Lots of opportunities for positions, leadership at Air Force

When Air Force began preseason camp a year ago, players were adjusting to a new coaching staff, changes in practice plans and revamped offensive and defensive schemes.

Easing the transition, however, was an abnormally large class of seniors who had plenty of game experience, talent and savvy if not on-field success to show for it. Those 26 players helped Troy Calhoun engineer a dramatic turnaround in his first season as coach.

The Falcons won nine games - a five-game increase from 2006 - and earned their first bowl invitation since 2002.

"Last year you had a bunch of kids that had played a bunch of college football games," Calhoun said.

Not this year. The aforementioned senior class is gone, and while Calhoun's staff, systems and style no longer are new, many of the players who will be asked to take on significant roles are.

When preseason practice begins Thursday at 8:40 a.m. on the practice fields behind the Falcon Athletic Center, Air Force will have nearly as many sophomores (15) as seniors (16) on its two-deep chart for offense and defense. A year ago, 22 seniors and 10 sophomores were listed as starters or backups on offense and defense.

"This year what's different is you don't have very many guys that played a lot of college football," Calhoun said. "It helps when you have experienced guys that have played on Saturdays. I just think simple things like making sure your shoelaces fit the right way. They're just a little more zeroed in on blocking and tackling rather than thinking, ‘OK, what time do I have to be there for pregame breakfast.'"

Because of the Falcons' inexperience, Air Force's preseason camp will be different than it was a year ago.

For one, there will be more open battles for positions. Calhoun said last season that all starting jobs were up for grabs and that's how it would be every year. But, realistically, nobody was going to supplant Shaun Carney, who had started the previous three seasons at quarterback. This year, there will be competition at more spots, most notably quarterback.

In addition, expect Air Force to run more live-action, scrimmage-type 11-on-11 drills because many players aren't battle-tested.

"We've got to make those guys go 11 guys on their own and, as coaches, get off the field," Calhoun said. "I just think it's a different environment when you're out there by yourself without a coach standing behind you and telling you every little thing going on. ... There's got to be a lot of trial by fire that occurs during August."

In all, the Falcons must replace 14 starters, five of whom were all-conference first-team players at some point in their careers. The top six rushers, top two receivers and four of the top five tacklers from 2007 all are gone. So are most of the 2007 team's leaders.

"Leadership, as vital as it is every single year for us at the Air Force Academy, it's even more imperative this year just because we don't have a lot of seniors," Calhoun said. "And all of a sudden we're going to have to have sophomores and juniors who say, ‘You know what? It is my time. I don't have to wait. I've got to emerge.'"

Calhoun is confident leaders will come to the forefront, and players believe, like last year, they can surpass expectations. In a preseason media poll, the Falcons were picked to finish sixth in the Mountain West Conference.

One reason for optimism is that while the class of 2007 left some gaping holes in the depth chart, it also created a template for how to win. After three consecutive losing seasons in which Air Force went 4-11 in games decided by one score or less, the Falcons went 9-4 in 2007, including 3-2 in games decided by one score or less.

"Definitely now everyone has the right mentality," senior defensive end Ryan Kemp said. "You know what it takes to win, and you've got the confidence that you can follow through with something. Even though the younger guys weren't on the field, they know what it takes, they know the work level that we need to be at during practice and during games and they know how to finish. When it comes down to the end and it's close, the mentality isn't, ‘C'mon, please, let's hold on and try and win it.' We know we're going to win."

No matter how many starters they have to replace.

"Last year's team definitely left some big shoes to fill, but I think we're up to the challenge," senior cornerback Kevin Rivers said. "We're a very competitive group of people. Competitiveness and heart. That's all you need."

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Contact the Writer: 636-0365 or jake.schaller@gazette.com. Check out our Air Force blog at gazetteafasports.blogspot.com