Army West Point Athletics
Photo by: Dustin Satloff/Army Football
Jeff Monken Press Conference Quotes: Air Force
November 03, 2020 | Football
WEST POINT, N.Y. – Army West Point football head coach Jeff Monken met virtually with members of the local media on Tuesday afternoon for his weekly press conference inside Nowak Auditorium.
The Black Knights play their first Commander-in-Chief's Trophy matchup of the season this Saturday at Michie Stadium when they take on service academy foe Air Force. Kickoff is set for 11:30 a.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on CBS.
Army West Point Football Head Coach Jeff Monken
(Ref.: Opening Statement)
"I guess we haven't been here since the game two weekends ago and it was a great win for our guys, I thought they played really hard and performed well. I'm just pleased with the takeaways we got and our defense and how they continue to play and the production on offense. We're playing a lot of guys that don't really have a lot of game experience in some skilled positions, particularly the quarterback position. I'm really excited to see them get some game experience and build the reps that they frankly haven't had in practice. I thought they did a nice job. Our kicking game was really good that last time out. We covered kicks well, had a blocked kick and those are always big, and I'm just really impressed with the job that Coach (Sean) Saturnio is doing in motivating those guys to play really hard.
"Obviously, this week is a big game for us. We haven't had a bigger game this year than the one we're going to play this weekend. I know our guys are excited for the opportunity and certainly what's at stake when we play the academy games to earn the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy. It's always a great game and always a tremendous battle and hopefully we'll play well enough this Saturday that we can make it a battle again."
(Ref.: On the biggest things the team was able to work on during the bye week)
"Obviously we don't face a lot of option teams, we did in The Citadel earlier this year, so at least we were able to get some game experience on defense playing against an option team, and I thought our defense played particularly well that day. We didn't play well offensively, but I thought the defense did a nice job. It just allows us to have a couple of weeks to get into to playing option defense. What is always the case with these academy games is these offenses are really good at what they do and regardless of having extra time, they find a way to move the ball and make plays and so we are just going to have to play our assignments. Hopefully we block really well and are able to slow them down. Offensively, to prepare a game plan for a team that really know the options and all of these academy defenses and the experiences that we have playing in these games - playing against each other in preseason camps and throughout the season when we have those opportunities - we get to know the offense fairly well so their defense is going to be prepared. They'll have a good plan, so we are going to need to execute really well."
(Ref.: On what defines the Army-Air Force rivalry)
"It's just what's at stake, the CIC trophy and the importance of that trophy to us and what it means to our program and our team to be able to earn that trophy back that we had here a couple of years ago. That was a tremendous sense of pride for our program to have the CIC trophy. We're going to work really hard on getting prepared and hopefully we can take the first step this weekend. I know they're going to be equally as motivated after winning their first game of the series so they're coming in with a lot to play for as well."
(Ref.: On Air Force's offense)
"I think they had 415 yards of rushing last week. Is that right? Just crazy numbers against Boise State. They held the ball for 37 minutes, just some pretty impressive stats. Boise is a good football team and they had some big plays and were able to get the victory, but Air Force has some experienced players. Their guys up front are impressive and big as you mentioned. They've got (Timothy) Jackson, (Kadin) Remsberg with a lot of touches on the ball. They have players that have been in the games and have been a big part of their success. There are other guys that roll in and find themselves in starting positions like (Haaziq) Daniels at quarterback, (Warren) Bryan last week at quarterback. Those guys being able to share snaps last week. I know Daniels went out, but I thought Bryan went out and did a good job running their offense. They have a lot of people in each of their positions that have built depth as well. I am impressed with their offense and what they've been able to do this year. Being able to slide guys in there when some guys we've mentioned already have gotten hurt. They continue in the game and do what they need to do to gain yards and move the ball."
(Ref.: On the Air Force defense)
"Their guys have done a very good job of defending the option. Every time we play them you have to earn every first down and every point. Last year we had the ball in scoring position several times, but just couldn't get it into the endzone. We had some opportunities but didn't score and I think that speaks to their ability as a defense and what they do schematically. What is impressive about the guys they have this year is that they have moved positions. (George) Silvanic, as I understand it, was an offensive linemen who moved over there. They've got some guys who are playing for the first time and are having production. That's what happens. It is kind of like the quarterbacks we are playing with right now. They don't have much experience, but they have their opportunity and take advantage of it. They practice and are preparing and so they'll present a lot of challenges for us as they always do. Hopefully we will be able to execute well enough to block them and move the ball ourselves."
The Black Knights play their first Commander-in-Chief's Trophy matchup of the season this Saturday at Michie Stadium when they take on service academy foe Air Force. Kickoff is set for 11:30 a.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on CBS.
Army West Point Football Head Coach Jeff Monken
(Ref.: Opening Statement)
"I guess we haven't been here since the game two weekends ago and it was a great win for our guys, I thought they played really hard and performed well. I'm just pleased with the takeaways we got and our defense and how they continue to play and the production on offense. We're playing a lot of guys that don't really have a lot of game experience in some skilled positions, particularly the quarterback position. I'm really excited to see them get some game experience and build the reps that they frankly haven't had in practice. I thought they did a nice job. Our kicking game was really good that last time out. We covered kicks well, had a blocked kick and those are always big, and I'm just really impressed with the job that Coach (Sean) Saturnio is doing in motivating those guys to play really hard.
"Obviously, this week is a big game for us. We haven't had a bigger game this year than the one we're going to play this weekend. I know our guys are excited for the opportunity and certainly what's at stake when we play the academy games to earn the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy. It's always a great game and always a tremendous battle and hopefully we'll play well enough this Saturday that we can make it a battle again."
(Ref.: On the biggest things the team was able to work on during the bye week)
"Obviously we don't face a lot of option teams, we did in The Citadel earlier this year, so at least we were able to get some game experience on defense playing against an option team, and I thought our defense played particularly well that day. We didn't play well offensively, but I thought the defense did a nice job. It just allows us to have a couple of weeks to get into to playing option defense. What is always the case with these academy games is these offenses are really good at what they do and regardless of having extra time, they find a way to move the ball and make plays and so we are just going to have to play our assignments. Hopefully we block really well and are able to slow them down. Offensively, to prepare a game plan for a team that really know the options and all of these academy defenses and the experiences that we have playing in these games - playing against each other in preseason camps and throughout the season when we have those opportunities - we get to know the offense fairly well so their defense is going to be prepared. They'll have a good plan, so we are going to need to execute really well."
(Ref.: On what defines the Army-Air Force rivalry)
"It's just what's at stake, the CIC trophy and the importance of that trophy to us and what it means to our program and our team to be able to earn that trophy back that we had here a couple of years ago. That was a tremendous sense of pride for our program to have the CIC trophy. We're going to work really hard on getting prepared and hopefully we can take the first step this weekend. I know they're going to be equally as motivated after winning their first game of the series so they're coming in with a lot to play for as well."
(Ref.: On Air Force's offense)
"I think they had 415 yards of rushing last week. Is that right? Just crazy numbers against Boise State. They held the ball for 37 minutes, just some pretty impressive stats. Boise is a good football team and they had some big plays and were able to get the victory, but Air Force has some experienced players. Their guys up front are impressive and big as you mentioned. They've got (Timothy) Jackson, (Kadin) Remsberg with a lot of touches on the ball. They have players that have been in the games and have been a big part of their success. There are other guys that roll in and find themselves in starting positions like (Haaziq) Daniels at quarterback, (Warren) Bryan last week at quarterback. Those guys being able to share snaps last week. I know Daniels went out, but I thought Bryan went out and did a good job running their offense. They have a lot of people in each of their positions that have built depth as well. I am impressed with their offense and what they've been able to do this year. Being able to slide guys in there when some guys we've mentioned already have gotten hurt. They continue in the game and do what they need to do to gain yards and move the ball."
(Ref.: On the Air Force defense)
"Their guys have done a very good job of defending the option. Every time we play them you have to earn every first down and every point. Last year we had the ball in scoring position several times, but just couldn't get it into the endzone. We had some opportunities but didn't score and I think that speaks to their ability as a defense and what they do schematically. What is impressive about the guys they have this year is that they have moved positions. (George) Silvanic, as I understand it, was an offensive linemen who moved over there. They've got some guys who are playing for the first time and are having production. That's what happens. It is kind of like the quarterbacks we are playing with right now. They don't have much experience, but they have their opportunity and take advantage of it. They practice and are preparing and so they'll present a lot of challenges for us as they always do. Hopefully we will be able to execute well enough to block them and move the ball ourselves."
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