Warzeka, Halderman "1A and 1B" for Air Force

For a team that likes to have competition at every position, there’s none at the “Z” receiver spot for Air Force.

Kyle Halderman and Jonathan Warzeka know their roles. Neither cares who starts. They’re going to split the snaps about equally this season.

That’s fine with both of them.

“We’re 1A and 1B,” Warzeka said.

“We’re content with that, and we help each other out,” Halderman said. “It’s not a big deal to us.”

The arrangement is ideal for the Falcons, too. Both players know what to expect. Splitting playing time should keep both fresh at the complicated position, which is a combination of a running back, a receiver and a wing. And Air Force’s coaches can tailor their offensive game plan to maximize each of their strengths.

The two know each other well, which helps. Halderman is a senior, and Warzeka is a junior, and they have an unspoken communication during games.

“If one of us gets a long play or has to run a deep route, I’ll go in, and whenever he’s ready, he comes back in,” Halderman said. “We know. It’s a ‘I got you on this snap’ type thing, from experience playing with each other.”

There’s also a lot of communication between series. If one sees that a defender is playing a certain way and that tendency can be exploited, he’s sure to tell his teammate.

“It’s like having another set of eyes out there,” Warzeka said.

They have different strengths as players. Warzeka is a bit more agile, Halderman says, and perhaps better on running plays. Halderman is a natural receiver, having played the position in high school, and might have an edge in the passing game.

Last year didn’t work out so well for that timeshare. Halderman broke his collarbone in camp and played only six games. Warzeka had a good season taking most of the plays at the “Z” position. He amassed 267 yards rushing and 246 receiving yards, but being on the field for fewer plays could help him become more efficient.

“It’s one of those positions, we run so many motions and things like that, you realistically can’t play the whole game,” Halderman said.

“When I got hurt last season, Johnny took quite a beating. We both understand we can’t do it all by ourselves.”

Halderman also should be better. He added weight in the offseason in hopes of being as strong in November as he is now.

Receivers coach Mike Thiessen said he doesn’t care who starts at the “Z” spot. It could change every week.

“Those are two guys that if we play 80 snaps, I hope it’s 40-40,” Thiessen said. “That’s how they’re going to stay fresh, and that’s how we’re going to be the best football team.”