Spoke with Army coach Rich Ellerson, sophomore quarterback Trent Steelman and sophomore linebacker Nate Combs as they prepare for the season opener Saturday at Eastern Michigan. Check out the video preview.
Army coach Rich Ellerson said junior linebacker Andrew Rodriguez “isn’t going to be available for a while” at his press conference Tuesday.
Rodriguez, Army’s leading tackler last season, has a back injury that has no prognosis. It could be a long-term injury.
“It’s a heartbreak for us and him,” Ellerson said. “We’ll keep our fingers crossed as the season progresses to see if we can get him back out there.”
Rodriguez has dressed for practice but has not participated in drills. He’s still a big part of the team, mentoring sophomore Nate Combs, who will start at whip linebacker for Rodriguez.
“A-Rod’s been my right-hand man through this whole process,” Combs said. “He’s a technician. He’s making me perfect. Everything I do, he’s making me that player.”
Army coach Rich Ellerson’s move to give his players three days off their legs is looking genius.
Players returned to practice Monday and were flying around. The offense was in high gear with their repetitions.The offensive line was working together like it was playing on Saturday.
“That’s always difficult when you try to give the guys a couple of days off to try to get their legs back, you are worried when you come back out that you have cobwebs,” Ellerson said. “These guys have shown that they can come out here and work. This was not fun. It was hot. There was some rust on the gears, but man, they were dead-serious. Not only did we step in where we left off, we came and improved. That’s hard to do after a weekend off.”
Junior cornerback Antuan Aaron, who has started 18 straight games, returned to practice with the first team Monday. Aaron had been held out of practice with a leg injury in the preseason.
“He’s back into it,” Ellerson said. “We are going to have to make a call on that in the next day or two. But the good news is he’s back taking reps with the first team. That bodes well for him.”
Sophomore wide receiver George Jordan continues to impress. Jordan was locked up one-on-on with senior cornerback Richard King. He grabbed a 35-yard pass from Max Jenkins, which bounced in and out of his and King’s hands twice, with King all over him.
I’m probably repeating myself, but if sophomore slotback Brian Cobbs gets into the secondary look out. Scary thing is Cobbs is still learning how to keep his exceleration going.
Sophomore fullback Dan McGue saw some reps with the varsity team.
Junior Joe Bailey was mixing in at left and right guard with the first-team offensive line.
Sophomore Kyler Martin is getting a try at safety, Ellerson said. Martin was Army’s starting middle linebacker in two of the final three games in 2009.
“We are going to experiment with that a little bit,” Ellerson said. “He kind of got himself out of the routine at receiver. He’s got this great background on defense. As you know, we have a bunch of seniors in front of those safety lines. We are just going to look at that and get a read on it for a few days.”
No super surprises. Sophomore George Jordan has replaced junior Austin Barr as a starting wide receiver. Jordan, who missed spring practice to focus on academics, has really picked it up the last two weeks of practice. He has a good rapport with sophomore starting quarterback Trent Steelman. The two worked together the summer before their freshman year.
Sophomore Josh Jackson should start at one cornerback in place of two-year starter Antuan Aaron, who has missed the preseason with a leg injury. Jackson showed flashes in the beginning of 2009. He had an interception in the season opener against Eastern Michigan and was quiet after that. Maybe, plebe year caught up with him. I think senior L.B. Brown will rotate in, keeping Army corner fresh. If senior safety Jordan Trimble doesn’t start ahead of senior Donnie Dixon, he will be Army’s nickel back.
Jackson is one of Army’s fastest players with the ball. That’s why he’s also listed as the team’s primary punt returner over junior Josh Jones, who held the duties last season.
Junior linebacker Andrew Rodriguez isn’t listed on the two-deep. Rodriguez has yet to practice fully because of a back injury.
Heading to practice in a few. Will have a blog report later.
Here’s my projected defensive depth chart for Eastern Michigan week. This is from my practice observations and could change. I think there’s an outside chance of cornerback Antuan Aaron practicing and possibly playing against Eastern Michigan.
DE (Quick)
Josh McNary, Sr.
Todd Miller, Sr.
NG
Mike Gann, Sr.
Chris Swain, Jr. or
A.J. Mackey, Soph.
DE
Marcus Hilton, Sr.
Carson Homme, Sr.
WHIP LB
Nate Combs, Soph.
Chad Littlejohn, Jr.
MLB
Stephen Anderson, Sr.
Kingsley Ehie, Sr.
Rover
Steve Erzinger, Jr.
Sean Westphal, Sr.
Josh Jones, Jr.
Bandit
Jarrett Macket, Soph.
Justin Schaaf, Sr.
Bill Prosko, Jr.
CB
Richard King, Sr.
L.B. Brown, Sr.
CB
Josh Jackson, Soph.
Antuan Aaron, Jr.
James Whittington, Soph.
SS
Donnie Dixon, Sr. or
Jordan Trimble, Sr.
R.J. Speidel, Soph.
FS
Donovan Travis, Sr.
Ty Shrader, Soph.
Tyler Dickson, Fr.
Here’s how I see Army’s depth chart on offense heading into Eastern Michigan week. This is from practice observations and could change during the week.
QB
Trent Steelman, Soph.
Max Jenkins, Jr.
Chip Bowden, Sr.
FB
Jared Hassin, Soph.
Jacob Bohn, Sr.
CeDarius Williams, Jr.
SB
Patrick Mealy, Sr.
Raymond Maples, Fr.
Brian Austin, Soph.
SB
Malcolm Brown, Soph.
Brian Cobbs, Soph.
Jon Crucitti, Fr.
WR
Davyd Brooks, Jr.
Anthony Stephens. Fr. or
Justin Allen, Soph.
WR
George Jordan, Soph.
Austin Barr, Jr.
Mark Allen, Sr.
LT
Anees Merzi, Sr.
Brad Kelly, Soph.
LG
Frank Allen, Soph.
Joe Bailey, Jr.
C
Zach Peterson, Sr.
Shelby Jackson, Fr. or
Thomas Hagen, Sr.
RG
Seth Reed, Sr.
Matt Villanti, Soph.
RT
Jason Johnson, Sr.
Derek Bisgard, Soph. or
Mike McDermott, Jr.
Times Herald-Record photographer Chet Gordon snapped a few shots of players in Army’s new road uniform at Friday’s practice.
Army linebacker Steve Erzinger. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record
Quarterback Trent Steelman. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record
Fullback Jared Hassin in Army's new road uniform. CHET GORDON/Times Herald-Record
Basically, a mini walkthrough and a little special teams for Army’s final preseason practice.
Army coach Rich Ellerson said he wanted to give the team a few days to rest their legs before his team resumes practice on Monday.
Ellerson singled out senior slotback Pat Mealy as a guy who’s seen a lot of reps and could use a break.
Army senior middle linebacker Stephen Anderson said his team would love to be playing games already but, “We still have a little more preparation. We want to get our legs back. If we played tomorrow, our legs would be pretty dead.”
Army went through a mock game at the beginning of practice, which I wrote about for Saturday’s editions.
Coaches and those on the traveling squad were calling the “B” or jayvee team, “pirates.”
Ellerson said the name started last season when he saw the javyee team relaxing on the sidelines, “I said, “C’mon, you guys you look like a bunch of damn pirates, clean this thing up.’”
Army players wore their new away jerseys for the first time during practice. This was to eliminate any “wow” factor during pregame at its season opener on Sept. 4 at Eastern Michigan. They are pretty sharp and I will have a story on the new unis early next week. Senior safety Donovan Travis said the uniforms are “alright.”
“It’s just an uniform,” Travis said. “We still have to play football. They are nice to have but you have to win some games that’s the most important thing.”
Travis continued a gameday tradition, making sure he touched the metal plate at the south end of Michie Stadium, which reads, “I want an officer for a secret and dangerous mission. I want a West Point football player.” after practice ended.
Sophomore wide receiver Kyler Martin dressed with the “B” team. Is Martin on the bubble of being on the practice squad? My football senses, tell me yes. But let’s wait and see a practice next week to make that call.
There are a few players, who number will change on gameday. Most are freshman. I can only assume that these players will likely travel to Eastern Michigan. Here are their numbers:
sophomore slotback Brian Austin #15
sophomore cornerback James Whittington #16
sophomore safety R.J. Speidel #26
freshman safety Tyler Dickson #28
sophomore cornerback Waverly Washington #30
freshman rover Justin Trimble #33
freshman slotback Jon Crucitti #36
freshman slotback Julian Crockett #37
freshman defensive end/linebacker Quentin Kantaris #48
freshman linebacker Zach Williams #52
freshman wide receiver Anthony Stephens #88
Josh McNary is one of the givens on Army’s defense.
Another big season is expected for the senior defensive end after a 12.5-sack junior season.
The nation agrees. McNary was named the Lombardi Trophy watch list Friday. The Lombardi Trophy is giving to the nation’s top down linemen.
McNary, Army’s all-time sack leader, is also on the Nagurski and Lott trophy watch lists.
Prediction time: Eastern Michigan
Can’t believe the 2010 season opener is here.
Was a little shocked this week when I saw the game’s line. Army is a 10-point favorite at Eastern Michigan Saturday. The last time Army was a favorite on the road was its 2006 season opener at Arkansas State. Army lost that game 14-6.
Sal Interdonato, Times Herald-Record beat writer: Army 27, Eastern Michigan 14: Army fans will forget about last year’s scoring woes quickly. Army’s offense will be more complex and imaginative. Jared Hassin scores his first two college touchdowns in Army’s win.
Mike Huguenin of Rivals.com: Army 26, Eastern Michigan 20. Huguenin said, “The game just down the road in Ann Arbor is a big one. This one? It’s the season’s first dog of the week. EMU was 116th in the national in total offense last season, one spot better than Army.”
Feel free to post your predictions below.