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Know the Foe: Army

Know the Foe: Army

Football Oct 20
By ULMWarhawks.com Online Columnist Paul Letlow

When Army coach Jeff Monken returned home last Saturday night, the first thing he did was flip on his TV to check out ULM's game at South Alabama.

With the Warhawks (2-5) up next on the schedule, Monken wanted to see what his Black Knights would face in the week ahead. Even in a loss, ULM impressed Monken – especially the potent passing attack led by quarterback Chandler Rogers.

"He's a really, really good runner, great on his feet," Monken said. "He's quick and fast and he throws the ball really, really well. He's got a very quick release and a host of talented, athletic receivers. Just really impressed with them overall.

"Just talking offense here, they've got a big offensive line and a back that breaks a lot of tackles against good people."

The Black Knights attack opponents in a different way. Army (2-4) rushed for 467 yards in a 42-17 win over Colgate last week. The Black Knights are one of two teams in the country with two games of over 450 yards rushing this season, including gashing Villanova for 472.

"The first half of the season hasn't quite gone like we hoped it would," Monken said. "But our guys have continued to fight and push to improve. We're glad the season's not over and we've got a chance to play some more."

Army's next outing comes against ULM on Saturday. Kickoff at Michie Stadium in West Point, New York, is 11 a.m. CST (CBS Sports Network).

"I have a lot of respect for the way they play and the discipline they have," ULM coach Terry Bowden said. "You're not going to count on these guys giving up or things like that. It's not in their DNA."

For ULM, the obvious challenge defensively will be trying to corral Army's triple-option offense that comes in averaging 316.8 rushing yards per game (second best in the country). Senior quarterback Jemel Jones made his first start of the season against Colgate and rushed for a team-high 119 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries.

"It's an option, it's a triple option with some power to it," Bowden said. "There are some different running schemes to it and you've got to stop the run. They went over 400 yards against two of the opponents that they played, and if you hold them down, they'll still get over 200 probably. … The thing that scares you is, the one time they were held down, they got 304 yards passing."

Army's quarterback duo of Tyhier Tyler and Cade Ballard along with running back Tyrell Robinson combined for 13-of-18 passing for 304 yards and two TDs (Robinson also completed a pass, 1-1 for 6 yards) in a 41-38 overtime loss to UTSA on Sept. 10. It was Army's first 300-yard passing game since 2007 against Tulsa.

Army held out several offensive starters with injury last week, including Tyler and running back Jakobi Buchanan, but the machine kept churning. Monken expects a stiffer test against a ULM defense that allows 149.3 rushing yards per game.

"We could go on and on about their defense," Monken said. "They're athletic as heck. Maybe as athletic a team as we've faced all year defensively."

Army's 467 yards of rushing against Colgate was spread among Jones (12 carries for 119 yards), Hayden Reed (11-87), Markel Johnson (9-76), Ay'Jaun Marshall (4-61), A.J. Williams (2-33), Bryson Daily (4- 32), Jarel Dickson (5-24), Braheam Murphy (4-23), Maurice Bellan (2-11) and Miles Stewart (2-7).

"The biggest thing is their running style and their commitment to running," Bowden said. "They've gone for it 18 times on fourth down, and they're going to limit your possessions on offense. As much as you say, 'We've got to score a lot of points,' you've got to be a little bit methodical about it too …. You don't want to get a lot of three-and-outs or you're going to get in trouble."

Defensively, Army is allowing 30.3 points and 413.7 yards per game.

The Black Knights aren't known for producing professional football players, but linebacker Andre Carter looks like a potential NFL prospect. Carter was selected as an Associated Press All-American in 2021 after collecting 15.5 sacks, 18.5 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, one blocked kick and making one interception in 12 games played. Carter also recorded 38 total tackles. Carter is also the first Black Knight to be named as a Phil Steele All-American in recent Academy history.

Carter, who didn't play against Colgate because of an injury, made 2.5 sacks with six tackles in Army's loss to UTSA. With 19.0 career sacks, Carter ranks second in Army history.

Since the arrival of defensive coordinator Nate Woody in 2020, Army has seven multi-interception games, ranking in the Top 30 nationally in that span.

Linebacker Leo Lowin created two turnovers last week against Colgate, forcing a fumble and grabbing his first career interception. Lowin leads Army with 56 tackles, with three for loss and one sack.

"You've got to go out there and take what they give you and be methodical to a degree and mix your offense up," Bowden said.

Warhawk connections: Now in his first season with Army, slotback coach Jason Nichols worked five years at ULM from 2010-15 where he held the titles of assistant coach/receivers and passing game coordinator.

Nichols was voted the best mid-major recruiter by Rivals in 2013. In 2014, he coached the All-Sun Belt Conference trio of Rashon Caesar, Ajalen Holley, and Kenzee Jackson, who led the league in both receptions and receiving yardage. Under his guidance, ULM became one of six schools in the country with three 50-plus catch receivers and one of three with two 70-plus catch receivers. Nichols also coached Brent Leonard, an All-Sun Belt selection who set the ULM records in receptions for both a single season and career.

ULM and Army also share a former head coach in Todd Berry, who served at West Point from 2000-03 and worked in Monroe from 2010-15.

Black Knight nuggets: Army is 15-3 at home since the start of the 2020 season, including a 37-7 win over ULM in 2020. … Over the past five years, the Black Knights have defeated Navy three times, captured three Commander in Chief's Trophies and played in four bowl games. … Army is 3-3 vs. the Sun Belt Conference in the Jeff Monken era. This year the Black Knights lost 38-28 at Coastal Carolina and 31-14 at home vs. Georgia State. Army visits Troy on Nov. 12.  … Army will be wearing their gold helmets, black jerseys and gold pants this week. Army's record since 2017 is 21-0 in this combination. … RB Tyrell Robinson returned a punt 73 yards for a TD in Week 3 vs. Villanova, marking Army's first punt or kickoff return for a TD since Jeremy Trimble in 2007 vs. Temple. ... Monken previously served as the head football coach of Sun Belt member Georgia Southern from 2010 to 2013.
 
 
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