Here's to a good game with no injuries for either team. For those traveling down I-25, be safe and we will see you at Falcon Stadium. It will indeed be an interesting game....which team will show up wearing Blue and Silver for the Falcons? Here's my thoughts.....
Which way will the Falcons go? Next up: Air Force vs Wyoming
Read full blog entry at
http://ricksfalconreview.blogspot.com/
Kickoff for Air Force vs Wyoming is 8:15pm MST on Saturday ESPN-U
The intrigue is all over for the Falcons. They can no longer hide from their weaknesses as they have been exposed two weeks in a row. No, the season is far from over and the potential for Air Force to turn the corner both figuratively and in reality as an option team first, is still there. But the question now will be: Can they do it against a resurgent Wyoming team that has become known as a potent threat on the offensive side of the ball? Combine that with the ill will that surfaced from the Wyoming head coach after last years game and it makes the Saturday kickoff even more interesting.
Air Force may have played their toughest two MWC opponents in Utah State and a Boise State team that began the season in the top 25. The quarterbacks for these two teams both ran and passed exceptionally well and are the first two of at least five QBs Air Force will face in that mold with Wyoming's being the next we will face. Looking ahead at their schedule and how future opponents have done so far this season, makes Air Force's need to make corrections more dire or a winning season will be in doubt. Notre Dame is looming in October. Both Army and Navy are playing well on both sides of the ball and scoring. CSU and UNLV got big wins this weekend to motivate them. And then there is Wyoming who stayed with Nebraska and then exploded in their last two games versus lesser teams.
So where does Air Force go from here? I believe the Falcons have grown tremendously on the offensive side of the ball from their conference opening loss to Utah State to playing at Boise State this past Friday. On the offensive side of the ball we have seen a young sophomore QB Awini grow tremendously from his first ever start to last game at BSU. His passing overall has to be graded as 'good' by making overall good decisions, disguising the play action pass and putting the ball in catchable locations for his receivers. His running and seeing holes when keeping the ball is good and is deceptively quick along the line. I believe he needs to grow in his own confidence to see when he should pitch more often versus keeping the ball. The lack of getting the TBs involved in the game is a key cog missing in the rushing attack. For AF to be consistent for 60 minutes each and every game on offense both Lee and LaCoste must be used and involved. Broad Hart is making a name for himself at the FB spot and has really been the key to when AF has had success on the ground. To me, in many ways he runs with the same aggressiveness yet elusiveness of Jarod Tew.
Lastly, on the offensive side there are two areas on the opposite ends of the spectrum: Placekicker versus receivers. Will Conant may rewrite the book for AF placekicker if he continues his performance. He is 5-5 FG and 7-7 PAT and has his confidence about him. The receivers, on the other hand, continue to not make highlight reel catches, on the contrary two games in a row they have missed multiple perfectly thrown passes (as seen by us viewers in the stands or on TV) in both losses that had major affects on the Falcons field position, possible scores and/or keeping drives alive. They have excellent potential as seen by several good moves and catches, but it is the misses we all remember and even posters on other team's sports forum talk about.
Defense...the Air Force defense. No need to beat a dead horse here. Teams are throwing soft and to the sidelines extensively in all three games we have played. Our defenders are playing soft at a minimum 5yds (or more) off the receivers to keep them in front of us they then come up strong to make the stop. Problem is opponents are making catches (my number here) 90% of the time and either have space to gain more yardage, find the defender unable to battle through the blocker thus good yards/catch or we miss the open field tackle. Then combine that with minimal pressure by the defensive line who appear to be getting little help from the linebacker corps to provide pressure in the QB. One game is an anomaly, but two games of high percentage completions due to the conditions stated above (ex: BSU QB 27 of 29 passes made...ouch)means something is broken. Look at it this way: Versus Colgate's smaller offensive line we were able to make adjustments resulting in putting pressure on their QB and we slowed down the passing. Bigger offensive lines vs USU &BSU equaled no pressure and pass happy offense all night long.
In Saturday night's late 8:15pm MST kickoff (that a whole other story we could discuss...I think the stands may be quite empty)versus Wyoming, I think we may see a very high scoring game and the winner will be the team that can actually get one or two stops that will make the difference. The Falcon's offense is beginning to find it's identity and a potent play action passing attack along with the option can be deadly. Wyoming's big lines on both sides of the ball combined with their explosive QB can and will move the ball. It may come down to who scores last or who's placekicker puts the ball through the uprights. 'If' Air Force can make some adjustments on the defensive side of the ball I think they will win this. But it begins with a significant change in attitude and execution on the defensive side of the ball for Air Force.
Go Falcons....Beat Wyoming
GO FALCONS
