Just when it appeared Army was about to fall further into the abyss of an 11-game losing streak, out came a shocking run of four wins to show that things really might be turning around under head coach Bobby Ross.
The Black Knights don't run a precision option attack like Navy or Air Force, and it won't get the top recruits needed to ever be a superpower, but they showed they can jump up and bite teams in the butt and, at the very least, be very competitive.
While the 2005 season came to a crashing thud with yet another loss to Navy, Army is still feeding off the energy of the second half of last season with hopes of a big start in its second year as an independent.
Unburdened by the shackles of playing in a conference, Army can schedule more teams its own size and keep improving and gaining confidence. There's no question Ross can coach, and there's no denying the heart and intensity the team plays with, but it's going to be a constant work in progress to keep filling in the holes and come up with wins.
This year's team has some fantastic pieces to build around and the potential for its strongest, most efficient passing attack in years. All five starters return to the offensive line and everyone is back in the linebacking corps. The kicking game is sound, the receiving corps could be the strength of the team, and safety Caleb Campbell will once again be among the nation's most productive safeties. And then things get interesting.
Long-time starting quarterback Zac Dahman is gone, but things should be even better with big bomber David Pevoto looking ready to become a top passer. The running back situation is shaky at best after losing Carlton Jones and Scott Wesley, there's no proven pass rush, and the cornerbacks have little to no experience to rely on.
It's still about baby steps for a program that hasn't come up with a winning season since 1996. Winning four games was a positive move forward, and now Ross has to fill in the gaps and come up with a few more wins. It's possible because of ...
The Schedule: Ah, the life of an independent. Forget about beating teams like Texas A&M, TCU or Notre Dame unless all the planets align correctly and a few minor miracles kick in, but there isn't another game on the slate that's a sure-thing, mark-it-down loss. Sure, games at Baylor and Connecticut aren't going to be easy and Navy owns the Black Knights over the last few years, but there are enough games against teams like Arkansas State, VMI and Kent State to hope for a six-win season.
What you need to know on offense ... Expect a bit of a shift to adapt to the personnel. Top runners Carlton Jones and Scott Wesley are gone along with longtime starting quarterback Zac Dahman, but all five starters return to the line and the receiving corps has the potential to be Army's best in years. David Pevoto should be an even better passer than Dahman, who holds several school records. The ground game will be an issue early with no reliable tailbacks emerging this spring.
Best Offensive Player: Junior WR Jeremy Trimble. The game-breaking receiver should flourish with Davis Pevoto throwing to him. He's tough across the middle and is a proven deep threat. The number one offensive weapon has to get the ball in his hands at least six times a game.
What you need to know ... There's a mix of major strengths and glaring, screaming weaknesses. All three starters return to the linebacking corps and the safeties will be rock-solid thanks to the return of Caleb Campbell, but cornerback is going to be a work in progress all season long and there's no proven pass rush whatsoever. Power running teams will give the front seven big problems, and so will precision passing attacks. On the plus side, this won't be a bad defense against smaller, quicker offenses.
Best Defensive Player: Junior SS Caleb Campbell. He showed potential as a freshman linebacker, and then he blew up when he got his shot in the defensive backfield leading the team in both tackles and interceptions. He makes plays all over the field and should be in the hunt for All-America honors.
Key player to a successful season: Junior QB David Pevoto. He had better be good. Really, really good. The 6-5, 229-pound passer looks the part and can make all the throws. If he isn't a star, the offense will go into the tank with no reliable backups and even fewer reliable runners to get the ground game going.
The season will be a success if ... Army wins six games and beats Navy. It'll take at least a big upset or two and at least a 4-1 home record to get in range. And then there's the Navy game. It's obviously the big rivalry game, but the service academies measure themselves by how good they are against each other; it's a really big deal. Army tagged Air Force last season, and now it needs to come up with the win it really wants.
Key game: December 2nd vs. Navy. Army hasn't just lost four straight to its hated rival, it has been crushed by a score of 176 to 63. That's an average score of around 44 to 16. While they all might be brothers in arms, this could start getting nasty on the field if the trend continues.
2005 Fun Stats:
- Punt return average: Opponents 10.6 yards per return - Army 6.8 yards per return
- Time of possession: Army 31:54 - Opponents 28:06
- Sacks: Opponents 22 for 176 yards - Army 13 for 67 yards
