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Air Force recovered from a 6-6 downturn with an 8-5 record and a San Francisco Bowl bid in 2002, thanks to marked improvement on defense and the emergence of quarterback Chance Harridge. With 15 returning starters, the Falcons are primed to contend for the Mountain West Conference title, but the element of surprise is missing. "This team can be very competitive, but it must be very hungry," DeBerry says. OFFENSIVE KEYS: Only at Air Force could a 44.4 percent passer earn his team's MVP award and enter his senior season as an all-conference candidate. Coaches hope Harridge improves his accuracy, but they know his game is built around running the wishbone scheme. Harridge rushed for 94.5 yards per game and scored 22 touchdowns as a junior. Harridge's ballhandling was a major reason the Falcons lost only 17 turnovers and led the Mountain West in turnover margin at plus-9. He also has the toughness and leadership ability of all of AFA's great wishbone quarterbacks.The Falcons must replace Leotis Palmer, but the combination of Anthony Butler, Darnell Stephens and Matt Ward will staff the halfback positions quite well. Butler rushed for 75 yards against Virginia Tech in the San Francisco Bowl. The Falcons' standard formation requires only one wide receiver, but they have three players whom Petersen describes as "interchangeable." Anthony Park, a triple jumper and long jumper in track and field, is the best athlete of the three, but Alec Messerall and J.P. Waller are also skilled. Air Force is one school where experience means everything in offensive line play, because of the blocking techniques involved in the wishbone. So the Falcons' coaches are pleased to welcome back four full-time starters -- guards Brett Huyser and Jesse Underbakke and tackles Blane Neufeld and Brett Waller -- and another player, center John Peel, who started six games. DEFENSIVE KEYS: Air Force will never have big, dominating defensive linemen. Yet a new scheme -- a 3-3-5 alignment that also morphs into a 3-5-3 -- worked well for AFA, with quickness and movement up front compensating for what the Falcons lack physically. Monty Coleman, Nicholas Taylor and Charles Bueker, who was dominant in a win over Navy, adjusted well to the scheme and should keep improving.Anthony Schlegel was an exceptional linebacker -- so exceptional that he transferred to Ohio State. Trevor Hightower is back after leading the team with 6.5 sacks, and he was only one of 14 players credited with sacks. The secondary is the Falcons' biggest issue. Jeff Overstreet is a fast, athletic cornerback and Larry Duncan is a dependable free safety. But AFA must find three other starters. SPECIAL TEAMS: Joey Ashcroft is one of the country's most accurate placekickers, having made 16-of-18 field goals as a junior. Robert Barkers did about half of the punting for AFA and averaged 43.6 yards, but he was a little inconsistent.FINAL ANALYSIS: Air Force will always have a lot of close games; the Falcons' discipline and determination give them a chance to win every week, but their talent level will keep them from dominating MWC opponents. AFA's biggest advantage is having Harridge back at quarterback. Defensively, everything hinges on the three new starters in the secondary. Opponents such as San Diego State, Utah and BYU will feast on the Falcons if adequate replacements are not found.• Click here for complete index of 2003 team previews
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