Friday's Fast Five: Keys For Buffs Vs. Air Force

BOULDER — They are not the biggest team the Colorado Buffaloes will face this year — but they might be the most disciplined.

And, in terms of the hours needed to prepare and then practice a proper game plan, the Air Force Falcons may represent one of the biggest dilemmas of the season for CU head coach Mel Tucker and his staff.

The Buffs are by no means unique in that regard. Every team that plays AFA must spend extra time preparing for the offensive scheme employed by the Falcons, one that has its roots in triple-option football but has been modified and modernized by head coach Troy Calhoun.

Still, while their multiple-formation schemes and sets are no doubt a headache for opposing defensive coordinators, the Falcons' basic goal is still relatively simple: run the football and control the clock. In their season opening 48-7 win over Colgate, AFA threw exactly one pass (a 41-yard completion). Otherwise, they pounded Colgate at will.

So what must Tucker's 2-0 Buffs do Saturday at Folsom Field in their 11 a.m. matchup (Pac-12 Network) to make sure 1-0 Air Force doesn't completely control the tempo of the game?

1. Take full advantage of every offensive possession. Obviously, every offense wants to score every time it gets the ball, just as every offense wants to avoid the quick three-and-out. But those three-and-outs are extra damaging against Air Force because the Falcons "shorten" the game with their offense.

When the Falcons get their run game in high gear, it keeps the clock moving because there's no stoppage for an incomplete pass. That, in turn, limits the number of offensive possessions the opponent has. While the Buffs are accustomed to roughly 12 to 16 possessions a game, Air Force regularly keeps teams in the 10 to 12 range (Colgate had just four chances with the ball in the entire second half against AFA).

Another way to look at it: in each of the last four seasons, the Falcons have been among the nation's top 20 teams in time of possession, including three in the top 10, averaging roughly 8 more minutes of time with the ball than the opponent. That kind of edge can wear out an opposing defense and put pressure on an offense.

That's not a game the Buffs want to play. CU has shown the ability to hammer out long drives, and Saturday would be a good day to pound out a few more of those.

2. Continue to win the turnover battle. Yes, we'll go back to that well again this week because it has been so important in the first two games.

After the first two weeks of the season, CU is tied for fourth in the nation in turnover margin, averaging 2.5 per game more than its opponent. The Buffs' defense has already produced seven takeaways this season — nearly half of last year's total of 15 — and every one of them has been a critical part of Colorado's two wins.

That, of course, is the best way to stop an offense and produce some momentum at the same time. If the Buffs can continue to record those defensive takeaways and practice good ball security at the same time (CU has just two turnovers in two games), it will go a long way in disrupting the Falcons' plan of controlling the clock and tempo.

3. Be wary of the pass. Just because the Falcons want to run the ball — and then keep running it — doesn't mean they can't sling it when necessary. Starting quarterback Donald Hammond threw for more than 600 yards last season with five touchdowns and just two interceptions, and the Falcons did have four games with at least 150 yards passing (two over 200).

Thus, the Buffs aren't putting a whole lot of stock in the fact that AFA threw just one pass in its season opener. The Falcons didn't show much in the opening win because they didn't have to. With four touchdowns in the second quarter, they held a 35-0 lead at the half and kept it vanilla all day. The fact that they didn't play last week means CU really hasn't seen much of the Air Force offense at all.

What Air Force wants opponents to do is fail to respect the pass and have defensive backs — especially safeties — begin cheating toward the line of scrimmage to stop the run. When that happens they can throw intermediate and deep routes, and they have the players to complete those plays.

4. Play assignment football. That is easier said than done, especially against the AFA offense, which runs all kinds offensive sets with a wide variety of plays from every one of those sets.

That creates a tendency for defenders to over-pursue and leave their gap responsibilities. When that happens, the Falcons hit that unoccupied space, usually for big gains. It means every Buffs defender has to be disciplined on every play and not give up any cheap explosion plays.

5. Start fast on both sides of the ball. This hasn't been a Colorado strong point thus far. In fact, CU has had to rally from a deficit in both games to win.

That's not a fate the Buffs want to keep tempting, especially against the Falcons. Air Force would like nothing better than to head into the fourth quarter Saturday with the game up for grabs. While the Buffs wore Nebraska down in the altitude, they won't be able to do the same against AFA.

This is a game in which the Buffs need to produce an early lead and force the Falcons out of their comfort zone. If the Falcons have to throw early to stay in the game, it will play into Colorado's hands for all the reasons we've mentioned earlier. AFA's offense isn't built for scoring in a hurry, nor is it suited for playing from behind.

If the Buffs can put them in that position — especially early — it will give them the opportunity to control the tempo on their terms down the stretch.

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu

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