AIR FORCE ACADEMY — After conducting the most intensive search for new players in any of his six spring football practices, Air Force coach Troy Calhoun thinks he has the material for a rebuilding job after the loss of 28 seniors from last year’s 7-6 team that lost 42-41 to Toledo in the Military Bowl.
“Hands down, we did the most 11-on-11 and just playing football than we’ve ever done in the spring,” Calhoun said Wednesday as the Falcons completed spring drills. “We did more contact work than ever. We have a bunch of new faces.”
Calhoun won’t bring his players back together again until preseason practice begins in August, but he predicted the amount of time they’re in the weight room over the next five months will go a long way in determining the success next fall. The Falcons have had five consecutive winning seasons and played in a bowl all five seasons in Calhoun’s tenure that began in 2007.
Quarterback Connor Dietz was at least one known quantity as he prepares for a season in which he is the projected starter. He’s competing while in an extra semester at the academy that was granted because of a previous injury that restricted involvement in classroom work and military training.
“Connor has had the most experience in terms of game time,” Calhoun said. “But all of our quarterbacks did a really good job for us all spring. Overall, our spring practice was productive.”
Dietz had worked behind Tim Jefferson the last four years and is looking ahead to being the leader of the Air Force offense. Dietz played in nine games last season, completing 9-of-15 passes for one touchdown.
“It was a little bit different situation this spring,” Dietz said. “We have a new group of players at some positions, but there’s a lot of anticipation by all of us to be as good as we individually can be for the team.”
Besides Dietz, Calhoun talked about only a few specific players. He noted the move of senior Wes Cobb from fullback to tailback likely is permanent. Cobb rushed for 425 yards and four touchdowns last season in sharing fullback duties with Mike DeWitt.
“Wes is a good downhill runner,” Calhoun said. “He’s tough and he doesn’t fumble.”
Cobb’s transition could be a key factor in replacing Asher Clark, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of his last two seasons.
Calhoun said he needs improvement in hang time and distance from punter David Baska.
After the bowl game, Calhoun said his team as a whole had to get bigger. The weight room is the immediate help, but Calhoun looks at recruiting bigger players as the primary need over the long haul.
