Army switching to the shotgun
The rule change made life too hard for the head coach.
This spring, Monken is doing the unthinkable and moving his team to a primarily shotgun offense. He felt he didn’t have a choice in the wake of an under-the-radar NCAA rules change last year that eliminated blocking below the waist — known as cut blocking — anywhere but inside the tackle box
I don't think too many schools outside of Army, Navy, and Air Force are complaining about the rule change.
Army and Air Force both did, I think.
I was at the game vs. Air Force (2017 I think?) and that was a close game throughout.
They gave us fits in 2012 too. Needed 400 yards from Denard to win 31-25
This beautiful, wonderful overtime game, featuring the awesome Josh Gattis "speed in space" offense, where Zach Charbonnet carried the ball 33 times for 100 yards.
"And the Wolverines survive," the call from Gus Johnson, "And the Wolverines escape," the call from Joel Klatt, after Kwity Paye strips the ball then recovers it to end the game in OT.
Sigh. This game is always my first response when it's suggested that fans can never understand the game, and only coaches really have the information necessary to call plays. This was ... egregious. Offensive. Stupid.
Don't tell me we didn't have the players to throw downfield. Army. ARMY reduced us to ... absurdity.
It's like the entire coaching staff was stuck in a loop. "Well, they've stopped our off-tackle run 14 times in a row, but they'll never expect us to run it again this time! Well, they've stopped our off-tackle run 15 times in a row, but they'l never expect us to run it again this time! Well, they've stopped our off-tackle run 16 times in a row, but they'll never expect us to run it again this time!"
If Samuel Beckett had gone into college football play-calling, it might have looked like this.
We'll never win a war with just shotguns!! What are snipers supposed to do with a 12 gauge?
Anyways, I'm glad for this rule change. Hopefully the service academies can adapt but if not they might have to move down a level.
No worries mate; the snipers get match grade buckshot.
I love watching the triple option. Paul Johnson was a master at befuddling defenses and getting his guys into open space. And our last two games against Air Force in 2012 and 2017 were a terrifying look at a different style of offense.
But Army, of all teams, has started to make me re-think this. They seem to have gone back to a 1960s-style fullback-dive-based offense where the primary focus is getting 3 yards per play over a pile of cut defenders, with only occasional change-ups. The 2019 Army-Michigan game was painful to watch, and not only because Shea seemed determined to put the ball on the ground as many times as possible. Same with the 2018 Army-Oklahoma game. At some point, it's not good for the sport to have guys diving at each other's knees every play to produce the most boring football possible.
After all these years with rifles? Sad just sad.
So.....now we can schedule Service Academies again?
BTW with this new rule it makes you wonder, when did Army beat Bama?
Back in '65; QB was Granger and the HC was Grant.
/ 1865
was Sherman the OC?
Army calls it the “ Ma Deuce”.
Given the average range of engagement during war is about 100 yards, I'm not sure this is a great idea
Navy switching to the Mark 45
Air Force switching to the Sidewinder
Respectfully, I don’t think the Mark 45 is accurate. It’s a torpedo - and, if Navy will be going to an air attack - the SM-2 is really a more appropriate reference. As for the Sidewinder - two thumbs up. And, the Hawk is also effective in a field of conflict - perhaps it will be an offensive scheme, or weapon, on the gridiron.
As an aside, will this change anyone’s interest in the Army - Navy game? It won’t for me.. I’ll watch it whenever I’m able - ideally, from my hotel - or an Indy bar - in the afternoon, before Michigan plays in the B1G CCG.
Respectfully, ND fans are going to dislike this a lot.
Why, you ask? Because of the “oxy” that ND is. They “value the tradition” of playing overmatched service academy teams - which gives them guaranteed wins every season. However, they always complain about the blocking techniques of those option teams.
So, the Irish will have to find something else to complain about. And, that’s always a good thing…
To hell with ND….
I think shotguns are awesome.
Here's a related one I like:
As a fan, this kinda stinks. I love teams that have different identities from everyone else. When Air Force, Navy or Army field a solid team there's something beautifully demoralizing watching a clinical triple option offense. Three yards per carry, game is shrunk to what feels like 4 possessions, going for it on 4th and 1 from your own 30 because you can't be stopped, randomly break an 60 yard pass play, etc.
RIP to the Army triple option. If Jeff Monken didn't get too cute calling a pass play at the goal line up 14-7 in the 3rd Quarter which was intercepted by Lavert Hill, Michigan was definitely losing that game in 2019.
big mistake. they made a similar switch 15 years ago or so and it was a huge failure.
I'm all for it....
I took my girlfriend to an Army football game once. I shotgunned a few beers before the shuttle bus picked us up
April 17th, 2023 at 11:18 PM ^
Imagine being an advocate for MORE cut blocking. Especially against college kids.
Ugh.
I suppose they know it leads to injury if they banned all these cuts, so it's probably worth it but it's a shame for the game. As am undersized D3 guard and fullback 15 years ago, it was a huge part of my game and generally a way for smaller teams to keep up with larger ones, and to help spring bigger run plays. Didn't lead to any injuries either if you did it right in my experience, but of course anecdotal evidence and all. Hope we can keep as much of the game in the game as possible going forward, and still find way to reduce injuries (especially to the head)