Army 5-2

Update: Replay added below


I sensed last week that this one would come down to the razor's edge

End of the half Army caught the Eagles with their pants down - after delaying getting set - Army went spread with 4 wide and a wide open receiver to the near side... EMU wasn't ready and got a timeout called just as the ball was snapped. Now, instead of going with another hail mary to the end zone I think you at least try to kick for the points - that's why Army defers every coin flip... that would have been a great chance to score some points and get the ball back.

Late in the game as Eastern Michigan's D wore down a Darnell Woolfolk at 75% proved to be an irresistible force to movable object of Eastern Michigan's D. Woolfolk's return to the end zone highlights the job that the team of B backs has done in his absence - and as a unit during this game. If you look at Eastern Michigan's D in the 4th quarter they looked like a completely different team than the Eagles defense that was hootin and hollerin and jumping around during the first series of the game. As it turned out on Army's first possession Eastern spent a lot of energy on not bringing down fullbacks.

The Eastern Michigan defense read and reaction was good through 2nd quarter and Army really found themselves in a chess game offensively. It was the QB follow that kind of cracked the code for Army, then it was the freeze counter for Army's first score. There were some big plays where Ahmad Bradshaw kept the ball because all of his pitches were closed off. Bradshaw ended the day with a robust 19 carries for 171 yards.

Army had a little bit of luck on the interception..it looked to me like two guys jumped on Christianson's interception with no offsides call. Even if Army got back onside - it was mantioned that EMU QB Roback had to put his shoe back on and might had a flat tire on the intercetion play.

In the end, Eastern Mich was upended running a option-like pitch play when they had been running for something like 6 yards per rush. Good luck with that play call. I could give a shit if a team stands with Army for the Alma Mater, that's not disrespect - Eastern Michigan has a lot of stuff to figure out, so I hope Eagles coaching staff spent the time coaching football. Ultimate disrespect is having the stones to give a one-off option look to Army with the game on the line. That is a LOT of belief in yourselves for a team who is coming in at 2-3. EMU HC Chris Creighton's postgame interview looks like it was filmed in the pit of despair. I was looking forward to that one since Eastern Michigan University disappeared so quickly - I just wanted to make sure they were alright.

Really, Eastern Michigan got caught in a sucker's game. Did they want to try Army in Overtime? I guess not.
I don't think the call to go for it spoke to Eastern Michigan's fear of the Army offense (4/4 red zone in this one) as much as it spoke to their belief that they could bite off another 4 yards for the win. I was concerned about this one up until I saw the designed pitch - easy solve for James 'Gibby' Gibson and he gets low on the ball carrier to end Eastern Michigan's hopes about 5 inches short. The amount of hubris involved to not only go for the 2 point conversion, but to call a timeout and draw up what they think it is Army does - to what?.. prove a point?.. show off their coaching chops?.. anyway, the roll out pitch was a no go and Eastern Michigan is now 1-8 against Army all time.


On offense it was again Ahmad Bradshaw's game as he converted time and again in big spots. If we rely on the above metaphor that Army's offense plays a chess game, then Bradshaw is their Kramnik.
Gibby's tackle saved the day and James Nachtigal had a game high 13 tackles for the Cadets. I can't believe EMU tried to beat Army with a roll out pitch look. Their bread and butter down there is a pick pass play - maybe there wasn't enough room to run that series when going for 2, but you have to find a better answer than trying to beat Army at their own game. That move away from their tendency cost them the game in one play.

Other Eastern Michigan tendencies that were dismantled during this one

- there was no QB punt
- Army didn't go three-and-out during this one despite EMU's 5.6 per game average
- EMU scored on a fade, but it wasn't off crossing routes.
- 3/7 on 3rd downs meant the Eagles rose above their 28% 3rd down

Once again Eastern Michigan played to within a score, but came up a few inches short.

Here's your Eastern Michigan/Army story, stats, highlights and replay.



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