Air Force football took newfound experience into bye week in search of answers

Air Force’s first bye week came at an advantageous time.

With no game this past weekend the Falcons, who have taken “inexperience” to an extreme with 24 players making their first college start during the first three games, were able to put in extra time on the practice field and apply lessons learned after their first bit of experience.

“There’s a foundation that maybe previously was not there,” said coach Troy Calhoun, whose team returns to action Saturday at Wyoming (0-4, 0-0 Mountain West). “Absolutely that can be helpful.”

The season has so far been a struggle for Air Force (1-2, 0-1). In losses to San Jose State (17-7 on Sept. 7) and at Baylor (31-3 on Sept. 14) the only points the Falcons scored came on possessions following turnovers that started deep on the opponents’ side of the field.

The program that has ranked in the nation’s top 10 in rushing all but once since 1986 year ranks 64th. The team is averaging 167.3 rushing yards per game and 3.2 per attempt. The passing game has offered no help, ranking 133rd in both yards and efficiency.

But this is also a team breaking in an entirely new offensive line, a new quarterback, tailback, fullback, tight end… and then breaking in a few new players at those spots after injuries.

This week – the first of two byes on the schedule, a rarity, with the next coming on Oct. 26 – marked the first time for most of the roster to go back to the drawing board having experienced the speed and physicality of the college game.

This also comes early enough in the season that irreparable damage hasn't yet taken place.

“It’s great because you get those first few games under your feet, you get the feel of what a game’s going to be like and how that’s different from practice,” junior safety Levi Brown said.

There have been signs of life. For example, the offense had three possessions of 10-plus plays in the first half. The past week has been spent trying to figure out how to accentuate what has worked.

“We’ve seen where are weaknesses are, and what we’re good at, and then areas to grow in,” senior offensive tackle Alex Moore said. “That’s definitely something we focused on in the bye week.”