AFA Offensive Scouting Report
A lot has been posted this week about Air Force’s offense. BYU will need to defend a good option offense while still recognizing the play action. Their option style has changed since freshman Tim Jefferson has taken the reins. He has the ability to stretch the field and make sound decisions with the ball despite his inexperience.
Schematically the offense takes on some different dimensions with Jefferson in the game. He isn’t the tough runner that Carney was, but he instead excels when he is in open space or on the edge. The offense is more prone to working the ball sideline to sideline when Jefferson has the ball in his hands.
Air Force’s fullback still plays a large part in the success of the offense, but with AF’s new found youth and athleticism at QB their offense looks to be more dynamic than past years. Jefferson has yet to develop the arm necessary to pick apart defenses, instead he relies on defensive errors to free up wide outs for easy throws.
After playing against Air Force I am still amazed at how many defensive backs are fooled by Air Force’s play action. Yes, they do a good job of disguising it, but if a DB can focus on the right keys he shouldn’t screw it up. Plus the Falcons only two or three recievers on pass plays so if one guys blows it, there is normally another DB that can help out.
Besides the quarterback the offense depends on the running backs. They use five or six different backs and to be honest, you can’t tell which one is which. They are all basically the same size, build, speed and agility. It’s like the AF coaches have a queue on the sideline and running backs simply take a number and wait their turn. The running backs this year don’t have the savvy and game breaking ability as Hall from last year. The big time runs tend to come from the quarterback. The running backs are in the game to fool the defense into thinking a run play is coming every time. Then just when you think your going to make a game changing play, a receiver runs past you for an easy score.
The receivers are identical to the running backs. None stand out, but collectively they block well, catch the ball when it comes their way and generally fulfill their roll.
Our defense needs to dominate their offensive line. If our tackles/ends can handle the fullback alone it will free up Bauman and Doman to scrape quick and make sure the quarterback can’t make it into the open field.
Denny and Jorgenson will need to have great days. They’ll need to stay square to the line and avoid running up field against the run. The also need to keep their feet against the cut-blocks, if not, gaping holes will be opened and the cadets will consistently gain 5-8 yards a pop. In past years the defensive ends/outside linebackers have do a great job of neutralizing the quarterback, which gave the defensive backs enough time to run the alley and make a tackle for a minimal gain.
For the most part this game will hinge on our defense’s ability to keep their feet against cut blocks and recognize play action. Air Force will get their yards on the ground. It is up to our defense to make the Falcons earn their rushing yards in increments of 3-5 yards instead of 10-15 yards.
After our defense has stopped numerous running plays they will need to have enough concentration to recognize play action and stick to the receivers. Our coverage package will be extremely simple. Air Force doesn’t run enough route combination’s to justify using a full coverage package. We should only need three; maybe four core coverage’s to cover anything the cadets could throw at us.
Our offense can help our defense by scoring early and often. This will force the Falcon offense to use riskier plays and employ more drop back passes. The Falcon offensive line simply can’t block straight drop back pass plays. The quarterback won’t have any time to find receivers and their offense will have to resort to grinding the ball out on the ground. Which will run the clock down too quickly and BYU could leave Colorado Springs without needing a last second TD to Dennis Pitta or Austin Collie.
Worse case scenario is our defense struggles early, then rallies late to stop the Falcons when they need to in order to win the game. I would prefer the first scenario, but in all honesty it could go either way.
I am going to open the windows so I don’t sweat through my shirts. You know…just in case.
BYU 42 – AFA 35, unless BYU can get a couple of TDs ahead, then it might not be so close. Should be a great game, keep your eye on Nixon. I think he will be key again this week.
We had a measuring stick against TCU. This will be our second true test of the season. Sure, no conference game is a gimmee, but our previous opponents have dismal records. These last two games on the road against difficult opponents will let us know if we have improved since the Horned Frog loss. I’m a little worried, but I think it’s more because of the 22nd than the 15th. Let’s hope our players don’t feel the same!!!
Is the Cougars ready for the Falcons? im nervous to see BYU’s defense up against the option. Nixon and Jorgensen cant make every play for the Cougars. BYU and there defense need to play one snap at a time! and control the ball.
Quinn, would it help to have the DBs in press coverage instead of the usual zone cushion? If they meet the receivers at the line would it be easier to recognize a play action and also close the gap to stop the pitch man? I don’t think the receivers are good enough to blow by our guys if they press. Just a thought from a non-football player.
BYU 31 AFA 13 It stays close, both defenses play well through the first half. We go up 17-10 at the half. 2nd half we play well and finish them off in the 3rd quarter with a couple of TD’s.
The cougars will be ready for the Falcons. We could run some press coverage, but that puts more pressure on the cornres. Plus, it makes it easy on the offense because they don’t have to block the corner. All they will do is run the corner off.
We will play some man coverage, but it will be limited. Mostly our team will be in three and four.
Cover three because they run deep posts and streaks on play action passes and four because we can get a double on certain down field routes and it provides good run support.
Why this season have we had such trouble defending a 3rd and longish?
It’s usually a pass play, and how many QBs have we played this season who can really throw it downfield with precision, so usually the offense just wants a first down. They throw the 7 yard pass, it’s caught a yard shy of the first down, and the nearest defensive back is atleast 5 or more yards downfield, giving up the easy first down. Why don’t they stick the first down line a little tighter and trust the safeties to cover any longer passes?
It’s just frustrating to see the defense work so hard to hold them to a 3rd and 7 or so just to give up the easy first down
Jonathan,
Good observation. Definitely appears to be a weakness when you put it this way. But, remember our defensive philosophy – bend but don’t break.
If we try to tighten, then these 3rd down “nonstops” will be replaced by bigger gain passes over the top. I don’t think our safeties or corners have the athleticism needed to play up close, though they started doing that a bit against SDSU.
Our defense tries to force the other team to put together a consistent 10-12 play drive to beat us. It’s kind of like Chris Everett hitting baseline after baseline, waiting for her opponent to miss. Yes, she doesn’t have as many winners, and unforced errors are less sexy and even a little boring, but she still gets the points. We’re not a “3 and out” defense. We’re a “6-7 and field goal attempt” defense.
Those pass plays appear to be “easy”, but there have also been times when 1. QBs can’t hit the open receiver, 2. the receiver can’t make the catch, or 3. (best option) we break up the play. Everybody is happy if #3 happens. With #1 and #2 we as fans think, “Wow, the guy was open, the should have converted that.” Our defense thinks, “I knew it. They couldn’t make that play. We stopped them.”
This is the game we find out what this team is really about. If they get beat, then we know this team is just like the good-but-not-great teams of lavell’s era (i.e. ‘98, an 8-4, 9-4 type team) and can expect to get beat by Utah. Not to say that an L to AFA is an automatic L to the U, but I would guess that’s how things would go. If BYU can’t expoit the Air Force D enough to win, they sure won’t be able to against Utah.
Good thing I think they are up to the task.
BYU 31 AFA 23
I had a retired coach tell me the best way to stop cut blocks, step on the blockers, lift your foot and step back if on the line, act like you attempting to jump when off the line, but step on them. The blockers get real tired of being stepped on. Just falling on them takes you out of the play.
Sounded to me like there was a good chance to turn an ankle.
Some years ago while watching Navy run an option pitch, a wide receiver crouched down in front of a chasing LB’er, the Lb’er saw him and as he run into the receiver he kicked the receiver in the ribs, no more playing time for that receiver that day.
I don’t like that cut block, if we’re going to allow it to be used against us, we should also use it against them.
Cut blocks for an o linemen is a cop out. I’m ok with the little squirts doing it at) because let’s be honest, they aren’t going to stop our LBs any other way. I liked to deter the cut block by pushing their head in ground or punching the side of the helmet. I think getting hit in the helmet is far worse than being stepped on. Your helmet rings when people slap it.
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