Rich Ellerson was sternly pointed, definitively clear in his stated belief for what the future held for Army’s football program at his introductory press conference in December 2008.
“I’ll speak to expectations,” he stated in stepping to the podium for the first time as the Black Knights’ head football coach. “Expect that this adventure is going to be difficult. It is going to be hard. And expect to win.”
That is pretty much how things unfolded around Michie Stadium during Ellerson’s first year at the Army helm — a challenging journey, highlighted by adventure, that nearly netted the Black Knights their first postseason bowl invitation in more than a decade.
“We made significant strides last season,” Ellerson says, “but those were the first steps towards returning this program to the level at which we’d like it to be. There is still much work to be done.”
And with that, Ellerson and his staff set forth to shoulder more of that workload this spring, focusing his team on the details necessary to continue to advance the Army program.
“The spring was a success, both with recruiting and practice,” Ellerson says. “We are a better football team today than we were before spring practice started. We made some great gains physically. We are more at home with our offense and defense. We explored some options from a personnel standpoint, and there have been some positives to come out of that experiment. We like where we are and we are hard back at it.”
Ellerson had spent his first spring practice season at West Point teaching the Black Knights everything from new offensive and defensive systems to an entirely new way to practice. The changes resulted in a two-game improvement in the win column that put the Black Knights just one victory away from their first bowl appearance in 13 seasons. After wrapping up his second spring session on the banks of the Hudson, Ellerson believes the changes implemented last season have been sufficiently ingrained into the program’s culture, allowing Army to focus on the details that could lead to its most successful season in more than a decade.
“The thing that I’m the most uneasy about is that there are a handful of guys who have played a big role, and that we anticipate will play a huge role in our team this coming season, who didn’t practice because they were coming off of a shoulder, or a knee, or an ankle that precluded them from being able to have a spring ball,” Army’s second-year field boss offers. “Everything looks fine and is on track to be great this fall, but it’s not done yet, so you just worry about what surprises might be out there physically.”
Amongst those players sitting out the spring due to various physical issues were All-America candidates Josh McNary (defensive end) and Stephen Anderson (middle linebacker), and veteran offensive tackle Jason Johnson.
“We had a handful of guys that we moved around to experiment with different positions [this spring], where last year we were essentially doing that with everybody, some of them multiple times. Now the template is in place — how we practice, what we value, the fundamentals of our offense and defense, so that as you move players in and out there is an expertise that surrounds it. There is a visual on what we are looking for. That allows you to take those next steps so much more efficiently. It was a productive spring, and there is no way to compare it to what we were going through a year ago. It was an entirely different challenge.
“We need to take another step with our speed and strength — there are some young players who are relatively new to the weight room and some people who are changing their bodies because the job description has changed. There are others who are getting close to that ideal, so they are all across the spectrum in terms of their physical challenges.”
Whatever the physical challenges facing his players, Ellerson will hold all to the same lofty standard — he expects his team to win.
Army fans wouldn’t want it any other way.
OFFENSE
One of the most talked-about changes around West Point’s athletic scene last season was the implementation of head coach Rich Ellerson’s vaunted triple-option attack. Under the direction of freshman quarterback Trent Steelman, Army ranked 16th nationally in rushing, averaging more than 203 ground yards per game. The Black Knights return seven starters on offense this season, including Steelman and senior slotback Patrick Mealy, who combined for 1,379 rushing yards in 2009.
Despite the success on the ground, the Black Knights will need to improve their point production in 2010. Army scored just 18 offensive touchdowns in 12 games and Ellerson and his staff must uncover a way for the Black Knights to become more efficient in the red zone. Army scored just 16 touchdowns in 35 trips inside their opponents’ 20-yard line last fall, leaving a pile of points on the playing field.
“We have to be a more productive offensive football team,” Ellerson stresses. “We did some good things last year. We were able to have some things ready to go that got us out of the gate. Now we have more veteran football players so we have to be more explosive and much more consistent on offense. We need to minimize or eliminate mistakes and take advantage of our opportunities. We squandered too many chances last year and we did not adjust well.
“Intellectually, we knew what we were trying to do, we knew what the adjustments were. We were communicating those things, but we didn’t have the experience or proficiency to take those things and make them show up consistently on tape. That is just a natural growth you have to go through, particularly when you have guys doing things for the first time as we did last year. That is part of it and part of it is that we need to be better. We need to be more physically mature. When we get our opponent singled up in space, we need to win more of those battles.
“It’s got a chance to improve. Some of that improvement we’re looking for is going to come from guys that are going to walk in here this fall for the first time, and if they get through their summers okay, will have a chance to compete as young players. We have some guys — Malcolm Brown, Brian Cobbs, Jared Hassin and Brian Austin, all four of those guys were freshman and two of them were direct admits. They have a chance to be much more physically mature and have a chance to bring that element. Pat (Mealy) and Malcolm (Brown) are much more comfortable with the offense so they will play a little faster and be more productive. Between our returnees and the newcomers we have to build a more productive outfit to pitch the ball to, and we’re looking for Jared to bring ‘big play’ potential to the fullback position.”
Quarterback
In the span of just one year, Army’s quarterback position has gone from rating as one of the team’s biggest question marks to one of the squad’s consistent strengths. Sophomore Trent Steelman established himself as the starter from the opening days of preseason camp last fall and never relinquished the reins of the offense. Steelman became the first West Point plebe to start every game of a season. He led the team with 202 rushing attempts, 706 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns. Through the air, Steelman completed 54 of 110 passes for 637 yards, three touchdowns and tossed only two interceptions.
“Trent is much more comfortable in a leadership role and much more comfortable running the offense,” Ellerson explains. “The reactions and decisions that go along with that position are all so much more intuitive for him. He still has some challenges, and he is still not what he is going to be. You knew the improvement would happen, but it’s still reassuring to see that it did, in fact, take place. There was a giant step forward in precision and comfort and awareness.
“Clearly, the first time he stepped underneath center this spring he was much more comfortable wearing those shoes. He saw things well and was able to take in some coaching points and translate that into having it down within days. He threw the ball much better this spring than he had in the fall.”
Even with Steelman entering preseason camp firmly entrenched as the starter, it is important for the Black Knights to possess quality depth at the signal-caller spot. Ellerson should not have to worry about identifying a quality backup quarterback with three veteran players listed on the depth chart behind Steelman.
Senior Chip Bowden boasts the most game experience beneath center of anyone listed on the Black Knights’ roster. The starter for the majority of the 2008 season, Bowden played in nine games during the 2009 campaign before suffering a season ending knee injury during a late-season showdown at Air Force. Bowden rushed 19 times for 59 yards and completed 9 of 26 throws for 106 yards and one touchdown on the year. He missed spring practice while rehabilitating his injury, but is expected back to compete for playing time during preseason drills.
Max Jenkins and Jimmy Reitter have not taken a snap under center during live game action, but both have maximized their opportunities in practice. The junior duo has displayed the ability to handle expanded roles if called upon.
“I think Max Jenkins took advantage of the spring with Chip on the sidelines,” Ellerson states. “We trust him like we trust Chip to go in and run the offense. He does everything well — he really gets it in terms of why we are doing what we’re doing. He’s probably the best, including Trent, of understanding. He can stay right with you as you start to adjust, fix and check. That’s certainly his strong suit, but the good news is that he runs well and throws well.
“Jimmy Reitter got a lot of turns this spring and demonstrated that he could compete at that position. With all his physical woes behind him, he was able to settle in and there and run the offense. It will still be competitive in the fall because we will have some freshmen come in that will be trying to get into that next spot. We have our fingers crossed to see where Chip is physically coming off his injury, but right now all arrows are pointed up.”
Fullback
If Army is to improve its offensive production significantly, the Black Knights must find a way to generate explosive plays out of the fullback position. The longest run by an Army fullback last season measured just 26 yards, while the Black Knights “B” backs accounted for just two rushing scores in 2009, meager figures by any account for the fullback spot in a triple-option offense.
By the end of spring practice, head coach Rich Ellerson felt confident his team had taken major strides toward solving the issue, thanks largely to the presence of budding impact player Jared Hassin. Hassin, a transfer from Air Force who sat out last season, displayed a host of “big play” ability throughout the spring, ripping off large-gainers with regularity. A bruising insider runner, the strapping Hassin also boasts the necessary speed to streak past second level defenders.
“We have been waiting to get Jared into the mix there,” Ellerson expresses. “He certainly didn’t disappoint. We have to remember he’s still doing this for the first time in ‘prime-time’, but he is good with the football and knows where to go. He needs to grow with the assignments. There is just no way to short-circuit experience. He has to go out there and play the game. He is exactly the type of athlete we are looking for at that position.”
While Army enters preseason camp with a newcomer sitting atop the depth chart, plenty of game experience resides at the position. Junior CeDarius Williams began the 2009 season listed as the Black Knights’ starter, but missed the majority of the season with an ankle injury. He averaged 4.3 yards per rush during his two games, but was still hobbled a bit this spring. Senior Jacob Bohn shifted from linebacker to the backfield midway through last season and gained 14 yards on three carries in limited duty.
“Jacob Bohn has done a nice job,” Ellerson offers. “He is a guy that we have challenged. Honestly, I wasn’t a believer when I first saw him a year ago. He has demonstrated I was wrong in my initial evaluation. He’s a great competitor and a good athlete. I absolutely trust him in a key moment at that key position. We were very high on CeDarius last fall. He got banged up pretty good, and isn’t quite all the way back. It followed him into spring and frustrated him a little bit. He is trying to get well and comfortable. We are looking forward to the fall when he has that injury all the way behind him.”
Slotback
Three-year starter Patrick Mealy spearheads Army’s fortunes at the slotback position. Mealy finished second on the team with 673 yards and three rushing touchdowns and led the squad with a 6.1 yards-per-carry average. A versatile performer who has also logged time at the fullback spot, Mealy is expected to garner one of the Black Knights’ two starting slotback jobs.
“Pat really had a good spring,” Ellerson says. “All the bangs and bruises that followed him last year are behind him. He is comfortable in the job description. He’s done it all before. Pat was healthy and played faster and more intuitively this spring. Having said that, I’m going to make sure there is some great competition in both slotback lines.”
Following the post-spring loss of Jameson Carter, Ellerson will hold an open competition for the lead role opposite Mealy at the other slotback spot.
“Those positions have to be more dynamic and explosive. We have to find a little magic out there. Pat Mealy is absolutely in the front of one of those lines, but we are looking for some magic. We think we have stacked some younger players at the position that could force that issue.”
One of those younger players upon which Ellerson will be counting is sophomore Malcolm Brown. Brown started five times as a plebe and ran for 112 yards on 26 carries. He saw action at wide receiver during spring drills, but was returned to the backfield where he is expected to challenge for a starting berth.
“We feel Malcolm Brown is one of our best football players,” Ellerson states. “He picks things up quickly, he’s position-flexible and very intuitive. His legs were a lot better this spring than they were in the fall. He surprised me with his speed. He was nicked up and of course, being a freshman at West Point, he was not the athlete four or five months ago that he is today. Look for him to compete. We trust him blocking, trust throwing it to him and he’s got some ‘make you miss.’”
Two other youngsters will be given plenty of opportunity to make their mark during preseason drills. Sophomores Brian Cobbs and Brian Austin have both shown enough play-making ability to be worthy of earning playing time. Cobbs is a converted defensive back who made five tackles in nine games as a plebe.
“Cobbs was another true freshman that didn’t go to the prep school so he is especially young,” Ellerson explains. “He is just growing into himself. He had some flashes this spring, and can really finish a run. He is just a shadow of what he’s going to become physically as he fights this first year. It will be fun to see what he looks like coming back after the summer. Austin continues to impress us. He’s a diligent guy. He and Cobbs are both running track so if you get into a race with those guys you’re in trouble. He has been dogged in trying to get better, and his ball-handling and ball-catching have really improved.”
Freshman Raymond Maples, a standout import from the USMA Prep School, could play an important role as well. An exciting play-maker with “home run” capability, Maples displayed flashes of brilliance last fall at Fort Monmouth. He possesses excellent running instincts and plenty of speed to burn. He could challenge for a starting job immediately, aiding Ellerson’s quest to make Army’s backfield more dynamic.
Wide Receiver
With the graduation loss of its two top receivers from 2009, Army returns just two receivers who combined for five catches a year ago. Juniors Austin Barr and Davyd Brooks moved to the front of the line during spring practice thanks largely to the departure of starters Alejandro Villanueva and Damion Hunter. Barr played in all 12 games last season, registering three catches for 23 yards, while Brooks saw action in 11 contests and hauled in two passes for 45 yards. Barr is a steady performer with the ability to make the difficult catch in traffic. Brooks, meanwhile, features a world of potential and boasts the physical skill set to develop into an impact player on the perimeter. He could be counted on heavily to help spread enemy defenses this fall.
“Brooks took another good, solid step forward this spring,” head coach Rich Ellerson says. “He had to work day-to-day, week-to-week to continue to improve. He has a chance to be an explosive element on this football team. He knows the offense, has good ball skills and can run after the catch. He has the athleticism and the size to get behind the defense and fight for an underthrown ball. Barr is a gifted route-runner. He’s a big target with exceptional hands. He’s a willing blocker, if not a great blocker. He is becoming a very complete receiver out there, and can open up parts of the field that we haven’t explored yet.”
The third receiver vying for playing time returned to Army’s offense this spring following a stint on the defensive side of the ball last fall. Highly regarded sophomore Kyler Martin arrived at West Point as a receiver, but was shifted to middle linebacker to add depth at that spot midway through his rookie campaign. Martin played a large role on the Black Knights’ stop unit late in the year, helping to fill a void created when stalwart Stephen Anderson suffered a season-ending knee injury in November. Martin played in all 12 games, drawing a pair of starting assignments following Anderson’s injury.
Boasting the physical tools necessary to flourish at wide receiver, Martin was returned to offense this spring and will contend for a starting role at wide receiver during preseason camp.
“Kyler had a solid spring back at his natural position,” Ellerson mentions. “He is a natural pass-catcher. He was with the track team this spring and was scoring points every week as a true freshman. We expect Kyler to play a major role within our offense for years to come. We are very excited about his ability as a wideout in our offensive system.”
Offensive Line
The area that may realize the biggest improvement during head coach Rich Ellerson’s second year at the Army helm is the offensive line. After mixing and matching personnel throughout last season, Army returns four starters from a group that helped the Black Knights rank 16th nationally in rushing offense and third in fewest sacks allowed per game.
Entering preseason camp, Army’s veteran front wall features seniors Annes Merzi at left tackle, Zach Peterson at center, Seth Reed at right guard and Jason Johnson at right tackle. The lone newcomer to the group, sophomore Frank Allen at left guard, enjoyed an outstanding showing this spring, vaulting to the top of the depth chart after spending last fall as a member of Army’s scout group.
Peterson anchors the unit from his center position, putting together a consistent showing during his first year in the starting cast last fall. A three-year starter, Johnson has spent time at both tackle positions during his West Point career and returns for his final turn bolstering Army’s fortunes on the right side of the line, alongside Reed, a converted defender who performed well in his debut on offense last fall. That trio combined for 36 starts a year ago. Merzi drew nine starting assignments last fall, splitting time between the left tackle and left guard slots. He will focus on left tackle this season thanks to the spring-time emergence of Allen and classmate Matt Villanti, who is expected to push Reed for playing time at the right guard position.
“Zach is one of our best football players in my opinion,” Ellerson contends. “Frank Allen is a gifted young football player. We moved him up to that position because we thought there was some possibilities. We got Frank into the mix and invested some time in him. We wish we would have done it sooner. We did the same with Matt Villanti last season. You need to have physical, athletic guards and we have two promising young players at those positions in Frank and Matt, in addition to others that played a lot of football for us last year. Anees Merzi also developed into a starting player for us last fall and we’re excited about his continued development.”
Junior Brad Kelly, who logged significant game duty a year ago, and sophomore Tom Houser provide depth behind Merzi at left tackle, while junior Joe Bailey and senior Mike Weich rate as the top backups at left guard. Senior Thomas Hagen remains the primary reserve behind Peterson, while junior Robert Kava provides depth behind Reed and Villanti at right guard. Another seasoned veteran, junior Mike McDermott, and sophomore Derek Bisgard rate as the top backups to Johnson at right tackle.
“Bisgard moved from defense and really looks like he has a bright future along with Houser,” states Ellerson. “McDermott and Kelly have a lot more game experience and that needs to pay off for them this fall. Tom and Derek don’t know their way around the offense as well, but are gifted newcomers. That is going to be the competition.”
Part two of the season outlook will focus on the Army defense.
“I’ll speak to expectations,” he stated in stepping to the podium for the first time as the Black Knights’ head football coach. “Expect that this adventure is going to be difficult. It is going to be hard. And expect to win.”
That is pretty much how things unfolded around Michie Stadium during Ellerson’s first year at the Army helm — a challenging journey, highlighted by adventure, that nearly netted the Black Knights their first postseason bowl invitation in more than a decade.
“We made significant strides last season,” Ellerson says, “but those were the first steps towards returning this program to the level at which we’d like it to be. There is still much work to be done.”
And with that, Ellerson and his staff set forth to shoulder more of that workload this spring, focusing his team on the details necessary to continue to advance the Army program.
“The spring was a success, both with recruiting and practice,” Ellerson says. “We are a better football team today than we were before spring practice started. We made some great gains physically. We are more at home with our offense and defense. We explored some options from a personnel standpoint, and there have been some positives to come out of that experiment. We like where we are and we are hard back at it.”
Ellerson had spent his first spring practice season at West Point teaching the Black Knights everything from new offensive and defensive systems to an entirely new way to practice. The changes resulted in a two-game improvement in the win column that put the Black Knights just one victory away from their first bowl appearance in 13 seasons. After wrapping up his second spring session on the banks of the Hudson, Ellerson believes the changes implemented last season have been sufficiently ingrained into the program’s culture, allowing Army to focus on the details that could lead to its most successful season in more than a decade.
“The thing that I’m the most uneasy about is that there are a handful of guys who have played a big role, and that we anticipate will play a huge role in our team this coming season, who didn’t practice because they were coming off of a shoulder, or a knee, or an ankle that precluded them from being able to have a spring ball,” Army’s second-year field boss offers. “Everything looks fine and is on track to be great this fall, but it’s not done yet, so you just worry about what surprises might be out there physically.”
Amongst those players sitting out the spring due to various physical issues were All-America candidates Josh McNary (defensive end) and Stephen Anderson (middle linebacker), and veteran offensive tackle Jason Johnson.
“We had a handful of guys that we moved around to experiment with different positions [this spring], where last year we were essentially doing that with everybody, some of them multiple times. Now the template is in place — how we practice, what we value, the fundamentals of our offense and defense, so that as you move players in and out there is an expertise that surrounds it. There is a visual on what we are looking for. That allows you to take those next steps so much more efficiently. It was a productive spring, and there is no way to compare it to what we were going through a year ago. It was an entirely different challenge.
“We need to take another step with our speed and strength — there are some young players who are relatively new to the weight room and some people who are changing their bodies because the job description has changed. There are others who are getting close to that ideal, so they are all across the spectrum in terms of their physical challenges.”
Whatever the physical challenges facing his players, Ellerson will hold all to the same lofty standard — he expects his team to win.
Army fans wouldn’t want it any other way.
OFFENSE
One of the most talked-about changes around West Point’s athletic scene last season was the implementation of head coach Rich Ellerson’s vaunted triple-option attack. Under the direction of freshman quarterback Trent Steelman, Army ranked 16th nationally in rushing, averaging more than 203 ground yards per game. The Black Knights return seven starters on offense this season, including Steelman and senior slotback Patrick Mealy, who combined for 1,379 rushing yards in 2009.
Despite the success on the ground, the Black Knights will need to improve their point production in 2010. Army scored just 18 offensive touchdowns in 12 games and Ellerson and his staff must uncover a way for the Black Knights to become more efficient in the red zone. Army scored just 16 touchdowns in 35 trips inside their opponents’ 20-yard line last fall, leaving a pile of points on the playing field.
“We have to be a more productive offensive football team,” Ellerson stresses. “We did some good things last year. We were able to have some things ready to go that got us out of the gate. Now we have more veteran football players so we have to be more explosive and much more consistent on offense. We need to minimize or eliminate mistakes and take advantage of our opportunities. We squandered too many chances last year and we did not adjust well.
“Intellectually, we knew what we were trying to do, we knew what the adjustments were. We were communicating those things, but we didn’t have the experience or proficiency to take those things and make them show up consistently on tape. That is just a natural growth you have to go through, particularly when you have guys doing things for the first time as we did last year. That is part of it and part of it is that we need to be better. We need to be more physically mature. When we get our opponent singled up in space, we need to win more of those battles.
“It’s got a chance to improve. Some of that improvement we’re looking for is going to come from guys that are going to walk in here this fall for the first time, and if they get through their summers okay, will have a chance to compete as young players. We have some guys — Malcolm Brown, Brian Cobbs, Jared Hassin and Brian Austin, all four of those guys were freshman and two of them were direct admits. They have a chance to be much more physically mature and have a chance to bring that element. Pat (Mealy) and Malcolm (Brown) are much more comfortable with the offense so they will play a little faster and be more productive. Between our returnees and the newcomers we have to build a more productive outfit to pitch the ball to, and we’re looking for Jared to bring ‘big play’ potential to the fullback position.”
Quarterback
In the span of just one year, Army’s quarterback position has gone from rating as one of the team’s biggest question marks to one of the squad’s consistent strengths. Sophomore Trent Steelman established himself as the starter from the opening days of preseason camp last fall and never relinquished the reins of the offense. Steelman became the first West Point plebe to start every game of a season. He led the team with 202 rushing attempts, 706 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns. Through the air, Steelman completed 54 of 110 passes for 637 yards, three touchdowns and tossed only two interceptions.
“Trent is much more comfortable in a leadership role and much more comfortable running the offense,” Ellerson explains. “The reactions and decisions that go along with that position are all so much more intuitive for him. He still has some challenges, and he is still not what he is going to be. You knew the improvement would happen, but it’s still reassuring to see that it did, in fact, take place. There was a giant step forward in precision and comfort and awareness.
“Clearly, the first time he stepped underneath center this spring he was much more comfortable wearing those shoes. He saw things well and was able to take in some coaching points and translate that into having it down within days. He threw the ball much better this spring than he had in the fall.”
Even with Steelman entering preseason camp firmly entrenched as the starter, it is important for the Black Knights to possess quality depth at the signal-caller spot. Ellerson should not have to worry about identifying a quality backup quarterback with three veteran players listed on the depth chart behind Steelman.
Senior Chip Bowden boasts the most game experience beneath center of anyone listed on the Black Knights’ roster. The starter for the majority of the 2008 season, Bowden played in nine games during the 2009 campaign before suffering a season ending knee injury during a late-season showdown at Air Force. Bowden rushed 19 times for 59 yards and completed 9 of 26 throws for 106 yards and one touchdown on the year. He missed spring practice while rehabilitating his injury, but is expected back to compete for playing time during preseason drills.
Max Jenkins and Jimmy Reitter have not taken a snap under center during live game action, but both have maximized their opportunities in practice. The junior duo has displayed the ability to handle expanded roles if called upon.
“I think Max Jenkins took advantage of the spring with Chip on the sidelines,” Ellerson states. “We trust him like we trust Chip to go in and run the offense. He does everything well — he really gets it in terms of why we are doing what we’re doing. He’s probably the best, including Trent, of understanding. He can stay right with you as you start to adjust, fix and check. That’s certainly his strong suit, but the good news is that he runs well and throws well.
“Jimmy Reitter got a lot of turns this spring and demonstrated that he could compete at that position. With all his physical woes behind him, he was able to settle in and there and run the offense. It will still be competitive in the fall because we will have some freshmen come in that will be trying to get into that next spot. We have our fingers crossed to see where Chip is physically coming off his injury, but right now all arrows are pointed up.”
Fullback
If Army is to improve its offensive production significantly, the Black Knights must find a way to generate explosive plays out of the fullback position. The longest run by an Army fullback last season measured just 26 yards, while the Black Knights “B” backs accounted for just two rushing scores in 2009, meager figures by any account for the fullback spot in a triple-option offense.
By the end of spring practice, head coach Rich Ellerson felt confident his team had taken major strides toward solving the issue, thanks largely to the presence of budding impact player Jared Hassin. Hassin, a transfer from Air Force who sat out last season, displayed a host of “big play” ability throughout the spring, ripping off large-gainers with regularity. A bruising insider runner, the strapping Hassin also boasts the necessary speed to streak past second level defenders.
“We have been waiting to get Jared into the mix there,” Ellerson expresses. “He certainly didn’t disappoint. We have to remember he’s still doing this for the first time in ‘prime-time’, but he is good with the football and knows where to go. He needs to grow with the assignments. There is just no way to short-circuit experience. He has to go out there and play the game. He is exactly the type of athlete we are looking for at that position.”
While Army enters preseason camp with a newcomer sitting atop the depth chart, plenty of game experience resides at the position. Junior CeDarius Williams began the 2009 season listed as the Black Knights’ starter, but missed the majority of the season with an ankle injury. He averaged 4.3 yards per rush during his two games, but was still hobbled a bit this spring. Senior Jacob Bohn shifted from linebacker to the backfield midway through last season and gained 14 yards on three carries in limited duty.
“Jacob Bohn has done a nice job,” Ellerson offers. “He is a guy that we have challenged. Honestly, I wasn’t a believer when I first saw him a year ago. He has demonstrated I was wrong in my initial evaluation. He’s a great competitor and a good athlete. I absolutely trust him in a key moment at that key position. We were very high on CeDarius last fall. He got banged up pretty good, and isn’t quite all the way back. It followed him into spring and frustrated him a little bit. He is trying to get well and comfortable. We are looking forward to the fall when he has that injury all the way behind him.”
Slotback
Three-year starter Patrick Mealy spearheads Army’s fortunes at the slotback position. Mealy finished second on the team with 673 yards and three rushing touchdowns and led the squad with a 6.1 yards-per-carry average. A versatile performer who has also logged time at the fullback spot, Mealy is expected to garner one of the Black Knights’ two starting slotback jobs.
“Pat really had a good spring,” Ellerson says. “All the bangs and bruises that followed him last year are behind him. He is comfortable in the job description. He’s done it all before. Pat was healthy and played faster and more intuitively this spring. Having said that, I’m going to make sure there is some great competition in both slotback lines.”
Following the post-spring loss of Jameson Carter, Ellerson will hold an open competition for the lead role opposite Mealy at the other slotback spot.
“Those positions have to be more dynamic and explosive. We have to find a little magic out there. Pat Mealy is absolutely in the front of one of those lines, but we are looking for some magic. We think we have stacked some younger players at the position that could force that issue.”
One of those younger players upon which Ellerson will be counting is sophomore Malcolm Brown. Brown started five times as a plebe and ran for 112 yards on 26 carries. He saw action at wide receiver during spring drills, but was returned to the backfield where he is expected to challenge for a starting berth.
“We feel Malcolm Brown is one of our best football players,” Ellerson states. “He picks things up quickly, he’s position-flexible and very intuitive. His legs were a lot better this spring than they were in the fall. He surprised me with his speed. He was nicked up and of course, being a freshman at West Point, he was not the athlete four or five months ago that he is today. Look for him to compete. We trust him blocking, trust throwing it to him and he’s got some ‘make you miss.’”
Two other youngsters will be given plenty of opportunity to make their mark during preseason drills. Sophomores Brian Cobbs and Brian Austin have both shown enough play-making ability to be worthy of earning playing time. Cobbs is a converted defensive back who made five tackles in nine games as a plebe.
“Cobbs was another true freshman that didn’t go to the prep school so he is especially young,” Ellerson explains. “He is just growing into himself. He had some flashes this spring, and can really finish a run. He is just a shadow of what he’s going to become physically as he fights this first year. It will be fun to see what he looks like coming back after the summer. Austin continues to impress us. He’s a diligent guy. He and Cobbs are both running track so if you get into a race with those guys you’re in trouble. He has been dogged in trying to get better, and his ball-handling and ball-catching have really improved.”
Freshman Raymond Maples, a standout import from the USMA Prep School, could play an important role as well. An exciting play-maker with “home run” capability, Maples displayed flashes of brilliance last fall at Fort Monmouth. He possesses excellent running instincts and plenty of speed to burn. He could challenge for a starting job immediately, aiding Ellerson’s quest to make Army’s backfield more dynamic.
Wide Receiver
With the graduation loss of its two top receivers from 2009, Army returns just two receivers who combined for five catches a year ago. Juniors Austin Barr and Davyd Brooks moved to the front of the line during spring practice thanks largely to the departure of starters Alejandro Villanueva and Damion Hunter. Barr played in all 12 games last season, registering three catches for 23 yards, while Brooks saw action in 11 contests and hauled in two passes for 45 yards. Barr is a steady performer with the ability to make the difficult catch in traffic. Brooks, meanwhile, features a world of potential and boasts the physical skill set to develop into an impact player on the perimeter. He could be counted on heavily to help spread enemy defenses this fall.
“Brooks took another good, solid step forward this spring,” head coach Rich Ellerson says. “He had to work day-to-day, week-to-week to continue to improve. He has a chance to be an explosive element on this football team. He knows the offense, has good ball skills and can run after the catch. He has the athleticism and the size to get behind the defense and fight for an underthrown ball. Barr is a gifted route-runner. He’s a big target with exceptional hands. He’s a willing blocker, if not a great blocker. He is becoming a very complete receiver out there, and can open up parts of the field that we haven’t explored yet.”
The third receiver vying for playing time returned to Army’s offense this spring following a stint on the defensive side of the ball last fall. Highly regarded sophomore Kyler Martin arrived at West Point as a receiver, but was shifted to middle linebacker to add depth at that spot midway through his rookie campaign. Martin played a large role on the Black Knights’ stop unit late in the year, helping to fill a void created when stalwart Stephen Anderson suffered a season-ending knee injury in November. Martin played in all 12 games, drawing a pair of starting assignments following Anderson’s injury.
Boasting the physical tools necessary to flourish at wide receiver, Martin was returned to offense this spring and will contend for a starting role at wide receiver during preseason camp.
“Kyler had a solid spring back at his natural position,” Ellerson mentions. “He is a natural pass-catcher. He was with the track team this spring and was scoring points every week as a true freshman. We expect Kyler to play a major role within our offense for years to come. We are very excited about his ability as a wideout in our offensive system.”
Offensive Line
The area that may realize the biggest improvement during head coach Rich Ellerson’s second year at the Army helm is the offensive line. After mixing and matching personnel throughout last season, Army returns four starters from a group that helped the Black Knights rank 16th nationally in rushing offense and third in fewest sacks allowed per game.
Entering preseason camp, Army’s veteran front wall features seniors Annes Merzi at left tackle, Zach Peterson at center, Seth Reed at right guard and Jason Johnson at right tackle. The lone newcomer to the group, sophomore Frank Allen at left guard, enjoyed an outstanding showing this spring, vaulting to the top of the depth chart after spending last fall as a member of Army’s scout group.
Peterson anchors the unit from his center position, putting together a consistent showing during his first year in the starting cast last fall. A three-year starter, Johnson has spent time at both tackle positions during his West Point career and returns for his final turn bolstering Army’s fortunes on the right side of the line, alongside Reed, a converted defender who performed well in his debut on offense last fall. That trio combined for 36 starts a year ago. Merzi drew nine starting assignments last fall, splitting time between the left tackle and left guard slots. He will focus on left tackle this season thanks to the spring-time emergence of Allen and classmate Matt Villanti, who is expected to push Reed for playing time at the right guard position.
“Zach is one of our best football players in my opinion,” Ellerson contends. “Frank Allen is a gifted young football player. We moved him up to that position because we thought there was some possibilities. We got Frank into the mix and invested some time in him. We wish we would have done it sooner. We did the same with Matt Villanti last season. You need to have physical, athletic guards and we have two promising young players at those positions in Frank and Matt, in addition to others that played a lot of football for us last year. Anees Merzi also developed into a starting player for us last fall and we’re excited about his continued development.”
Junior Brad Kelly, who logged significant game duty a year ago, and sophomore Tom Houser provide depth behind Merzi at left tackle, while junior Joe Bailey and senior Mike Weich rate as the top backups at left guard. Senior Thomas Hagen remains the primary reserve behind Peterson, while junior Robert Kava provides depth behind Reed and Villanti at right guard. Another seasoned veteran, junior Mike McDermott, and sophomore Derek Bisgard rate as the top backups to Johnson at right tackle.
“Bisgard moved from defense and really looks like he has a bright future along with Houser,” states Ellerson. “McDermott and Kelly have a lot more game experience and that needs to pay off for them this fall. Tom and Derek don’t know their way around the offense as well, but are gifted newcomers. That is going to be the competition.”
Part two of the season outlook will focus on the Army defense.
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