Provo » One word describes whether Brigham Young's defense is successful against run-happy Air Force.
Discipline.
The Falcons, with their ode to the wishbone attack, pound defenses with a variety of run options. The danger is anticipation.
"Their offense pounds, pounds, pounds," BYU safety Andrew Rich said. "If you take your eyes off the receiver, they can get behind you.
"Discipline is important."
BYU's secondary can't get run happy. As soon as they begin to suck in toward the line of scrimmage, Air Force takes to the air.
The Cougar defense, which has held opponents to 3.3 yards a carry, would rather move forward than chase.
"It creates one-on-one matchups," said BYU safety Scott Johnson in anticipation of Saturday's 1:30 p.m. game at LaVell Edwards Stadium. "You have to be better than them."
Air Force is also difficult to prepare for because it is the only Mountain West Conference team that runs the triple option. The Falcons don't line up three runners in the backfield like the wishbone, but there are three options, beginning with the fullback.
The Falcons (7-4, 5-2 MWC) have won three straight. They are fresh off a 45-17 victory against UNLV.
Air Force's ground attack, ranked fourth in the nation behind a front wall that averages 315 pounds, shredded the Rebels to the tune of 431 yards. Asher Clark gained a career-high 160 yards with three scores. Tim Jefferson also threw for 126 yards and, as part of the three-pronged run game, rushed for 63 yards.
The Falcons will attempt to wear down the BYU defense as well as keep the Cougars' offense off the field.
Johnson and Rich understand the importance of their roles.
"With them it's a one-game season," Johnson said. "Most games you have a base defense that carries over. For them, it is completely different."
BYU (8-2, 5-1) defeated Air Force last season 38-26. Cougars coach Bronco Mendenhall is 4-0 against the Falcons.
Saturday's game calls for foul weather, which Mendenhall says favors the best prepared team.
If there is rain and snow, then making the right reads on defense becomes even more important.
"They have guys who will indicate what they do," Rich said. "But a lot of it looks the same. It looks the same. It looks the same, then all of the sudden the ball is behind you."
» Air Force is 15-3 since 2007 when a Falcon rushes for more than 100 yards.
» Air Force has averaged 410 total yards in its last three games.
» BYU's defense holds opponents to a 3.3 rush average per carry this season.
