The Army Black Knights host UTEP on Saturday at Michie Stadium. Here is your first look at the Miners.
SEASON SO FAR
UTEP (0-4) lost its season opener at Oklahoma 56-7. The following week the Miners fell to Rice 31-14. In week three UTEP lost at home to Arizona 63-16. Most recently the Miners were routed at New Mexico State 41-14. UTEP has struggled on both sides of the ball. On average, the Miners gain just 210 yards a game while allowing 519 to opponents. Running back Walter Dawn Jr. leads the Miners in rushing with 87 yards on 20 carries for one TD. Quarterback Ryan Metz has 34 completions on 69 attempts for 313 yards, three interceptions, and one touchdown. Four different players lead UTEP in receptions with eight catches each. Middle linebacker Alvin Jones leads the Miners in tackles with 31.
INJURIES AND SUSPENSIONS
Date Pos Player Injury Status
09/24/17 DL Christian Buckingham Undisclosed “?” Saturday vs. Army
09/24/17 LB Dylan Parsee Undisclosed “?” Saturday vs. Army
09/24/17 LB Julian Jackson Undisclosed “?” Saturday vs. Army
09/12/17 WR Alan Busey Shoulder out for season
09/12/17 OL Greg Long Leg out for season
09/12/17 LB Jayson VanHook Shoulder out for season
09/12/17 DB Khalil Rashaad-Brown Achilles out for season
09/01/17 DL Chris Richardson Eligibility out for season
Source: donbest.com
CHALLENGES
This is a game Army should be able to win handily. The Miners have been terrible so far this season being outscored by an average score of 49-13. If the Black Knights can offensively protect the ball and execute the option to perfection it should be a fun day at Michie. The challenge here is to show up ready to play. Hopefully, Jeff Monken can get the younger reserves in by early in the third quarter to give them some experience. It’s good to see Andy Davidson getting carries again.
Perhaps Army can run up a healthy lead by the end of the 3rd qtr with the running of its full backs and Bradshaw so that in the 4th qtr it’ll be able to show some roll out run-pass option plays and maybe some quick slant passes. If Bradshaw can’t do that (and he has been ineffective thus far in the passing game) then maybe it’s time Army finds a QB that can. Otherwise Army’s opponents after UTEP will bring a defensive load through an eight-in-the-box defense, simply daring Army to throw the ball which, after 4 games, has passed for a paltry 36 yards (the other 4 triple option teams, meanwhile have passed for: Navy-295; Air Force-287; Georgia Tech-280; Georgia Southern-234. They seem to understand the importance of a passing game to stretch the defensive secondary which allows the triple option to run more effectively at the line of scrimmage and at the second level).