WEST POINT, N.Y. – On a chilly, but sunny Saturday morning at Michie Stadium, the Army football team took the field for its second scrimmage of the spring. The majority of the hour-long scrimmage featured Army’s offense and defense versus the scout teams, but ended with the ones taking on the ones, the twos versus the twos and the third team versus the third team.
Sophomore FB Jared Hassin didn’t waste any time showing why the offensive coaches are so excited about his potential this season. On the No. 1 offense’s first play, he took a handoff up the middle and raced nearly 70 yards before being taken down at the 1-yard line. On the next play, senior SB
Patrick Mealy took a pitch and strolled into the end zone. Hassin later added a 25-yard run and also caught one pass for eight yards versus the starting defense.
“He’s an explosive, fast, strong kid,” offensive coordinator
Ian Shields said. “When you draw up that position, he’s what you want. Certainly, it’s yet to be seen in games against outside competition, but the early results are favorable. We’re excited about it.”
Mealy also accounted for the Army offense’s second touchdown with a 21-yard run around the right side.
“Overall, it went pretty well,” Shields said. “It was a limited inventory. We’re certainly not doing everything when it’s Army against Army. I’m impressed with where the ones are at. Some guys are doing exceptionally well. Obviously, it’s different when Jared (Hassin) is in there at fullback. He’s a difference maker for us. We’re getting solid play up front. Frank Allen has been a nice addition. Anees (Merzi) is coming along at left tackle. Zach (Peterson) has been solid as always at center. Seth (Reed) has done a nice job at right guard and has continued to progress. We have three other tackles out right now with
Brad Kelly,
Mike McDermott and
Jason Johnson. All those three are missing time right now with injuries so we’re a little short there. Pat Mealy has had a nice spring. Trent (Steelman) has done exceptionally well. He’s throwing the ball well. He’s just more comfortable in the offense. That’s exciting to see. We’ve progressed.”
The Army scout team scored one touchdown after fullback David Collins, who played quarterback last season, broke free for a 27-yard run to the 1-yard line versus the Black Knights’ defense made up of second and third-teamers. On the next play,
Jimmy Reitter hit sophomore WR
Malcolm Brown on a fade route for the score. Brown, who saw action as a slotback last season, was moved outside earlier in the week.
“I started playing receiver on Tuesday,” Brown, who played the position his first three seasons in high school, said. “They wanted some speed after the catch, so that’s why they moved me. It’s going great. I’m learning a lot with Coach (Andy) Guyader and the receivers. They’re really helping me out.”
Brown’s move to wide receiver could become one of the more significant moves of the spring season. He flashed enough playmaking ability as a plebe to force the coaching staff to figure out ways to get the speedster on the field.
“Malcolm is one of our better football players,” Shield said. “He adds the ability to make some people miss and run with the ball in his hands. He catches the ball well. He’s always had good ball skills, even from the slot position. We’re trying to get our best guys on the field at the same time, and he might be one of them.”
While the passing game didn’t put up huge numbers, Shields was complimentary of sophomore QB
Trent Steelman. The starting offense’s biggest pass play of the day was a 24-yard connection from Steelman to junior SB
Jameson Carter. The first plebe quarterback in Army history to start every game in a season, the second-year signal caller has gained a mastery of the Army system that has allowed him to better lead the unit.
“He’s had a ton of reps now,” Shields said of Steelman. “Your first year in a system, you’re just kind of playing to survive. Any first-year starter is just trying to handle their own business and be right as many times as they can. Now he can step back and see the big picture. He’s had the offseason to embrace everything that’s going on, and now he pretty much knows where all 11 are going. He can put the pieces together. Now he can lead. He really is a leader because he’s been out there a bunch.”
The defense’s emphasis on Saturday was trying to find some depth and establish playmakers among the second and third teams.
“We wanted to see more,” co-defensive coordinator
Payam Saadat said. “There were some guys who hopefully are more comfortable getting in line and making plays. That was a little bit tough. We blew some assignments just in simple alignment aspects. In our defense it’s hard to make plays if you don’t get lined up right. We had some plays against the ones that hit and got some yards. The mistakes stood out, but the individual who made the mistake knows it right away because he’s had some game experience. More importantly with the twos and threes, we wanted to see some guys step up and make some plays, notably, guys like Kingsley (Ehie), Nate Combs, Ty Shrader, Josh Jackson, and up front Carson) Homme and A.J. (Mackey), (Chad) Littlejohn and (Bill) Prosko. Those guys need to be comfortable to allow themselves to make plays. That was what we were trying to accomplish today. I think our level of attention was good, however, we still had some mental mistakes that hurt us.”
One of the players that Saadat and the defensive coaches was looking to on Saturday was senior LB
Kingsley Ehie. Ehie was Army’s starting fullback last season, but was moved to linebacker at the start of spring practice. With the absence of last years’ starter
Stephen Anderson this spring while he recovers from offseason knee surgery, Ehie has had plenty of chances to prove the move was the right one to make.
“Kingsley should have made a couple of plays near the sideline that we expect the Mike linebacker to make,” Saadat said critiquing the scrimmage. “He missed a couple, but he came back and made a couple. Without watching film, it was 50-50. We wanted to get Nate (Combs) some reps as well. Both Kingsley and Nate are going to run with the ones at different times, but Nate got kind of banged up so we kept him out. With the way we operate, sometimes you don’t have a lot of plays, but we don’t’ have a lot of defenses either so you should be able to make plays in the limited number of snaps that you’re running. We’re going to go in and watch tape, and these guys know they’re going to be critiqued hard by the coaches. They know that’s what to expect out of the coaching staff. I thought Kingsley did better than last week.”
While he is still adjusting to the new position, Ehie believes the transition has been a smooth one, especially for someone who has never played middle linebacker and has not played linebacker since his sophomore year of high school.
“It’s been awhile,” Ehie said. “The first couple of practices it took me a little while to get into the groove of things, but I think I’m getting there. I need to be a bit more decisive and trust that everyone is going to do their job. I think a lot of times I get held back. My vision is pretty good, but sometimes that can be deceiving. I might see the ball going one way, but I have to trust that backside guy is going to force it back my way and just continue on my track.”
One other player who is familiar to Army fans, but new to this defensive system is CB
Richard King. King, who missed last season while recovering from a concussion, has already asserted himself and was with the No. 1 defense on Saturday morning. In the only first string versus first string possession, King ended the drive with a leaping interception.
“Richard is one of the fastest guys on the team,” Saadat said. “He made an interception, which is good to see. I think he could have had another one. The run game never really got out to the edges for them to be involved. He’s going to make us better just because of his speed. The more fast guys that are on the field, the better chance you have of making plays. That’s important for us. Richard still has some work to do to get more familiar with the defense and make his reactions unconscious. If he knows what he’s doing, he’s going to make plays.”
Army will practice on Monday and Wednesday before taking time off for spring break. Following the break, Army will practice on Wednesday, March 24th before the annual Black-Gold Game on Saturday, March 27.
Saturday’s Sights: Alex Carlton hit 3 of 4 field goal tries … the only other special teams work was two punts before the scrimmage … Kelechi Odocha made several nice runs for the scout team …
Max Jenkins quarterbacked the second team … the rest of the No. 2 backfield included
CeDarius Williams, Brian Cobb s and Lonnie Liggins …
Jimmy Reitter quarterbacked the scout team through most of the morning … In addition to his touchdown throw, he connected with Justin Allen for a 25-yard gain …
Andrew Rodriguez sacked
Trent Steelman and
Jarrett Mackey tackled
Patrick Mealy behind the line during the 1 vs. 1 portion of the scrimmage.
Saturday’s Quotables
Sophomore SB Malcolm Brown(Ref.: moving to receiver)“I played receiver in high school, and in 12th grade I moved to running back. I’m pretty used to all the routes and things.”
Senior LB Kingsley Ehie(Ref.: moving to linebacker)“It’s going quite well. I would say it’s been a relatively smooth transition. I’m starting to pick up a lot more things and it’s a lot more natural now. I have a better feel for things.”
Senior LB Stephen Anderson(Ref.: his rehabilitation from offseason knee surgery)“It’s going well. It’s a slow process. I have to remind myself every day that it’s a slow process, but the little victories help every day .I might run a little harder in the pool or walk a little faster on the treadmill. I’m not running yet. There’s no need for me to be better by March or April. I just want to be better for August, and I have to keep reminding myself of that. It’s a pretty legit surgery. I just need to take it day by day and listen to my trainers and doctors, and just take it as it comes.”
(Ref.: Kingsley Ehie’s switch to linebacker)“It’s a very natural switch. Coach Ellerson looks for a running back type guy in this defense. He’s got all the tools He’s built like a middle linebacker. He’s got speed like a middle linebacker. It’s just a matter of getting comfortable playing middle linebacker and everything that comes with that like his eyes and his feet. It’s not just reading the running back, but feeling the line as they do something different to try and disrupt things. He’s picking it up real well. He’s only had about 10 practices at it, and only two where it’s been full speed, take them to the ground. His angles are getting better and he’s staying positive about it, which is a good thing.”
(Ref.: helping Ehie get adjusted)“Sometimes coaches can tell players something, but you need to hear it from a player’s perspective to really understand it. Coach (Payam) Saadat and Coach (John) Brock do a great job of talking to us, but sometimes they say something a certain way you still won’t get it. It’s exactly the same thing someone else is going to tell you, but it’s the way they say it is a little different. I just try to communicate from a player’s perspective They’re telling him the same thing I’m telling him, it’s just that I’m giving a little more of an in the moment kind of deal. He’s been willing to accept my advice so far, and he just wants to get better.”
Courtesy: Army Athletic Communications
