Mike linebacker Vinny DePalma is the eyes of the Boston College defense and he expects to see a myriad of different looks when the Eagles engage the Cadets of Army on Saturday (noon) at Michi Stadium.
BC improved to 2-3 and 1-2 in the ACC with last Saturday’s 27-24 win over Virginia and has an opportunity to be .500 going into the bye week. Army (2-2) is one of the four FBS independent programs.
Army coach Jeff Monken has gotten away from his total commitment to the Flexbone attack. The Flexbone is an adaptive version of the triple option derived from the original Wishbone offense instituted at Texas by coach Darrell Royal in the late 1960’s.
Army still uses the triple option in certain situations, but the Cadets have updated to a modern passing game and employ multiple sets and formations. In other words, the Black Knights of the Hudson are a hard read.
“Army has always been kind of unique on offense but from what we’ve seen they have changed from the traditional wishbone triple option,” said DePalma, a 5-11, 232-pound graduate student from Wayne, N.J.
“There are still a lot of downhill runs but they have changed up and do some different stuff with the tight ends and quarterback runs. It’s about recognizing pre snap formations and getting aligned and you have to have great eyes and be disciplined.”
Army has added a greater degree of balance to its attack but the Cadets are still quarterback-centric in the run game. The Black Knights’ offense is executed by Bryson Dailey, a 6-0, 215-pound junior from Abernathy, Texas.
Dailey possesses dual threat capabilities comparable to Holy Cross FCS pre-season All American quarterback Matthew Sluka, who gave the Eagles’ defense all kinds of problems in the second game of the season.
Dailey leads the Cadets in rushing with 76 carries for 275 yards and three touchdowns. On the passing side, Dailey has completed 29 of 60 passes for 592 yards and five touchdowns with four picks.
“The style hasn’t really changed, they are a good team and it will be a real challenge,” said BC coach Jeff Hafley. “He (Dailey) is a big guy and a tough kid and he is going to break tackles.
“He tries to run through you, not necessarily around you, and then there is their scheme. They have a lot of quarterback designed runs, whether it is the option or quarterback power plays. They have it all.”
