Air Force Football: Will Falcons fly or fizzle in 2018?
Offense
The Falcons triple option offense finished the 2017 season ranked 54th overall per the S&P+. The good news: Air Force returns their starting quarterback. The 5-foot-11, 201 pound Arion Worthman threw for 1,100 yards and ten touchdowns while averaging 10.1 yards per passing attempt. Worthman added 821 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns on the ground while averaging 3.8 yards per carry.
The Air Force offense will only go as far as Worthman can take them. He’s backed up by junior Isaiah Sanders who ran for three touchdowns in limited duty after Worthman went down to injury.
Supporting Cast
Fullback Taven Birdow returns as the second leading rusher behind Worthman. Birdow ran for 384 yards and five touchdowns in 2017 while averaging 4.4 yards per carry. The 6-foot-1, 220 pound wrecking ball is used to pick up tough yardage in this type of offensive scheme. Like Navy, Air Force lines up in the Flexbone formation (three running backs) but they employ a tight end where Navy rarely if ever does.
Versatile wingback Rona Cleveland averaged 9.5 yards per carry and 23.7 yards per reception a year ago. Cleveland scored five touchdowns from scrimmage during his junior campaign. The Falcons lose running back Timothy McVey (unfortunate name) who scored 32 career touchdowns from scrimmage in blue and white.
Fullback Parker Wilson and running back Nolan Eriksen slide up the depth chart but combined for only 428 yards and a touchdown on the ground. In the triple option the Falcons offense doesn’t want to throw the football and the wide receiver is a little used cog in their game plan. The offensive line returns five starters from the 2017 season which could prove very beneficial while breaking in a new main running back in 2018.