Upon further review: Rutgers

I’ve had a few days to sleep on the Rutgers game.

Here are a few of my thoughts:

*Defensive tackle Ted Bentler played his butt off. Bentler did as more
than his share to compensate for the loss of defensive end Josh McNary,
who was out with a shoulder injury. Bentler tied a season-high eight
tackles and a sack. He’s as active as defensive tackles come. Bentler has made five or more tackles in the last five games.

Let’s hope Bentler’s last game isn’t Army-Navy. There’s a good chance Army will appeal to the NCAA for
another year of eligibility. Bentler redshirted at Iowa in 2004, played for the Hawkeyes in 2005;
transfered to Army and sat out the 2006 season before playing in 2007
and this season. Confused? Basically, Army could state the cause to ask
NCAA for another season. Bentler came to West Point to be with his
brother Fritz and become an officer. He lost  a year in that
process.

* Army needs to bring in at least an assistant coach with option
experience and make him the quarterback coach or something. I’ve brought
up this point a few times. This game put an exclamation point and
what’s been apparent most of the season. Army, again, was reduced to a
double-option. Fullback Collin Mooney had 20 carries; quarterback Chip
Bowden 21 and backup fullback Bryson Carl, a deuce. Army ran a pitch to
the outside once on each of its first two drives. The Black Knights
only called two outside runs the rest of the game. I will ask coach
Brock about this, but the likely answer I’ll get is Rutgers was taking
away the pitch so Army went with one of its two other options. How
about calling a play, which keeps the defense on its toes? An
end-around, a fake reverse, play-action to the fullback and a short
pass. Anything.

* The lopsided score at Rutgers gave Army a chance to play some younger
players on defense. Saw freshman linebacker Steve Erzinger, who the
coaches are really high on, out there. Erzinger is a guy next
season,  who could have the same impact that Steve Anderson has
had this year. He almost had an interception in the second half.
Sophomore linebacker Rod Murray also saw time. Mysteriously, missing
was senior linebacker John Plumstead. Plumstead was on the sidelines
and looked OK. I didn’t see him injured during the game.

* Was a little shocked to see freshman Josh Jones back returning
Rutgers’ only punt. Jones was recruited as a quarterback and was behind
now-departed Paul McIntosh on the class of 2012 signal-caller radar.

Sophomore Jameson Carter has been shaky returning punts. Senior Carlo
Sandiego looks to be done for the season. Thought sophomore Richard
King may get a shot. He returned kicks at Army Prep.

One thought just popped into my pea brain, if Jones is swift enough to
return kicks, he must have some speed. Maybe enough speed, to be
somewhere reasonably high on the quarterback depth chart.