ARMY

[wardly]

Saturday we host Army, who is an undefeated top 20 team. I don't remember us hosting a team ranked this highly before, the weather is predicted to be sunny in low 70's, and we have no reason other than apathy not to fill the stadium.

[Hunter Green]

If we win... they will come.

[Marty]

You're preaching to the choir. I'll be there & bringing 3 more. AD needs to pull out all stops & get the students to show up in force.

[DeepGreen]

DeepGreen is making the trek from the Hill Country to Denton for this very important game. 

WE WILL NOT LOSE!

[CMJ]

Given West Point's current record, ranking, and playoff buzz - this would be a landmark win should we defeat them.

[NT80]

1 hour ago, CMJ said:

Given West Point's current record, ranking, and playoff buzz - this would be a landmark win should we defeat them.

 

We have played a much tougher schedule than Army. 

Who have they beat that we couldn't beat??

 

vsLehigh

W42-7

@FAU

W24-7

vsRice

W37-14

@Temple

W42-14

@Tulsa

W49-7

vsUAB

W44-10

vsEast Carolina

W45-28

vsAir Force

W20-3

[Big Z]

1 minute ago, NT80 said:

 

We have played a much tougher schedule than Army. 

Who have they beat that we couldn't beat??

 

vsLehigh

W42-7

@FAU

W24-7

vsRice

W37-14

@Temple

W42-14

@Tulsa

W49-7

vsUAB

W44-10

vsEast Carolina

W45-28

vsAir Force

W20-3

Well it looks like that Army team plays defense….

[NT80]

1 minute ago, Big Z said:

Well it looks like that Army team plays defense….

What that says is that Army controls the clock and the game by long drives and clock-running plays.  Opponent's offense doesn't get on the field enough to keep up.

[Glory to the Green]

4 minutes ago, NT80 said:

What that says is that Army controls the clock and the game by long drives and clock-running plays.  Opponent's offense doesn't get on the field enough to keep up.

I think you’re right.  This is why I feel we’re going to try and put some longer drives together. Can’t have 21 point deficits in the first half and expect to win.  If we keep it close, we’ll pull away in the 2nd half.  Lock it up!

[greenjoe]

Hypothetically, if we had played the same schedule as Army and had the same record, do you think we would be ranked as well ?

[GMG_Dallas]

12 minutes ago, Glory to the Green said:

I think you’re right.  This is why I feel we’re going to try and put some longer drives together. Can’t have 21 point deficits in the first half and expect to win.  If we keep it close, we’ll pull away in the 2nd half.  Lock it up!

We need to string together some long drives. Don't need to score every time but we need to win the field battle. We do that by taking care of the football and regularly getting first downs even if the drive ends in a punt so we can pin them deep. I don't know in what world people expect to win games when giving opponents the ball multiple times in our territory but that's not winning football.

[GMG_Dallas]

15 minutes ago, greenjoe said:

Hypothetically, if we had played the same schedule as Army and had the same record, do you think we would be ranked as well ?

Good question... I wonder if the service academies get extra love for being the service academies. 

[emmitt01]

26 minutes ago, Glory to the Green said:

I think you’re right.  This is why I feel we’re going to try and put some longer drives together. Can’t have 21 point deficits in the first half and expect to win.  If we keep it close, we’ll pull away in the 2nd half.  Lock it up!

The problem is, 21 point first half deficits aren’t dictated by the pace of your offense…unless of course you run a slow, methodical offense that turns the ball over for defensive touchdowns. 

[Salsa_Verde]

1 hour ago, greenjoe said:

Hypothetically, if we had played the same schedule as Army and had the same record, do you think we would be ranked as well ?

I don’t know…Liberty was ranked a couple years ago and they didn’t play anyone either. I forget who blew them out in the NY6 bowl game. 

[Glory to the Green]

1 hour ago, emmitt01 said:

The problem is, 21 point first half deficits aren’t dictated by the pace of your offense…unless of course you run a slow, methodical offense that turns the ball over for defensive touchdowns. 

I was referring more to our 3 and outs (sometimes multiple drives) which leads to leaving our defense on the field for longer periods of time. 

I think a fresher defense, especially for us, will give us better results. 

[Matt from A700]

2 hours ago, greenjoe said:

Hypothetically, if we had played the same schedule as Army and had the same record, do you think we would be ranked as well ?

Yes. NIU got ranked at just 2-0 after being Notre Dame.

[meaniegreenie]

I know stats and rankings don't really mean all that much because they also depend on who you've played and field position, but we're the #3 offense in the nation (#121 defense) and the teams they've played have the following rankings (defense): 

Stats based on Total Offense and Total Defense:
ECU #65 (#94)
UAB #67 (#91)
Tulsa #78 (#123)
FAU #92  (#107)
Rice #113  (#23)
Temple #119 (#93)
AFA #131 (#68)

That's only 2 defenses above #90 and the best offense of #65.

Maybe we have a bit of a chance if we can stop stupid mistakes, keep moving the ball, and making just a few stops.  A turnover would help too.