Opinion: Offensive scheme, line could allow Air Force football to exceed expectations

Air Force's football team is, once again, expected to fizzle.

The Falcons lost 16 starters, and one of those starters, Chad Hall, ranked among the top dozen players in the country. The team Hall left behind has a ravaged look.

Air Force will be picked near, and maybe at, the bottom of the Mountain West.

The players who conclude spring practice Saturday adore all this gloomy talk. The doubts free the Falcons from pressure and, even better, offer constant spurs to prove those pessimists wrong.

"I like the underdog approach," guard Nick Charles said. "It gives us motivation. It gives us something to work on."

There is reason for skepticism. The Falcons are so thin at quarterback, tailback, inside linebacker and cornerback that incoming freshmen will compete for starting jobs. I'm not talking about freshman from the prep school. I'm talking about 18-year-old newcomers.

Here's the best reason for optimism. Coach Troy Calhoun arrived at AFA with an understanding of the Denver Broncos' complex zone blocking scheme. This is the same scheme that made 1,000-yard-plus rushers out of a long line of less-than-sensational Broncos backs.

Calhoun was smart enough to borrow Mike Shanahan's scheme. The offensive line, led by Charles and tackle Keith Williams, will serve as the team's strength, its anchor and its reason to believe.

It's a mystery who will start at quarterback and tailback, but the players carrying the ball won't matter as much as the big men opening the holes.

Air Force's offense rumbled for nearly 300 yards rushing per game and averaged 39 points in the final five games. The runners who delivered those yards are gone. The scheme remains.

Athletic director Hans Mueh devised a simple strategy when he met with Calhoun in late 2006. Mueh was seeking to convince Calhoun to coach the Falcons and the best strategy was talk straight to a straight talker.

He told Calhoun the 2007 senior class was talented, weary of losing and capable of a winning season. Mueh also told Calhoun the 2008 and 2009 senior classes looked shaky. Mueh didn't try to hide the challenge.

Now, Calhoun and his Falcons prepare for another chance to silence the skeptics.

The team boasts a crafty, athletic line and a dominating defensive presence in safety Chris Thomas.

The schedule is ideal. The Falcons will tangle with tougher opponents (BYU, Utah and New Mexico) at home and weaker opponents (Wyoming, San Diego State and UNLV) on the road.

"I'm always telling them," Calhoun said of his talks with his players, "just because you're picked eighth or ninth in our league doesn't mean that's the way it is."

He laughed as he repeated his words.

"It doesn't mean that's the way it is."

With the help of a blocking scheme borrowed from the Broncos, the Falcons could climb higher than expected.

Columnist David Ramsey can be reached at 476-4895 or david.ramsey@gazette.com. Check out David's blog, David Ramsey Says What? at daveramseysez.blogspot.com