Air Force vs. BYU - 3 Things to Watch

Air Force at BYU

3 THINGS TO WATCH

1. BYU’S SIZE UP FRONT
One of the biggest matchup advantages BYU has over Air Force on a consistent basis is size, according to Falcons’ coach Troy Calhoun. The Cougars’ starting offensive linemen average 321.2 pounds, and three of them are 6-foot-6 (the other two are 6-5 and 6-3). Their defensive front seven also is stout. “They just get you where they overwhelm you by eating up space,” Calhoun said. “And probably against them you aren’t going to move a pile, but the flip’s true too – they hand it off to some of those big backs and there are times you might make first contact right at the line of scrimmage and all of a sudden you look up and it’s still a gain of 4 or 5.”

2. AIR FORCE’S RUNNING GAME
The Falcons have been more balanced – for them – in recent weeks, with quarterback Tim Jefferson passing for 111 or more yards in each of the games during Air Force’s three-game winning streak. But chances in the passing game have been open because of a rushing attack that has picked up more than 380 yards two of the past three weeks. BYU, however, has been tough against the run. The Cougars allow 103.5 yards rushing per game, second-fewest in the country behind TCU.

3.  BYU ON THIRD DOWNS
BYU leads the country in third-down conversions (74 of 127 for 58.3 percent – 11.2 percent higher than any other team in the Mountain West Conference). Air Force ranks fifth in the country in stopping teams on third down (opponents have converted just 44 of 155 opportunities). In last season’s 38-24 victory over Air Force, the Cougars converted six of 11 third downs, including a key third-and-8 on their game-clinching possession. “Harvey Unga is a great back, and if he can get rolling on first and second down, that really opens up their offense,” senior inside linebacker Justin Moore said. “So if we can try to get them in second-and-long and third-and-long, I think that’ll better our chances of getting them off the field.”

KEY MATCHUP
Air Force’s Nickel Defense vs. BYU’s Passing Game
BYU has averaged 328.4 yards passing in its five straight victories over Air Force. Last season Max Hall completed 28-of-37 passes for 354 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. To have a chance, the Falcons have to limit Hall and the Cougar aerial attack. Look for Air Force to bring pressure from different angles in an attempt to keep Hall off balance.

Quote to Note: “BYU’s a team that – doesn’t matter when we play them – our kids kind of circle that day, because they know they’ve always had an excellent program, and they’re going to be one of the top teams in our league. And if we want to measure ourselves as maybe being in that top group, they’re one of the guys you have to beat – them, Utah and TCU.” – Air Force defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter

Note to Quote: Air Force has committed seven turnovers this season – tied for second-fewest in the nation – including just three in the past six games. BYU has protected the ball well of late too. The Cougars have turned the ball over only four times in their past five games.
 
Numerically Speaking

7.7: Yards per carry gained by Air Force sophomore tailback Asher Clark the past three games. Clark gained 2.6 per carry the two games prior.

14: Touchdowns scored by the Air Force offense in the Falcons’ past three games. The offense scored just four touchdowns in the five games prior.

29: Games BYU quarterback Max Hall has won in his career, tied with Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer for the most by a Cougar quarterback.