2013 Air Force Spring Football Analysis

2013 Air Force Falcons ... Head Coach: Troy Calhoun

Air Force Falcons

2013 Schedule
Not Yet Released

Why To Be Excited It’s Air Force, so rebuilding and reloading isn’t any big deal considering the apprentice system of making sure there are good prospects waiting in the wings ready to be the next men in. However, the one area with excellent experience is in the secondary with three starters returning from a decent group that got torched a bit too often deep, but allowed just 11 touchdown passes before getting bombed on by Fresno State and rice in the final two games. Corners Steffon Batts and Chris Miller should be factors on the outside to go along with third-leading tackler Christian Spears at safety.

Why To Be Grouchy Yes, it’s Air Force, but losing nine starters on offense including quarterback Connor Dietz and running backs Wes Cobb and Cody Getz will hurt. The two returning starters on up front with guards David Lore and Drew Kerber two woefully undersized blockers for the interior, and there’s almost no beef whatsoever up front. That might be by design for the nation’s second-ranked rushing offense, but size is still a bit of an issue in the new and improved league. The strength of the defense that didn’t do much against the run was the linebacking corps, but Alex Means, Austin Niklas and the other two starters in the 3-4 are gone.

What Needs Working On Pass rush. Air Force never has a pass rush, struggling to get into the backfield on a regular basis since 2008, but even though it’s by design it still hurts the secondary that got hit way too hard by good quarterbacks with time to work. The pass rush doesn’t necessarily come from the front three, but that’s one spot where there’s some experience returning with the linebacker-sized end coming back. This is more of a read-and-react D that has to start attacking more and forcing more turnovers after coming up with just eight picks and eight recovered fumbles.

Team Concerns For 2013: The Falcons, as always, have to replace a ton of veterans with nine starters gone from the offense. Also, as always, the passing game has to improve. It was efficient last year, but that was with Connor Dietz under center. The secondary gets three starters back, but it has to be better after getting beaten time and again. Part of the problem was a non-existent pass rush that finished last in the Mountain West. Overall, the Falcons have to start winning the turnover battle after finishing last in the league and 106th in the nation in turnover margin.

The 2013 Class Is Heavy On ... Tight ends. Air Force always brings in a ton of bodies and recruits to flow through the program to gear up for a few years away, but the talent in this class is at tight end with Pete Cender out of Michigan and Trent Gow out of Texas two good-sized receivers who could add another dimension to the offense. Running backs Tim McVey and Bryan Driskell fit the Falcon type, while linebackers Kyle Williams and Joel Foy lead a decent group.

2012 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 87. That Class Was Heavy On ... The Falcons have to try to improve a defense that struggled way too often, and it’s time for the 2009 recruiting class of good defensive players to come up big. This year’s class is full of athletic lineman who’ll move around between linebacker and the front line starting in 2014. As always, the players are coming in who can run the attack with some talented, speedy running backs who can contribute early on.

2011 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 98. That Class Was Heavy On ... Quarterbacks. The Falcons got plenty of help for the defensive line with fantastic ends coming in to provide a tremendous pass rush for the next several years. The secondary also got bodies with Cedric Parker leading a good group of corners. The focus will be at quarterback with Kent Rollins a ready-made option playmaker and Colton Huntsman and Teddy Ruben two runners who’ll get their shot. 6-4, 205-pound Christian Gann will be a No. 1 receiving target soon.

2010 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 83. That Class Was Heavy On ... Linebacker. This is a diverse class with a little something for all spots, but for the second straight season the top players are on the defensive side. Linebacker got the biggest influx of talent with three interesting prospects including Austin Arias, a safety-sized tackling machine who got a little interest from the Arizona schools but was too small for a big-time program. He, along with Joey Nichol and Seth Kline, will be the keys to the defense in a few years.

2009 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 117. That Class Was Heavy On ... Defense. As always, Air Force had to get a specific type of player, and as always, it went with smallish, quick defenders for the line and the secondary. Dan Zotto leads the way up front, while head coach Troy Calhoun brought in a few short, athletic corners. James Chambers could be a fixture at inside linebacker sooner than later.