Army is a respectable opponent. The Black Knights beat Wake Forest, AAC champion Temple and Navy on their way to a bowl game last year, while Tulane lost to all three teams. Army also got blown out by Notre Dame, Air Force and North Texas in the regular season before beating the Mean Green in OT in a bowl game rematch no one wanted to see.
One of the biggest difference between Army and Navy normally is ball security, but Army has only two turnovers through three games this year. Tulane capitalized on a series of fumbles to beat Army two years ago, and Army turned it over a whopping seven times in its loss to North Texas a year ago.
Army QB Ahmad Bradshaw is a dreadful 4 of 17 passing this year, but look for the Black Knights to take a few more shots against Tulane after watching the Navy tape when there were some open receivers as the Wave loaded up to stop the ground game
Army played Ohio State pretty well on Saturday, losing 38-7 but having a 99-yard touchdown drive in the middle of it and rushing for 259 yards on 58 attempts. That's good when you're outmanned like the Black Knights were. Tulane will need to be as disciplined against the run as it was against Navy.
Army relies almost exclusively on QB keepers and fullback runs. Bradshaw has 53 carries. Fullbacks Darnell Woolfolk, Andy Davidson and Calen Holt have combined for 68 carries. The only running back with more than three carries is Kell Walker with 13. Tulane will need a healthy Sean Wilson for this one because that's where Army attacks. You can count on the linebackers and safeties and corners defending the option well, but the Wave needs to be solid up front, too.
Defensively, Army should not be as good as last year, when it had standout linebackers Jeremy Timpf and Andrew King in the middle of a 3-4 defense and held Temple to 13 points, Wake Forest to 13 points and Navy to 17 points. This year, the defense held up well against Fordham and Buffalo and not so well against Ohio State, so it is hard to judge it yet.
Army had to convert a fourth-and-goal at the 1 in the fourth quarter to beat Buffalo, which actually upset the Black Knights last year. One thing is certain: Army is nowhere near as consistent as Navy, with its performances all over the board last season despite winning eight games for the first time in forever, posting their second winning record since 1996.
This is a veteran team with most of its starters back on both sides of the ball minus the two key linebackers. Tulane will have to play well to win unless the Black Knights commit a bunch of turnovers.
This is a revenge game for Tulane defensive coordinator Jack Curtis. When Army coach Todd Monken got the job, he was the coach at Georgia Southern and Curtis was his DC. Monken told Curtis if he came with him to Army he would just be a position coach. Then Georgia Southern hired Willie Fritz and Fritz decided to retain him as DC there despite never having coached with him before.
One of the biggest difference between Army and Navy normally is ball security, but Army has only two turnovers through three games this year. Tulane capitalized on a series of fumbles to beat Army two years ago, and Army turned it over a whopping seven times in its loss to North Texas a year ago.
Army QB Ahmad Bradshaw is a dreadful 4 of 17 passing this year, but look for the Black Knights to take a few more shots against Tulane after watching the Navy tape when there were some open receivers as the Wave loaded up to stop the ground game
Army played Ohio State pretty well on Saturday, losing 38-7 but having a 99-yard touchdown drive in the middle of it and rushing for 259 yards on 58 attempts. That's good when you're outmanned like the Black Knights were. Tulane will need to be as disciplined against the run as it was against Navy.
Army relies almost exclusively on QB keepers and fullback runs. Bradshaw has 53 carries. Fullbacks Darnell Woolfolk, Andy Davidson and Calen Holt have combined for 68 carries. The only running back with more than three carries is Kell Walker with 13. Tulane will need a healthy Sean Wilson for this one because that's where Army attacks. You can count on the linebackers and safeties and corners defending the option well, but the Wave needs to be solid up front, too.
Defensively, Army should not be as good as last year, when it had standout linebackers Jeremy Timpf and Andrew King in the middle of a 3-4 defense and held Temple to 13 points, Wake Forest to 13 points and Navy to 17 points. This year, the defense held up well against Fordham and Buffalo and not so well against Ohio State, so it is hard to judge it yet.
Army had to convert a fourth-and-goal at the 1 in the fourth quarter to beat Buffalo, which actually upset the Black Knights last year. One thing is certain: Army is nowhere near as consistent as Navy, with its performances all over the board last season despite winning eight games for the first time in forever, posting their second winning record since 1996.
This is a veteran team with most of its starters back on both sides of the ball minus the two key linebackers. Tulane will have to play well to win unless the Black Knights commit a bunch of turnovers.
This is a revenge game for Tulane defensive coordinator Jack Curtis. When Army coach Todd Monken got the job, he was the coach at Georgia Southern and Curtis was his DC. Monken told Curtis if he came with him to Army he would just be a position coach. Then Georgia Southern hired Willie Fritz and Fritz decided to retain him as DC there despite never having coached with him before.
