Air Force Academy – Air Force coach Fisher DeBerry has spent much of the Falcons’ spring camp working on developing a new version of quarterback Shaun Carney.
When Carney begins his junior season in the Sept. 9 opener, it will be his third year as a starter in Air Force’s triple-option offense. But DeBerry hopes to present a trimmer Carney who will be more effective in the running game.
Air Force closes spring practices Saturday at noon with its annual Blue-Silver game at Garry Berry Stadium, 2115 Afton Way, in Colorado Springs.
“Our quarterback has to be as much of a threat running the football as he is to pitching and passing the ball,” DeBerry said. “He has to do a better job running and when he’s effective doing that, he’ll make the rest of our offensive more productive.”
Carney isn’t as thick through the body as he was last year, which should allow him to take on more of a running role. Air Force’s depth chart lists Carney at 5-feet-10, 190 pounds.
With Carney the starter most of the time, the Falcons have compiled a 9-13 record the past two seasons, including a 4-7 mark in 2005 – only the fourth losing season for DeBerry in 22 years as Air Force’s coach.
Carney surpassed 1,000 yards passing in 2004 and 2005, but his best rushing total with the Falcons was 710 yards (4.2 per carry) last season. The benchmark for some of Air Force’s best option quarterbacks has been 1,000-yard seasons in both rushing and passing.
Overall, DeBerry has been pleased with the Falcons’ competitiveness during spring practices. That could be important as he looks ahead to a 2006 season that includes games against Tennessee and Notre Dame.
“There’s no way we can line up and do what Tennessee does as well as they do it,” DeBerry said of the opener. “But Tennessee might not be able to do what we do as well as we can, either.”
DeBerry has been encouraged by the return from injuries of defensive end Gilberto Perez and guard Caleb Morris. Blaine Guenther, a 6-2, 270-pound junior, has gained the starting spot at right offensive tackle with a strong spring camp.
Junior Jim Ollis has solidified his place on the depth chart as Carney’s backup and junior Ty Paffett, who played safety last season, has nailed down a spot in the rotation at halfback.
Irv Moss can be reached at 303-820-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
