By Richard Stevens – Senior Writer/GoLobos.com
In the option, the system is what you have to beat. You stop the dive, limit the quarterback keeper, shut down the pitch. Any one of these three prongs can burn you.
Still, there are individuals that shine in this system. The Air Force Falcons have two of them.
First, the Lobos need to contain Air Force quarterback Kale Pearson. Pearson missed most of the 2013 season and is nursing an injured shoulder this season. He is still a weapon. He orchestrates the Falcons’ option and he usually does it at a high level.
When he does pull the right triggers at the right time, the Falcons usually win. Pearson has 360 yards on the ground. .
“You look at their offense, it’s slightly different than last year, particularly because the quarterback is back that was injured in the first game last year,” said Lobos Coach Bob Davie. “He’s a heck of a competitor. He’s fun to watch.
“Their offense is the same style, but the quarterback is a heck of a player.”
Obviously, the Falcons need to move the ball on the ground and they need Pearson to make the proper reads in order for that option to shine. Air Force averaged only three yards per carry at Utah State in a Mountain West loss. That’s not good. The Falcons lost, but Utah State is a pretty good football team. The Aggies won at Brigham Young.
Air Force averages 4.8 yards per carry on the season. The big back in the Falcons’ option is Jacobi Owens, who has 697 yards on the season and a 5.3-yard average per carry. Owens averages 112.7 yards per game.
Those two Falcons are the main threat out of the option, but the Falcons use several other backs to produce good yardage. Devin Rushing averages 5.9 yards per carry and Garrett Brown averages 6.4 yards.
The message here is obvious enough: the Falcons’ system can produce yardage from just about anybody.
There are a lot ofsimilarities between the Lobos and the Falcons. They usually field offenses that can move the football and score points. Both teams had defenses that were a major question mark entering the year, but both defensive squads have shown improvement.
“Defensively they are much better, much better than they were a year ago,” said Davie. “Their tackles for a loss and their sacks are up pretty significantly. I think they had seven turnovers created against Boise, which, that’s unbelievable.”
The Falcon’s typically use a three-man front. Against UNM, Air Force will be hoping that trio can stop the dive and allow the linebackers to chase down quarterbacks and pitch men.
The Falcons are 4-2 on the season. “They beat Boise and Navy at home their last two home games, which are really impressive wins,” said Davie.
The Falcons’ have thrown out a decent season and they have the chance to make it a good season. They have wins over Nicholls State (44-16), Georgia State (48-38), Boise State (23-14) and Navy (30-21).
The Falcons have a close loss at Wyoming (17-13) and are coming off a 34-16 loss at Utah State. The Aggies won 35-20 at Brigham Young.
A year ago, the Falcons were struggling to find consistency at the quarterback position with Pearson out. This year that ailment has moved to the offensive line – a key element to any offense, but obviously a team looks for consistency in blocking for an option attack.
The demands on the Air Force O-line are similar to the demands on the Lobos’ O-line. They need to play well in order for the option to move the ball. They need to improve as the season moves and try to avoid injury.
The Falcons, like the Lobos, prefer to have clock-burning drives that not only put points on the board, but allow the Air Force defense time off the field.
The Falcons’ passing game is what it has always been. They look to beat you on the ground and burn you through the air. Pearson is sneaky-good in the passing game that often comes off play action or 3rd-and-long situations.
Pearson has completed 58.2 percent of his passes (57-98-1) for an average of 133 yards per game. His favorite targets are Jalen Robinette with 21 catches and Brown, often on shorter stuff, with another 21 grabs.
Both defenses have an edge going against the option because both defenses see that attack each week in practice. But which defense will step up on Saturday at Air Force.
A year ago on Branch Field, on Brian Urlacher Night, the Lobos beat Air Force 45-37. The Lobos had 451 rushing yards that night. Air Force got 177 yards from a back that averaged 8.4 yards per carry. UNM’s Cole Gautsche ran for 140 yards and Kasey Carrier had 179 yards. The Lobos never had to punt.
It was a shootout.
“You look at it and say both defenses both kind of know how to play against this (option) because that’s what your offense does,” said Davie. “But we all remember last year where really neither defense could stop either offense.
“You know, I hope that’s not the case this year, I think it ‘ll be a little bit different maybe. But it’s a big challenge.”
Editor’s Note: Richard Stevens is a former national award-winning Sports Columnist and Associate Sports Editor at The Albuquerque Tribune. You can reach him at rstevens50@comcast.net.