I've been looking at the Air Force schedule and statistics from last season to try to get a feel for what we should expect from DeRuyter's defense this coming season. One of the things I've noticed right away is how multiple DeRuyter kept his defense in 2009. Against true spread teams like BYU and UNLV, DeRuyter would go with a 33 Stack in the game, dropping one OLB in exchange for a DB to get more speed and coverage ability onto the field. Since we spent the last two seasons playing in Joe Kines' multiple odd-front scheme which included plenty of 33 Stack, this excites me.

Another thing I noticed is that the top three tacklers on Air Force's defense were LBs, which is ideally what you want to happen in the 3-4 scheme. The fourth-leading tackler on the team was a defensive end, and it wasn't until you got to the fifth leading tackler that you saw a defensive back listed, which was their strong safety. Quite a difference form what we had with our defense last year, where our leading tackler was our strong safety Trent Hunter. What is even more impressive is that Air Force's leading tackler last season, ILB Jason Falgout, was a backup and special teams player as a junior in 2008, and stepped up to lead the team as a senior in 2009. That is great leadership and great coaching, and gives me hope for some of our younger guys.

What really excites me is how multiple we should be able to be with a zone-blitz scheme in the 3-4. With more athletes on the field in the 3-4 as opposed to the 4-3, we should be able to really bring pressure on opposing offenses this coming season.

I've been trying in vain to find some video of Air Force's defense under DeRuyter, without much luck.

The best I have found so far is some game highlights from the Air Force-Nicholls State season opener last year (Air Force won, 72-0) where you have to dig through some footage for defensive highlights, and the 2008 season highlights, which have plenty of defensive footage.

 What I like is that from these highlights and game footage, you can see multiple looks and alignments by the defense, which is what I want to see from us in 2010. Most importantly, you can see fundamental tackling going on, which is something we really, really, really need to see in 2010.