Air Force's backups keep a positive mindset

Earning a second team spot on a major college football team is quite an accomplishment, and one that can be absolutely frustrating.

Everyone wants to be a starter. Most primary backups get playing time, whether in specialized packages or because of injury, and any decent teammate will say they are excited for that role. But that last step into the starting lineup can be a long one.

Among the Falcons’ second-team defense are three talented sophomores: Outside linebacker Jamil Cooks, cornerback Chris Miller and safety Anthony Wooding. All three were prime candidates to earn starting spots, but all of them have spent every day of August behind an older teammate on the depth chart.

The backups can’t just forget their spot on the depth chart, but they can’t allow it to affect their play, or they might not hold onto the second-team spot for long.   

“You just have to stay positive, and work hard,” Miller said. “Whenever you get your shot, you have to do well.”

Secondary coach Charlton Warren remembers former Air Force defensive back Carson Bird struggling in camp as a junior when he wasn’t a starter, and that affected his entire mindset. Bird barely played as a junior, but rebounded and had a phenomenal senior season. But his junior year shows that anyone can let their spot on the depth chart become an anchor.

“He went absolutely in the tank as a junior, lost all confidence, didn’t start and didn’t play much,” Warren said. “But as a senior he was an All-American. There’s a guy that had the ability but got down on himself.”

Warren has to push his players to elevate their game but doesn’t want them to shrink under the pressure. And the depth chart is always a motivator.

“They see (Anthony) Wright get three or four picks in one practice or see JD (Jon Davis) get a pick or a big tackle, I ask, ‘What did you do today? Did you practice worthy to run with the ones tomorrow?’” Warren said. “Every day the depth chart changes. One day this guy is with the ones, the next day this guy is. They see that, and they say ‘I need to pick my game up because he jumped me on the depth chart because of Monday’s practice.’

Wooding appears comfortable with his situation. He’s behind Brian Lindsay, a junior who has a lot of potential. The coaches have worked him in with the first-team nickel defense as the fifth defensive back, so he is in line for a significant role. And when Warren gets on him, he knows the reasons why.

“He knows what we’re capable of, and he knows when we’re not up to par,” Wooding said. “You never want to take a day off, so he pushes us to keep getting better. I know he pushes us for a reason.”

Cooks is a good example of a player who can’t get impatient. He was impressive as a freshman, playing a huge role on special teams in a win against Navy. A starting spot opened up with Andre Morris’ graduation, and Cooks was an obvious candidate for it. But he has watched Alex Means and Stephan Atrice split most of the time with the starters at that outside linebacker spot while he remains on the second team, a reminder he has a lot to learn.

“I need to make sure I’m working on elevating my game every day,” Cooks said. “The pressure isn’t there, it’s just the focus of working hard every day and filling the role they want me to fill.”

Miller reminded himself that last year he came on strong in the third week of camp, and he hopes for a repeat this year. There are still a few weeks to impress the coaches before the season opener. But, as much as he tries to come out to practice and focus on getting better, where he stands on the depth chart can’t be ignored.

“It’s in the back of my head,” Miller said. “But I’m just trying to make the team better, so wherever coach puts me, that’s where I’m going to play.”