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Besides the obvious -- stopping the run...

TURNOVERS (and time of possession in small print).

Air Force is fairly turnover prone. In their three losses, they lost each game because of turnovers.

SDSU def. Air Force 30-14 (-3 turnover ratio)
USU def. Air Force 34-16 (-3 turnover ratio)
WYO def. Air Force 17-13 (-2 turnover ratio) - Wyoming came from behind after an Air Force fumble on 4th down in the 3Q.

When Air Force beat Boise St., they won the turnover battle 7-2.
When Air Force beat Colorado St., they had a game winning interception late in the 4Q when CSU was driving, and also had a late 4th down stop to seal the win.

"The ball is the program" is definitely our motto in this game. Limit turnovers on offense, and our defense/special teams must make plays and create turnovers.

Win the turnover battle, defend inside out, stay home to your responsibility, score early. Adjust accordingly.

Can't argue with that. But it's a moot point if we can't stop the run. Gotta force them to pass on our veteran secondary.

Just hoping we avoid a football version of our March Madness SU game. Even IF we lose, keep the outcome in doubt until deep in the fourth quarter. Even though they were losses, our Purdue bowl was 100x more fun than the Texas Bowl.

(12-08-2014 01:35 PM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  Just hoping we avoid a football version of our March Madness SU game. Even IF we lose, keep the outcome in doubt until deep in the fourth quarter. Even though they were losses, our Purdue bowl was 100x more fun than the Texas Bowl.

Ugh, the Purdue bowl. 7 turnovers, gave up 2 onside kicks, gave up kick return for a TD...and we still only lost by 5

Alex Carder had 400+ yards, Jordan White had 250+ yards

That was a crazy game.

The nice thing is that we already have been playing single coverage, and committed to stopping the run, all season long. Most of the season we have won the turnover battles, and I think the coaching staff has had the team pretty prepared for the different offenses and defenses we have seen throughout the year. Air Force’s offense will be something we haven’t seen, but at least we have more than a week to prepare. Wonder if the coaches had any foresight that Air Force, and this offense was something we might get, and thought about how to defend.

My guess is that we will know after the first set of downs how we will do. LOL. Hope we don’t have that same feeling we, as Bronco faithful, have had so many times after getting punched in the mouth to start a big game.

(12-08-2014 01:35 PM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  Just hoping we avoid a football version of our March Madness SU game. Even IF we lose, keep the outcome in doubt until deep in the fourth quarter.

I don't see a Syracuse BB-like repeat. I do think that we have a very tough matchup with Air Force, but I'm starting to feel more and more confident that this is going to be a good - and close - game.

Consider Air Force's victories - specifically, the scores - this season:

Nicholls State 44-16
at Georgia State 48-38
Boise State 28-14
Navy 30-21
New Mexico 35-31
at Army 23-6
at UNLV 48-21
Nevada 45-38 (OT)
Colorado State 27-24

Of those nine wins, the only two that could be considered blowouts are Nicholls State and UNLV. Their track record from this season - along with our own track record of not getting blown out in any loss this season - leads me to believe more and more that, win or lose, this should be a close game.

(12-08-2014 03:47 PM)The Colonel Wrote:  

(12-08-2014 01:35 PM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  Just hoping we avoid a football version of our March Madness SU game. Even IF we lose, keep the outcome in doubt until deep in the fourth quarter.

I don't see a Syracuse BB-like repeat. I do think that we have a very tough matchup with Air Force, but I'm starting to feel more and more confident that this is going to be a good - and close - game.

Consider Air Force's victories - specifically, the scores - this season:

Nicholls State 44-16
at Georgia State 48-38
Boise State 28-14
Navy 30-21
New Mexico 35-31
at Army 23-6
at UNLV 48-21
Nevada 45-38 (OT)
Colorado State 27-24

Of those nine wins, the only two that could be considered blowouts are Nicholls State and UNLV. Their track record from this season - along with our own track record of not getting blown out in any loss this season - leads me to believe more and more that, win or lose, this should be a close game.

What, they've already beat Nicholls State? This could be trouble.

I'm surprised the state of Idaho invited us back...............

Let's not leave any How Mountains in the showers this time.

Quote:What, they've already beat Nicholls State? This could be trouble.

Yeah, we crushe--- oh wait, never mind. :)

Quote:I'm surprised the state of Idaho invited us back...............

Let's not leave any How Mountains in the showers this time.

Well, don't count on good behavior. If we come off that field with our first bowl victory, over a 9-3 team -- you better believe the sinks in the locker rooms aren't going to be loose, but smashed to smitherines! And more than just 1 ceiling tile broken in half!

Good perspective on the team's preparation against AFA:
http://www.mlive.com/broncos/index.ssf/2...cart_river

(12-10-2014 04:14 PM)Hoekjeness Wrote:  Good perspective on the team's preparation against AFA:
http://www.mlive.com/broncos/index.ssf/2...cart_river

They rush for 272/gm and we give up 142/gm. Something is gonna give.

I'd put our corners on an island and let them beat us through the air... said every defensive coordinator in the country.

I wish it was that simple... but I trust the coaches to come up with something clever. Hopefully it's something the guys can absorb in 2 weeks, though. That's my real worry. Let's make the best possible game plan we can, but also keep in mind it's something that can be learned in two weeks (with exams on top of that).

This game is going to come down to the tranches. We have to stop their rushing attack. They have to stop ours. I can see our veteran O-line and Jarvion Franklin wearing them down later in the game. But if they can run at will from the start, it won't make a difference. I'm really interested to see what the coaching staff comes up with. This should be a really fun game.

(12-10-2014 06:25 PM)ColinApocalypse Wrote:  This game is going to come down to the tranches. We have to stop their rushing attack. They have to stop ours. I can see our veteran O-line and Jarvion Franklin wearing them down later in the game. But if they can run at will from the start, it won't make a difference. I'm really interested to see what the coaching staff comes up with. This should be a really fun game.

I hear some southern coach preaching this to his team...

(12-10-2014 06:36 PM)flushtheherd Wrote:  

(12-10-2014 06:25 PM)ColinApocalypse Wrote:  This game is going to come down to the tranches. We have to stop their rushing attack. They have to stop ours. I can see our veteran O-line and Jarvion Franklin wearing them down later in the game. But if they can run at will from the start, it won't make a difference. I'm really interested to see what the coaching staff comes up with. This should be a really fun game.

I hear some southern coach preaching this to his team...

Ha. My Southern drawl is showing

(12-10-2014 04:43 PM)Hoekjeness Wrote:  I'd put our corners on an island and let them beat us through the air... said every defensive coordinator in the country.

I wish it was that simple... but I trust the coaches to come up with something clever. Hopefully it's something the guys can absorb in 2 weeks, though. That's my real worry. Let's make the best possible game plan we can, but also keep in mind it's something that can be learned in two weeks (with exams on top of that).

When they are lined up in the flexbone and even the I(which they still run option from) I would not lock up my corners outside man to man. You need your corners to help you against this offense or you will see the ball being pitched from the option or just quick pitch and they will crack on your safety all day long. Then if that man coverage corner comes off the wr when he thinks it is a crack block you will get post corners or wheel routes all day off of play action. As an option coach I dream of straight man teams.

"Assignment Football" against the option is the worst way to play the option. Today's option coaches want to know who you have covering the qb and the pitch. When they have established that pattern then they just change the blocking scheme to take away your guy who has pitch and you are screwed or same with who has qb. In todays football you have to vary your calls against option teams. You have to have switch calls that change frequently to keep the OC off balance. Switch call means guys responsible for qb and pitch will switch assignments. You also need to attack with zone stunts that force a quick decision by the qb but if you do it too much you will give up the big passing play.

Air Force from the limited film I have watched this season and from past games uses the I to throw play action passes and some power run game. They will run speed option and good ole inside veer from it as well. So even when they line up "normal" as PJ put it they still run option.

This post is already too long but I could type all night about this.

(12-10-2014 07:57 PM)Kimbosucks Wrote:  

(12-10-2014 04:43 PM)Hoekjeness Wrote:  I'd put our corners on an island and let them beat us through the air... said every defensive coordinator in the country.

I wish it was that simple... but I trust the coaches to come up with something clever. Hopefully it's something the guys can absorb in 2 weeks, though. That's my real worry. Let's make the best possible game plan we can, but also keep in mind it's something that can be learned in two weeks (with exams on top of that).

When they are lined up in the flexbone and even the I(which they still run option from) I would not lock up my corners outside man to man. You need your corners to help you against this offense or you will see the ball being pitched from the option or just quick pitch and they will crack on your safety all day long. Then if that man coverage corner comes off the wr when he thinks it is a crack block you will get post corners or wheel routes all day off of play action. As an option coach I dream of straight man teams.

"Assignment Football" against the option is the worst way to play the option. Today's option coaches want to know who you have covering the qb and the pitch. When they have established that pattern then they just change the blocking scheme to take away your guy who has pitch and you are screwed or same with who has qb. In todays football you have to vary your calls against option teams. You have to have switch calls that change frequently to keep the OC off balance. Switch call means guys responsible for qb and pitch will switch assignments. You also need to attack with zone stunts that force a quick decision by the qb but if you do it too much you will give up the big passing play.

Air Force from the limited film I have watched this season and from past games uses the I to throw play action passes and some power run game. They will run speed option and good ole inside veer from it as well. So even when they line up "normal" as PJ put it they still run option.

This post is already too long but I could type all night about this.