Army’s Jeff Monken in year 3; likes the mix of his new team

WEST POINT, N.Y. — Army coach Jeff Monken is set to begin year three at the helm, which means half his roster includes players he has signed. Right now, he likes that mix. “I think we’re getting better as a program and better as a team,” Monken said. “We’ve got a lot of guys that have played in games that find themselves in pretty important roles this year. We’ve just got to perform, execute.”

Army finished last season 2-10, the finale against Navy a heartbreaking 21-17 setback. It was the 14th straight defeat suffered in the series by the Black Knights, who came oh-so- close to ending the skid.

Lost in the emotion of the moment was that Army quarterback Chris Carter was a freshman making only his second career start leading the complicated triple option. And he nearly led the Black Knights to victory against a heavily favored Navy team led by record-setting senior quarterback Keenan Reynolds.

“For a kid to not play in this offense in high school, learn the offense and the very next year he’s starting in the Army-Navy game, that’s a lot to ask,” Army offensive coordinator Brent Davis said. “It was a huge test. He really elevated his game. I think there’s something there.”

Carter returns this season along with junior Ahmad Bradshaw, the starter in 2015 before injuries sent him to the sidelines.

“It’s important that we start to show some improvement,” Davis said. “Guys that we recruited our first year ... for what our vision of the offense is are working their way into the lineup. That’s exciting.”

QB shuffle

Running the option usually requires more than one quarterback to get the job done because of the punishment that goes with the position. Army seems to be set there. Bradshaw, a junior, sparkled at times (468 yards rushing with five touchdowns) when he wasn’t ailing — he missed four games — and Carter has two big games (Rutgers was the other) under his belt.

Prediction

Army plays only one of its first five games at Michie Stadium — Rice on Sept. 10 — and hosts rival Air Force in November. The Black Knights also play Notre Dame in San Antonio in November before the annual season finale against Navy. With Lafayette and Morgan State of the FCS, and North Texas also at home and road games against Buffalo and Wake Forest, a total of five wins doesn’t seem out of the question.