Air Force

After Wyoming, I was only mildly concerned about the Air Force game. Yes, they're good this year, but Bronco seems to have their number and with how well BYU played against Wyoming I expected a hard-earned win. But after the New Mexico game I'm suddenly very afraid of Air Force. They'd love to get a win against BYU and will give us their best game just like everyone else has. Does it not matter because BYU's defensive scheme is Air Force's silver bullet?



New Mexico has never been as good this year as they were yesterday and BYU managed to pull out the win anyway. Is NM playing at their very best any indication of how well we will fare against Air Force if they are playing their best?

I'm kind of in the same boat as you. I'm confident that Bronco knows how to scheme for AFA. I'm not sure if AFA has the QB to challenge the BYU secondary in mid to long range passes. BYU needs to go to Unga early and often. I'd love to see him have tons of touches and dominate the clock.



I think the strength BYU has in playing AFA is that they are assignment sound (usually). That seems to be the key in defending the option threats AFA poses.



I think it's time to take back our own house and start winning at LES.

I myself am also a bit more scared of this game, but if I had to put in a prediction now I would say it would be close to something like last year. It seems that most years we play AF that we know how to prepare well for them, and we seem to have their number. It seems like our defense is always pretty disciplined so it's easier to stop the option, but if their QB could actually throw then I would see us giving up bigger plays against them.

Sure, I think we should all assume that any team CAN beat us on any given Saturday (it's kinda the nature of college football), but we play assignment sound football and AFA doesn't have nearly the athletes that FSU had. I see us running away with this one.

Schmoe wrote:
Sure, I think we should all assume that any team CAN beat us on any given Saturday (it's kinda the nature of college football), but we play assignment sound football and AFA doesn't have nearly the athletes that FSU had. I see us running away with this one.

If you score a defense from 1 to 10, FSU had a 2, and Air Force has a 9. Max is going to throw multiple INTs, and we are going to punt way too much.



What I'm saying is that I favor the Falcons to beat us, odds like 51%-49%. A score like like 24-21.

Ok, I could see that. I'll feel more optimistic than you about the game, but if we lose it will probably hurt worse...oh well 8)

I too am VERY concerned about this game. The Falcons are a hard team to defend, and they put some points last Saturday so we know they are clicking. Combine that with the fact BYU's defense is NOT clicking and we have a big problem on our hands. :blush:



Here's to hoping BYU was looking forward to AF and Utah and will come properly prepared this time!!!

AF apparently has the #1 passing defense in the country (and 7th overall).

http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/natlRank.jsp?year=2009&rpt=IA_teampassdef&site=org&div=IA&dest=O



Guessing this is mostly due to their schedule (playing both Army and Navy), though it would be cause for a little worry, except for the fact that Bronco always owns AF.

BYUTIME wrote:
AF apparently has the #1 passing defense in the country (and 7th overall).

http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/natlRank.jsp?year=2009&rpt=IA_teampassdef&site=org&div=IA&dest=O



Guessing this is mostly due to their schedule (playing both Army and Navy), though it would be cause for a little worry, except for the fact that Bronco always owns AF.

From what I remember, they did a nice job against utah, in SLC as well.



This game has had me fretting for a while now. Especially since BYU can't seem to win at home and they could barely squeak out a win vs UNM.

I hope that the close NM game will cause the cougars to really focus for the falcons. I worried about a let down after the huge Wyoming win.

I feel confident that the Cougars can win this game if they come out focused. The UNM game was more a function of lack of mental readiness than talent. That's what concerns me the most is the mental side of it. When the players are mentally ready they play very well. I am sure that our passing offense can move effectively against them, but I am predicting a low scoring affair due to the running game. I think we'll come out and focus on the pass to start the game with the intention of getting up early. If that happens then I expect the offense to change a little bit to more run oriented, while still being balanced.



Go Cougs!

BYU 31

AFA 20

Mars wrote:


I've said that Air Force's run offense seems to be the most like Florida State's on our schedule this year. Only one team has truly ran on us, but the Falcons may make two.



Yes, I have to assume they can beat us this Saturday unless we play a near-perfect game.

Take Hooks out of the equation and this becomes all the more likely a possibility.

WORRIED!!! -------------------------------------------------------------------------- >



Win or lose, I don't see why we schedule "Chopblock U" before our biggest game of the season year in and year out... Obviously the AD or whoever scheduling has never taken a shoulder-pad to the knee... It hurts like :utard:



I'm with Mars, there is a good chance we lose this game. Assignment football or not, this isn't the USAFA of old. They actually throw the ball, and do it decently. Again, I think we lose this one, or the next one because of poor scheduling, though I hope we can pull both out. Remember a hobbling Pitta last year not playing against Utah, that for me was the difference... (and RUN RUN RUN Anae, if you don't want to update your resume)

I believe at the time being, snow is in the forecast as well. This could give a slight edge to Air Force as well.



I see us winning this game, but wouldn't be suprised at all with a lose.



If we win these last two games, I would be extremely happy with this season. funny thing is if we beat utah, we could be playing usc in the vegas bowl.

cougsnspurs4life wrote:
WORRIED!!! -------------------------------------------------------------------------- >



Win or lose, I don't see why we schedule "Chopblock U" before our biggest game of the season year in and year out... Obviously the AD or whoever scheduling has never taken a shoulder-pad to the knee... It hurts like :utard:



I'm with Mars, there is a good chance we lose this game. Assignment football or not, this isn't the USAFA of old. They actually throw the ball, and do it decently. Again, I think we lose this one, or the next one because of poor scheduling, though I hope we can pull both out. Remember a hobbling Pitta last year not playing against Utah, that for me was the difference... (and RUN RUN RUN Anae, if you don't want to update your resume)

BYU doesn't schedule the games, the MWC schedules the conference games. All BYU can do is make a few request, ie, BYU and Utah request to play each other last, and that's usually granted. TCU generally requests to play BYU and Utah on Thursday night games (either not granted this year, or not requested).

vancouvercougar wrote:
I hope that the close NM game will cause the cougars to really focus for the falcons. I worried about a let down after the huge Wyoming win.

They certainly woke up after getting obliterated by TCU. So, here's to another wake-up call.

The key will be how tough AFA's defense really is. If BYU struggles to put up 20-25 points (ala UNM) then we're in trouble. But if we can score 30+, I see us winning, especially if we can score early on. BYU has some good, consistent tacklers this season, particularly in the secondary, so if we stay assignment-sound, we should be fine on defense.

The last time BYU failed to score 30 on Air Force was 2003. Or the year when BYU had it's worst team since the Nixon administration.

CAFB_04-12 wrote:

I hope that the close NM game will cause the cougars to really focus for the falcons. I worried about a let down after the huge Wyoming win.

They certainly woke up after getting obliterated by TCU. So, here's to another wake-up call.

I don't know that they ever woke up... they just happened to play Wyoming.... My mother could call up some friends and make it a close one against the Pokes from Laramie...