Navy-Army Game
- Thread starter joefrog91
- Start date
Army preview...
Army preview...
The series
Army and Navy will meet for the 113th time. Navy leads the series 56-49-7 and has won the last 10 games. Army has lost by a combined 34 points in coach Rich Ellerson's three games against Navy. The Black Knights had lost by 81 points in the team's three Navy games prior to Ellerson arriving. Army's last win was a 26-17 victory in 2001 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia.
The opponent
Navy
Last season: 5-7
Coach: Ken Niumatalolo (fifth season, 39-25)
Next game: vs. Arizona State, Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, Dec. 29, San Francisco
Key players: QB Keenan Reynolds; RB Gee Gee Greene; WR Brandon Turner; LB Matt Warrick; LB Keegan Wetzel; Rover Tra'ves Bush.
Did you know: Niumatalolo has won his first four games against Army. Only Paul Johnson (six, 2002-07) and Wayne Hardin (five, 1959-63) have won more consecutive games in the series.
Top offensive players
Army
Trent Steelman, senior quarterback: Steelman's 44 career rushing touchdowns are an Academy record. Steelman, Army's leading rusher (1,152 yards), has scored six of his 16 touchdowns on runs of 25 yards or more.
Raymond Maples, junior running back: Maples joins Mike Mayweather and Carlton Jones as the only Army players to rush for 1,000 yards (1,059) in consecutive seasons. He's averaging 5.4 yards per carry in his last two games. Maples is looking for his first 100-yard game since Oct. 6 against Boston College.
Nate Combs, senior linebacker: The defensive leader, Combs has been involved in five of the defense's 11 turnovers. He leads the team with six sacks and three fumble recoveries.
Geoff Bacon, sophomore linebacker: Bacon's 122 tackles are the most by an Army player since Greg Washington had 149 in 2004. Bacon needs to be a physical run stopper at the point of attack.
Navy
Keenan Reynolds, freshman quarterback: Navy is 5-1 since Reynolds was inserted into the starting lineup. Reynolds also led Navy to a 28-21 overtime win in relief. He has accounted for 16 touchdowns (eight rushing, eight passing) in his six starts.
Gee Gee Greene, senior slot back: When Navy needs a big play on the ground, Greene is its best weapon. Greene, who averages 7.2 yards per carry, had a 59-yard touchdown run against Troy.
Matt Warrick, senior inside linebacker: Warrick has 22 tackles in his last two games against Army. He sacked quarterback Trent Steelman and dropped him for another loss on Army's final drive to help Navy to a 27-21 victory last season. Warrick's father, Vince, is a 1980 West Point graduate.
Tra'ves Bush, senior rover: Bush, another veteran of Army-Navy games, is the leader of a secondary that likes to hit. He has 215 career tackles and tops Navy with 76 stops this season.
Position by position
Quarterbacks
Army senior Trent Steelman will leave the Academy as one of its most decorated quarterbacks statistically. But Steelman needs to make a play or two with his arm for the Black Knights to have a chance. He's thrown just one touchdown this season. Navy freshman Keenan Reynolds provided a spark, which turned a 1-3 start into another bowl season. Reynolds, who has great poise for a true freshman, can beat a defense with his arm and legs. He leads Navy with nine rushing touchdowns and has thrown just one interception in 80 attempts. Edge: Army
Running backs
Army has one of its best backfields in years. Junior Raymond Maples, who has 2,333 yards in his career, can break big runs inside and outside. Sophomore fullback Larry Dixon, who has rushed for more yards (778) than any Navy running back this season, has gained 276 yards in his last three games. Senior Malcolm Brown has four touchdowns in the last two Army-Navy games. Maples and Brown may be Army's best options in the passing game. Gee Gee Greene, who leads Navy with 750 yards, is also one of the team's best receivers. He averages 20 yards per catch. Noah Copeland might not be as dynamic as past Navy fullbacks, but he still averages 4.6 yards per touch and has two 100-yard games. Edge: Army
Receivers
Sophomore Chevaughn Lawrence, Army's leading receiver (18 catches, 313 yards), has caught a pass in nine straight games but is without a touchdown. Junior Patrick Laird is a good blocker who can make catches in traffic. Navy should take advantage of the matchup of 6-foot-4 senior Brandon Turner on Army's cornerbacks. Turner, who has missed two games, leads Navy with 19 catches. Junior Shawn Lynch, who played safety last year, has Navy's longest catch (68 yards) this season. Edge: Navy
Offensive line
Army's line, which has blocked well for the nation's top rushing team this season, will have its depth tested. Starting right tackle Momo Kime, its most consistent lineman, was lost to a knee injury in Army's last game against Temple. Senior left tackle Ben Jebb, who started the first eight games, is questionable. Senior Derek Bisgard and junior Zach Reichert are likely to start. Center Ryan Powis, guards Frank Allen, a three-year starter, and Steve Shumaker are solid inside. Senior guard Josh Cabral (297 pounds) and sophomore guard Jake Zuzek are big, physical interior linemen, which have given Army trouble this season. Edge: Even
Defensive line
Army sophomore defensive end Bobby Kough played his best game of the season against Air Force. Kough was constantly disruptive in the backfield. Army needs the same effort from Kough on Saturday. Nose guard Richard Glover, when healthy, has held his own inside. Army may line up with three interior linemen like it did when it held Air Force to 103 rushing yards. Navy nose guard Barry Dabney (6-foot-1, 297) needs to plug gaps up the middle in its 3-4 defense. Senior defensive end Wes Henderson is the team's most experienced lineman. Edge: Navy
Linebackers
The heart and soul of both defenses. Army senior Nate Combs and sophomore Geoff Bacon have combined for 177 tackles. If Army forces a turnover, Combs is likely to be involved. He had nine tackles, two sacks and a fumble recovery against Navy last season. Bacon, who ranks seventh in the nation with 122 tackles, roams sideline to sideline. Navy senior inside linebackers Matt Warrick and Brye French are listed at the same position on the team's depth chart but should be on the field at the same time. Warrick leads Navy with three interceptions. Senior outside linebacker Keegan Wetzel has a team-high 13.5 tackles for a loss. Edge: Navy
Secondary
Sophomore strong safety Hayden Pierce's return from injury should boost Army's secondary. Pierce allows senior Josh Jackson, a three-year starter, to return to his cornerback position. Freshman free safety Brandon Fusilier-Jeffires, second on the team with 83 tackles, will be put in one-on-one situations and needs to wrap up. Navy's senior rover Tra'ves Bush will likely play as an extra linebacker. Navy cornerbacks Parrish Gaines and Kwazel Bertrand are solid tacklers. Edge: Navy
Special teams
Special teams have been a disaster for Army all season, from four missed extra points, short field goals and bad punt snaps. Army can't afford any miscues against Navy. Navy sophomore punter Pablo Beltran averages 45 yards per punt. Freshman kicker Nick Sloan is 4-of-8 on field goals of 33 yards or more. Edge: Navy
Coaching
Army's Rich Ellerson is 1-6 in service-academy games following a 41-21 win over Air Force. Ellerson, who led Army to an Armed Forces Bowl win in 2010, has won just five of 23 games the past two seasons. A win over Navy would be the biggest victory of his Army tenure. Ken Niumatalolo has led Navy to four bowl games in his five seasons. He is 4-0 against Army. Edge: Navy
Keys to victory
Dominate the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Army knocked Air Force around from the start in a 41-21 win in November. Army's lines need to set the game's tone again against Navy and make a statement early.
Play error-free in all phases. Army has lost seven fumbles inside an opponent's 20-yard line this season. Missed tackles have plagued the defense all season. Special teams' blunders have cost Army a few games. The Black Knights must play perfect to defeat Navy.
Finish drives. Army's offense, which has scored 34 points or more in five games but seven points or less in three games, must be aggressive. Settling for field goals is unacceptable. The Black Knights must find the end zone early and often.
Army preview...
The series
Army and Navy will meet for the 113th time. Navy leads the series 56-49-7 and has won the last 10 games. Army has lost by a combined 34 points in coach Rich Ellerson's three games against Navy. The Black Knights had lost by 81 points in the team's three Navy games prior to Ellerson arriving. Army's last win was a 26-17 victory in 2001 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia.
The opponent
Navy
Last season: 5-7
Coach: Ken Niumatalolo (fifth season, 39-25)
Next game: vs. Arizona State, Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, Dec. 29, San Francisco
Key players: QB Keenan Reynolds; RB Gee Gee Greene; WR Brandon Turner; LB Matt Warrick; LB Keegan Wetzel; Rover Tra'ves Bush.
Did you know: Niumatalolo has won his first four games against Army. Only Paul Johnson (six, 2002-07) and Wayne Hardin (five, 1959-63) have won more consecutive games in the series.
Top offensive players
Army
Trent Steelman, senior quarterback: Steelman's 44 career rushing touchdowns are an Academy record. Steelman, Army's leading rusher (1,152 yards), has scored six of his 16 touchdowns on runs of 25 yards or more.
Raymond Maples, junior running back: Maples joins Mike Mayweather and Carlton Jones as the only Army players to rush for 1,000 yards (1,059) in consecutive seasons. He's averaging 5.4 yards per carry in his last two games. Maples is looking for his first 100-yard game since Oct. 6 against Boston College.
Nate Combs, senior linebacker: The defensive leader, Combs has been involved in five of the defense's 11 turnovers. He leads the team with six sacks and three fumble recoveries.
Geoff Bacon, sophomore linebacker: Bacon's 122 tackles are the most by an Army player since Greg Washington had 149 in 2004. Bacon needs to be a physical run stopper at the point of attack.
Navy
Keenan Reynolds, freshman quarterback: Navy is 5-1 since Reynolds was inserted into the starting lineup. Reynolds also led Navy to a 28-21 overtime win in relief. He has accounted for 16 touchdowns (eight rushing, eight passing) in his six starts.
Gee Gee Greene, senior slot back: When Navy needs a big play on the ground, Greene is its best weapon. Greene, who averages 7.2 yards per carry, had a 59-yard touchdown run against Troy.
Matt Warrick, senior inside linebacker: Warrick has 22 tackles in his last two games against Army. He sacked quarterback Trent Steelman and dropped him for another loss on Army's final drive to help Navy to a 27-21 victory last season. Warrick's father, Vince, is a 1980 West Point graduate.
Tra'ves Bush, senior rover: Bush, another veteran of Army-Navy games, is the leader of a secondary that likes to hit. He has 215 career tackles and tops Navy with 76 stops this season.
Position by position
Quarterbacks
Army senior Trent Steelman will leave the Academy as one of its most decorated quarterbacks statistically. But Steelman needs to make a play or two with his arm for the Black Knights to have a chance. He's thrown just one touchdown this season. Navy freshman Keenan Reynolds provided a spark, which turned a 1-3 start into another bowl season. Reynolds, who has great poise for a true freshman, can beat a defense with his arm and legs. He leads Navy with nine rushing touchdowns and has thrown just one interception in 80 attempts. Edge: Army
Running backs
Army has one of its best backfields in years. Junior Raymond Maples, who has 2,333 yards in his career, can break big runs inside and outside. Sophomore fullback Larry Dixon, who has rushed for more yards (778) than any Navy running back this season, has gained 276 yards in his last three games. Senior Malcolm Brown has four touchdowns in the last two Army-Navy games. Maples and Brown may be Army's best options in the passing game. Gee Gee Greene, who leads Navy with 750 yards, is also one of the team's best receivers. He averages 20 yards per catch. Noah Copeland might not be as dynamic as past Navy fullbacks, but he still averages 4.6 yards per touch and has two 100-yard games. Edge: Army
Receivers
Sophomore Chevaughn Lawrence, Army's leading receiver (18 catches, 313 yards), has caught a pass in nine straight games but is without a touchdown. Junior Patrick Laird is a good blocker who can make catches in traffic. Navy should take advantage of the matchup of 6-foot-4 senior Brandon Turner on Army's cornerbacks. Turner, who has missed two games, leads Navy with 19 catches. Junior Shawn Lynch, who played safety last year, has Navy's longest catch (68 yards) this season. Edge: Navy
Offensive line
Army's line, which has blocked well for the nation's top rushing team this season, will have its depth tested. Starting right tackle Momo Kime, its most consistent lineman, was lost to a knee injury in Army's last game against Temple. Senior left tackle Ben Jebb, who started the first eight games, is questionable. Senior Derek Bisgard and junior Zach Reichert are likely to start. Center Ryan Powis, guards Frank Allen, a three-year starter, and Steve Shumaker are solid inside. Senior guard Josh Cabral (297 pounds) and sophomore guard Jake Zuzek are big, physical interior linemen, which have given Army trouble this season. Edge: Even
Defensive line
Army sophomore defensive end Bobby Kough played his best game of the season against Air Force. Kough was constantly disruptive in the backfield. Army needs the same effort from Kough on Saturday. Nose guard Richard Glover, when healthy, has held his own inside. Army may line up with three interior linemen like it did when it held Air Force to 103 rushing yards. Navy nose guard Barry Dabney (6-foot-1, 297) needs to plug gaps up the middle in its 3-4 defense. Senior defensive end Wes Henderson is the team's most experienced lineman. Edge: Navy
Linebackers
The heart and soul of both defenses. Army senior Nate Combs and sophomore Geoff Bacon have combined for 177 tackles. If Army forces a turnover, Combs is likely to be involved. He had nine tackles, two sacks and a fumble recovery against Navy last season. Bacon, who ranks seventh in the nation with 122 tackles, roams sideline to sideline. Navy senior inside linebackers Matt Warrick and Brye French are listed at the same position on the team's depth chart but should be on the field at the same time. Warrick leads Navy with three interceptions. Senior outside linebacker Keegan Wetzel has a team-high 13.5 tackles for a loss. Edge: Navy
Secondary
Sophomore strong safety Hayden Pierce's return from injury should boost Army's secondary. Pierce allows senior Josh Jackson, a three-year starter, to return to his cornerback position. Freshman free safety Brandon Fusilier-Jeffires, second on the team with 83 tackles, will be put in one-on-one situations and needs to wrap up. Navy's senior rover Tra'ves Bush will likely play as an extra linebacker. Navy cornerbacks Parrish Gaines and Kwazel Bertrand are solid tacklers. Edge: Navy
Special teams
Special teams have been a disaster for Army all season, from four missed extra points, short field goals and bad punt snaps. Army can't afford any miscues against Navy. Navy sophomore punter Pablo Beltran averages 45 yards per punt. Freshman kicker Nick Sloan is 4-of-8 on field goals of 33 yards or more. Edge: Navy
Coaching
Army's Rich Ellerson is 1-6 in service-academy games following a 41-21 win over Air Force. Ellerson, who led Army to an Armed Forces Bowl win in 2010, has won just five of 23 games the past two seasons. A win over Navy would be the biggest victory of his Army tenure. Ken Niumatalolo has led Navy to four bowl games in his five seasons. He is 4-0 against Army. Edge: Navy
Keys to victory
Dominate the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. Army knocked Air Force around from the start in a 41-21 win in November. Army's lines need to set the game's tone again against Navy and make a statement early.
Play error-free in all phases. Army has lost seven fumbles inside an opponent's 20-yard line this season. Missed tackles have plagued the defense all season. Special teams' blunders have cost Army a few games. The Black Knights must play perfect to defeat Navy.
Finish drives. Army's offense, which has scored 34 points or more in five games but seven points or less in three games, must be aggressive. Settling for field goals is unacceptable. The Black Knights must find the end zone early and often.
