Air Force Academy – Long hours in the film room and some sleepless nights have defined Richard Bell’s week.
It must be Wyoming week.
Perhaps no one is more aware of that than Bell, the Air Force defensive coordinator. It’s up to him to figure out how to slow Wyoming’s high-powered offense Saturday at Falcon Stadium.
Still gnawing at him is how Wyoming thrashed Air Force 43-26 a year ago in Laramie, a loss that led the Falcons to a losing season. The Cowboys dominated, with a 30-4 edge in plays in the first quarter and an overall 17:54 time of possession advantage.
“To win we have to be able to get them off the field,” Bell said. “We’re playing the same players we faced last year. It’s going to take a great effort by our defense. We have to put our offense in position where we can score some points.”
Bell and head coach Fisher DeBerry said they believe Air Force’s defense has improved from a year ago, when it allowed 31.1 points per game. The Falcons are 2-0, defeating Washington 20-17 and San Diego State 41-29.
“Our defense has made several key stops, against both Washington and San Diego state,” De- Berry said.
Bell also has seen improvement.
“We’ve grown up as a defense,” he said. “A year ago, some of our young players didn’t realize what the commitment had to be. But our safety Bobby Giannini said the other day that we’re not young anymore. We’ve been there, we’ve been burned, and we know now what we have to do to win games.”
Two of the key reasons for improvement are seniors Denny Poland, a strong safety, and Erik Anderson, a 6-foot-8, 285-pound defensive end. Poland is one of the veterans, having started for three years, and is off to an outstanding start. Anderson is a newcomer to the defensive lineup, assisting on only one tackle a year ago.
Anderson was recruited out of Eden Prairie, Minn., to play basketball, but switched to football at the suggestion of AFA tight ends coach Dick Enga.
“You don’t see many 6-8 players on the defensive side of the ball,” Anderson said. “I weighed 215 pounds when I came out of basic training.”
He tried wide receiver and tight end, but was well down on the depth chart as a freshman playing junior varsity ball before being moved to defense.
“After his freshman season, the offensive staff told us we could have him,” Bell said. “He’s waited a long time for this. He’s probably the most significant new part of our defense coming off the edge. But against Wyoming, it’s going to take all 11. But I think he’ll contribute.”
Visions of Wyoming quarterback Corey Bramlet and wide receivers Josh Barge and Jovon Bouknight might still be dancing in the heads of Falcons’ defensive players.
Bramlet had 323 yards of total offense a year ago and threw for two touchdowns; Barge had four catches for 55 yards and a score.
Bouknight had three catches for 59 yards and also had 13 yards rushing. Bell compares Bramlet favorably to former Colorado State star Bradlee Van Pelt.
“He delivers the ball very quickly,” Bell said. “They can put him back in the shotgun, and that adds to the difficulty of getting to him. They have a good scheme with a very good and athletic offensive line. You have to be sound defensively, both inside and on the perimeter. I’ll be here late every night putting together a plan.”
Staff writer Irv Moss can be reached at 303-820-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
