Air Force Academy – The word out of the Air Force football office is that the Falcons are sticking to the basics with their defensive game plan.
But in Saturday’s 20-17 victory over Washington in Seattle, the AFA basic front of three down linemen gave way most of the time to a four-man front, and it was a factor in holding Huskies tailback Louis Rankin to 112 yards rushing and quarterback Isaiah Stanback from taking over the game. Stanback had 242 yards passing, but threw for only one touchdown.
“We’re pleased with what we did based on comparing it to last year at this time,” AFA defensive line coach Ron Burton said. “Our tackling was better. Our game was better.”
A year ago, Air Force hosted California in the season opener and used for the most part a basic defense of three down linemen. Cal won 56-14, and Bears star J.J. Arrington rushed for 181 of his team’s 573 total yards.
“Our basic front still is our stack defense (three down linemen), but this (Washington) game dictated that we needed to utilize our four-man front,” Burton said. “Our strength up front is our defensive line, and we took advantage of that, and it helped us out.”
Washington coach Tyrone Willingham said after the game that the Falcons’ four-man front surprised the Huskies.
“The difference in the game was up front,” AFA coach Fisher DeBerry said. “They didn’t knock us back, and they had a veteran offensive line. The four down linemen helped us. It’s just another package our opponents have to prepare for.”
Junior defensive end Gilberto Perez said Washington’s offense, which mixed the pass and run effectively, offered a preview of what Air Force will face Saturday at Falcon Stadium against San Diego State (0-1) in the Mountain West Conference opener for each team. So he expects to have three teammates alongside in the trenches instead of two.
“Last year the offenses were running the ball more against us,” Perez said. “The four down linemen utilize our personnel pretty well. Washington gave us a good look for our future games, but it was just a steppingstone for us.”
There’s also a lot of support because 6-foot-8, 290-pound senior Erik Anderson joins the line when the Falcons go against the basics. Anderson batted down one of Stanback’s passes, a key play in Saturday’s game.
Perez noted some changes in the scheme other than more use of four defensive linemen.
“Last year our main job was to take up blocks so the linebackers could scrape off the ball carriers,” Perez said. “We’re trying to make tackles in the backfield for loss of yardage. We shouldn’t give the quarterback enough time to throw the ball, and we have to get the ball back for our offense.”
Said Burton: “We didn’t get knocked off the ball (by the Huskies). They didn’t push us around. It was a starting point.”
Burton noted that Perez gives the Falcons’ front strength and mobility on one side.
Senior nose guard Russ Mitscherling is the defensive quarterback and the inside anchor. Senior Nelson Mitchell also provides strength defending inside. Anderson hadn’t played much before this season, but is a good athlete on the outside. Senior Dave Shaffer, junior Grant Thomas and sophomore Josh Clayton provide depth.
Irv Moss can be reached at 303-820-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
