Fifth, Air Force

2005 Record: 4-7

2005 MWC Record: 3-5

Predicted 2006 record: 5-7

Head coach: Fisher DeBerry, 23rd year

Last bowl appearance: 2002 San Francisco Bowl, lost to Virginia Tech 20-13

QUARTERBACK: When Air Force misses a bowl game for the third straight year, the assumption would be that coach Fisher DeBerry is having trouble finding a quarterback. But quarterback hasn’t been the problem for the Flyboys. Shaun Carney surprised the MWC as a freshman starter in 2004, but too many holes in the rest of the Air Force lineup prevented him from making an impact his sophomore season in 2005 despite rushing for 710 yards and 11 touchdowns, good for 4.2 yards per carry, and throwing for seven touchdowns with seven interceptions. Despite Carney’s experience, he will be pushed for playing time as DeBerry has converted junior Jim Ollis from halfback to quarterback. DeBerry said he wanted more depth behind Carney than returns on the roster without the switch.

RUNNING BACK: Experience also returns for the Falcons behind Carney with fullback Jacobe Kendrick and halfbacks Chad Hall and Justin Handley. DeBerry considers Kendrick one the best fullbacks to play for him. He was second in rushing last year with 532 yards on 116 carries for 4.6 yards per attempt and six touchdowns. Consistent yardage from the fullback is a key to the Air Force offense opening up big gainers for the quarterback on the keeper or the pitch. Last year Handley rushed for 165 yards and two touchdowns and Hall finished third on the team with 344 yards and one touchdown. Hall is the better receiver out of the backfield with 16 catches last year.

RECEIVERS: Air Force uses its receivers as blockers down field when the triple option springs a big gainer, so the lack of receiver with significant catches last year doesn’t mean the team won’t receive the production it needs. Two upperclassmen compete for the lone wide receiver position with senior Victor Thompson and junior Mark Root. Chris Evans earned five starts last year as a tight end and returns for his junior year.

OFFENSIVE LINE: When Air Force returns three seniors as starters in the offensive line to go with a third-year starter at quarterback, expect the Falcons to get off to a fast start. Even when the Falcons are forced to revamp their offensive line, the triple option offense is so ingrained in the Air Force offense new starters quickly take over their roles. Air Force’s three returning starters are tackle Robert Kraay, senior Tyler Dohallow and senior guard Curtis Grantham. Kraay gives the Falcons rare size as a 6-8, 295-pounder. Junior Ryan Zeman will start at right tackle opposite of Kraay and senior Stuart Perlow has earned the job at center.

DEFENSIVE LINE: Air Force’s back-to-back losing seasons are its first since the 1980-81 seasons and much of the disappointment can be blamed on the defense. But the Falcons have an anchor in their defensive line to build around with senior defensive end Gilberto Perez. He earned honorable mention last year, but the Falcons believe he would have been an all-conference pick before a knee injury ended his season. Despite missing three games, he led the team with 9.5 tackles for a loss. Josh Clayton will start opposite Perez at end and the tackles will be Grant Thomas and Kevin Quinn.

LINEBACKERS: Junior Drew Fowler returns as one of two starter linebackers in the Falcons’ 4-2-5 alignment that features two “Falcons” or rovers in the secondary. Fowler finished second on the team last year with 77 tackles, including 5.5 for a loss and one sack. Air Force believes junior John Rabold is ready to step into a starting role beside Fowler. He had a 13-tackle game last year against Utah. There is experience among the backups with senior Joey Keller and Jared Baxley.

SECONDARY: Air Force’s back-to-back losing seasons are its first since the 1980-81 seasons and much of the blame can be placed on the defense. Air Force has allowed too many points and too many big plays. The return of three starters in the secondary should go a long way toward cutting down on the big plays. The three starters returning in the five-man secondary are cornerbacks Carson Bird and Chris Sutton and free safety Bobby Giannini. The DBs are led by Giannini, who was honorable mention in the 2005 season when he led Air Force in tackles with 92 and in interceptions with three. Bird is a returning starter, but he is being pushed for a starting job by junior Nathan Smith. Junior John Madrid and sophomore Hunter Altman are cast as the “Falcons” in the rover roles.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Bryan Jones returns as the deep snapper, but otherwise the Falcons need a new punter and new place-kicker to handle those duties. Cornerback Chris Sutton returns as a return man.