Friends, we’ve seen a lot of bad football at Michie Stadium over the years, but that was some of the worst, most frustrating ball we’ve seen in a good, long time. I’m not sure what the worst overall performance of the Monken Era has been, exactly, but it might just be one of these last three games. It’s frustrating because it’s not like there’s been nothing good in there, but holy Hell, that is not how good teams play.
Final score: UMass 21, Army 14
— Army Football (@ArmyWP_Football) October 28, 2023
Army rushed for more than 5 yards/carry. They struggled to move the ball early, but they moved it very well once they got starting QB Bryson Daily back in there, and they moved it again once QB Champ Harris came back late in relief. This Army Team has a TON of talent, and they absolutely succeeded in getting the running game going. That’s good! But they also gave up fully 231 yards on the ground on almost 7 yards/carry, most of that to UMass RB Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams. At the end of the day, that was the difference in this game.
Army didn’t force a punt until right around the start of the fourth quarter, and they flat out could not make their own punting unit function under any circumstances after their first punt. We also saw a failed 4th-and-two on an insane play-action fake that got thrown into TRIPLE coverage that — of course — got intercepted. Army then abandoned the run with 13-plus minutes remaining in order to try to throw it all over the yard. With that, we saw a bunch more craziness followed by another interception in the end zone.
What are we doing here?
I love Army Football, obviously. But friends, it’s hard on days like this. This team just didn’t give itself a chance to win. Watching them completely fail to stop the run and then go away from their own running game when it was absolutely working… That’s the kind thing that we’ve literally never seen from a Monken-Era team.
All the little mistakes compounded the crazy mistakes, and this despite the fact that Army got plenty of help from UMass throughout this game. We saw crazy untimely Minutemen penalties alongside two missed field goals plus a missed extra point. That stuff should have been huge. The Minutemen gave Army every chance, but the Black Knights just could not capitalize.
Sure, this Army Team has some injuries, and those made a HUGE difference against LSU. However, the Black Knights had most of their key starters available on both sides of the ball this week, and they still didn’t get particularly close to making it happen on the field.
The worst part is that RB Kanye Udoh and QB Bryson Daily both had really good days running the football, and once he settled down, QB Champ Harris had a terrific day both throwing and running. Harris finished 5/7 through the air for 92 yards, and he had 4 carries for 32 yards (8 yards/carry!) plus a touchdown. Unfortunately, Daily didn’t look good — at all — throwing the football himself, and his receivers struggled to catch it from him. Add in the almost total lack of stops on defense, and here we are.
Champ Harris won't be DENIED 💪
— Army Football (@ArmyWP_Football) October 28, 2023
First career TD from 36 yards out. #GoArmy pic.twitter.com/HSWGXbOKdA
So yeah. They’ve definitely got something to build on with this team. However, we’re also nine weeks into the season, and these guys still need a ton of work, too.
Losing five straight? Getting beat by a 1-7 team at home?
Like I said, it’s damned frustrating.
Looking Forward
I want to believe and have faith, but this is still a team without a lot to build an identity around right here and now, and they’re losing games because of basic problems. They can’t stop the run. They don’t tackle consistently. They throw into double- and triple-coverage down the field. They can’t freaking punt. The offense looks good in stages — running the ball early and throwing it with Harris late — but that’s not nearly enough.
Friends, we’re headed into a very tough game road game against Air Force next week, and a few things are working. I want to believe. Army beat UTSA, and UTSA is probably better in every facet than Air Force is. Certainly, the Roadrunner have more talent. But the Black Knights are gonna need one Hell of a week of practice because Air Force Coach Troy Calhoun will absolutely embarrass and unman Head Coach Jeff Monken if he can.
Forget not shaking hands. This thing could get legitimately nasty.
“You have struck the hardest blow of the war directly at the enemy’s heart. You have made history.”
— Air Force Football (@AF_Football) August 15, 2023
THE DOOLITTLE RAIDERS pic.twitter.com/Vd4aHhv0jw
Army-Air Force is a rivalry where there is absolutely no love lost. It’s about violence and pain and physical domination. We’re gonna need to see a better, more focused effort than we’ve seen out of the Black Knights lately if they want to keep themselves competitive.
Go Army! Beat Air Force!!!
Cover photo via my friend Sharmeen on FB.
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