2010 NCAA Football Preview: Air Force
The service academies at one time were the crown jewels of college football, competing as national power houses year in and year out. However, as the game grew and became more popular, they began to lose the best players to many universities which did not have the strict academic and physical requirements that the Academies have. For many players having to deal with the restrictions and requirement of a military atmosphere while playing college football was too much.
Recent years have seen the Army, Navy and Air Force teams experience a moderate level of success. Head coach Troy Calhoun has molded the young men of the Air Force Academy into a winning team for the last three seasons, going to bowl games in each. Last season his team did the impossible by shutting down the best offense in the nation, the Houston Cougars, forcing Case Keenum into six turnovers and winning easily, 47-20.
With many of his key players returning the future looks good for the Falcons. They may have trouble competing with some of the elite teams in the Mountain West Conference (TCU and Utah), but they will likely not make it easy for anyone to win.
The key for Calhoun and the Falcons will end up being in how well they are able to fill in the spots that they are missing.
Offense
Air Force will look to run early and often; when you have the third best rushing offense in the nation, why not?
Returning to the team will be pretty much all the skill positions for the Falcons. Both Tim Jefferson and Conor Deitz received a decent amount of time at quarterback last year and will do so again in 2010. Jefferson can pass the ball fairly well (53 of 93 for 848 yards, five touchdowns, two interceptions) when necessary and ran the ball 88 times for another 254 yards and four touchdowns. Deitz did not pass very much but was an effective runner averaging more than five yards per carry on 73 carries.
Fullback Jared Tew will continue to see the lion's share of the carries. The 210 pound fullback rushed for 848 yards 970 yards and nine touchdowns. Tailback Asher Clark chimed in another 865 yards and seven touchdowns.
In total there were seven players that gained at least 200 yards on the ground. For that to happen again, however, the Falcons will need to rebuild their offensive line. Not a single starter is back; only A.J. Wallerstein has even had significant experience. Jason Kons is likely to step in to take one of the tackle spots, but if the line can’t gel quickly then the Falcons may be in trouble.
Defense
The biggest loss for the Falcons was the departure of coordinator Tim DeRuyter. Linebacker coach Matt Wallerstedt will step up to take over the duties.
Wallerstedt will be set in at least one area, the secondary. Three starters return to the group and while they may not be future NFL stars they are good at what they do. At cornerback, Antony Wright comes back; last season he had seven interceptions, returning two for touchdowns. His partner on the other side, Reggie Rembert, received all-conference honors and could be considered a shutdown corner. Free safety Jon Davis chimed in another three interceptions with one returned for a touchdown as well.
Where the team could hurt is in the front seven. Only two starters return to the group, end Rick Ricketts and linebacker Andre Morris. Freshman Seth Kline could come in and contribute early and often.
The Falcons already have their work cut out for them when it comes to winning the division with powerhouses like Utah and TCU to contend with. If they can field an offensive line and a front seven on defense then they might end up surprising people.
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