Heading into today's game at Utah, Air Force hasn’t had the same quarterback start two consecutive games since sophomore Tim Jefferson started the Falcons’ second and third games of the season (at Minnesota and at New Mexico).
Granted, the flip-flopping has had to do mostly with Jefferson’s right ankle, which he injured against New Mexico and then re-injured against Navy.
But last Saturday, Jefferson was pulled for sophomore Connor Dietz, who started the games Jefferson did not in recent weeks. And it marked the first time a quarterback change was made for reasons other than health. Coach Troy Calhoun was looking for a spark and thought Dietz could make more plays in the running game.
Calhoun has said he’s not opposed to using a two-quarterback system, but admits it works better when you settle on one.
One reason it works better with one is because if you’re rotating quarterbacks, they might become afraid to make mistakes that lead to a quick hook. Dietz said a quarterback can’t play with that fear.
“The worst thing for a quarterback is to play conservative,” he said. “So whether you have that pressure on you or not, you really can’t hold back. If you’re going out there kind of second-minded, you’re far more likely to make a mistake.”
Calhoun hasn’t named a starter for Saturday’s game at Utah, but said last Sunday that Dietz had been “more effective” of late. I would expect Dietz to get the nod after taking reps with the first-team offense in practice this week.
No matter who starts, however, it will be interesting to see who finishes and what happens to the quarterbacks’ styles of play if more mid-game changes are made.
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