SportsNetwork USF-Army preview

[Guest HowieP1]

Courtesy of SportsNetwork:

Army (1-4) At South Florida (2-2)

GAME NOTES: With the longest losing streak in the nation finally over, the Army Black Knights will now try to put back-to-back wins together for the first time in seven years when they take on the South Florida Bulls in Conference USA action this Saturday. The Knights enter the contest fresh off their first win of the season, a 48-29 triumph over Cincinnati last weekend. The win snapped a school-record 19-game slide and gave first-year head coach Bobby Ross his first win at Army. With the victory, the Knights improved to 1-4 on the year and 1-3 in C-USA action. Army will now attempt to win two straight games for the first time since 1997, when it topped Rutgers and Colgate in successive weeks. As for USF, it has alternated wins and losses over its first four games, including a 27-20 setback to Southern Miss on October 2nd. That loss dropped the squad to 1-1 in league play as well as at home. Losing at home is a rare thing for the Bulls, as they have come out victorious in 24 of their last 27 contests at Raymond James stadium. USF and Army met for the first time ever last season with the Bulls posting a 28-0 triumph.

The Black Knights have struggled over the years to produce points, but things are starting to change at West Point. Presently, Army is averaging a modest 22.0 ppg behind a respectable 366.8 total ypg. The team has been especially effective with its ground attack, which is posting 183.2 ypg on 5.1 ypc. In the team's last contest, the Knights exploded for 554 total yards, including 284 on the ground in a 19-point victory over Cincinnati. Teilo Robinson led the way with 83 rushing yards and three scores on 16 carries. He also pulled down four balls for 111 yards and two more scores. Robinson had just one touchdown coming into the game and now ranks second on the team in rushing with 311 yards. Carlton Jones, who earned 180 yards and a score on 20 carries last week, is tops on the club with 532 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Zac Dahman got the starting nod under center against the Bearcats and completed 13-of-27 passes for 270 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He has started two games for the Knights this season, completing 53.2 percent of his tosses for an average of 242.0 ypg.

Defensively, the Black Knights still need a lot of work as they are allowing 35.4 ppg behind a whopping 532.4 total ypg. The unit has had all kinds of trouble stopping the run, allowing 229.6 ypg and 4.9 ypc. Against Cincinnati last weekend, Army yielded a ridiculous 536 total yards, but made up for it by forcing five turnovers. The defense also limited the Bearcats to just 3-of-10 on third downs, while also scoring a touchdown on a fumble return. Matt Maimone led the way with 14 stops, while Jonathan Lewis added five tackles and two fumble recoveries. Gregg Washington, the team's top tackler (64) this season, also got into the mix with 12 stops and a forced fumble.

The Bulls have yet to get things going on offense and are producing just 22.2 ppg and a dismal 270.2 total ypg. The offense is gaining 100.8 ypg on the ground and 169.5 ypg through the air, with just two of its 10 total touchdowns coming via the pass. The Bulls have also had trouble avoiding mistakes with 10 turnovers through the first four games. In its last contest, USF turned the ball over four times and managed just 205 total yards in a seven-point setback to Southern Miss. Quarterback Pat Julmiste accounted for all of the team's turnovers, as he threw four interceptions and just one touchdown on 14-of-35 tosses. Julmiste, who is completing 50.0 percent of his attempts this season, hadn't thrown an interception in his first four appearances. S.J. Green grabbed three balls for 43 yards and a score against Southern Miss and is now the team's top receiver with 13 catches for 162 yards. Andre Hall, who gained 56 yards and touchdown on 14 carries against the Golden Eagles, heads the Bulls' struggling ground game with 273 yards and a team-best five scores.

On the defensive side of the ball, USF is giving up 28.0 ppg on a typical output of 327.8 total ypg. The unit has done a solid job in stopping opposing teams from running the ball, allowing just 114.8 ypg and only 2.7 ypc. The Bulls, however, have created just three turnovers thus far, clearly an area that needs to be improved upon. Against Southern Miss, the Bulls generated just one turnover, while allowing 312 total yards in the losing cause. The unit was also burnt a bit by USM's ground attack which racked up 173 yards on the day. Javan Camon and Pat St. Louis led the way with 10 tackles apiece. On the year, Camon is first on the team with 45 stops, including 28 solo efforts.

Army is coming off a much-needed win, but another this weekend may be asking too much. The Bulls have been outstanding at home over the years and they should be able to pull out a win with a strong offensive performance against what has been a dismal Knights' defense.

Predicted Outcome

South Florida 31, Army 21

http://www.wftv.com/sports/3804870/detail.html

[RobdF]

Not a bad overview.  Aside from the fact that USM's rushing yardage was actually 112.

Key point is that Army is giving up 4.9 yards per carry and 229.6 on the ground per game.  Of course they also give up 302 passing, so who knows what our offense will try to do.  Hopefully we will use the TCU game as our basis for this week's plan.

[beastiebull]

Robd, what the heck are you doing in Gainesville GA?!  Lot going on on Browns Bridge Road?

[RobdF]

Beastie,  

I'm stuck here until my wife is able to negotiate a move back to Tampa with her job.  We were in Alpharetta for 2 years.  Up here almost 4 now. At least there's less traffic up here.

At least we get to go back to Tampa for games.

Not much happens on Browns Bridge Road.

[bulls96go]

solid article

we must win!