who was officially named defensive coordinator after Charlton Warren left for Nebraska. But this story actually started last year. After losing to Navy in 2013 Troy Calhoun replaced Warren with Russ. At the time Russ could not make the wholesale changes I'm sure he felt was needed. After Warren's departure Russ laid out a simple defensive game plan. He reduced the defensive playbook-less thinking on the field, and more reacting, more playing. He realized the defense can't sit back. It must attack. He challenged the secondary and put more man to man coverage in. He moved the cornerbacks and the outside linebackers closer to the line of scrimmage. He identified Weston Steelhammer as a playmaker and has given him freedom to attack from anywhere. He's getting inspired play from Jordan Pierce who has overcome some challenging days just several months ago to become the face of this defense. And it all came together against Boise State. Falcon Stadium has not buzzed like that in a long time. 1 game does not a season make. But 1 game can reverse fortunes and become a benchmark. It was only 1 game. But what a game.

Friday, September 26, 2014

Game Day Boise St

Quite the opportunity awaits Air Force Saturday at Falcon Stadium as they face Boise State. A win, and a shot at a bowl game takes on new life. A close loss and maybe the fan base sees progress coming off of last year. A big loss-that could be devastating. The Falcons LOOK better on both sides of the ball. But looks don't necessarily mean wins. Its like getting a race car and taking it for a spin down the interstate. Nice, but the true test is how does it perform at Pikes Peak International Raceway when they use to race down there. Saturdays game against the Broncos is a measuring stick for Troy Calhoun's team. Boise State is loaded everywhere. They will score points. The key for the Falcons will be forcing 1-2 turnovers and getting just enough stops with their defense. The pressure, I think, is on Kale Pearson and the offense. Remember the play I said I couldn't talk about during the summer? It was a quick screen to wide receiver Jalen Robinette. Air Force threw it 3 STRAIGHT TIMES to open the game against Wyoming. They need to have that kind of mentality against the Broncos. Now, they can't throw it 30 times a game and win. But can you throw it 18-20, and keep the vaunted Broncos Rush defense guessing? I would. It should free up Running Back Jacobi Owens and Devin Rushing. And it could create plays off play action for Robinette and Garret Brown. Many will watch the Air Force defense. Is it better against the pass? Well, I know the Falcons won't play 10 yards off the line of scrimmage against Grant Hedrick like last year. That should help. Getting pressure on Hedrick will be tough. I think the Falcons may have to play with 4 down lineman most, if not all the game, and in obvious passing situations rush 6, yes 6 guys. If they sit back Boise State will feast on the Falcons. Bring your radio and listen to the game beginning at 3 with our pregame show on 740 KVOR.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Afraid

Air Force Football Coach Troy Calhoun was at his press conference this week, talking about Boise State, when a reporter asked him if his team was afraid of the Broncos. Troy talked about the cadets that go to school at the academy having courage because of the commitment they have made to this country and the Air Force following graduation. I wasn't there so I don't know who the reporter was, or if it was even a local person. But the question pisses me off to no end...Afraid? Give me a break. The Football players, (and the cadets in general) are fearless, and have put their country before themselves in committing to the Air Force. We are in a time of war, and yet young men and woman are signing up to come to the Academy, knowing what the greater mission is and that their lives are at stake. Its an ignorant question from a reporter whose idea of Service before Self is buying cookies from the Girls Scouts in front of a grocery store. Calhoun is not the kind of coach who would share that with his team, but I wish he would. Boise State is a good team, and a program that has earned all the accolades that have come their way. But this reporters question suggests the Broncos are superior to the Falcons. Shouldn't that be decided on the football field? I don't think that question represents how the Broncos feel about Air Force as a football team. But its a reminder to me that some see the Falcons as a football program struggling to regain some luster. They are partially right. Coming into this year, the Falcons are just 15-23 from 2011-through 2013. But there was no "fear" when Air Force beat a ranked TCU team at Falcon Stadium. There was no "fear" when Air Force defeated Ohio State in the Liberty Bowl. There was no "fear" when Fisher Deberry went for 2 late in the game, only to come up short in a 1 point loss at Tennessee. There's no "fear" in scheduling Michigan State in 2015 and Michigan in 2017. But it has been awhile since the Falcons had a big win against a name opponent. No better time to start than this Saturday against Boise State. Afterwards that reporter can ask Broncos Head Coach Bryan Harsin if his team was scared of the Falcons.

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

What We Know after 3 Games

A mid September bye gives Air Force a chance to take a step back and for Troy Calhoun to look at his football team and plot for the rest of the season. Several Things stand out after their 2-1 start: 1) LB Jordan Pierce is the real deal. He was in Calhoun's doghouse for unspecified reasons, but since starting for the injured Joey Nichol, has been magnificent. He had 10 tackles against Georgia State and has 19 in 3 games along with an interception, 1 sack and 4 tackles for loss. Watching him play, he reminds me of Chris Gizzi. He must stay in the lineup even after Nichol comes back from injury. 2) Air Force is pretty good against the run, but their pass defense needs some work. I do think its better than last year. But the Falcons still must cover better and get some more pressure on the opposing teams quarterback. The linebackers must cover better, and Air Force may have to consider rushing 5 on passing downs consistently, and when you have a running quarterback that 5th rusher should be a linebacker who is a "spy", going wherever the qb goes. 3) I thought against Georgia State the Falcons finally showed the perfect blend of run plays versus pass plays. The Falcons threw it 15 times. That's enough to keep opposing defenses on their toes, and when they are not, look what happened. 2 touchdown passes from Kale Pearson to Garret Brown. Brown is a real weapon, catching the ball and getting handoffs in the backfield. He must touch the ball at least 10 times a game. He had 6 catches for 92 yards and 2 touchdowns...Jalen Robinette-get him the ball as well. He had 4 catches for 118 yards, and he stretched to haul one in to set up an Air Force score. He is a weapon, but only if you use him. A quick bubble screen to him is a 5-7 yard pass play, and if he breaks it, we move the chains. ......RB Jacobi Owens. He already has 431 yards rushing in only 3 games. Work Him-give him 20 carries a game. He turns 2 yard gains into 4 yard efforts....6 yard gains into 8 yard plays..The defense has to focus on him, which means when you want to throw play action, the Falcons have the advantage. 4) I know fans were bummed the Georgia State score was as close as it was, but the Panthers have a good passing attack. Moving forward I would love to see Air Force continue to find their play makers on offense, and try to improve their pass defense. After this weeks bye, its a gauntlet of tough teams...Boise State, Navy, and Utah State. How the rest of the season fares may well be determined over the next 3 weeks. But play to your strengths, and these Falcons could be better than people think.

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Passing Fancy

I know. You see the title and you think I'm talking about Air Force throwing 32 times against Wyoming. However I am referring to this Saturdays game against Georgia State in Atlanta, because I think its a true test for the Falcons. Last weeks win by Wyoming was a result of the Cowboys getting out of character and throwing the football a lot. That's how they drove down the field to score the game winning touchdown with 58 seconds remaining. Passing teams simply killed Air Force last year. The Falcons didn't help themselves with a prevent defense mindset a season ago. So Saturday, here come the Panthers, with a quarterback who threw 73 touchdowns, (yes 73) in 2 years of junior college play. His name is Nick Arbuckle. In 2 games this year he is averaging 353 yards passing. How much better is Air Force on defense and specifically against the pass? This matchup will prove to be a good indicator of what we can expect going forward. Both Troy Calhoun and Outside Linebackers Coach Matt Weikert told me this week the Falcons gave a little too much cushion on the last drive to the Wyoming wide receivers. Saturday, Georgia State will toss the ball all over the place, including to their tight end Joel Ruiz who is very good. Can Air Force slow down the Panthers passing attack? Can they get pressure on Arbuckle and force him into some poor throws? Will the Falcons be able to tighten up the coverage, especially without Safety Jamal Byrd who will miss the game because of an injury? With the exception of Navy and Army, the rest of the teams Air Force will play this year throw the football to varying degrees. How well the Falcons play the pass Saturday against Georgia State may go a long way to telling us how this season will turn out. Injury notes: In addition to Byrd, LB Joey Nichol will miss the game because of a groin injury, and FB Shane Davern could miss up to 6 weeks because of a knee injury. The Falcons do hope to have LT Matt Rochell back in the lineup. He went out during the Wyoming game with a concussion. But he has felt better this week, and if he passes the safety protocols, will play Saturday. Listen to the game live at 12p on Colorado's 740 KVOR.

Monday, September 8, 2014

Some Pluses, Some Minuses

The long drive home from Laramie Sunday Morning hurt that much more when thinking back to Saturday nights 17-13 loss by the Air Force Football team to the Wyoming Cowboys. There were so many plays that could have gone the other way for the Falcons. Its a reminder that you never know what 1-2 plays may turn a game. Like Will Conants miss on a 39 yard field goal, or Broam Hart's fumble in the 4th quarter, or a perfect pass from Kale Pearson to Jalen Robinette that Robinette failed to stretch out for, or Troy Calhouns decision to go for it on 4th down, rather than punt, leading to the Hart fumble, and Wyoming eventually tying the game. Or throw in the penalties, one on a Kale Pearson touchdown run, and another on a big 41 yard gain off a pass play to Tight End Garret Griffin. This is what you think about when you lose. At some point you do focus on the outstanding effort by the Air force Defense, holding the Cowboys to 51 yards rushing and allowing Wyoming to convert only 4 of 14 3rd down attempts. You look at the Falcons throwing 32 times in this game, and the success they had, at times, going to Robinette, and to their tight end Griffin. But you add it all up and its the 10th consecutive conference loss by the Falcons. The margin between winning and losing is slim. If its fair to make judgments 2 games into the season the Falcons are much better on defense and still a work in progress on offense. And sometimes you can steal wins with your defense. But that chance flew away into the Wyoming night Saturday. But there is hope. This team is improved from a season ago. But they need to make those 1-2 plays go their way beginning this weekend at Georgia State.

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Wyoming

Yes, Saturdays Air Force-Wyoming football game in Laramie is big, and not because its the next game on the schedule. It should tell the Falcons if they have improved from a season ago. Yes, its a rival game, especially because of Dave Christensen's tirade two years ago, and last years perceived disrespect by the Wyoming band playing during the 3rd verse. But leave all that aside and just look at Saturday and it should be a great matchup on the field. With new coach Craig Bohl the Cowboys play things closer to the vest. They will run the football a lot with Shawn Wick and DJ May. Air Force will do the same. So the pressure is really on both defenses. The Falcons would love to get the ball on the exterior to Jacobi Owens. I think they can do that but only if they call designed plays for him. If QB Kale Pearson goes into option mode, the Cowboys will force him to either hand it off the Shane Davern the Fullback, or to keep the ball himself. I think the Air Force will have to spread the field with their offensive formations, and try to get Owens, and Garret Brown in space, with a chance to break some plays. Wyoming wants to feed Wick and May the football-alot. They have a red-shirt senior at QB in Colby KirkeGaard. But he has not played a lot of football. Wyoming will ask him to manage the game, not win it. The Falcons have to force the Cowboys into a lot of 3rd and 7's and longer, then put pressure on KirkeGaard. Air Force will have to crowd the line of scrimmage and maybe play bigger than they are. And both teams will throw the occasional play action pass. Would love to see Air Force look for their tight end Garret Griffin over the middle. The Falcons have won 4 in a row in Laramie. What does it mean? Nothing. Wyoming starts 9 seniors on defense. What does that do for the Cowboys? It gives them confidence. But that can be shattered with one missed assignment and a long run by a Falcon back. I think this game comes down to a field goal. It should be fun. Our Air Force coverage beings at 6 Saturday night, with the kickoff at 815 on 740 KVOR.