AIR FORCE ACADEMY — Air Force’s season opener is next Saturday, and some positions seem no closer to a resolution than they did when the Falcons opened training camp in July.
Two linebacker positions in particular — one of the inside slots and the “spur” position that is a hybrid linebacker and defensive back — are still seeing multiple players rotate even as the preparation turns to the Sept. 5 game against Morgan State at Falcon Stadium.
Air Force defensive coordinator Steve Russ said it would be ideal to have an obvious starting unit by this point in camp, but not enough difference has been seen by the contenders at those positions to give up the benefits of the competition in favor of continuity.
“I think it will resolve itself after this weekend,” Russ said. “But nothing is set in stone.”
At inside linebacker, first-team reps Thursday were split between Patrick Healy, Trey Alexander and Grant Ross.
Based on the way the practices have played out over recent weeks, it would seem a safe assumption that Healy will be a starter next to his brother, Connor, who has locked down the other linebacker job. But he will start only in the way that an appetizer arrives at your table first. The Falcons will surely have a taste of the other options through the course of this first game.
The same seems to be true at the spur position, where Jacob Onyechi hasn’t ceded his spot to returning starter Dexter Walker, who has had minor injuries but appears healthy now. Both figure to play in the opener against Morgan State.
“Usually if you have competition that goes up to the first game, it means you’re probably going to roll some guys,” Russ said. “It’s not a bad thing, because you know you’re going to have some depth.”
Neither Russ nor coach Troy Calhoun gave a timeline to establish the final depth chart for the opener other than to say that players hadn’t been told anything as of Thursday night.
“It’s all season long,” Calhoun said. “You are forever evaluating personnel. It’s always changing. That’s the way it’s just always going to be. We don’t have a set 11 and that’s it.
“What’s fortunate about football is you don’t have to go out with a full shift change. It’s not a case where four guys skate on so four guys have to skate off.”
