It’s almost unheard of for Air Force coach Fisher DeBerry to enter preseason practice not knowing whose legs will keep his triple-option offense running. But that’s the situation the veteran coach is facing.
The Falcons open practice today in preparation for their Sept. 3 opener against Washington in Seattle with myriad questions coming off a 5-6 season. Those questions start in the backfield, where untested players man the halfback positions crucial to the success of the triple option.
“Halfback is the most critical position on our offense right now,” DeBerry said. “We have some good, young halfbacks coming up, but their game experience is limited.”
The Falcons open practice with Chad Smith, a 5-foot-10, 190-pound sophomore, the starter at left halfback and Justin Handley, a 5-8, 175-pound junior at right halfback. Three sophomores and senior Adam Fitch, who is playing halfback for the first time after moving from quarterback, occupy the four backup spots at halfback.
Handley played in 11 games last year and gained 94 yards on 22 carries; Smith played in six games and gained 57 yards on 11 carries.
While the running game has been DeBerry’s bread and butter in posting a 161-94-1 record, the passing game may take the spotlight this fall behind sophomore quarterback Shaun Carney.
As a freshman, Carney threw for 1,315 yards and 11 touchdowns in 10 games.
“We’re not going to throw the ball just because we have a good passer,” DeBerry said. “We do have some good receivers, but we have to throw the ball efficiently and effectively.”
DeBerry enters practice with questions at linebacker. Sophomore Marcus Brown’s availability is uncertain because of possible honor code violations.
“We’re treating it as if it were an injury situation,” DeBerry said. “He’s still on our football team, but we don’t have the final answer.”
DeBerry will cram as much as he can into the first five practice sessions, including a two-a-day drill Tuesday. Classes begin Wednesday at Air Force.
A number of freshmen join the practice sessions Friday after returning from basic military training that started in early July.
Irv Moss can be reached at 303-820-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
