Air Force football is breaking in more than a new lineup this preseason. The Falcons are also feeling their way through some of the new technology permitted in the sport.
Recent practices, including Saturday morning’s scrimmage at Falcon Stadium, have included the now-allowed communication device in the helmet of coaches and one on-field player.
“By and large it has,” coach Troy Calhoun said when asked if the implementation of the communication device has been smooth. “There were a couple times it shut off.”
The communication link to players – for Air Force the designated players will be the quarterback on offense and likely a linebacker on defense – will be cut off with 15 seconds remaining on the play clock. So, though the Falcons will utilize the device, they will continue to signal in plays from the sideline to allow for late adjustments in response to the opposition.
The Falcons haven’t yet dabbled with in-practice use of an iPad, which is now allowed to use for review on sidelines, but they tested it in the Armed Forces Bowl last year.
“I’m a believer in it,” Calhoun said. “I think any time you can help a kid play better football, the sooner you can provide him the necessary feedback the better off you are. And certainly that happened in the bowl game, too.”
Goal-line cameras were recently installed at Falcon Stadium to review potential scoring plays.
Lots of new gadgets to utilize and perfect.
The same could be said for what’s happening on the field as the fall camp progresses for a team needing to replace 17 starters on offense and defense.
Some adjustments have been made on the defensive side, with senior defensive back Camby Goff (a two-year starter at the nickel position) transitioning to free safety.
“The knowledge that he has is incredible and helps everyone across the board,” cornerback Trey Williams said of Goff, who was a starter in 2021 and 2022 but lost last year to an injury suffered in the opener.
Junior Levi Brown is playing strong safety and senior K.C. Beard, a converted cornerback, is playing at the nickel (also known as spur linebacker).
Williams and Jamari Bellamy have the early edge in the competition at cornerback, where the team has three seniors with starting experience (Jerome Gaillard Jr. started the first eight games last year before an injury).
At one edge, junior Jackson Adams from Arapahoe High School in Centennial has emerged as a potential standout.
“It’s a work in progress,” Williams said of the defense, “but we’re making progress, for sure.”
Offensively, there has been little movement at the key spots. Junior John Busha seems entrenched at quarterback, junior Dylan Carson has a hold on fullback (or “Superback” position) and senior Aiden Calvert is at tailback.
A player to watch at receiver, based on Saturday’s scrimmage, is 6-foot-2, 205-pound Tre Roberson.
Up front, tackles Alex Moore and Samuel Floysand, guards Michael McAninch and Jace Sutulovich and center Costen Cooley lined up as the starting five on Saturday.
“We’ve definitely been doing a much better job over the past couple weeks,” Moore said. “Fewer and fewer mistakes. I think the improvement’s been very good across the line.”
