Robert Gagliardi of the Wyoming Tribune Eagle and Laramie Boomerang was nice enough to answer these pressing questions about Wyoming’s Cowboys. Air Force travels to Laramie on Saturday for a crucial Mountain West Conference game. If Air Force wins, a trip to a bowl game remains a strong possibility, maybe even a probability. If the Falcons lose? Mass depression on this side of the Wyoming border.
It’s been a little bit of everything. Sophomore quarterback Brett Smith was knocked out in the fourth quarter of a 34-31 home loss to Toledo with a concussion, and didn’t play in a 24-22 home loss to Cal Poly the next week. At Nevada, Smith was ejected midway through the fourth quarter after getting his second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. The defense has struggled all season, mostly against the run, but a Nevada it played the run well but allowed two quarterbacks to throw for 438 yards and four touchdowns. Wyoming simply hasn’t made enough plays late in games to finish them.
1a. Has Smith experienced a sophomore slump after being named the Mountain West Freshman of the Year last season?
When Smith’s played he’s played well. His completion percentage is up and he’s definitely the heart and soul of the offense. The concussion was unfortunate, but the ejected last week was a bad mistake from a young player who must do a better job of controlling his emotions. Smith is a target for teams this year, and he needs to do a better job of handling that. It also would help if the cast around him plays better so he doesn’t have to do it all on his own.
2. Did you expect the defense to be improved this season with a new defensive coordinator, and where have the major problems been?
I thought it would be better than the one that allowed 232 rushing yards per game. Most of the problems have been against the run, but it held Nevada to 127 yards last week after it came in averaging 308.8 per contest. But then the pass defense fell apart. There has been inconsistent play at linebacker and in the secondary, especially at safety. There have been a few injuries, but overall the defense hasn’t been able to put together a complete game.
3. Sophomore receiver Dominic Rufran is a Colorado Springs product who played well last season as a true freshman for the Cowboys. How has he played this season?
Rufran has been solid and consistent. Of the receivers that have caught at least 10 passes this season, he is tops with 16.9 yards per catch. He’s a quiet and reserved player, but always seems to come up with a big play when Wyoming needs it.
4. How do you see this game unfolding and what’s your predicted final score?
Like most of the most recent games between these two teams I think it will be close. The team that makes the most critical plays late will win. Both teams seem due for a win but it’s hard to tell which team will win the fourth quarter. Wyoming needs Smith to be on the field to have any chance, and it has to limit the production Air Force gets along the perimster in the run game. If Smith stays in the game, I will take Wyoming in a close one, 27-23.
I hope AFA beats Wyoming. Frankly, with disappointing losses to UNLV and Navy already in the first half of the schedule I believe the Falcons will be hard pressed to post the six victories needed to become bowl qualified.
I see Wyoming, New Mexico, Army and Hawaii as being the games Air Force might win. I do not think Air Force can or will beat San Diego State, Nevada or Fresno State.
Yes, Air Force has run the ball well this season, but even in bad seasons the Falcons run the ball well. The difference in many seasons for AFA is some combination of timely stops by the defense and/or the offense being able to throw the ball in such a fashion as to make opposing teams “honor” the pass and back away from stacking seven and eight defenders near the line of scrimmage to limit the running game.
Thus far the offense has not distinguished itself in passing the ball consistently, the defense has not had players step up and make so-called big plays on a regular basis, the place-kicking game has been horrid and the team has developed a disturbing inability to hold on to the ball.
There’s time for Air Force to overcome its poor start through the first five games, but my own opinion is that without sweeping Wyo, New Mex, Army and Hawaii the Falcons will be staying home when bowl season arrives.
GO AIR FORCE! ROPE THE COWBOYS!
The New Mexico game is no longer a certainty. The Lobos are playing like a different team this year. I think this is unfortunately going to be a long season.
If the Falcons continue to lose the ball as they did last Saturday, even Hawaii will beat them. I hope the coaching statf is running “hold onto the ball” drills.
I don’t think the Wyo Defense can shut down the run 2 weeks in a row…but if they stack the box, and force AFA to pass, I’m not sure Dietz’ arm could carry to load. His pass rating so far is pretty good, but he hasn’t really been forced throw that many times in a game.
Just out of curiosity, after three losses in the past four games, what’s happened to AFA poster fire and brimstone Mike Simler? Anyone know? He is conspicuous by his absence especially with all his pre-season predictions of how well this season’s team would do.
As a new fan to the Air Force Falcons, I came along right about the time Tim Jefferson, Asher Clark & Jared Tew were emerging as stars to the team back around 2009 or 2010. But after seeing this team blow games against UNLV and Navy, I’ve realized I was spoiled by the previously mentioned players from 2008-2011 and the leadership that they brought.
I kind of figured this season would start slow, but hoped by the mid-point of the season, that the Falcons would get it figured out, and start picking up win after win. Well the “mid-season” point starts Saturday. So I guess the next couple of weeks will tell us if this team is going to finish 8-4, 7-5….or if we’re doomed for a losing season for the first time in 6 years.
Wild Blue as you hide behind a moniker unable to put your real name on your opinions let me ask you a few questions. Did you put your name on a predicted score for the MI game? While shoudas, couldas, wouldas, have never won a football game did AF have every opportunity afforded to them to win against MI, UNLV
and Navy? Anyone who doesn’t have their head permanently implemented in a certain part of their anatomy knows the Falcons were their own worst
enemy in those losses. Fix holding on to the ball, stop
leaving opportunities to score on the field and these
Falcons can win every game they have
I’ll finish: The Falcons can win every game left on their schedule. If they don’t fix those issues starting with Wyoming they will be lucky to win again.
Mike Simler
Its easy to hide behind a monitor and talk about “curb stomping” and “come out with bad intent” and other trite sayings like that. We are all just a bunch of people who think they know a lot and like to puff out our chests and wrap ourselves in the flag to make ourselves seem more important. Funny how every fan of every team thinks their team is the one to beat
Hey, brownshoe…I re-read the original article, and every post here, and I have no idea what your “curb stomping” and “come out with bad intent” comments have to do with this discussion.
Are you just p****d off that people have the audacity to write things anonymously, or what? And no, as a die hard Falcon fan I DON’T think my team is “the one to beat”….clearly that would be an outrageous comment to make. I DO enjoy their victories, though.
Not sure what “wrap ourselves in the flag” means either, but I’m sure it is important to you…somehow. Was it a bad night last night?
that was your buddy Mike thumping his chest and talking about “curb stomping” and having to be the center of attention
Frosty,
BS is a Naval Academy graduate who allegedly was a Mid football player and a self proclaimed “ship driver”. Of course we’ll never know if any of that is in the realm of reality because he hides his true identity behind multiple monikers. Essentially he is a stalker with a vast hatred for all things USAFA and especially Air Force Falcon Football. That hatred seems to stem from the continual beat downs i.e. curb stompings he and his teammates received at the hands of the Falcons while he was a Mid. He isn’t satisfied his Navy team won last week and is now skulking about here to produce the drivel he normally produces on a AF Football chat board. There will be nothing of substance he can produce on this topic of discussion.
Do yourself a favor and simply ignore him or he will fixate on and stalk you as well.
Mike
Mike is a someone who just rides coat-tails since he didnt play football, didnt go to the academy, and wasnt in the AF. Yet every time some poor AF fan is within earshot, Mike has to proclaim his self importance and draw attention to himself.