Truly Excited...But Beware the Trap Game

[gabn92]

I'm loving what I'm seeing from this team so far this season! The offense has been amazing...consistent and relentless. My impression is they are playing cleaner football than any Army team in recent memory: fewer penalties, turnovers, miscues. I was concerned they might come out flat after a bye-week and take a few possessions to loosen up...couldn't have been more wrong! They were sharp from the first snap. The first half was nearly flawless. Great to see the 2nd team get some meaningful playing time. Wish they had looked crisper, but glad they got to play and the starters got some rest with the short week coming up.

Cody Worley is a play-calling guru. I hope Monken and Buddy are talking about getting the money together to keep him, because if this offense continues at this rate for the rest of the season, he's going to be getting offers from bigger programs.

Defense has been solid. While I'd love to see them be truly dominant, I think Woody has them playing to their strengths and capabilities with the "bend-but-don't-break" approach, getting the timely interception here and there and tightening up in the red zone.

Special teams! 3 games in a row with a huge performance (even with the fake failed punt yesterday). All 3 facets of the game going well.

If Army can keep this up, this could be a special season like 2017 or 2018. However, I am very concerned about the Temple game being a trap game for Army. The short week throws off the weekly rhythm. We're also at that point in the academic semester where the first round of WPRs, papers/projects/etc. can be a factor. How many seasons have we seen the Army team come out against an inferior opponent about this time of year and lay an egg? There's the danger at this point of starting to believe all the nice things the media is starting to say about you as well.

So far, these guys have been dialed-in each week...the team leadership is going to need to make sure that happens this week. Temple looks like they are improving each week of this season so far. Army will be playing an improved Temple team compared to what Navy saw a couple weeks ago...and that game against Navy was probably a great tune-up for Temple for Thursday night against a team with a similar offense.

Hope to see another dominant Army performance, but have to admit I'm definitely a little nervous we're going to see a let-down this week. Hopefully it won't lead to an L...

Beat Temple!

[WrekDivr]

Agree completely! It has been an incredible start to the season and this team really does seem to have an edge to them. I hope that continues.

I am worried less about Temple, though the short week will be a challenge and Temple did win their first game 45-29 despite being a 6.5 point underdog. They have a short week, too, and I think our staff will have them ready.

We were in the “easiest” (not sure it is ever easy for Army to win a FBS game) part of our schedule for sure. Combine that with the usual distractions that increase the level of challenge for Army football and the team will have to continue to improve and stay focused.

All that said, they are clearly playing at a high level with intense focus. If that holds, it will be a special season.

[PrideandDream]

All legit concerns.

On the positive Temple has to figure out how to stop this juggernaut and prepare for it on a short week too! We'll have more reps running it by far than they will have playing against our scheme. \

So we've got that going for us!


PD

[wpgrad]

I am not sure there is a long line of colleges looking to steal away an OC who runs under center option. There is a reason why no one hired Ken and Monkens been here 11 years

That said…team looks great so far in all aspects (navy does too)

I secretly hope army and navy finish 1-2 in conference so we can expose the stupidity of playing each other 2 weeks in a row (and see how fast that tv contract gets changed after that)

[Lusk2003]

I am not sure there is a long line of colleges looking to steal away an OC who runs under center option. There is a reason why no one hired Ken and Monkens been here 11 years

That said…team looks great so far in all aspects (navy does too)

I secretly hope army and navy finish 1-2 in conference so we can expose the stupidity of playing each other 2 weeks in a row (and see how fast that tv contract gets changed after that)

College football is ever changing. Offensive styles cycle through being "in" and "out". Winning is always 'in'. Army/navy will be getting attention for winning games and coaches will get poached because of it. I think Monken is always looking and I'm sure the assistants are as well.

[wpgrad]

I am not sure there is a long line of colleges looking to steal away an OC who runs under center option. There is a reason why no one hired Ken and Monkens been here 11 years

That said…team looks great so far in all aspects (navy does too)

I secretly hope army and navy finish 1-2 in conference so we can expose the stupidity of playing each other 2 weeks in a row (and see how fast that tv contract gets changed after that)

College football is ever changing. Offensive styles cycle through being "in" and "out". Winning is always 'in'. Army/navy will be getting attention for winning games and coaches will get poached because of it. I think Monken is always looking and I'm sure the assistants are as well.

Coach Ken won a heckuva alot of games and I don't recall them losing coaches including him, and we've had our best decade of success in forever and the only coach I can recall us losing is Bateman. I can safely say I am not going to lose any sleep worrying about Worley going to Texas A&M.

[kfan12]

I am not sure there is a long line of colleges looking to steal away an OC who runs under center option. There is a reason why no one hired Ken and Monkens been here 11 years

That said…team looks great so far in all aspects (navy does too)

I secretly hope army and navy finish 1-2 in conference so we can expose the stupidity of playing each other 2 weeks in a row (and see how fast that tv contract gets changed after that)

College football is ever changing. Offensive styles cycle through being "in" and "out". Winning is always 'in'. Army/navy will be getting attention for winning games and coaches will get poached because of it. I think Monken is always looking and I'm sure the assistants are as well.

Coach Ken won a heckuva alot of games and I don't recall them losing coaches including him, and we've had our best decade of success in forever and the only coach I can recall us losing is Bateman. I can safely say I am not going to lose any sleep worrying about Worley going to Texas A&M.

Bateman was a HUGE loss. I think his loss directly led to less effective line play.

[Dong Fong '09]

I am not sure there is a long line of colleges looking to steal away an OC who runs under center option. There is a reason why no one hired Ken and Monkens been here 11 years

That said…team looks great so far in all aspects (navy does too)

I secretly hope army and navy finish 1-2 in conference so we can expose the stupidity of playing each other 2 weeks in a row (and see how fast that tv contract gets changed after that)

College football is ever changing. Offensive styles cycle through being "in" and "out". Winning is always 'in'. Army/navy will be getting attention for winning games and coaches will get poached because of it. I think Monken is always looking and I'm sure the assistants are as well.

Coach Ken won a heckuva alot of games and I don't recall them losing coaches including him, and we've had our best decade of success in forever and the only coach I can recall us losing is Bateman. I can safely say I am not going to lose any sleep worrying about Worley going to Texas A&M.

I agree with this. I think the biggest concern was last year him taking a promotion to call plays at navy for his former colleague.

he’s not leaving any time soon except for a head coaching gig, which would likely be a small time program.

[3seconddelay]

I am not sure there is a long line of colleges looking to steal away an OC who runs under center option. There is a reason why no one hired Ken and Monkens been here 11 years

Coach Ken was hired by San Jose State and beat Air Force this year.

[kfan12]

I am not sure there is a long line of colleges looking to steal away an OC who runs under center option. There is a reason why no one hired Ken and Monkens been here 11 years

Coach Ken was hired by San Jose State and beat Air Force this year.

I think all of Air Force's sixth year players are gone and it is showing on the field.