From Deseret News archives:

Playing Air Force takes discipline

Published: Saturday, Nov. 15, 2008 12:07 a.m. MST
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
COLORADO SPRINGS — If you're a defensive player going up against Air Force's option, it's like nothing you prepare for before or after.

It's a precision run attack in its purest form — timing, deception, angles, cut-backs and refined execution by hard-working, smart cadets.

It will be on full-feature display today when the 9-1, No. 16-ranked Cougars and 8-2 Falcons meet in a showdown of two teams in search of a piece of the MWC title.

Nobody's defended it better over the years than BYU and Notre Dame, who both have 22-6 records against the Falcons. That begs the question, why BYU and Notre Dame? What similarities do they bring in preparing for the Falcons?

Other than the religious angle, which shouldn't figure at all, the Irish and Cougars generally have enough smart, disciplined guys to play assignment defense, which is exactly what it takes to ground the Falcons.

Why?

The Falcons' offense sets up great defensive athletes to fail unless they tackle with their brains instead of talent alone.

Story continues below
Defending AFA is tiresome work, and a ton of preparation is needed. It's like getting a popcorn hull stuck between the gum and tooth. It involves agitation, like having someone else hold the TV remote. It's awkward, like smiling with a cold sore, walking a tight wire wearing flip flops, or running hurdles in roller skates.

And when you don't stop the Falcons, they hog the ball on long drives that eat up the clock, so offenses get antsy and try to get points fast, and that's where they start blitzing with the 3-3-5 and get to quarterbacks and force turnovers.

Frustrating as a pig nosing a trough through a picket fence.

"They do such a great job of hogging the football," said BYU offensive coordinator Robert Anae. "Then teams get desperate and try to throw it and they then turn all kinds of creative things loose at quarterbacks."

Anae said if you pull up the AFA blitz on BYU last year, the Falcons probably did it for three-quarters of the game. "They attack it and they sustain it," he said. "That's the plan. I don't think they deviate it very much."

The Falcons will bring their sack leader, 6-foot-4, 255-pound left end Jake Paulson, hunting for Max Hall like TCU's Jerry Hughes did in Fort Worth. Then they'll mix up linebackers on blitzes, trying to confuse and overload Cougar blocking.

"He's quick, athletic," Anae said of Paulson, a junior. "He's not a power guy, but a speed athletic guy.

"We'll get a very different look from last week (San Diego State), where they were more power guys. This week they are more of speed guys."

Which would Anae rather face in protecting Hall, speed or power?

Recent comments

This week's Harmonism: "Frustrating as a pig nosing a trough through...

Harmon's Howlers | Nov. 15, 2008 at 11:14 p.m.

BYU Fan (Utah Valley), to refute your post, all I have to say is 22-6...

Bear Laker | Nov. 15, 2008 at 12:02 p.m.

I see the AFA game as a loss for the Cougars, simply because BYU has...

BYU Fan (Utah Valley) | Nov. 15, 2008 at 11:06 a.m.

previousnext

Latest comments

RSL's Rimando makes 3

So Great!!! So Proud - Love RSL - Bring Home The CUP!!!!!

mr cannon's bold assertation that the purpose of the first ammendemnt as...

RSL heads to MLS title game

Great great great game!!!! Nicky Rimando is a god! We're the most complete...

I had the game on DVR and just watched it. That was the most exciting game...

RSL heads to MLS title game

financially cannot this year, but I will watch loyally, how great to hear...

This is hardly surprising. Bennett has a remarkable arrogance which is also...

RSL heads to MLS title game

I guess that is why "they play the game" as Herman Edwards would say.. ...

BYU happy to escape with victory

What was the score of the LSU vs LA tech game? Alot closer than you'd like to...

Has Fedor not said that THIS IS OUR YEAR all year long? Go back and...

This is just a small glimpse of the future with Obamacare: corruption, waste...

Advertisements
Advertisement