{"id":43242,"date":"2017-09-15T16:56:51","date_gmt":"2017-09-15T16:56:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2017\/09\/15\/no-8-ohio-state-tries-to-move-on-against-improved-army\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T03:10:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T03:10:15","slug":"no-8-ohio-state-tries-to-move-on-against-improved-army","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/off-duty\/military-sports\/2017\/09\/15\/no-8-ohio-state-tries-to-move-on-against-improved-army\/","title":{"rendered":"No. 8 Ohio State tries to move on against improved Army"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

COLUMBUS, Ohio \u2014 Ohio State players likely will be a little cranky when Army visits for the first time on Saturday afternoon. The No. 8 Buckeyes were smoked by Baker Mayfield and Oklahoma at Ohio Stadium last week and will be looking for an outlet for their frustration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not to say Army (2-0) isn\u2019t capable of giving the Buckeyes (1-1, 1-0 Big Ten) some headaches. It has been one of the most improved teams in the nation under coach Jeff Monken.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEveryone is saying we\u2019re going to get our butts whipped,\u201d said Monken, who led the Black Knights to an 8-5 record last year and the first win over Navy in 15 years. \u201cI\u2019m not walking in here telling the guys to start preparing for (the following game against) Tulane because we\u2019re going to get our butts whipped. That\u2019s not the way we\u2019re wired. We\u2019ve got to look at their team and find the things we can do to be successful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Army runs a confounding triple-option attack centered on quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw, who is averaging 162 yards rushing after two games to rank sixth nationally, and 9.5 yards per carry with three TDs. He has seven 100-yard games in his career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately for the Black Knights, the Ohio State defensive line specializes in stuffing the run. The Buckeyes defense is No. 13 nationally, allowing just 60.5 rushing yards per game. It has allowed just one rushing touchdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019s just some times where you are going to face people who are going to do a good job defending you,\u201d Monken said. \u201cWe\u2019re going to play a team this weekend that is going to be really good at playing blocks and at running people down.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t