With Troy Calhoun starting his second season as Air Force’s head coach, the Falcons’ offense will look even more different than last year when they all but abandoned the option after decades in the system.
And unlike last year, when Air Force finished 9-4, Calhoun won’t have four-year starter Shaun Carney at quarterback or electrifying Z-back Chad Hall. As well, there are only a combined eight starters returning from last year’s team.
“This is probably one of the youngest teams the academy has ever had,” Calhoun said. “There is definitely going to be some rebuilding to do.”
Calhoun will try to replace Carney and Hall by committees, and lengthen the field and move the ball quicker, no matter who is taking the snaps. Three quarterbacks could be used in prime-time situations, and at least three Z-backs — including cornerback and kick returner Reggie Rembert — could play on the same series.
Calhoun, an Air Force graduate and former Broncos assistant, thrives on developing systems based on personnel, not forcing players to adapt to one system. That’s why his pro-style offense still includes some option and multiback misdirection plays.
“We don’t cram guys and say, ‘We only run these formations and only these plays,’ ” Calhoun said. “The thing that I want to do is recruit the very best players that we can possibly get to the academy and tailor our defense or offense to their respective strengths. . . . We have to be able to adapt from week to week and really, season to season.”
Calhoun hasn’t named a starting QB, but senior Shea Smith likely will get the season-opening nod over junior Eric Herbort when Southern Utah visits Falcon Stadium on Saturday. Herbort was the starter after spring drills but Smith now is listed No. 1 on the depth chart. Both are 5-feet-11 and under 200 pounds. Herbort has an advantage in arm strength but Smith has the edge in experience. Smith replaced an injured Carney during the Armed Forces Bowl last December, completing 4-of-12 passes for 45 yards and rushing for 33 yards.
“I think they’ll both play,” Calhoun said, adding that Smith and Herbort could “conceivably” take snaps on the same series.
The same undoubtedly will be true at Z-back, which is a mix of tailback, slotback and wide receiver. Sophomore Kyle Halderman is listed as the starter, ahead of senior Ty Paffett and Rembert.
With no clear-cut starter at two major skill positions, one has to wonder if selfishness could become an issue.
“Everybody gets along great,” Halderman said. “We really jell and know what everybody is going to do. Overall, we’re going to run a little different without Chad’s major threat, because everybody had to pay attention to him. I think we’ll be harder to figure out, with so many guys doing different things.”
Rembert, 5-7 and 175 pounds, probably won’t be used at Z-back after a long defensive series. But make no mistake, his teammates already think he has Chad Hall-type potential.
“Reggie looks a bit like Chad,” Halderman said. “Chad is a great player and it will be hard to fill his shoes. I would like to think I can be that type of player, but I consider myself more of a wide receiver type. He moves a lot more side to side than I can, but I’m a little faster down the stretch.”
The Falcons also are inexperienced at tailback, wide receiver and tight end — the latter because of the preseason injury to senior Travis Dekker. Dekker, who ranked third on the team a year ago with 25 catches and first among all receivers who had more than 10 catches with a 15.3-yard average, fractured an ankle and is recovering from surgery.
At tailback, sophomore Savier Stephens is a potential starter. He was seventh on the team in rushing last year, with 36 carries for 148 yards.
Junior receiver Sean Quintana will play a lot. The Highlands Ranch alum caught eight passes a year ago.
Despite all the inexperience, Smith isn’t concerned.
“I’ve got big confidence in the O-line. They’re going to protect, backs are going to run hard, receivers are going to catch the ball, and the defense is going to get off the field and give us the football,” said Smith, a two-year starter at Permian High School in Odessa, Texas — the program on which the book and movie “Friday Night Lights” was based.
“Playing with guys like that, there is nothing to be nervous about.”
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
About the Falcons
Coach
Troy Calhoun, second year. 2007: 9-4, 6-2 MWC
What’s new
The immediate QB position is between senior Shea Smith and junior Eric Herbort, but talented freshman Tim Jefferson is being groomed to become a three-year starter and could see action late in the year. Starting cornerback and kick returner Reggie Rembert is a strong Z-back candidate on offense.
What to look for
Youth will be served, with a combined 60 underclassmen: 13 freshmen and 47 sophomores. There are just 20 seniors. Four freshmen are on the two-deep depth chart and several more will play with the varsity.
5 players to watch
QB Shea Smith
Limited athleticism but doesn’t make many mistakes. He’s a ball- control QB who could split playing time with Herbort and eventually with Jefferson.
WR-Z Kyle Halderman
Takes over for the record-setting Chad Hall, who graduated. Halderman might be faster.
TB Savier Stephens
Another youngster prepared to take on a big role, but at least two others will help carry the load.
CB/WR-Z/KR Reggie Rembert
Pegged to play on both sides of the ball and return kicks — so he must be special.
WR Sean Quintana
Highlands Ranch alum figures to play a key role as a junior. Caught eight passes a year ago.
Projected starting lineup
Offense
Pos. Player Ht. Wt. Cl.
WR Spencer Armstrong 6-1 195 Sr.
TE Keith Madsen 6-3 230 Sr.
LT Keith Williams 6-6 275 Sr.
LG Nick Charles 6-4 285 Jr.
C Andrew Pipes 6-1 265 Sr.
RG Peter Lusk 6-3 270 Jr.
RT Chris Campbell 6-3 270 Jr.
QB Shea Smith 5-11 190 Sr.
FB Todd Newell 5-10 215 Sr.
TB Kyle Lumpkin 5-9 180 So.
WR Kyle Halderman 5-11 175 So.
K Ryan Harrison 6-1 180 Sr.
Defense
Pos. Player Ht. Wt. Cl.
LE Jake Paulson 6-4 255 Sr.
NG Ben Garland 6-5 275 Jr.
RE Ryan Kemp 6-5 255 Sr.
OLB Hunter Altman 5-11 205 Sr.
ILB Brandon Reeves 6-1 225 Sr.
ILB Ken Lamendola 6-2 230 So.
OLB Andre Morris 6-3 235 So.
CB Brenton Byrd-Fulbright 5-10 190 Jr.
CB Reggie Rembert 5-7 175 So.
SS Chris Thomas 5-11 205 Jr.
FS Aaron Kirchoff 6-0 200 Sr.
P Ryan Harrison 6-1 180 Sr.
Schedule
Date Game Time TV
Aug. 30 Southern Utah Noon
Sept. 6 at Wyoming 1:30 p.m. CBSC
Sept. 13 at Houston 1:30 p.m. CBSC
Sept. 20 Utah 2 p.m. VS
Oct. 4 Navy 2 p.m. CBSC
Oct. 11 at San Diego State 7:30 p.m. MTN
Oct. 18 at UNLV 8 p.m. MTN
Oct. 23 New Mexico 6 p.m. CBSC
Nov. 1 at Army TBA
Nov. 8 Colorado State 4 p.m. MTN
Nov. 15 BYU 1:30 p.m. CBSC
Nov. 22 at TCU 1:30 p.m. VS
Pivotal game: Wyoming
The Falcons’ conference opener comes early — too early to lose. A year ago, the Falcons beat the Cowboys 20-12 at the academy.
