Lack of experience will tempt teams to challenge
Jordan Trimble knows footballs will be flying his way.
Quarterbacks will test Army's secondary early and often for one simple reason ? inexperience.
Army's four starting defensive backs have made a combined two career starts. And senior strong safety Lowell Garthwaite started those games in 2006 and wasn't with the team last season.
Army's best cornerback, senior Josh Mitchell (four starts in 2007), decided not to play football to focus on academics.
Trimble, a cornerback, isn't concerned. He feels he is up for the challenge.
"I'm not worried about that," said Trimble, who played in all 12 games as a backup in 2007. "If they try to pick on me, I know I'll be ready. If they try to pick me, they are going to lose."
Temple quarterback Adam DiMichele is a tough first assignment in the season opener Friday. DiMichele lit up an experienced Army secondary for 314 yards and two touchdowns last season.
"I know they have some young guys anxious to get at our wide receivers," DiMichele said.
Young is an understatement. Six of Army's top 12 defensive players have no game experience. One, sophomore Donovan Travis, will be starting at free safety. Two of the top reserve corners, Antuan Aaron and Eric Jones, are freshmen.
"I think we are going to be as talented as we have ever been," defensive coordinator John Mumford said. "We are going to have to bite our tongue and mash our teeth a little bit when those kids are in the game and understand those kids are pups, but they are going to play."
Army coaches have no idea what they'll get from the back four once the first whistle blows. Head coach Stan Brock said the secondary is the team's biggest question mark.
"Our corners are going to have to grow up in a hurry," Brock said.
Army scouting report: Army's new option offense debuts with junior quarterback Carson Williams at the controls. The offense will look a little like Air Force's and Navy's options, with a fullback (senior Collin Mooney) as the lone back behind the QB and a slotback on each side.
"The fullback is pretty key," Mooney said. "Once they start taking away the dive, then we are going to hit it outside (with the running backs)."
Don't expect many option keepers by Williams, but he does add the ability to throw the ball.
Army's defense will count heavily on its linebacker trio of Frank Scappaticci (middle), John Plumstead and Josh McNary to make big plays. "We'll probably have as much speed as we've had at the linebacker position," Army coach Stan Brock said.
Temple scouting report: Temple senior Adam DiMichele returns at quarterback after missing the last five games of 2007 with a fractured left tibia. DiMichele passed for 314 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Army last season.
Jason Harper, Temple's 2007 leading rusher (586 yards, five TDs), has moved to wide receiver.
"He's a guy, who can give us some run-after-catch ability on the perimeter," Temple coach Al Golden said of Harper. "He gives us a presence in blocking we haven't had in the last couple years. ... We felt we took a little bit of a gamble in the spring moving him out there, relying on these other guys but we like to way it looks now."
Sophomore Marquise Liverpool, who played at Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, N.J., and redshirt freshman Joe Jones will take over at running back.
Temple returns all 11 starters on a defense that ranked No. 1 in the MAC last season and No. 1 in the nation in red-zone defense. Keep an eye on middle linebacker Alex Joseph, a Butkus Award candidate. Joseph is the team's slam-dunk champion at 6-foot-2 and 238 pounds.
Jordan Trimble knows footballs will be flying his way.
Quarterbacks will test Army's secondary early and often for one simple reason ? inexperience.
Army's four starting defensive backs have made a combined two career starts. And senior strong safety Lowell Garthwaite started those games in 2006 and wasn't with the team last season.
Army's best cornerback, senior Josh Mitchell (four starts in 2007), decided not to play football to focus on academics.
Trimble, a cornerback, isn't concerned. He feels he is up for the challenge.
"I'm not worried about that," said Trimble, who played in all 12 games as a backup in 2007. "If they try to pick on me, I know I'll be ready. If they try to pick me, they are going to lose."
Temple quarterback Adam DiMichele is a tough first assignment in the season opener Friday. DiMichele lit up an experienced Army secondary for 314 yards and two touchdowns last season.
"I know they have some young guys anxious to get at our wide receivers," DiMichele said.
Young is an understatement. Six of Army's top 12 defensive players have no game experience. One, sophomore Donovan Travis, will be starting at free safety. Two of the top reserve corners, Antuan Aaron and Eric Jones, are freshmen.
"I think we are going to be as talented as we have ever been," defensive coordinator John Mumford said. "We are going to have to bite our tongue and mash our teeth a little bit when those kids are in the game and understand those kids are pups, but they are going to play."
Army coaches have no idea what they'll get from the back four once the first whistle blows. Head coach Stan Brock said the secondary is the team's biggest question mark.
"Our corners are going to have to grow up in a hurry," Brock said.
Army scouting report: Army's new option offense debuts with junior quarterback Carson Williams at the controls. The offense will look a little like Air Force's and Navy's options, with a fullback (senior Collin Mooney) as the lone back behind the QB and a slotback on each side.
"The fullback is pretty key," Mooney said. "Once they start taking away the dive, then we are going to hit it outside (with the running backs)."
Don't expect many option keepers by Williams, but he does add the ability to throw the ball.
Army's defense will count heavily on its linebacker trio of Frank Scappaticci (middle), John Plumstead and Josh McNary to make big plays. "We'll probably have as much speed as we've had at the linebacker position," Army coach Stan Brock said.
Temple scouting report: Temple senior Adam DiMichele returns at quarterback after missing the last five games of 2007 with a fractured left tibia. DiMichele passed for 314 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Army last season.
Jason Harper, Temple's 2007 leading rusher (586 yards, five TDs), has moved to wide receiver.
"He's a guy, who can give us some run-after-catch ability on the perimeter," Temple coach Al Golden said of Harper. "He gives us a presence in blocking we haven't had in the last couple years. ... We felt we took a little bit of a gamble in the spring moving him out there, relying on these other guys but we like to way it looks now."
Sophomore Marquise Liverpool, who played at Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, N.J., and redshirt freshman Joe Jones will take over at running back.
Temple returns all 11 starters on a defense that ranked No. 1 in the MAC last season and No. 1 in the nation in red-zone defense. Keep an eye on middle linebacker Alex Joseph, a Butkus Award candidate. Joseph is the team's slam-dunk champion at 6-foot-2 and 238 pounds.
