2011 Army Black Knights Football Preview

The 2010 campaign was a memorable one for the Cadets at West Point. For the first time since 1996, Army had a winning record. For the first time since 1985, the Black Knights were victorious in a bowl game, dispatching Southern Methodist in the Mustangs’ home stadium in the Armed Forces Bowl, which was moved from its normal home in Fort Worth because of the renovation of Amon Carter Stadium, the normal site for the postseason contest.

That win over SMU wasn’t artful, but that’s part of the point: Army used a superabundant supply of grit to turn back a high-powered passing attack. The Black Knights won a game in which they figured to be heavily outgunned. They exhibited the ball security and resilience that will have to emerge in 2011 if this program is going to generate a second consecutive bowl appearance. For now, that’s the way Army has to play on a regular basis. Second year head coach Rich Ellerson has his program believing it can not only be competitive playing an independent schedule, but be a consistent winner. The sales pitch is a very simple one: Outwork opponents and don’t make mistakes. The results can be greater than one’s wildest expectations; they sure were in 2010.

The Black Knights return six starters from last year’s offense, a unit that ranked eighth in the nation in rushing. Quarterback Trent Steelman and 1,000- yard rusher Jared Hassin return to the backfield. Army will need to replace slotback Patrick Mealy as well. The real question mark on the offensive side of the ball will be on the offensive line, where the Knights lost four of five starters to graduation. In a larger context, Army’s triple-option is going to continue to outflank opposing defenses – Ellerson has committed to this style of offense as the way forward for this service-academy team – but while a run-first approach will obviously remain intact, Army will need to find timely passing plays if it wants to be on the sunshine side of .500 when this season is over.

Leading tackler Stephen Anderson is no longer on campus and Ellerson will need to find a replacement for a dependable tackler who was also a traffic cop, a guy who put his teammates in the right place over the course of a game. This isn’t the only key player missing from the defensive side of the ball. Army returns just five starters, and these individuals weren’t called upon to play singular roles during the 2010 season. The schedule has some interesting storylines. The Black Knights open on the road with Northern Illinois, followed by home games against San Diego State and Northwestern. Three quality opponents to open the season should show us where Army is headed in 2011. Trips to Vanderbilt and Air Force, with neutral-site contests against Rutgers and the big season-ending showdown against Navy, will be intriguing as well.

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