Air Force Academy – Scanning the Air Force depth chart, one might think coach Fisher DeBerry would be concerned about his running back situation.
Gone are four of his five top rushers, who combined for 18 touchdowns a year ago and a sizeable portion of a ground game that racked up 277 yards per game. The graduated foursome accounted for 152 yards per game for the Falcons.
Is DeBerry worried? Just the opposite.
“I think our running game will be much better than it was last year,” he said Thursday.
The coach predicts quarterback Shaun Carney will rush for more than 1,000 yards and the other backs will be more than adequate.
Junior Justin Handley and sophomores Chad Smith and Chad Hall are expected to pick up the slack. But it will take time, DeBerry admits. Handley and Smith played little last year, and Hall was a quarterback on the junior varsity.
Despite the inexperience, running backs coach Tim Horton has seen some considerable strides in camp.
“We’re really pleased with the development of those three,” he said of Handley, Smith and Hall. “They’re getting better each day. I’m confident they’ll surprise some people.”
Last season, the 5-foot-8 Handley had chronic back spasms that kept him from playing much. But he has proved to be shifty and elusive. Smith has a more straight-ahead style. And Hall appears to be a mix of the two.
“No one has seen us play,” Handley said, “but that’s even more reason for the young guys to step up. We will make plays. We’re hungry. The hard work we put in during summer ball will outweigh our inexperience.”
Horton said none of the backs will get the bulk of the carries. But Smith said he believes Handley has distinguished himself from the bunch.
“Handley’s definitely stepped it up more. He’s taken on the leadership role,” Smith said. “Because we’re all young, it’s definitely going to make it more competitive. Nothing is locked up. It’s going to make us better.”
Horton is concentrating on becoming more of a complete back: running, catching and blocking.
“No one wants to go 5-6 again. We’re used to winning,” Handley said. “As a running back, I know when it’s third-and-inches, a critical play, we want to say, ‘Give us the ball.’ That’s what’s going to make us a good running back corps.”
Bryan Chu can be reached at 303-820-1979 or bchu@denverpost.com.
