When 1990 Notre Dame alum and current West Point athletic director Boo Corrigan hired Jeff Monken in late 2013 it was seen as a coup among the smaller college football schools. Monken, coming off a successfull 38-16 run at Georgia Southern, had been tabbed as the next great triple option coach and was linked to a lot of decent jobs over his last couple years in Statesboro.
Granted, he took over an abysmal program on the shores of the Hudson River. The last time Army had fewer than 6 losses is 1996 and they’ve lost at least 9 games in 11 separate seasons since 2000. At first, Monken looked like he wasn’t going to be any different than his predecessors following a 6-18 record through 2 seasons.
Army (+13.5) at Notre Dame
Alamodome
San Antonio, Texas
Date: Saturday, November 11, 2016
Kickoff: 3:30 PM ET
Television: NBC
Series: 38-8-4
The breakthrough is finally happening for Army! Monken has improved the Black Knights’ F/+ rank from 121st, to 108th, to 70th nationally coming into this weekend.
Ironically, it’s been the Army defense that’s led the productive season. They’re only giving up 18.1 points per game (against a not-terrible schedule for their standards) and come into the game against Notre Dame with the 44th ranked S&P defense.
As we’ll see below, Monken still has some issues with his offense at West Point.
3 Matchups to Watch
Notre Dame’s Passing Game vs. Army’s Defense
Despite playing a pair of Power 5 teams already the Black Knights have faced some of the weakest passing offense out of anyone in the country. Normally, we like to see how much Notre Dame can punish an academy on the ground but it’ll be interesting to see how the Irish passing game produces against a defense that hasn’t seen a quarterback like DeShone Kizer.
Army’s traditional stats are through the roof, though. They’re limiting teams to 55% accuracy and have only allowed 8 touchdowns while forcing 12 interceptions. The most passing yards they’ve given up is 220 by Wake Forest and that took 43 attempts! Due to scheduling, Army is only 72nd in S&P+ Passing defense.
Turnover from Both Sides
Army has done a good job grabbing interceptions against inferior passing attacks but they’re not real disciplined keeping the ball on offense. Whereas Navy has just 8 turnovers total, the Black Knights have 8 fumbles and an incredible 9 interceptions for a triple option team.
Starting quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw has thrown 8 of those interceptions on only 77 attempts–a pick every 9.6 attempts!
3rd Down Conversions
As you’d imagine there’s a theme as Army is like Navy, just not as good. The Middies are currently 6th nationally in converting 3rd downs but Army is sitting at a still decent 34th nationally. Notre Dame had its problems on defense getting Navy off the field but let’s also not forget the Irish offense has struggled most of the season converting 3rd downs (68th nationally).
Plus, if you thought last week was annoying with Navy’s 4th down attempts well the Black Knights go for it even more with 28 attempts in 9 games.
2 Sides of the Line
Army brought back 5 players from 2015 who started games but a pair in Victor Nieves and Jaryn Villegas are no longer on the roster.
At center junior Bryce Holland (6-2, 285) has started every game as has senior left guard Justin Gilbert (6-5, 295). Junior right tackle Brett Toth (6-6, 276) started a pair of games last fall and has only missed one game this season.
Junior right guard Mike Houghton (6-4, 288) made 9 starts last year and the first 7 in 2016 but has given way to freshman Mike Johnson (6-3, 262) in recent weeks. Senior Colby Enegren (6-2, 279) received his first 4 career starts at left tackle this year and is now on the bench behind sophomore Rick Kurz (6-2, 271) who started 8 games last year and was coming of an injury.
Army doesn’t ask a whole lot out of their linemen in their 3-4 defense. Junior defensive end John Voit (6-3, 258) is a returning starter and has 5 tackles for loss and 2 sacks on the season. On the other edge senior Eddy Ruzga (6-3, 249) gets most of the playing time and has totaled just 8 tackles in 2016. The starting nose guard is junior Andrew McLean (6-4, 282) and he has 11 tackles and 1 TFL.
1 Prediction
If the season prior to this game had unfolded differently I’d be very wary this weekend. Since Army has proven they are a team with a decent pulse this had outrageously frustrating struggle written all over it. Not that Notre Dame’s 3-6 record makes this game easier per se, but coming off a loss to Navy there’s bound to more desire to not drop a second game to an academy. Plus, far less chance of being caught off guard.
Nevertheless, this decision to play the triple option in back-to-back weeks is going to be interesting to watch unfold. Does it benefit the Irish or does it compound the problems, especially since Army’s offense is just different enough to be difficult to prepare for in a week?
The return to the Alamodome certainly isn’t a triumphant one for Notre Dame. This Shamrock Series game had dreary boringness written all over it (matching uniforms to boot!) long before the season began and now I can’t imagine the 65% full crowd getting louder than 100 dBA on Saturday.
Notre Dame can easily lose this game, and that’s probably not the least bit shocking to anyone right now. I do expect a pretty close game, too. I just think the atmosphere and energy levels are going to be atrocious.
The big difference for me is that Ahmad Bradshaw has shown very few signs that he’s a competent quarterback. We’ve already discussed his interception ratio and he’s rushed for 173 yards on 73 attempts against Temple, Duke, Wake Forest, and Air Force. Even if he’s 50% better on the ground than that it may not be enough.
If the Irish can neutralize an active and aggresssive set of linebackers from Army the offense should score enough to put this game away.
However, help us all if Bradshaw is completing touchdown passes to Edgar Allan Poe instead of throwing interceptions. Quoth the Kelly “Nevermore.” Game preview over in less than 1,000 words.
CSN and clearwall will be there, along with our, like, 25 combined offspring. The Alamodome doesn’t know what it’s about to be getting into. We gonna make it loud up in that place.
Notre Dame 55
Army 7
GO IRISH!!
You guys live in Texas or something?
A western suburb of Houston called Katy for CSN and somewhere in Dallas for clearwall.
Have fun and don’t get vertigo if you’re sitting in the cheap seats in the Alamodome. It’s pretty steep up there.
This feels like a similar situation to when they played there in 2009, although that team was something like 5-3 and limped to the finish at 6-6. And there is no Golden Tate to catch a hail mary before the half.
Hey, I’ll be there, too, coming from Chicago. My roommates and I try to go to one away game per year and this was the top pick (don’t ask why, too long and uninteresting). I’m looking forward to the weekend and just want to win the game. I’m hoping that the defense will be more used to the option and it won’t end up like last week.
You would think that ND would roll right through Army? Knowing ND it will probably be a 4th quarter tug of war coming down to the last few minutes of the game. Army has to be feeling great about their chances after the Navy game.
I simply don’t trust this Irish team at all. I honestly think it’s a coin toss. Army has a better defense than Navy and have to be confident despite the +14 point spread.
I am losing faith in Brian Kelly. This is coming from someone who has always been Team BK! Kelly coming out this week saying there will not be any changes this off season only solidifies those thoughts.
Well, dang it, CSN and Clearwall, y’all just gonna have to make a TON of noise and help the boys out. For starters, this game is rich in lore, as we all know. To give a personal slant on ND and Army, it’s :
– Granddad teaching chemistry with the Rock (1913) and knowing the Gipper (1920),
– Uncle Fen knowing the guys on the ’28 team when the Rock tried to salvage his worst season ever at halftime with THE speech,
– Uncle Hank on leave from his B-17 for the Yankee Stadium natty game in ’46,
– Mom and Dad smuggling a one year old baby into the Stadium to see Terry Brennan run the opening kickoff back 97 yards,
– same kid’s first away game ever, for Monty Stickles’ winnig FG in 57,
– and first game in Giants stadium in the same corner as Ivory’s awesome tackle on the goal line in 95 (see this clip to get fired up)
http://125.nd.edu/moments/this-day-in-history-covingtons-goal-line-stop-1995-vs-army/
… BUT my wife is a West Point grad (USMA class of 1980…
So guys, you really need to help our lads put a nail in this one!
Can we hire Mr. Covington to teach tackling to our defense? Holy cow that was a stick.
Wasn’t it? Ivory was a darn good player, and that was a tough dude to bring down, he had been giving us tight end fits all game long.
Ivory was only a “darn good player” if we’re comparing him to the legacy of Clifford Jefferson and Preston Jackson. He was not good in coverage, but since he wore #14 instead of #15 like they did, he doesn’t get stuck with the “Highway 15–quickest route to the endzone” line we gave those guys. There was more than once or twice I and my friends in the stands cursed as he let a receiver free in the secondary.
HOWEVER, he deserves credit as the smallest dude on the team taking on Army’s biggest dude and winning the stop. I have a hard time thinking of this as a “Top 100” moment for ND football, needing a last second stop on a 2-pt conversion to beat a bad Army team is not a top anything situation, regardless of how good and dramatic a play it was. But it’s a great stick, and a better tackle than we’ve seen from ND this year.
I’m sorry, they said “5′ 9″, 161 going against 6’3″, 240”. We’re defensive players really that small? I remember that play, but I didn’t realize he was that small.
Ivory was not a big man. His brother (Jon, I think?) played LB/SS and was bigger.
Well, as you can tell from the results, mon frere, there was no shortage of noise from my section. We definitely shook down the thunder, and I believe it played at least a small part in helping the Irish to dominate Army on Saturday.
As you can see below, a good time was had by all:
Heck, even the teenagers thought it wasn’t totally uncool:
Here’s us celebrating what we hoped would be the penultimate TD on the way to a final score of ND >50 – Army <7:
It’s a sad commentary that I (and I assume many of us) was not surprised to see us lose to Navy (painful just to type that).
To lose to Army would be the ultimate. If that happens, it’ll be the point at which I finally have to disown Kelly. For that reason, I don’t think we’re going to lose.
My prediction is that we beat Army, and somehow, beat VaTech, and lost to USC (another painful thing to type).
My prediction also is that we go 10-2 next year, and miss out on the 4 team playoff just barely. The reason why I think that is because all these guys are coming back (I’m pretty convinced that Kizer is coming back) and we’ll have a more settled situation on defense. Kelly really screwed this year’s team up leaving BVG in as DC.
Well written, CubsFan. Nice to read you again. Belated heartiest congratulations on the Series!
Let’s take ’em one at a time; so starting with a win, any kind, over an improved Army team. In memory of 1928 (and recall how good it got in 1929!)
Thanks, More Noise.
Yeah, I’m still walking around with an idiotic grin on my face at random moments, all arising out of the Series.
And you are right, that I’ll be happy with a won tomorrow.
Go Irish!
Kizer is almost certainly not coming back. If he’s given a first-round grade, which he almost certainly will, he has no reason to.
Let’s hope the team remembers that TODAY is the day to give our veteran’s some love, not tomorrow. Tomorrow, let’s pound them into the ground.
Amen, KG!
Well I guess we’re a few hours away from seeing if we’ve made any defensive adjustments following the navy disaster.
And we did!