Army is now 5-2 on the year after a massive defensive stop late secured their victory over Eastern Michigan. Here is the report card:
Rushing Offense: A
This was such a bizarre game. The first four drives – two each by Army and EMU – all resulted in touchdowns. At that point, it looked like this much be a game where both teams scored well into the 40s and maybe even the 50s. Then the defenses stiffened up for a period before they fell apart again and the last four possessions of the game – minus some Army kneel downs – all went for touchdowns too.
When Army was moving the ball against the Eagles it was always the work of their ground game. Ahmad Bradshaw was once again the leader, with the quarterback rushing for 171 yards on 19 carries. He had a long rush of 69 yards (by far the longest of any player) on the day. He was ably assisted by Kell Walker who had perhaps his biggest game as a slotback. Walker had 14 carries for 115 yards and a score as the Black Knights were able to exploit the edges of the EMU defense. In total, Army carried the ball 61 times for 413 yards and four touchdowns, controlling the clock and the field position.
Passing Offense: F
I’m still over the passing game.
Army attempted five passes and completed exactly zero. Admittedly a couple of these passes were in awkward down and distance situations, plays that are even harder for Army to complete than regular passes because the element of surprise is gone. Even so, completing zero passes is never a good look and Bradshaw has to do better.
Rushing Defense: A
The Army rushing defense could have given up 1,000 yards on the ground in this game and they would still have picked up an A grade because of the play that saved the game for the Black Knights.
EMU had a decent, but not explosive, rushing day against Army. The Eagles ran the ball 26 times for 135 with no scores, and it was Ian Eriksen who did most of the work. Eriksen rushed for 107 yards, with a long of 23, as the Army defense did a pretty good job of slowing him down.
The big play though was the James Gibson stop of the EMU 2-point conversion that would have won the game for the Eagles. It was a brave call – and probably the correct one – to go for two when down 28-27 with less than a minute to go in the game. Even the play call seemed right, as a little speed option pitch opened up a lane for the running back. That was until Gibson came flying out of the secondary like a bullet, flipping the runner over and stopping him an inch short of the goal line. It was a wonderful play that Army needed in the moment and that will propel the team forward.
Passing Defense: C-
The passing defense, on the other hand, was a bit of a problem. EMU quarterback Brogan Roback didn’t have massive yardage numbers – he was 19-of-27 for 229 yards – but he was able to throw four touchdowns to just one interception. Some of this play was of the outstanding type that no defense would have been able to stop. His back shoulder fade for the touchdown prior to the 2-point conversion attempt could not have been placed better if Roback had been able to walk over and hand the ball to his receiver. It was just that good.
The receiver that Army was never quite able to get to grips with was Sergio Bailey II. Bailey had eight catches (more than double any other player) for 99 yards and a couple of touchdowns. Army had periods of dominating passing defense in the middle of the game, but at the beginning and the end Eastern Michigan got far too much joy through the air.
Special Teams: C
Other than the punters the special team’s units could have taken the day off here. There were no field goals attempted by either team and nothing of note happened in either return game. There is a theory that any time that special teams play to a tie you will be in with a chance of winning. That is pretty much what happened on Saturday.
Coaching: B-
Army had a couple of turnovers on downs during this game, but it is hard to say that they were bad decisions by Jeff Monken. The first was at the end of the field half, where the Black Knights could either try to pass the ball downfield or attempt at 50-yard field goal. Given the distance, the pass was the right option. On the first drive of the second half, the Black Knights faced a fourth and 12 situation at the EMU 43. Again Army went for it, and again they failed, but it was a positive decision that should be praised rather than criticized.
