Armed Forces Bowl

[starkvegasdawg]

SB Nation has us playing there against Navy. Saw a tweet where Navy punted twice...in November.

[chef dixon]

If you thought Arkansas game was bad...

[BeardoMSU]

That would suck....

[msstate7]

I think we'll be fine if we play them.

[Quaoarsking]

I'd much prefer the Las Vegas Bowl against Wyoming or San Diego State, but we're in no position to be choosy here.

[BulldogBear]

SB Nation has us playing there against Navy. Saw a tweet where Navy punted twice...in November.

Maybe we can learn from them how to go for it on 4th and mm to go.

I read years ago that if people would put punting out if their minds you would generally lose one game you otherwise won but win TWO that you lost playing normally.

Translation is that if you didn't even recruit a punter you average one more win per year.

Okay, I know few coaches are willing to go that far, but more reasonable coaches with this philosophy say you should never ever ever consider punting unless inside you're own 40 and still rarely do it unless inside own 25. Even then resolve to never punt for any reason on 4th and less than 2.

But it's so ingrained in our cultural football mindset when the fact is its no harder to make a 4th and 1 than a 2nd and 1.

[ShotgunDawg]

I'd really rather not play Navy. Not only will they gash us, we don't play anyone on the schedule next year that runs their offense. So preparing against their offense does nothing to help this defense prepare for next season. It's wasted time

[BulldogBear]

I'd much prefer the Las Vegas Bowl against Wyoming or San Diego State, but we're in no position to be choosy here.

Idk.... SDSU lost by two TDs to South Alabama*****

[Jarius]

Playing in the armed forces bowl would allow you to go see dak play on Monday night and see us play the next day. That would be perfect.

[Bubb Rubb]

A bowl game would be an awesome thing for us...but Navy is the last team I'd want to play. They would work us silly, the way we tackle.

[klong-dog]

Playing Navy would be absolutely terrible. It would be another game of no punting by our defense. Regardless, I'll be happy to get a bowl but that would definitely suck drawing them.

[Dawgowar]

My 78 year-old father went there for his undergrad. 25 years Active duty - We played them when I was at State and that was kind of fun, but they were not a decent team then. I do not want to have to cheer against my old man. Bad enough he got a second masters from Bama in his retirement, but Navy is his first sports love. Ugh, would feel like Timmy being sent to the barn to take down Old Yeller.

Please - no Navy matchup, pleeaaasseeeeee.

[blacklistedbully]

That would suck....

My initial thought as well. But then I got to thinking...maybe it wouldn't be a bad thing to face a team that doesn't pass much. We have athletes that can get in position and run to the ball...we just don't tackle well. If we got all that time to work on getting in position & tackling...it might well be a good thing for us.

We'd be back in a 4-3 front, just with our LB's lined up differently. Our LB's are good enough to handle the adjustment. We have the D-line personnel to clog up the middle, taking away the fullback dive and keeping their o-linemen from getting to our LB's if they can learn their block-down-step-down technique, how to deal with cut-blocks, and maintain discipline.

If we can get our D-line to maintain discipline & clock up the middle, then get our athletic LB's to understand their roles and make the tackle, we're well on our way. Db's are a little scary, as they'd have to learn a new role, as well, and communicate...NO BLOWN ASSIGNMENTS. But with all that time to prepare and less concern for the passing game, I like the potential with our athletes.

[IMissJack]

Nightmares of Air Force '91.

[TrapGame]

The only good thing out of that would be the extra practices.

[Gutter Cobreh]

We're better at stopping the run versus the pass, yet not really good at either. GT gave us fits with the triple option in the Orange Bowl and we had better athletes then who could tackle.

We're 5-7, so if we do go to a bowl there is a pretty good chance we get gashed regardless of who our opponent is. We just have to score more than they do.

[lamont]

Nooooooo Navy

Not only would it suck to have to get ready for them- they cut block all game. We run a higher risk of a DL player tearing up a knee

[BulldogBear]

My initial thought as well. But then I got to thinking...maybe it wouldn't be a bad thing to face a team that doesn't pass much. We have athletes that can get in position and run to the ball...we just don't tackle well. If we got all that time to work on getting in position & tackling...it might well be a good thing for us.

We'd be back in a 4-3 front, just with our LB's lined up differently. Our LB's are good enough to handle the adjustment. We have the D-line personnel to clog up the middle, taking away the fullback dive and keeping their o-linemen from getting to our LB's if they can learn their block-down-step-down technique, how to deal with cut-blocks, and maintain discipline.

If we can get our D-line to maintain discipline & clock up the middle, then get our athletic LB's to understand their roles and make the tackle, we're well on our way. Db's are a little scary, as they'd have to learn a new role, as well, and communicate...NO BLOWN ASSIGNMENTS. But with all that time to prepare and less concern for the passing game, I like the potential with our athletes.

Even using all 15 practices just to work on tackling would not be a waste of time toward next year!

[Commercecomet24]

Nooooooo Navy

Not only would it suck to have to get ready for them- they cut block all game. We run a higher risk of a DL player tearing up a knee

That's what scares me the most about playing these type teams, all the cut blocks. Crap the DL start getting worried more about dodging linemen diving at their knees than playing their assignment. Scary proposition.

[CadaverDawg]

Navy = Best Triple Option attack in football.

So...