Air Force spring football practices on Tuesday (here’s the link to my wrapup, and yes, I’m aware that “spring” football is a misnomer at Air Force), and since I got a couple questions in comments on my last two links, I thought I’d open the floor for everyone.
Any questions as the Falcons go into the last few months before training camp starts? Post them as a comment on this post, and I’ll answer however many you’ve got.
Frank,
Please give your input on how the Falcon D developed during spring ball and in particular your thoughts on the play of those competing for starting spots at NG and DE.
While the O line has younger players stepping in to take over from a group of outstanding Sr starters who graduate this May I think they are a talented and capable group. Your thoughts on the O line?
At QB there is an interesting battle going on for the #2 spot between Kale Pearson and Mitch Griebel which will not only be a critical choice in the fall, but for the future of the AF O. Your thoughts on how Pearson and Griebel performed, where Tucker Tipton fits in the mix?
Any thoughts on how Connor Dietz performed passing the ball? There is an obvious concern with most Falcon fans that the passing attack will take a dramatic drop off with the departure of TJ, but I wonder if you think Dietz could surprise fans by being effective in throwing short to intermediate passes which he seems to be more comfortable and accurate throwing? The “fat lady in the flat” seems to be the perfect fit for Dietz i.e. get the high percentage completion to MacArthur or Hunter in space and let their outstanding athletic abilities chew up YAC.
Who emerges as the next big/tall threat at WR Z and do you anticipate the TEs and FBs getting more balls thrown their way?
Mike
Frank, was former Vanderbilt starter Jay Fullam (FS) seen on the field?
Mike, I assume you know all these answers better than me, so feel free to post after me offering your thoughts on it.
1. I like the young DL, though injuries made it harder to really get a good read. If you can get Fitzgerald, DeJulio and Champaign all healthy and then guys like Cody Miller and James Rushing backing them up, I think it could be a solid line. Especially like Fitzgerald and Champaign – as do the coaches.
2. After what OL coach Hendrix pulled off in 2010, replacing all 5 guys, I’d never worry about that group until I have reason to believe otherwise. Kons and Eason are good, think the competition between Henry and Huskisson at RT is close (and will help both guys), Husar has always been a player the coaches like at center and Kerber and Badger are also good on the interior. Again, this is as well coached a unit as the Falcons have.
3. I was going to write about the backup QB position this week, but since you asked … I heard Pearson had a great camp, and indeed he was the No. 2 guy on the last day. Griebel also performed well, and I think the best passer of the lot. Tipton is a guy who has always run the offense well in practice, but I don’t know if he has the ability of the guys ahead of him. Once Graves and Jaleel Awini get here from the P, it’s going to be an absolute free-for-all. Already seen QBs like Trubiano and Huntsman move.
4. I thought Connor threw the ball OK (the WRs needed to help him out a little more with being more consistent), and I think he’ll probably be: a) better as a passer than the worst-case scenario folks think he’ll be, and b) clearly not better than Jefferson. He has his strengths and AFA will play to them.
5. Saw guys like Tony Daniels and Stacey Blunt line up outside and do some things, but I think a ton falls on Mikel Hunter’s shoulders (he had a great TD against Chris Miller yesterday). And then Ty MacArthur in the slot. Drew Coleman will add something assuming he stays healthy (was out for the spring with a shoulder).
Rob, Fullam wasn’t out there for any of the practices I saw, and he could have gotten some good reps with Wooding and some other DBs out. Will be interesting to see where he fits in during the fall. I’ll be writing about him sometime soon, but per AFA’s policies, injured players are unavailable to the media.
Why doesn’t AF play the traditional Blue-Silver game in the stadium to finish spring ball like they did for decades?
Bird, that’s a great question, and I can’t remember the reason – I asked once and can’t recall the answer. What Calhoun had them do in the last day wasn’t that much more intense than a spring game atmosphere (a ton of live 11 on 11), so I don’t know why that would be an issue. Let me see.
The answer: Calhoun wanted to use every practice his first year to install his system. He liked that system and stuck with it, and figured since all practices are open to the public, there were many chances to see AFA practice in the spring.
Could Dietz be our Tim Tebow….an orthodox passer who wills his team to victory with guts and guile? I was never a big fan of Jefferson’s quite leadership at the QB position. I do worry that Dietz could also end up being a like a Chance Harridge (2003), a great runner who had major problems completing a pass. I think Calhoun will be much better about tweaking the offense to his skill set, rather than let a short coming fester and become a major liability.
As an aside – I’ve always wondered what if Tebow had grown up wanting to fly and came to Air Force. 3000 yards rushing in a season? Undefeated seasons? He would have been insane in the AFA offense. Anyway …
I don’t see why Dietz can’t be a successful QB, AFA has had a ton of good QBs who weren’t great passers. Jefferson was a fine leader and a heck of a player, Dietz just brings a different set of skills. Calhoun is a smart coach, he won’t try to do square peg/round hole and run the same offense.
That said, did you notice a difference in offensive plays ran this spring vs TJ’s SO and JR springs? Does it appear like Calhoun is prepping to run a significantly difference offense?
*different offense.
Frank – Even with Dietz back….It’s hard to think that Griebel and/or Pearson would be left to ride pine for 3 years considering their skill set….Any speculation as to how TC might shake that up into a formula to help the falcons win games with those 2 guys these next 3 years? Go falcons!
Rob, as far as the offense goes, I can’t say I really chart plays (reporting that is universally frowned upon in the media-team dynamic, and I spend most of my time studying personnel and lineups) so I don’t want to give a definitive answer on how the offense will change. I didn’t notice a huge difference, because they have to practice pass plays as much as run plays, but that’s a lot different than playcalling on a Saturday obviously. The playcalling will be different for Dietz than Jefferson though, it pretty much has to be that way.
Falconfreak, interesting question. I don’t like 2-QB offenses except in very unusual circumstances, I think you let your best guy play and the 2nd best guy back up. That said, the coaching staff doesn’t ask my opinion. Still, they’ve never shown much of an indication they want a 2-QB rotation (which they surely could have done with TJ/Dietz) but I guess it depends if, A) neither one separates himself, and B) they have unique skills that the other doesn’t. And all THAT said, can’t count out guys like Awini and Graves being in the picture for 2013 – just posted a blog on the backup situation.
Dietz is not coming back to not start. Can he throw effectivley or will it be 8-3 defences and maybe worse. Chance seemed much quicker than seems Dietz. Can anyone else move the ball if Dietz is a game manager such as Perez?
Big issue is the D line. Size has become a “big”issue-AFA lacks size and numbers. Any news there?
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