1st and Ten – It
starts in the middle – They’re never real pretty. They do the dirty
work for the entire offense. They get the ever lovin’ stuff beat out of
them every single play. They are option fullbacks and Air Force has a
strong one who should be a 1,000 yard rusher this season, former Midland
Lee (TX) star Jacobe Kendrick. Although QB Shaun Carney had 54 more
carries and 178 more yards than Kendrick, the fullback wasn’t fully
healthy throughout the season. However, he’s going to be the key to the
running game this year. At 6’ and 230 pounds, Kendrick is an absolute
load, but he’s a little more than just a three yards and a cloud of dust
grinder. He does give the Falcon offensive staff the option to use him
as the pitch man in some speed option schemes. Consequently, he could
be a tailback in some I formation or spread attacks that are common
throughout the nation, but for the Falcons, he’s the middle man. If he
can stay healthy and get 15 to 20 carries per game, Kendrick can put up
100 yard games regularly. Teams have to take him out of the game early
and put the ball in Carney’s hands. Although #5 is a decent threat with
the ball in his hands, he isn’t Kendrick. Give him the ball and get out
of his way. Way out of the way.
2nd and Seven – Dual Threat – The
Falcon defense has struggled for the past two seasons, but one guy who
has not been a disappointment is Chris Sutton, Air Force’s most
versatile defensive player. Sutton is one of the best cover corners in
the league, registering 9 pass breakups last season in addition to his
two interceptions. But, he also is the team’s punt returner, averaging
just under 10 yards per return. At a place like the Air Force Academy,
shoot, at any place really, having a guy who can perform double duty
like Sutton is definitely a luxury. If Sutton and free safety Bobby
Giannini are having to pull more than their fair share of the work,
though, the Falcon defense could be in trouble.
3rd and Three – Turnabout is Fair
Play – For years, the Falcons have dominated with their running
attack, running clock and mowing down groups of seemingly more talented
defenders. However, last year, fate reared its head in an ugly way…Hey,
bro, how about some originality, that’s exactly what you said last
year. Really? Uh, yeah. Well, then how do you explain six of the last
seven games of the year with opposing running yardage numbers like this
Р213, 217, 220, 300, 217 and 227? Well, touch̩. As good as the
Academy has been in Fisher DeBerry’s career dominating on the ground,
the MWC, et al. is making amends for years of torture. This is two
straight years in a row that Air Force just can’t get teams off the
field, giving up 200 yard rushing games on a regular basis. Sure, the
MWC throws every running attack possible at opponents, but sooner or
later the Falcons must slow teams down. Maybe it’ll take the offense
being a bit more consistent. But, there’s no question it’ll take a
strong year from Gilberto Perez and company on the defensive line if
this is to happen. Then, maybe the author can have something different
to write about next year.
4th and One – Where to now? –
Football’s most important existentialistic question plagues the Falcons
in a way they’re unaccustomed. Since DeBerry has been in Colorado
Springs, the Falcons have competed for championships and bowl games as a
regular course of business. But, 2004 and 2005 have presented new
challenges for the Falcons, in the form of a big, fat punch in the face
from the MWC. So, with the two disasters that were, where do the
Falcons go from here? With TCU and Utah now consistent top 25 fixtures,
with BYU back up on the horse, New Mexico still hitting people in the
mouth and Wyoming looking to atone for a miserable 2005, the Falcons are
more than a step behind, in more ways than one. Fisher, himself, isn’t
immune to the questions, either. After a year when he made more happen
with his comments than his coaching, how can he get his Flyboys back
into the mix? If he can, he should be coach of the year. If not, well,
let’s cross that bridge when we get there.