Monken is more than ready
The recent hire of Army Black Knights Head Coach Jeff Monken
is a step in the right direction for the prestigious service academy.
The Black Knights are coming off a disappointing 3-9 record
and ended the season with a dismal 34-7 defeat to heated rival Navy. The Black
Knights also lost to Air Force 42-28. The focus for Monken is to turn this
traditionally proud program around. The top goal has to be to beat Navy and Air
Force, since these are the top two games on the schedule each year. Army can
lose every game on the schedule, but call a season a success if they beat Navy
and beat Air Force is an added bonus.
Monken is the right candidate after leading a successful
Georgia Southern program to a 38-16 record in the Football Championship Subdivision
(FCS) for the past four years. For their recent success, the Eagles will move
up to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and join the Sun Belt Conference for
this upcoming college football season. He was also a finalist for the Liberty
Mutual Coach of the Year award in 2012.
As mentioned above, Monken will need to use the games this
season to prepare for the Navy and Air Force games. If the team is able to
defeat both then he will be seen as the right man for the job at season’s end.
His previous record at Georgia Southern puts him in good territory with
administration, boosters and fans. If he is able to continue that success then
that is an obvious plus for him.
Monken needs to return this struggling program to glory,
which has participated in college football since 1890. The Black Knights are on
a current 12 game losing streak to Navy. He also had a hand in causing
disappointment to the Black Knights. Monken served as an assistant coach for
Navy and helped win five straight Commander in Chief trophies. The better
record between the three service academies determines the trophy winner.
Monken has to begin with the running game. He has a strong
running game background as the Eagles led the NCAA in rushing averaging 399.36
yards per game. Navy also is known for their triple-option attack. It will be
of no surprise that he will install a heavy ground attack at Army and he will
recruit athletes to fit within his system.
Monken learned the triple-option during his time at Navy and
Georgia Tech under Paul Johnson. He learned a system and stuck with it. The
Black Knights are accustomed to running the triple-option, but Monken can
enhance the system that is already put in place.
The key will be the person taking the snaps. He will need an
athletic quarterback to lead the running attack. If he is able to maintain
ground control and eat up clock during games then the Black Knights will have a
chance in ball games for this upcoming season. His team will also be better
prepared to defend the option attack of Navy, since the defense will practice against
it on a daily in practice. His past coaching experience with Navy will prove
beneficial.
The next step is to beef up the other side of the ball. The
defense could not stop anyone and Monken will not be successful without some
playmakers on the other side of the ball. Army was outscored 379-293 during the
2013 season.
He already has experience dealing with the types of
student-athletes at Army. The student-athletes are cadets and have larger
obligations throughout the day as compared to a college football player at any
other university. The days for cadets are more strenuous and Monken has
experience dealing with these types of student-athletes. He will be successful
because he can find that balance between football and school and he will be
able to get the best out of his players on Saturdays, especially the most
important Saturday in the middle of December.
Monken is the 37th head coach of Army and he will
become one of the most popular in the long history of the program. In his first
year of coaching he will pull off the unexpected and defeat both Navy and Air
Force. He will snap the losing streak to Navy and bring the Commander in Chief
trophy back to West Point. Monken will turn the program around and use Army as
a stepping stone for a successful career in the FBS.
This is possibly the most important season in a long time
for Black Knights football. There is plenty to look forward to this coming
season for the Black Knights.
