Calhoun, Air Force staff visit Broncos minicamp practice

ENGLEWOOD • Coach Troy Calhoun and his Air Force football staff watched Denver Broncos minicamp practice Wednesday, a good refresher considering Calhoun’s plans for the program.

Calhoun is a former Broncos assistant, and he has previously said he wants the Falcons to incorporate many of the things Denver does. Calhoun hasn’t strayed from that plan, and said he will continue to implement those ideas as he fills the roster.

“In three or four years down the road I think you’ll see some reflection that even occurs more so in what we do offensively, and on defense too,” Calhoun said.

Calhoun spent three seasons with the Broncos and one as the offensive coordinator for the Houston Texans, which are coached by longtime Broncos offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak. He already applies some of the things he picked up in the NFL. Last year Air Force ran the zone-blocking scheme that the Broncos have used for years under coach Mike Shanahan and that Kubiak uses in Houston.

Calhoun understands that he will have to adjust his plans each year to the strengths of that particular team. That will be a key challenge this year, because he will have to replace many players who led Air Force to a bowl game last season.

Calhoun said being able to adjust to the makeup of each team is one of the things he learned while serving on Shanahan’s staff.

“You end up finding out you always want to be able to tailor to what you have, personnel wise,” Calhoun said. “That’s where Mike has been the very best. He knows what his strengths are and he’s always played in that direction. That’s what we have to do at the Air Force Academy too, and I think we did that quite well last year.”

With his firsthand knowledge of the Broncos, Wednesday wasn’t a full learning session for Calhoun. It was a way for his staff to pick up a few new ideas that can be brought to Air Force practices.

“You forever learn,” Calhoun said. “You’re looking for a new drill, you’re looking for a new pass route, you’re looking for a new coverage, you’re looking for a new stunt. I think no matter where you go, it’s such good exposure.”

The Broncos often host college staffs during offseason practices. Calhoun said a few things have changed in Shanahan’s practices since he left in 2005. Calhoun said he wants to keep his practices fresh as well, and visiting other teams helps.

“It would be different if I thought we could just do one thing and never change,” Calhoun said. “For us, we always have to change.”

Calhoun said over the past year he has seen Shanahan a few times at various functions. He doesn’t speak to Shanahan regularly, but knows he could call him if he needed advice. When Calhoun was hired by the Falcons, Shanahan said he thought Calhoun would be at Air Force for a long time, like predecessor Fisher DeBerry.

“Anybody that knows Troy, you’re talking about a first-class guy, a first-class man, a family man,” Shanahan said in early 2007, after Calhoun was hired.