Army-Midd Tenn

[Box and one]

Army -3 over Mid Tenn ****
Army coming off a big disappointing season after the 2 past yrs of success. the key was turn overs last yr. In Monkens 1st 2 years they had a total of 8 to's fumbles. last year they doubled that number. in 1st 4 games they had 8 fumbles last yr. Army still was No 3 in the nation in rushing and they lose Hopkins their qb but 5'9 185 pound Jabari Law replaces Hopkins and Anderson is fighting to start. Jarbari is explosive and on a qb fake pitch out he can turn the corner and take off.. Anderson is the better passer. Ol has a few new guys but I have said this for years , they are all replaceable because of the technique and schemes of running the wish offense. the TE is a blocker ,the fullback,halfback slot back WR's etc. the waterboy can block too. Monken runs a great offense and took Michigan to an over time loss 21-24. Michigan DL,LB.DB's were getting blocked and had no idea how to stop the Cadet offense. the year before they took Oklahoma in over time and lost 21-28.
They lose Slumka the full back and halfbacks but McCoy who is a fullback is 5'11 and built like a Sherman tank.. if its 3rd and under 3 or 4t and under 2 McCoy is going up the middle.. or Adkins at FB.. Hobbs is a slot back that can break open. actually has moves.. Army defense not as talented as offense but they have 7 players in the front that played last yr.
Mid Tenn had a bad year but have a mobile qb in O'Hara. mobile qbs kill army. he was 3rd in the country with over 1,000 yds rushing.this kid can run and pass and has OL returning,top wr;s and a few rb transfers from big schools. BUt its their defense,, no way can they stop the Black nites offense. Army will play ball control ,run on 4th and short and own time of possession .. the cadets will be allowed in Michie not sure how many.
But more importantly.. how do you prepare for the Army attack.. no one wants to play against it .. look at North Texas who opted out of future games vs Army because of that. think MT will be able to score some points with their mobile qb but not enough to play catch up. Monken is an outstanding coach having 2 10 win seasons..but last yr he tripped and fell .. this offense will dissect the weak MT defense and will win by 2 or more Td's.

 

[hawkeye]

Easy cover plus MT has not had any time to prepare for the option--gl

 

[Box and one]

it was announced today Anderson will start over jabari . He is still nursing some injuries. McCoy is going to be tough to stop...he runs off his gds and tackles and center and they attack the nose tackle and LB's..then they read the DB's if they come inside to help then the qb reads this and fakes up the middle and runs to the outside for a pitch or keep.. you have have all these 4 star all state all Michigan all Oklahoma defensive players committing inside to stuff someone and then realize 8 guys are out of the play.. Monken does a great job and dictates what you will do on defense. then he runs his offense. the key again is no fumbles on the pitch out. last yr it killed them Preparing a defense vs this attack is tough The offense is really complicated and once its learned is tough to slow down ...think Mid Tenn is in for a long day . West Point due to its structure is really already in their own bubble..but who knows with this virus anything can happen think my Black Nites win this by a few Td's the line opened at -5 but now down to -3 think its a gift I agree with you hawkeye


The return of college football to West Point on Saturday is a reminder of what?s been normal over a century, and what is peculiar to 2020.

Fans will not be permitted at Michie Stadium for the season opener against Middle Tennessee State and the Sept. 12 game against Louisiana-Monroe, except for nearly 4,000 cadets, due to coronavirus pandemic restrictions. It should make for a strange sight for the teams involved, plus a national television audience on CBS Sports Network (1:30 p.m.).

Quarterback Jabari Laws and his Army teammates are happy to have the opportunity to kick off their season against Middle Tennessee State Saturday even if it's in front of a smaller crowd at Michie Stadium. DARREN ABATE/AP
"It will be an incredible experience, whether there are fans or not,?? said senior co-captain Amadeo West. ?We are fortunate to be playing. And the cadets ? they bring enthusiasm and excitement to the game. ? It?s not a negative thing that there are no fans. We?re just happy.??

?We?re really excited, the whole team,?? said senior defensive lineman Nick Stokes. ?We?ve been looking forward to this since we got back.??


There were moments at the start of summer when talk of canceling the college football season was prevalent, and concern set in about whether there would even be a season.

?We stayed hopeful,?? said senior linebacker Jon Rhattigan. ?And now the week is here and we?re really eager for it. We don?t take anything for granted.??

That?s what makes this Saturday?s game more special for the players.


?One hundred percent,?? said junior quarterback Jabari Laws. ?We really appreciated what the athletic department has done for us, working so, hard day and night, getting this 12-game schedule.??

Since the revamped schedule only came together in recent weeks, any advance preparation for the original slate has gone for naught. For the players, the focus shifted on their own responsibilities, and they let the coaches worry about installing a game plan.

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?We?ve had the whole summer preparing for our first game,?? Stokes said. ?We didn?t know who (the opponent) was going to be ? a nameless, faceless opponent as head coach Jeff Monken always says. We knew we were going to be ready for whenever our time came.??

?I think it?s perfect for us,?? Rhattigan said. ?We?re going to take things day-by-day and week-by-week. Right now, we're focused on Middle Tennessee State and that's really it.??

Despite losing spring practice, having limited summer training and a shortened preseason, the Black Knights feel as though they?re sufficiently prepared for the start of the season.

?I think we?ve gotten the most out of the preseason,?? Rhattigan said. ?I wouldn?t say we?ve been cheated. We?ve made the most of any opportunity that we've gotten and we worked hard all summer.??

Playing his role
Laws made nine appearances and had five starts a year ago, the first coming in week three against Texas-San Antonio. He is currently No. 2 on the depth chart, and is ready to help in any way he can.

?This year I?m trying to bring maturity and (a role as) another coach in the position group,?? Laws said. ?We have (quarterbacks) coach (Cody) Worley but I want to help the guys around me because I?ve been in the system a little longer than some of the guys that are under me.??

A great lesson learned last season was being prepared for the moment, with the coaching staff having to delve deep into the quarterback lineup following a host of injuries.


?Something we preach in the quarterback room, with coach Worley, is staying calm, cool and collected,?? Laws said. Laws made a name for himself in the UTSA game, carrying the ball 23 times for 137 yards. He started late-season games against San Jose State, Air Force, Massachusetts and Virginia Military Institute before his season-ending injury.

?It was definitely a little heartbreaking,?? Laws said of getting sidelined. ?But I know I can trust the guys around me and they?ve been there all the way for me, while I am recovering.??

Laws would certainly like another shot at starting but he is supportive of No. 1 starter Christian Anderson. ?I feel all of us would love to be The Guy," Laws said.

?I feel as a unit we are doing great,?? Laws added. ?We?re preaching competing throughout the camp. Our job in the quarterback room is to service others and service each other and help each other build and get better throughout the season.??

Laws is majoring in sociology, but his career job aspiration is quite different.

?My dream would be a general manager for any NFL team,?? said Laws, who hails from Upper Marlboro, Md. ?I would like to go back home for either the Washington football team or the Baltimore Ravens.??

The Bubble
The cadets at West Point have been restricted to who enters and leaves post as one step toward preventing the spread of COVID-19.

?We?ve always had a natural bubble,?? West said, ?so that?s worked to our advantage in terms of playing this game and playing it safely. On top of that, what?s different about this year is essentially people having more health protocols and being more sanitary: washing their hands, maintaining social distance, wearing your mask as long as you are out of your room.??


?There?s a lot of different protocols that are in place for us in terms of our daily operations,?? Monken said. ?But once we hit the practice field and really what we?re doing to prepare our players is very much like a normal season has been, so it?s nice for all of us to just feel that sense of normalcy.??

Monken said the team has reacted well to the new normal.

?It?s a little bit of a pain in the rear end to have to do all that stuff but that?s what we?ve got to do,?? he said. ?It?s the world we live in right now. So we can say no and buck the system and say we're not going to wear masks (or) ?I'm not going to wash my hands,? and come up with all these reasons why we shouldn't or why we won?t but it's foolish to do that. The wise thing is to follow the protocols that they put in place.

"I think it's because of that, the vigilance that we've had in creating an environment where our guys can stay healthy and they do the things to get themselves the best chance to stay healthy, that we've made it this far.??

kmcmillan@th-record.com

Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHR

4,000 cadets will be at the game
I like the Black Nites but although Monken has done a good job vs mobile qb since he's been there MT's qb scares me a lot . Army in the past has had trouble containing speedy qb's in the backfield . Mid Tenn is much quicker then Army and has speed in other offensive positions Wr's especially .It comes down to MT's defense. Don't think they can stop Army's ground attack .. It could be an over game with both offenses dominating but I hate betting the over with Army. I am 0-33 when I bet the over .. Army gets a lead and sometimes just kills the clock.
Last year vs qb's that were mobile vs Army ,Hawaii,San Jose St and Navy scored 52,34 and vs Navy 31 pts.

 

[Box and one]

After getting beat bad in my Smoo-Tex St game, got home and watched Army -Tenn replay.. Army sure looked good and McCoy is almost unstoppable. Monkens game plan was on the money and MT defense had no idea how to cover,stop gaps etc there was one play where Army added on 2 linemen to the right.. so they were playing with 2 right gds and 2 tackles , A TE blocking and the wr.. then the halfback leading a block with Mccoy getting the ball for an easy TD.. What was amazing about it was MT defense never adjusted and lined up exactly like they did on their last play.. anyone here reading this could of scored because the hole was twice the size of the Lincoln Tunnel

back next week

 

[#cruncher]

After getting beat bad in my Smoo-Tex St game, got home and watched Army -Tenn replay.. Army sure looked good and McCoy is almost unstoppable. Monkens game plan was on the money and MT defense had no idea how to cover,stop gaps etc there was one play where Army added on 2 linemen to the right.. so they were playing with 2 right gds and 2 tackles , A TE blocking and the wr.. then the halfback leading a block with Mccoy getting the ball for an easy TD.. What was amazing about it was MT defense never adjusted and lined up exactly like they did on their last play.. anyone here reading this could of scored because the hole was twice the size of the Lincoln Tunnel

back next week

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