2. There will be two passing touchdowns
The two option quarterbacks, Zach Abey of Navy and Ahmad Bradshaw of Army West Point, have a combined 11 touchdown passes on the season with the former throwing for nearly double the amount of the latter on the season.
However, I can see two touchdown passes being thrown in the 2017 edition of this game. The 2016 showdown saw three interceptions and no touchdown passes but I can see more than just play-action passes this year.
Army will definitely come out in their pistol full house or diamond formation where they use a shovel option — much like the one used by Urban Meyer and Matt Canada. That counts as a passing touchdown at the college level, and many teams run the shovel option because if the shovel is dropped it is an incomplete pass and not a fumble.
Bradshaw isn’t very accurate but the shovel option doesn’t require downfield passing accuracy. It requires a quarterback that can make a quick read between the traditional option to the running back and the shovel to the back underneath.
Navy uses last-minute TD to beat Air Force - ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Zach Abey threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Tyler... https://t.co/p7F3SsZu2Z
— Zyite (@ZyiteGadgets) October 8, 2017
Navy will use screens to their wingbacks to slow down the Army pass rush. Then they’ll use traditional flexbone play-action passing to get Abey on a rollout and in space. Abey is shifty and a big body that can absorb punishment. He’ll be much calmer this time around since he has a season of starting games and playing under pressure on TV. Abey will put up MVP numbers in 2017’s edition of the Army-Navy rivalry.