New Mexico

On paper it looks like the Falcons have a good chance to snap their three game losing streak-On Paper. But believe me, if the Falcons eye the Lobos as a chance to get back on track, New Mexico looks at a wounded, injured Air Force team with the same eagerness, hoping to kick start their awful season. On offense the Falcons should move the ball, but turnovers again will play a key role. That's been one of the stories of this year. There's been too many and its killed Air Force and put their defense in position to defend too many short fields...The defense may see the return of Ben Kopacka up front and Chris Miller at one of the corner spots. The Falcons don't need anything fancy Saturday. Simple football-Block and Tackle, and hold onto the football. Simple recipe, in a season that's been anything but simple.

Close But No Cigar

Air Force gave Boise State a scare Saturday before losing 37-26....I thought during the week the Falcons would try and keep the ball away from the Broncos offense and that's what they did, almost to perfection. Yet for the life of me I cannot understand why, after winning the coin toss the Falcons gave the ball to the Broncos. That never will make sense to me. The weather was great, there was no wind to worry about. Why, if your game plan is to keep it away from Boise State, give it to Boise State for the first drive of the game, which resulted in a touchdown? The Falcons did not lose the game on that but there was a lot of head scratching over that decision.....Again, as it has in other games, it came down to getting the Broncos offense off the field and the Air Force defense was unable to do that....The Falcons did play better in a lot of areas, and did force two turnovers. However it all adds up to being in last place in the conference at 0-3, and having to win 4 of their last 5 to become bowl eligible. Troy Calhoun was as angry as I have ever seen him after a game, because their gameplan worked, but not enough to win the game.....Now the good news...the schedule does get easier from here on out, however-keep in mind, teams are also looking at Air Force and thinking to themselves THEIR schedule is easier with the Falcons on it because Air Force is 3-4. And the scariest game to play is one against a team that has yet to win. You never want to be the team that loses to a winless squad, and that's what New Mexico is this weekend....The Falcons are hoping to have a couple of injured players back for Saturdays game. However they have lost sophomore receiver Ty MacArthur to a broken collarbone for the rest of the regular season.

3-3

13-0 sounded great in August for the Air Force Football team. The reality of October is much different, 3-3, with injuries everywhere, and a team that's reeling. Thursday nights loss to San Diego State, 41-27, reminded us how good, and bad the Falcons can be. First, let me be clear, I laud the effort of the club and coaching staff. Troy Calhoun will fake a punt or field goal from anywhere on the field to give his team a chance to win. You can count on one hand the number of coaches around the country that have the guts Calhoun has to do that. Part of that decision making is the result of an offense that is part brilliant, and its own worst enemy with 13 turnovers in 6 games. The defense has its own challenges, giving up too many big plays and not getting enough stops, all with young guys everywhere in the lineup forced to play because of injuries. These are not excuses. But the bottom line is everybody has to play better. Air Force has to play through the issues and rise above. The season stands on edge. A winning season and a bowl is still attainable, but only if the Falcons make fewer mistakes and execute better. If not, the season will end quietly in late November in Fort Collins.

Wed 10-12-11

Get off the Field........that's what the Air Force Defense has to do. The Falcons have not been able as of late to get teams to punt. In the last 2 games (Navy and Notre Dame) those teams have punted just 3 times total. On 3rd downs those same teams are 22-36 converting to 1st downs. Not Good at all. I know Air Force is banged up, and turnovers by the offense have created short fields for the Falcons to defend, but they gotta get stops on 3rd down. Otherwise Thursday night could be another long night for the defense..

The offense has it problems as well, namely turnovers. The Falcons have turned it over 10 times in 5 games. And how many of those turnovers have come at the end of big plays by Air Force? Alot. The Falcons have a plus minus reading of -4, which is a number created when you take the number of turnovers your offense has and compare it to the number of turnovers your defense has created. In 2009 it was +22. Hold onto the football.

If Air Force can clean up those two things they have a good shot at beating San Diego State Thursday night. Our coverge begins at 4 and the kickoff is set for 6. Bring your radios out to the game

Thur 10-6 Keys to the Game

Here's what Air Force has to do to Beat Notre Dame-They must have some success rushing the football. I said SOME. The Falcons best chance will be with Tim Jefferson keeping the ball or pitching it. I think it may be tough to get any kind of yards inside. The reason I said some, is because Air Force is as good throwing the ball this year as I have seen them in quite some time. They must do that Saturday. They have to give Mikel Hunter, Zack Kauth, Jonathen Warzka and Ty Mccarthur a chance to make plays. And they have to throw on off downs, like 1-10 or 2nd and 1..


On Defense......Can they slow Cierre Wood. This cat is a stud. he ran for 191 yards versus Purdue, and as banged up as the Falcons are defensively they will need big games from a lot of people. Watch Cornerback Anthony Wright and see if he follows Wide Receiver Michael Floyd all over the field. Floyd is averaging 9 catches a game. Air Force has to force turnovers. And they must blitz Tommy Rees at quarterback. If he has a chance to sit and look The Falcons won't win

Talk to you Saturday from South Bend at 130 on Colorado's 740 KVOR.

10-3 Wow

   I guess there's several ways to look at the Falcons win over Navy Saturday-You could say Air Force had to hold on because Navy was on a roll in the 4th quarter, running 36 plays and holding the ball for better than 12 minutes. You could say the Falcons dominated the game for 3 quarters and the Midshipmen were lucky to still be in it. There are those who would contest (Navy Fans) the unsportsmanlike call on Kriss Proctor after his overtime touchdown. Other (including me) counter by saying Navy could have blocked the Falcons extra point following their touchdown, or the Mids could have stopped Air Force from scoring, or Navy could have made an easy field goal in the first half they missed and the game would not have gone into overtime. But whatever you say, it was a helluva game. Air Force showed heart and spirit after Navy had tied things up. They could have folded the tent, but did not. What a game. I loved how Air Force attacked on offense. The Falcons didn't get caught in running the football and the option all the time. They called some different plays, they threw the ball, which I thought was the difference in the game. The Air Force skill guys were better than the Navy skill guys and you have to get them the ball. Jefferson, McArthur, Hunter, Warzeka, Clark, Coleman and Kauth. They need to touch it a lot every game. And the more the Falcons throw, the better their running game will be. ...Game Balls to Alex Means, Brady Amack and Harry Keys on defense....Means blocks the extra point try of Navy in overtime. He also had 12 tackles and an interception and was named Mountain West Conference Special Teams Player of the Week. Amack was named Defensive Player of the Week with a career high 23 tackles. And Keys was sensation up front with a career high 12 tackles. On offense Tim Jefferson and Asher Clark each had 2 touchdowns and Jefferson threw for a score. Tim was the Offensive Player of the Week. In games like this your stars have to play like stars and they did.