Everyone understands that this game is going to be close.
BYU’s offense moved the ball effectively throughout the first quarter and part of the second quarter. Then our offense decided to jump off-sides, hold, jump off-sides, P and I and the list goes on. We need to tighten up our offensive execution so we can keep AFA’s offense off the field.
Watching the Air Force defense is like seeing a reflection of BYU’s defense. They are very similar in scheme, size and effort. Well, our defense might have a slight size and speed advantage.
They run a 3-4 with an outside linebacker putting his hand down every once in a while. They run a lot of twist stunts up front and blitz linebackers and safeties in key situations. Their pass rush, like ours, is most efficient if the DB’s provide adequate coverage to allow the lineman time to get a sack. Besides Jake Paulson the other D-linemen perform well within their assignment and role. These guys really are a no name defense.
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.
This is probably the funniest thing I remember from the Air Force games. It was in 2005 when Cameron Jensen was roaming the middle at linebacker -Kelly Poppinga did something similar, but I remember it more distinctively from 05′-06′.
Without looking into contracts or incentives -or anything like that. I would like to hear what everyone is thinking about our coaching staff sticking around for future seasons. I am not saying that I think anyone is leaving, but with the success the program’s had in the past few years, I can imagine there are a few programs that are in need to some quality coaches.
The Air Force practice week is unique to say the least. Each day the game draws closer the Coaches work harder and harder to insure every player is keeping their eyes in the right spots and performing their individual assignments.
Scout team players tend to pick-up the tempo as they sense the Coaching staffs urgency throughout the week. Gone are the Wednesday’s with little contact and less running. Helmet practices turn into (more…)
Our defense is probably approaching this game with some mixed feelings. On one hand BYU has won nine games this season and extended their home winning streak to 18 games. On the other hand BYU has shown considerable weaknesses in five of those nine wins.
BYU fans are left to question what team will show up in Colorado Springs on Saturday? Will the team that pummeled UCLA and Wyoming show up or will the team from the TCU and Washington -both road games- (more…)
Photo by Kevin Kreck
After a defense has successfully defended the veer option and kept their feet against a cut block. The defense next has to respect the Falcons ability when running play action passes. Air Force’s play action is unique because everything looks exactly the same -except for the uncovered linemen.
The running back’s action, the quarterback’s action and the cover lineman’s movements -linemen with a defender in front of them- all do what they would normally do on a run play. On a run play the uncovered linemen have to shoot outward in order to get to the second level of the defense and cut off linebackers and safeties, so on pass plays they aren’t as aggressive. They have to stand up or they run sideways and for the Falcon offense that doesn’t make sense.
Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images
There is another part of Air Forces offense, which makes them unique to defend, cut blocks. It’s not that the cut blocks are vicious or dirty; it’s just that they take a certain amount of focus to defend to insure that you aren’t left lying of your back as a cadet scurries for a first down.
AP Photo by Douglas C. Pizac
This may be my shortest post of the year because defending the Veer Option is not a complicated task on paper. The AFA offense tries to out-execute their opponent by getting the defense frustrated and having players trying to do too much, or more than their responsibility. But if you study their offense you realize that they run the veer the exact same every time. There are no variations. It all comes down to who will be more disciplined.