Fansided

Army football 2019 preview: Best and worst-case scenario

By Shayne Nissen

WEST POINT, NY - NOVEMBER 03: Jeff Monken, Head Coach of the Army Black Knights shouts at the United States Military Academy Corps of Cadets before the start fo a game against the Air Force Falcons at Michie Stadium on November 3, 2018 in West Point, New York. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
WEST POINT, NY - NOVEMBER 03: Jeff Monken, Head Coach of the Army Black Knights shouts at the United States Military Academy Corps of Cadets before the start fo a game against the Air Force Falcons at Michie Stadium on November 3, 2018 in West Point, New York. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

After another stellar season last year, Army is looking for their third 10-win season in a row and fourth 10-win season in their history.

Army football is on a roll. The Black Knights went 11-2 last season, 10-3 in 2017 and head coach Jeff Monken looks to build on that success in 2019. It wasn’t a quick climb for Monken either as he went 6-18 in his first two seasons at the helm. But now behind one of the best running attacks in the country and a defense that has been more than good, Army is becoming a powerhouse in college football.

Kelvin Hopkins is back under center for the Black Knights and he was fantastic last season rushing for 1,017 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2018. While he does focus on the rushing game, Hopkins has an arm too and was able to keep defenses off guard by throwing the ball deep at times last season. Army surprisingly led the country in yards per catch last season.

The defense is going to be great again despite losing some key pieces. Linebacker and top tackler as well as the sack leader for the Black Knights, James Nachtigal, is gone from the defense. Arik Smith will be key in replacing the production lost with Nachtigal absent from the defense next season.

That being said, they will get defensive tackle and second-leading tackler, Cole Christiansen, back for next season. They also will see three from their secondary return in what one that is fantastic at stopping the run but needs to be better against the pass.

Army football 2019 best-case scenario

  • Aug. 30 – vs. Rice – W
  • Sept. 7 – at Michigan – L
  • Sept. 14 – at UTSA – W
  • Sept. 21 – vs. Morgan State – W
  • Oct. 5 – vs. Tulane – W
  • Oct. 12 – at Western Kentucky – W
  • Oct. 19 – at Georgia State – W
  • Oct. 26 – vs. San Jose State – W
  • Nov. 2 – at Air Force – W
  • Nov. 9 – vs. Umass – W
  • Nov. 16 – vs. VMI – W
  • Nov. 30 – at Hawaii – W
  • Dec. 14 – vs. Navy – W

Record: 12-1

Army had 10 wins two years ago, 11 last season and it is very possible that number keeps rising in 2019 with a very lackluster schedule outside of a trip to Michigan and their annual battle with Navy.

A Tulane program that has seen improvement in the American conference could give the Black Knights some problems, and Air Force will always be up to play a rival, but with the talent that Army puts on the field, 12 wins seem all too likely.

Especially considering they are getting their quarterback and leader back on offense as well as retaining some key pieces on defense that will help with some of the pass-heavy college offenses that they will see this season, something that Army wasn’t the greatest at stopping last season.

Army football worst-case scenario

  • Aug. 30 – vs. Rice – W
  • Sept. 7 – at Michigan – L
  • Sept. 14 – at UTSA – W
  • Sept. 21 – vs. Morgan State – W
  • Oct. 5 – vs. Tulane – L
  • Oct. 12 – at Western Kentucky – W
  • Oct. 19 – at Georgia State – W
  • Oct. 26 – vs. San Jose State – W
  • Nov. 2 – at Air Force – L
  • Nov. 9 – vs. Umass – W
  • Nov. 16 – vs. VMI – W
  • Nov. 30 – at Hawaii – W
  • Dec. 14 – vs. Navy – L

Record 8-4

It seems crazy to say that an 8-4 record is a worst-case scenario for Army but that is where we are at in 2019. Just a few seasons ago, it seemed like Navy was on top of the world and always beating up the Black Knights. But now the tables have turned in a huge fashion.

Nonetheless, while the Black Knights do get some key pieces on defense back, they also lose a few key pieces that were critical in making them one of the best rushing defenses in the country. They also lost their second-leading rusher behind their quarterback in fullback Darnell Woolfolk. If the run game becomes one-dimensional that would almost certainly lead to their demise in the games against the above-average competition.

Navy had a down year last year but they should be much better this season and as I said earlier Tulane is not a joke like it used to be, they can give the Black Knights if the chips fall in the right places. Air Force will always be tough too and while 8-4 isn’t terrible for Army, losing both of their games against the two armed forces squad would be a big blow.

Even with a few tough games sprinkled throughout the season, it seems more likely to me that Army will have yet another historic season in 2019.

Next. FBS team rankings: 1-130. dark