This one’s been circled
on
the
calendar
for
months. Maybe more of
a tepid oval, actually. It’s
not the same anticipation
as an Ohio State or Notre
Dame game,
but
one
born
more
of curiosity.
Don Brown
and
his
defense
have
been
preparing
for
Army’s
notorious
triple-
option look
for
months
now.
The
Black
Knights
will come into Michigan
Stadium on Saturday an
experienced group, coming
off an 11-win season and a
season-opening 14-7 win
over Rice.
After
reviewing
the
tape,
though,
Michigan
might
be
able
to
identify
a
few
unexpected
weak
spots. Here
are
five
thoughts
from
Army’s
win
last
weekend,
and
how
the
Wolverines
might
approach
the
matchup
with that in mind.
Is
Army
who
we
thought they were?
Not
to
channel
an
inner
Dennis
Green,
but there were a few
uncharacteristic elements
in
Army’s
performance
last week. This is a team
that returned a majority of
its starters from an 11-win
group in 2018. The Black
Knights
will
likely
be
favored in every game this
year except the Michigan
game. Their quarterback,
Kelvin Hopkins Jr., comes
back after a 2018 in which
he posted 1000-plus yards
rushing and passing for the
first time in school history.
There were plenty of
preseason
grumblings
about the treachery this
game might pose.
But Army left plenty
to
be
desired
in
an
uninspiring performance
on both sides of the ball.
Their
normally-potent
triple-option attack was
largely held at bay, totaling
231 yards on 56 carries (4.1
yards per carry) against
a defense that finished
112th in the nation (of 130)
in 2018. That was nearly
100 yards shy of last year’s
season average. Defensive
coaches frequently preach
discipline when defending
triple
option.
Don’t
overcommit. Fill your gap.
Stay patient.
By and large, Rice did
a good job with that.
Startlingly well, in fact.
For the Black Knights,
much of that stemmed
from their difficulty to
secure blocking on the
edge. This was no one-off
occurrence,
either.
If
Army’s
offensive
line
has
trouble
squaring
up
Rice’s
edge
guys,
Khaleke
Hudson,
Josh Uche,
Josh
Ross
and co. will
surely make things far
more difficult.
For
Army,
and
the
triple-option writ large,
it’s less about the chunk
plays
(though
they
obviously
help).
More
vital is securing forward
movement on every play,
reaching
a
manageable
down and distance and
chewing up clock. When
first and second down
don’t go according to plan,
well, third down rarely
follows suit, either.
Because
when
its
offense comes up against
an obvious passing down…
...that doesn’t usually
portend success.
Big
game
for
the
interior defensive line
and linebackers
Defensive
line
coach
Shaun
Nua
said
on
Wednesday
that
defensive
linemen
Donovan
Jeter
and
Michael
Dwumfour
were
both
“ready
to
go”.
That’s
important news regardless,
but especially so given the
strain Army is going to try
to put on the Wolverines’
interior. Despite its week
one struggles, this is still
an offense
that
can
give
you
fits.
And
especially
given
the
high
frequency
of
snaps
the Black
Knights
will
run,
having
a
full breadth of defensive
linemen available will be
crucial.
For all the negatives,
Army
still
put
some
good stuff on tape. Given
Michigan’s
questions
on the interior of the
defensive
line,
getting
pushed around should be
the primary worry coming
into the weekend.
Expect the full rotation
to see time — Dwumfour,
Jeter, senior Carlo Kemp,
freshman
Chris
Hinton
and junior Ben Mason.
Perhaps this might be
the week for freshman
Mazi Smith to see
the field as well, if
only
to
spell
the
aforementioned.
If any player asserts
himself among the group
Saturday, that could open
an avenue for more playing
time in run downs going
forward.
Defense struggled at
times
Far
from
the
most
prolific
attack,
Rice
had
plenty
of
success
gouging Army’s defense,
particularly on the ground.
FootballSaturday, September 7, 2019
6B
Five thoughts from Army’s tape
For in-game updates
Follow @theo_mackie, @aria_gerson,
@Max_Marcovitch and
@ethan_sears on Twitter during
Saturday’s game.
MAX MARCOVITCH
Managing Sports Editor
ALEXANDRIA POMPEI/Daily
The Michigan defense must stay disciplined in order to stop Army’s triple-option offense from staying on the field for long periods.
More vital
is securing
forward
movement.
This is still an
(Army) offense
that can give
you fits.
Army at
Michigan
Matchup:
Michigan
0-0 Big Ten,
1-0 overall;
Army 1-0
When:
Saturday, 12
P.M. ET
Where: The
Big House
TV: FOX