re: Mizzou draws Army in the Armed Forces Bowl

Missing a bowl game looks bad

Haven’t been to one since 2018. I’d rather not extend that streak

Iowa fans were so upset when we had to pull out of that bowl. It was pretty entertaining

I've watched Army a few times this year and I don't think this year's team is as scary as others have been recently. Close loss to Wisconsin, the usual WTF loss to a MAC team, and a shoot out loss to Wake Forest.

They beat up the turd teams they played this year and beat some vaguely decent G5 squads including whipping Liberty recently. That game I did watch, Army rolled out to a big lead and basically put things in cruise control down the home stretch so the score looked closer than the game actually was.

They will run the option, and fairly well, but the good news is that Missouri will have weeks to prepare for it. Take away the FB dive and make them try to beat you on the outside. They will throw the ball deep a few times a game with a decent amount of success.

The real match up to watch is the Army defense vs the Missouri offense. Army is going to gobble up time of possession so y'all have to be efficient when you have the ball. Since they don't have the athletes to sit back in coverage Army is going to blitz you from every position on the field and a few you probably never even thought of. Handle the pressure and you can light them up. If the QB gets rattled it could get ugly.

It is a winnable game, easily winnable, if you can handle their pressure and stop the FB dive. If you don't do those things... it could be a long night.

Great breakdown, much appreciated!

quote:

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If the QB gets rattled it could get ugly. It is a winnable game, easily winnable, if you can handle their pressure and stop the FB dive. If you don't do those things... it could be a long night.

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This portion does it for me. We’re in for a long night.

have heard in

Drink says he’s practicing and they expect him to play. Not an explicit yes.

Missouri's MO the last several weeks has been to leave the corners in man to man, hold the lanes to stop the run, and dare the QB to beat them over the top.

Seems to me this works against Army. Granted it takes even more lane discipline against the Triple option, and an even bigger problem is the chop blocking, but I think it can be done.

QB play is the key here: Do we get it?

Have no problem with the date, as I do not give two craps about the basketball team right now. Having a bowl day all to ourselves seems a nice deal, excellent exposure should we win. Service academies draw good ratings.

Army's FB and leader in attempts is from st Charles, and attended Chaminade.

They are small but they swarm to the ball. I am fairly certain they will bring up their safeties early and often as part of run/pass blitz packages. They give up just a bit more than 100 yards on the ground every game. Not shabby.

That having been said you should probably be able to move them around the field with good O-line play. You are going to need to keep them from shooting a gap into your backfield, as good as Badie is no one wants first contact to be three yards behind the line.

I should add that while Army is usually content to grind away they have shown tendencies (against Liberty, Wake Forest, and others) to start fast with perimeter runs and play action passes. Its a gambit to catch teams who expect Army to grind it out and its worked quite a few times. So be careful of the Black Knights trying to hit a big play early in the game.