Air Force Academy – Playing experience is a double-edged sword for Air Force defensive tackle Kevin Quinn.
Before this year, most of his playing experience was on the junior varsity. But it was time well spent when it comes to playing Navy, which runs an offense similar to Air Force’s.
“I was on the scout team for two years,” Quinn said. “I played against our option offense every day, week in and week out. I probably understand that offense better than anyone else on our team.”
Quinn played in eight games last season, but most of his playing time came against Navy. His experience against the Air Force option in practice earned him playing time against Navy’s option in the real thing.
It isn’t difficult to predict the key to the Air Force-Navy game Saturday at Falcon Stadium.
The Midshipmen (4-1) lead the nation in rushing at 357.2 yards a game. Air Force (2-1) allows an average of 65.7 yards rushing a game, so something has to give.
Quinn and fellow defensive linemen Grant Thomas and Josh Clayton figure to be major factors.
“They run the option just like we do and they’re running it excellent,” AFA defensive coordinator Richard Bell said of the Middies. “It puts a lot of pressure on your defense. You’d like to just say we’re going to stop the run and you work in that direction. Last year, they hurt us with their throwing game. If you get your players so involved in the running game, if they’re not conscious of what’s happening, they’ll let a receiver run right by them.”
Navy quarterback Brian Hampton can keep a defense guessing. He leads the Middies in total offense with 540 yards and eight touchdowns rushing and 294 yards and two touchdowns passing. Bell doesn’t point to any part of his defensive unit as a key to stopping Navy’s play-action game.
“It has to be team defense,” Bell said. “Everybody’s going to get tested. As the saying goes, if one fails, everybody fails. We can’t afford to miss tackles. The option takes emphasis off of ability and talent, which they have, and puts it on execution.”
The Falcons face their first game in the Commander-in- Chief’s Trophy race hurting on the defensive line. Ends Jake Paulson and Noah Garguile and tackle Gilberto Perez have been injured, and their status for the Navy game isn’t clear.
“We’re confident with everyone we have on the defensive line,” Clayton said. “Whether they’ve been starters or not coming up to this point, we believe we won’t miss a beat on defense.”
Thomas is expecting a bruising game Saturday.
“There won’t be many tricks or surprises,” Thomas said. “It’s going to be butting heads and finding out who’s going to give. There won’t be anything pretty.”
MWC salutes safety
Strong safety Julian Madrid was named the Mountain West Conference’s defensive player of the week for his performance in Air Force’s 24-7 victory over New Mexico. Madrid, a junior from San Diego, made eight tackles. He also forced a fumble and intercepted a pass.
Irv Moss can be reached at 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
