Playing Nice: Army – And The Valley Shook

Previewing Army with our new friend from Sidelines West Point

• By
  
  
  Zach Junda
  
  
• on October 20, 2023 9:02 am

Saturday in Tiger Stadium ought to be an unparalleled game atmosphere. Army’s visit to Baton Rouge is being celebrated with a special end zone. The Black Knights would love to upset the Tigers and it’s worth noting that Army leads the all-time series 1-0. To get us ready for LSU-Army, we have Cuthbert Hutton from Sidelines West Point.

But there’s still a game to be played and I have a feeling the Black Knights would love to come into Baton Rouge and upset the Tigers. And hey let’s not forget, Army leads the all-time series 1-0! Anyway, to get us ready for LSU-Army, our new Cuthbert Hutton from Sidelines West Point.

1. It’s a new look Army football! With the new NCAA rule changes eliminating the cutblock, Army’s having to do away with the triple option. How has the change to the shotgun gone for the Black Knights?

The transition, like any schematic overhauls, has had its challenges. We have a new playbook, new quarterback, and returning running backs who excelled under the previous flexbone system. They now need to find new roles. Meanwhile, our strongest wide receiver corps in years has been dealing with injuries. We’ve seen glimpses of what the new system is capable of, but it’s not yet second nature. The offense has had great moments in halves of games, but has struggled to execute consistently across 60 minutes since the UTSA win. We’re still learning and improving, but we’re making progress.

2. How much is this program looking forward to playing at an SEC venue?

We couldn’t be more excited. We thrive on big games and tough opponents. It was disappointing when Tennessee backed out last year because it was a missed opportunity to showcase our players, the Academy, and the men and women of our Armed Forces. While West Point is not primarily a football school, we love the game. Anytime we can compete against the highest level of competition, we relish it. When will LSU return the favor and visit Michie? I’d love to see the Tigers come to West Point on a cold gray November day and experience an afternoon in the trenches!

3. Army gave Oklahoma and Kyler Murray a tough challenge a couple of years ago, almost pulling off the upset. How can Army recreate that same success against LSU?

Army’s approach in big games like this is ball control and mistake-free football. We’ve seen that limiting the opponent’s possessions is key to hanging with more powerful offenses. In our game against Oklahoma, we had 6 penalties and threw 2 interceptions, but we also held Murray to only 40 total plays while maintaining a time of possession of 44 minutes and 41 seconds. Against an SEC team in the past, we won with only 31 minutes of time of possession. To have a good showing against LSU, we’ll need to keep their offense off the field as much as possible.

4. LSU has one of the best offenses in the country led by a Heisman contender in Jayden Daniels. What will Army do to try and slow down the Tigers?

Continuing from the previous question, controlling the pace of the game will be crucial. At Army, we focus on making small incremental gains that maintain possession and wear down our opponents. We’re not afraid to eat the clock, gaining 3 yards on each play to set up a 4th down conversion. Our new offensive scheme has allowed more passing from the shotgun formation, but regardless of the package, Army football will always be Army football. On defense, Coach Nate Woody will need to call a great game and our defensive leaders will have to step up to set the tone. Expect big plays from Lowin, Hammond, Ciarlo, DiDomenico, and Moore.

5. Army is potentially joining the AAC. How would that impact the program?

The fan base seems generally disappointed with the idea of joining a conference, but we understand that it’s inevitable. Coach Monken often talks about how we are a national school and should have a national schedule, and the fans agree. Joining the AAC would be beneficial for recruiting, notoriety, and the opportunity to compete against unfamiliar opponents. The Army-Navy game will remain outside of conference and still be played after the championship game. However, there is a hypothetical scenario where Army and Navy could meet in the AAC Championship and play each other again the following week in the official Army-Navy game. This could provide an epic stretch of football for the Army fan base. Ultimately, we have come to terms with the potential change.

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