ARMY 2018 SEASON PREVIEW
LOOKING BACK
Army went from 9-4 to 7-5 in 2017, thanks to a three-game skid at the end of the season, after an upset of Georgia, they dropped games to Rice, Navy, and Toledo.
The team lost 2016 rushing leader FB Andy Davidson against Ohio State, which was a huge blow just three weeks in.
The team also struggled to pass the ball to WRs and TEs downfield with 2/3rds of Army's 69 completed passes by QB Ahmad Bradshaw going to a RB or FB.
Army also waved goodbye to 6 starters on offense, and 7 on defense. What's in store for this year?
LOOKING FORWARD
Army 2018 Football Schedule
9-5 vs Hawai'i (6:00PM)
9-12 at Duke (8:00PM)
9-19 at Eastern Michigan (12:30PM)
9-26 at #6 Oklahoma (6:00PM)
10-3 vs New Mexico (8:00PM)
OFF
10-17 vs Tulane (1:00PM)
10-24 vs BYU (12:30PM)
10-31 at Air Force (Noon) *
11-7 at San Jose State (4:00PM)
11-14 vs Miami (OH) (6:00PM)
11-21 at Arizona (6:00PM)
OFF
12-5 Navy in Philadelphia (3:00PM) *
*Commander-in-Chief Trophy Game
Breaking it down:
Hawai'i - 5-7 last year. Hawai'i is starting senior QB Beau Rielly over incumbent QB Dru Brown, and has a similar team to Army. This will be a close one.
Duke - 9-4 last year (lost to Army). Duke went +8 on wins last year. QB Daniel Jones and his team of WRs will be even more dangerous as Duke got clicking the second half of the season. Think this one will be a Duke win.
Eastern Michigan - 7-6 last year, EMU went +6 on wins last year. New QB but 92 OVR Ian Eriksen at RB looks to improve on a 1,300 yard season.
Oklahoma - 9-3 last year. Kyler Murray starts for the first time, 99 OVR Joe Mixon is still there at RB. Not good for Army.
New Mexico - 8-5 last year. New Mexico lost a ton on offense compared to last year, again, they look very similar to us on paper.
Tulane - 7-5 last year. LSU transfer Lindsay Scott Jr. and his 91 SPD will just be the newest weapon of their option attack, a team we struggled with last year.
BYU - 5-7 last year. Tanner Magnum is back for his senior season but struggled against us last year in an Army win.
Air Force - 9-5 last year. Air Force returns QB Arion Worthman, but lost their NCAA leading RB, but replaced him with a five-star guy. So that was a good trade.
San Jose State - 4-8 last year. Their offense features 7 players with a 79 OVR or better rating, their defense? 0.
Miami (OH) - 8-5 last year. Their QB Gus Ragland is a baller - 29 TDs to just 7 INT last season.
Arizona - 6-7 last year. P.J. Fleck's Arizona team had growing pains in year one. They have a chance to be a darkhorse in the Pac-12 this year.
Navy - 8-5 last year. Navy got their revenge last year. However, they lost their top three running backs. I can see this team being 4-7 or 5-6 when we face them.
PROJECTED RECORD: 4-8 to 8-4
ARMY 2018 DEPTH CHART
Army offense: Army has the hardest question to answer about an offense this season - who is the starting quarterback?
It will come down to senior Chris Carter and true freshman Harrison Bowman. Carter, who failed to complete a pass last season in backup duty, has been used as a RB and a QB in run-only situations last year. Carter's numbers the last two seasons: 4-17 pass, 99 yards, TD, 48 carries, 294 yards, 3 TD. Bowman, on the other hand, has turned heads in practice. He's quick, got a good arm, and he just might be Army's future at QB - so why not start the future now? We'll find out on Sept. 5 vs Hawai'i.
Kell Walker is back, and so is FB Andy Davidson after being lost for the season early in 2017. FB David Poreda will still get a workload, just not as much as he did as a true freshman if Davidson is healthy.
Army's WR core is a mess, still. WR Les Studholme was dismissed. Terry Burgess has been the best WR in camp, and he's just a true freshman. Any of one of these 6 WRs can take a starting job - just no one has pulled away. TE Dante Barnes overtook TE Parker late last season, and hopefully has more impact this season.
The second biggest question mark on Army's offense is a retooled offensive line that sees 4 new starters. LT Matt Allegrotto returns, LG Ethan Palelei moves to a starting role as a senior, Kaveinga Tuitahi moves from backup OT to C, there's a mess at right guard, where its senior Tim Gant vs freshman Colby Threet and Jayson Schipper is the most improved of the group, starting at RT.
As a whole, Army got it's 2016 star back on offense, it's got a pair of 2017 stars back and better than ever, but it's got a QB question, a recieving problem, and a new offensive line.
Army defense: While Coach Jackson plays no role in the defense, the starting defense looks very solid on paper.
DE Rod Stoddard has been the talk of practice again, and is elevated to starter. True freshmen DE Anthony Singleton and OLB Josh Towsend are day one starters. Sophomore MLB Noah Hixenbaugh is a quick learner and new starter as well.
Like 2016, Army's defense may carry the way. Elijah Riley and Marcus Hyatt combined for 10 INTs last season and 2018 may be even better. Depth is hit or miss on the defense, but this should be a solid starting 11.
2018 football season is just around the corner.