Air Force readies for well-armed Houston

By Jim Benton, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published December 29, 2008 at 11:54 p.m.

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It doesn't seem like this would be a problem for the Air Force Academy, but one of the challenges its secondary will face in Wednesday's Armed Forces Bowl is staying disciplined.

That's because the Falcons will be facing Houston's explosive offense and quarterback Case Keenum.

Keenum, a sophomore from Abilene, Texas, ranks No. 1 in Football Bowl Subdivision statistics in total offense with 416.1 yards per game. Keenum also is the FBS leader in passing yards (4,768) and passing yards per game (397.33).

"When you get a quarterback out of the pocket, you want to converge on him and get that big play, that big sack, but he scrambles to throw so he makes you stay in coverage," Air Force free safety Aaron Kirchoff said after Monday's practice.

"You can get sucked up by him getting out of the pocket, then get beat deep, so you have to be very disciplined when you play a quarterback like him.

"You have to be aware of everybody on the field because they make plays on their feet, they make plays throwing the ball deep and they make you defend them deep when they can slice you up the middle with screens."

Air Force held on to beat Houston 31-28 earlier this season in Dallas, but Keenum passed for 362 yards and had 437 yards total offense.

"He's superb," Air Force coach Troy Calhoun said of Keenum. "He's extremely accurate, he knows the system thoroughly, he understands if he has to change a protection, he knows where the free rushers are to be able to get the ball out of his hands and he puts the ball in a place where the receivers are able to immediately transition.

"Then there is also the threat of quickness, the running aspect. He's a terrific quarterback. You start talking about sophomores in this country, he's a guy over the next couple years if he stays in college will absolutely be mentioned as a national candidate for a number of awards."

Lineup changes

Air Force has made a few changes to its starting lineup.

Sophomore Jared Tew, who has played in nine games this season, will start in place of Todd Newell at fullback. Newell, the team's leading rusher with 594 yards, hasn't practiced because of an ankle injury.

"I'm excited for the opportunity that I have to try to step into Todd's shoes and try to keep what he had going on during the season," Tew said. "The fullback definitely became more a part of the offense during the course of the year."

Senior Spencer Armstrong, who has been sidelined with a broken fibula, is expected to start over Josh Cousins at the WR-X position, and Justin Moore will start at linebacker instead of Brandon Reeves.

'Sharp' practices

Several Air Force players commented that the three practices after a week off for Christmas were the best of the season.

"Any time our guys are able to get away, get food in them, it's good for our guys and our coaches, too," Calhoun said. "Today's practice was really, really sharp. Does that guarantee that you are going to play at a high level? I don't think it's automatic, but what it does is keep the door open because your preparation has been thorough."

Faking speed

It has been hard for Air Force to simulate the speed and talent of Houston's offense during practice.

"If we could grab some guys from the National Football League, then maybe we would resemble it in a way," Calhoun said.

Etc.

* Houston linebackers coach Leon Burtnell got his first collegiate coaching job as an intern at Colorado State on Mike Lude's staff. Defensive coordinator John Skladany was CSU's defensive line coach in 1994 and 1995. Coach Kevin Sumlin was Wyoming's receivers coach in 1991 and 1992.

* Keenum was the 2008 Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year but a second-team all-league pick behind Rice quarterback Chase Clement.

* Houston started 1-3 with two of the losses coming to Air Force and Colorado State. But the Cougars adjusted to Sumlin's new system and won six of their last nine games.

* The Cougars' 106-player roster is filled with 93 players (87.7 percent) from Texas. Air Force has players from 25 states, but the most players come from Texas (21).

Numbers game

13consecutive games with 300 yards or more passing for Houston quarterback Case Keenum.

He said it

"It's good to be out here instead of all the hustle and bustle of the Academy. Finals are over, so it's just straight football down here in Texas."

Kirchoff, Air Force free safety

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