AIR FORCE ACADEMY — If Air Force secondary coach Charlton Warren is asked to list the qualities he looks for in a good defensive back, he has some examples getting ready to play the 2010 season.
Warren likes a good combination of speed, size and experience in players who have to cover passes or play run-support defense — deciding which it will be on a moment’s notice.
“For us, there never can be too much of those qualities,” Warren said Saturday after the Falcons completed a long, hard practice. “We’re not going to do anything elaborate, but we’re going to be aggressive. We understand that when you try to make big plays, things can happen both good and bad and you roll with the punches.”
Warren also pointed out that his players in the secondary have to be versatile. Air Force’s schedule always has a mixture of teams with good passing offenses and running games.
“We go from playing a Wyoming that gives you a bunch of things to Navy, who double slots the triple option and here they come,” Warren said.
Air Force head coach Troy Calhoun calls his secondary a “capable” group, but with things still to prove.
“Flashes of good play catch your eye,” Calhoun said. “But over the long haul there’s something else that wins games. Potential doesn’t mean a piece of grass. Ultimately, it’s the way you play and how productive you are on a consistent basis.”
AFA stars Reggie Rembert and Anthony Wright have additional duties on kick returns.
“There’s a fine line,” Calhoun said in keeping the additional duty from hindering the play on defense. “We want to utilize their versatility but also know not to go too far.”
Air Force’s defense had 20 interceptions last year, the secondary accounting for 19. Wright led the Falcons with seven. Rembert, an all-Mountain West Conference player, and Jon Davis each had three. Chris Thomas had five, Luke Hyder one. Thomas and Hyder graduated.
Davis, Wright and Rembert ranked in the Falcons’ top 10 in tackles — Davis with 56, Wright with 54 and Rembert with 43. Brian Lindsay played sparingly as a freshman.
“We play as best we can,” said Davis, a junior. “Whatever comes from that, we love to hear people boast about how good we can play.”
Wright, a quarterback in high school, hasn’t lost the knack of knowing what his teammates can do.
“Jon Davis is a ballhawk and all over the field at free safety,” Wright said. “Reggie Rembert is a smart player and a risk taker. Brian Lindsay gets to the ball and plays physical. I’m instinctive.”
It all adds up to what makes a good secondary.
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
