WHO WILL IT BE AT QB?

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Apr 10, 2008 | by JAKE SCHALLER

Leaning on crutches at Air Force spring football practices are 393 completions, 2,561 rushing yards, 5,391 passing yards, 39 touchdown passes, 31 touchdown runs and 44 career starts.

Former four-year starting quarterback Shaun Carney, who will serve as a graduate assistant coach next season, props himself up on the sideline and shares his wisdom with the quarterbacks while recovering from knee surgery.

But that he is unable to walk on his own -- let alone demonstrate the footwork for a five-step drop -- reinforces that he no longer will be under center for the Falcons. The academy's all-time leader in passing yards and total offense will graduate in May, meaning along with the gaudy, aforementioned stats, Air Force is losing a security blanket.

For the first time since prior to the 2004 season, the Falcons must face this question:

Who's going to play quarterback?

Through 13 of 15 spring sessions, the question remains unanswered. Eric Herbort, who will be a junior next year, is listed at the top of the depth chart. But he admits "nothing is set in stone."

Carney's backup in 2007, senior-tobe Shea Smith, began spring listed as the starter. Coach Troy Calhoun said Smith and Herbort "could continue to flop back and forth" through the rest of spring.

Ben Cockran and Will McAngus, both of whom will be sophomores next year, haven't done nearly enough to secure the starting job. And according to Calhoun, Air Force will open preseason camp in August without an obvious No. 1.

"There's nothing at all that's defined in terms of one clear guy that's moved in front," Calhoun said. "It's going to be open for a while. And it might be open all season long."

The front-runners

Smith, who played the fourth quarter of last season's Armed Forces Bowl after Carney injured his knee, seemed to be the natural heir. While he lacks breakaway speed or aboveaverage arm strength, his solid play in a difficult situation in the bowl was encouraging.

Plus, he'll be a senior next fall.

"I think any time you're at the academy, you just see guys perform at a different level -- they tend to -- when they're juniors and especially seniors," Calhoun said. "You've got the academy figured out, so I think you've got better focus, better energy."

Herbort, however, has improved dramatically since last season when he spent several weeks on the junior varsity before returning to the varsity as the third-stringer.

"Herb has just changed," Calhoun said. "I just see a completely different player. I see a guy that's got a better grasp of the offense, I see more poise, I see a guy that's more assertive."

Could it be a new face?

There's a chance none of the players taking snaps this spring will win the job.

Calhoun has not ruled out the possibility that his starting quarterback for the Aug. 30 opener against Southern Utah could be an incoming freshman.

"I think it would be pretty difficult for a freshman to come in and play," Air Force quarterbacks coach/co-offensive coordinator Blane Morgan said. "But at the same time, I feel like if we had a freshman that we really liked we could scale down the offense enough for him to be able to execute and run it."

There's precedent for it, as Carney beat out several veterans for the starting job as a freshman in 2004.

Air Force coaches are not permitted to talk about incoming freshmen until they arrive at the academy because of recruits' ongoing appointment process. And there is the chance that recruits might decide at the last minute not to come. Or they might not survive basic training.

But should they receive appointments and make it to Aug. 1, three incoming quarterbacks could push the returners -- specifically highly regarded 6-foot-1, 205-pound dual-threat Tim Jefferson, who started at the academy's prep school last year.

"He's an extremely athletic kid," said Mark Miller, Jefferson's coach at Woodward Academy near Atlanta, where Jefferson started for three years. "Very quick and fast. He's a tough kid. And the other thing that put him over the top with Air Force is his ability to throw the football. He's got a cannon for an arm. All we've heard when he's been at the prep school is how well he's been executing the offense."

Miller said Jefferson was recruited by Maryland and Georgia Tech, but "he wanted to go to Air Force because he wants to fly planes." Miller said he keeps in touch with Jefferson via e-mail and that Jefferson plans to attend Air Force if he receives an appointment.

The little things

In addition to setting numerous records, Carney was rock solid on some less noticeable tasks.

For the past few years, the Falcons didn't have to worry about a fumbled snap, a botched play call, lining up in an incorrect formation or missing an audible. Last year Carney threw just five interceptions in 13 games and rarely mishandled the ball on a pitch or handoff.

Air Force's next quarterback will be one who consistently can avoid those kinds of errors.

"We don't have to have gigantic plays out of" the quarterback, Calhoun said.

Rather, Calhoun is looking for a quarterback who can do all the little things well all the time.