Army West Point Athletics
Feinstein's Findings: Stepping Back for a Moment
September 11, 2016 | Football
New York Times bestselling author, John Feinstein, will report on the Black Knights after each football game during the 2016 season. The weekly report will be posted to GoArmyWestPoint.com following each battle on the gridiron.
All week long, Army football Coach Jeff Monken insisted he wasn't concerned that his team might have an emotional letdown after its stunning opening night win against Temple.
He talked about the fact that his players understand that anything less than 100 percent effort and execution against any opponent on the schedule will likely result in a loss.
He was right.
Except for one small factor: the young men who play for him are just that: young. And human. Also, smart. They knew what they had accomplished in Philadelphia. They heard all week about the beginning of a new era of Army football. And, they were playing at home against a team they COULD have beaten on the road a year ago.
Which is why Rice quarterback Tyler Stehling's 64-yard touchdown pass to Connor Cella on the third play of the game was a gift from heaven for Monken. On a hot, humid day, it was as if the entire sideline had a cold bucket of water dumped on its collective head with the game only a minute old.
WAKE-UP!
Monken and his coaches didn't have to say another word about week 1 being old news and week 2 being the challenge that every week of the season is going to be for the Black Knights.
Army promptly marched 75-yards in six-plays to tie the game, 7-7 on a Darnell Woolfolk 6-yard run.
Soon after that, came the play—and the sequence—that was yet another exorcism of the Ghosts of 2015-past. The defense, the metaphoric cold water still dripping from their helmets, held Rice and the offense got the ball back on the 16-yard line. Three plays netted 9-yards. Fourth-and-one on the Army 25.
Common sense dictated a punt. A year ago, not punting would have been insane. But that was then and this is now. Monken elected to go for it, sending a clear message to his offensive line: I believe in you.
Ahmad Bradshaw, gaining confidence, it seems, with every snap, picked up three yards. It almost looked easy. Nine plays later, Andy Davidson was in the end zone and Army led, 14-7—a lead it never gave up.
James Nachtigal's sack of Stehling—and Andrew King's recovery—led to another touchdown and a 21-7 halftime lead. The second half had some nervous moments, especially when Rice closed the gap to 21-14, but the Cadets answered with yet another long drive and yet another Davidson touchdown that pretty much put the game away. Just for good measure, new field-goal kicker Mitchell Howard broke his maiden with a 23-yarder off another Rice turnover to make the final, 31-14.
Given that Army had lost to Rice four straight times, including the last two seasons, this was no small accomplishment. The Black Knights won and they did so emphatically.
There is a LOT of season left and playing the next three games on the road will be anything but easy, but it is worth stepping back for a moment to review what's been accomplished the first two weeks.
A year ago, Army ranked 113th nationally in turnover ratio—losing 13 (of a nation-leading 38) fumbles and throwing nine interceptions. This year, the Black Knights have yet to turn the ball over—two fumbles, both recovered. They have forced FIVE turnovers—four on interceptions, which is two fewer than last season's 12 game total.
Last fall, Army went for it on 4th down 21 times and converted nine. Given that coaches almost always try to convert 4th down in short-or VERY short—yardage situations, that was an indictment of the (very young) offensive line and the fullback play. The only surge evident on most 4th down plays came from the defense.
Army's gone for it on 4th down 4 times in the opening two games, including Monken's bold call deep in his own territory in the first quarter Saturday. Four attempts, four conversions.
With all due respect to the youngsters who tried to fill Larry Dixon's very large shoes at fullback last season, none ever came close. An option offense MUST have a fullback who can hit the hole quickly when it's there and make something of nothing when the hole isn't there.
Davidson—who isn't likely to ever take another snap as a linebacker--and Woolfolk, have both done that. Davidson already has rushed for 228 yards and five touchdowns and Woolfolk has been effective giving him much-needed breathers. Army has scored eight touchdowns—six by the two fullbacks.
Bradshaw won the starting job in camp largely because Chris Carter wasn't healthy for almost three weeks. Clearly, he doesn't want to give it up. He's run with confidence, thrown the ball well on the rare occasions when he's put it up and has made good option decisions most of the time.
Carter played very solidly Saturday when he got into the game. Monken is smart to make sure he sees playing time now because there isn't any doubt that Carter's going to be needed down the road—especially when Army gets behind and needs more of a passing threat at quarterback. The Black Knights have yet to trail in a game by more than a touchdown—and those were both 7-0 first quarter leads—but that isn't going to last all season.
It's also worth noting that the defense, after allowing those 7-0 leads has given up a grand total of 13 points after that—six against Temple; seven against Rice. Five turnovers and six sacks have certainly helped.
Of course the most impressive and most important statistic is the simplest one: 2-0. Everyone who follows Army football knows the last time Army was 2-0 was in 1996, when the Cadets went on to finish 10-2, win the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy (which hasn't happened since then) and play in the Independence Bowl.
To put all that in perspective consider this: if you had asked many people to send you an e-mail in 1996, they almost certainly would have looked at you blankly and said, 'a what?' Bill Clinton and Bob Dole were running for President and Army beat Navy that season for the fifth time in a row.
There have been a lot of long seasons under the bridge since then.
If everyone on the post was giddy after the Temple win, there may be a parade into the mess hall on Monday after the victory over Rice. It's a shame that Florida Atlantic isn't on the schedule: if Army has proven one thing definitively, it is that it can handle any team called the Owls.
The Miners of UTEP will be anything but a pushover—especially on the road. They opened their season with a win over New Mexico State and played respectively in a 41-7 loss at Texas on Saturday. Yes, a 41-7 loss to a team that just beat Notre Dame can be respectable.
But this Army team knows it can win on the road because it has already done so this fall. What's more, Monken should have his players' attention when he tells them to forget 2-0, forget the parades and forget about 1996.
Army started that 1996 season 9-0. But you didn't hear me say that, right? All that matters now is to be 3-0 sometime before midnight next Saturday.
All week long, Army football Coach Jeff Monken insisted he wasn't concerned that his team might have an emotional letdown after its stunning opening night win against Temple.
He talked about the fact that his players understand that anything less than 100 percent effort and execution against any opponent on the schedule will likely result in a loss.
He was right.
Except for one small factor: the young men who play for him are just that: young. And human. Also, smart. They knew what they had accomplished in Philadelphia. They heard all week about the beginning of a new era of Army football. And, they were playing at home against a team they COULD have beaten on the road a year ago.
Which is why Rice quarterback Tyler Stehling's 64-yard touchdown pass to Connor Cella on the third play of the game was a gift from heaven for Monken. On a hot, humid day, it was as if the entire sideline had a cold bucket of water dumped on its collective head with the game only a minute old.
WAKE-UP!
Monken and his coaches didn't have to say another word about week 1 being old news and week 2 being the challenge that every week of the season is going to be for the Black Knights.
Army promptly marched 75-yards in six-plays to tie the game, 7-7 on a Darnell Woolfolk 6-yard run.
Soon after that, came the play—and the sequence—that was yet another exorcism of the Ghosts of 2015-past. The defense, the metaphoric cold water still dripping from their helmets, held Rice and the offense got the ball back on the 16-yard line. Three plays netted 9-yards. Fourth-and-one on the Army 25.
Common sense dictated a punt. A year ago, not punting would have been insane. But that was then and this is now. Monken elected to go for it, sending a clear message to his offensive line: I believe in you.
Ahmad Bradshaw, gaining confidence, it seems, with every snap, picked up three yards. It almost looked easy. Nine plays later, Andy Davidson was in the end zone and Army led, 14-7—a lead it never gave up.
James Nachtigal's sack of Stehling—and Andrew King's recovery—led to another touchdown and a 21-7 halftime lead. The second half had some nervous moments, especially when Rice closed the gap to 21-14, but the Cadets answered with yet another long drive and yet another Davidson touchdown that pretty much put the game away. Just for good measure, new field-goal kicker Mitchell Howard broke his maiden with a 23-yarder off another Rice turnover to make the final, 31-14.
Given that Army had lost to Rice four straight times, including the last two seasons, this was no small accomplishment. The Black Knights won and they did so emphatically.
There is a LOT of season left and playing the next three games on the road will be anything but easy, but it is worth stepping back for a moment to review what's been accomplished the first two weeks.
A year ago, Army ranked 113th nationally in turnover ratio—losing 13 (of a nation-leading 38) fumbles and throwing nine interceptions. This year, the Black Knights have yet to turn the ball over—two fumbles, both recovered. They have forced FIVE turnovers—four on interceptions, which is two fewer than last season's 12 game total.
Last fall, Army went for it on 4th down 21 times and converted nine. Given that coaches almost always try to convert 4th down in short-or VERY short—yardage situations, that was an indictment of the (very young) offensive line and the fullback play. The only surge evident on most 4th down plays came from the defense.
Army's gone for it on 4th down 4 times in the opening two games, including Monken's bold call deep in his own territory in the first quarter Saturday. Four attempts, four conversions.
With all due respect to the youngsters who tried to fill Larry Dixon's very large shoes at fullback last season, none ever came close. An option offense MUST have a fullback who can hit the hole quickly when it's there and make something of nothing when the hole isn't there.
Davidson—who isn't likely to ever take another snap as a linebacker--and Woolfolk, have both done that. Davidson already has rushed for 228 yards and five touchdowns and Woolfolk has been effective giving him much-needed breathers. Army has scored eight touchdowns—six by the two fullbacks.
Bradshaw won the starting job in camp largely because Chris Carter wasn't healthy for almost three weeks. Clearly, he doesn't want to give it up. He's run with confidence, thrown the ball well on the rare occasions when he's put it up and has made good option decisions most of the time.
Carter played very solidly Saturday when he got into the game. Monken is smart to make sure he sees playing time now because there isn't any doubt that Carter's going to be needed down the road—especially when Army gets behind and needs more of a passing threat at quarterback. The Black Knights have yet to trail in a game by more than a touchdown—and those were both 7-0 first quarter leads—but that isn't going to last all season.
It's also worth noting that the defense, after allowing those 7-0 leads has given up a grand total of 13 points after that—six against Temple; seven against Rice. Five turnovers and six sacks have certainly helped.
Of course the most impressive and most important statistic is the simplest one: 2-0. Everyone who follows Army football knows the last time Army was 2-0 was in 1996, when the Cadets went on to finish 10-2, win the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy (which hasn't happened since then) and play in the Independence Bowl.
To put all that in perspective consider this: if you had asked many people to send you an e-mail in 1996, they almost certainly would have looked at you blankly and said, 'a what?' Bill Clinton and Bob Dole were running for President and Army beat Navy that season for the fifth time in a row.
There have been a lot of long seasons under the bridge since then.
If everyone on the post was giddy after the Temple win, there may be a parade into the mess hall on Monday after the victory over Rice. It's a shame that Florida Atlantic isn't on the schedule: if Army has proven one thing definitively, it is that it can handle any team called the Owls.
The Miners of UTEP will be anything but a pushover—especially on the road. They opened their season with a win over New Mexico State and played respectively in a 41-7 loss at Texas on Saturday. Yes, a 41-7 loss to a team that just beat Notre Dame can be respectable.
But this Army team knows it can win on the road because it has already done so this fall. What's more, Monken should have his players' attention when he tells them to forget 2-0, forget the parades and forget about 1996.
Army started that 1996 season 9-0. But you didn't hear me say that, right? All that matters now is to be 3-0 sometime before midnight next Saturday.
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