2009 SD Preview: The Independents

Written by Ian | 17 August 2009

Today's football preview is a big one folks.  That's right it's time to let our readership in on the independents!  All three of them. 

That's right, there are only three remaining NCAA division 1 (piss on that IA nonsense) schools not affiliated with a conference.  In this installment of football previews we'll be lining them up with the service academies of the Armed Forces, the Naval Academy, and the pope's academy of Notre Dame (they are Catholic right?).  Hit the jump to read on about young men who'll one day fight for freedom and maybe a few who will sit around uncomfortably long on draft day.

First up, we'll look at the Naval Academy.  Why Navy first?  Because we've got a good buddy who has done two tours of duty in Iraq for the Navy and we happen to like them best. 

Last year Navy went 8-5 and lost in the EagleBank Bowl to Wake.  They made a good showing losing 29-19.  Navy will be looking to build on last year's success under head coach Niumatalolo (really?) by working their way into a seventh consecutive bowl game.

If they're going to do it they'll do it their way, and that's on the ground.  Navy led the nation in rushing yards a game last year with 292 ypg.  They had one player rush for over a thousand yards in 2008 and another only 18 yards shy of that mark.  The bad news is both young men left.  The good news is that Navy always has a strong core of young backs waiting to pick up were the departed seniors left off.

This year look for quarterbacks Ricky Dobbs and Jarod Bryant to put up big rushing numbers.  The two QB's both ran for over 400 yards last season.  Look for Bobby Doyle to be well over his 169 yard total for last year as well.  My gut tells me he'll have about five times that number this year barring any missed time.

The passing game doesn't exist for Navy.  They threw for less than 800 yards last year on less than 50% completed attempts.  Their returning receiver had 56 yards.  Not in a game, but for the entire year.  This won't be the Greatest Show on Turf part two, but they will play pass on occasion.

Defensively, Navy was rough around the edges last year allowing 22 points per contest.  They did show improvement toward the end of the year by blanking two of their last three opponents but they also gave up more than 40 twice (once to Duke!) and 35 in another game.  They have their front three back from last year and should be able to improve.

Navy's 2009 schedule has some toughies on it.  Ohio State and Pitt on the road in the first three weeks will prove tough, as will Notre Dame on the road and potentially Wake Forest at home.  Other than those games though Navy looks to be in the driver's seat.  The final game against Army is always a great show, but look for Navy to put up at least a 7-5 record if not an 8-4 to match last year's mark.  Look for them to hit another small bowl and keep their streak alive.

The Cadets out of West Point had a tough go of it last year.  They'll look to improve on their 3-9 mark, but it doesn't look good for Army in 2009.

For starters, Army's passing attack was even worse than Navy's last year.  They averaged 46 yards per game through the air last year, as a team.  Texas Tech had five players that had more yards receiving than Army did last year and Michael Crabtree (and this is likely the last time I'll ever type that bastard's name) doubled Army's output by himself! 

The passing attack doesn't look to be any better this year as Army has no receiving corp at all.  They move 6'10" offensive tackle Ali Villaneuva to wide out in the off season.  It doesn't get much more desperate than that. 

The ground game will be where Army butters its bread, and it will need it in spades.  Quarterback Chip Bowden led Army with 572 yards rushing last year and they'll need him to be solid with the ball this year.  They'll need everyone to be solid with the ball because Army needs to grind the clock in every game they play.

Defensively, there are three lineman back and they will be fairly solid but the linebackers will be an issue.  They'll be promoting two new players to outside backer and the two that win the jobs will have to step up in a hurry.  The secondary is the class of the defense and will likely have to make a lot of tackles when the front seven break down.

Army's schedule is definitely one of the weakest in Division 1 football.  They have Duke, a directional Michigan, three more academies in Air Force, VMI, and Navy on the schedule.  Vandy at home may be their toughest game of the year.  That said, it's not likely Army will come up with a lot of wins this year.  Look for them to grind games down, sit on the ball, and try to avoid mistakes in the hopes that they can win turnover battles.  Army will likely end up at 3-9 or 4-8 this year and try to continue to rebuild under Coach Ellerson.

Notre Dame will likely go 8-4 this year and end up in a bowl game way over their heads again.  The Fat Man will not be fired.

By the way, does anyone else think The Independents would have been a kick-ass band name in the 80's?  Way better than Poison.