Northwestern prepares for Army's unusual triple option offense

Northwestern senior linebacker Bryce McNaul didn't need long to recognize Army's campus has a different vibe.

McNaul and his family drove to West Point, N.Y., to visit his older brother, Austin, when he attended the United States Military Academy.

“The first thing that hits you is you're having your car searched as you're pulling up to campus,” McNaul said. “Once you're on there, you see a lot of people in formation. Everyone's in uniform, obviously.

“There's an attitude on campus there of seriousness and getting stuff done. People are always going somewhere for a reason.”

It's that degree of discipline that Northwestern (2-0) must match when it travels to Army (0-2) on Saturday.

The Black Knights run the triple-option offense and the “Double Eagle” defense — two uncommon schemes that require the Wildcats to utilize different techniques to get things done.

“It's a great neutralizer,” said NU coach Pat Fitzgerald, who hasn't prepared a team for the triple-option since a 49-40 win over Navy in 2002. “It makes you have to play disciplined football.”

Army ranks second nationally in rushing (353.0 ypg) and time of possession (37 minutes, 35 seconds per game).

“You have to be focused on what your job is on every play,” Fitzgerald said. “They don't make it easy on you. They do the same thing over and over. First of all, (we have to) simulate it to the best of our ability.”

Freshman Cermak Bland and redshirt freshman Torin Dupper — a pair of walk-on wide receivers — are reprising their high school glory days this week by serving as the scout-team quarterbacks.

“Little Cermak, he's a speedster,” McNaul said. “The kid kind of snuck up on us during camp.”

Not A-OKain:It's early in the season, but sophomore quarterback Kain Colter suggests he's suffering no cumulative effects after taking several hard shots from Boston College and Eastern Illinois.#8220;I think they're pretty comparable,#8221; Colter said of how he felt Sunday after Week 1 as opposed to Sunday after Week 2.#8220;Sore after both games. Took a lot of hits each game. Just nicks and bruises after every game. I feel like everybody feels them. Just get in the ice tub, just get in the training room. I'll be ready for next Saturday.#8221;Colter and senior Dan Persa are listed as co-starters on NU's depth chart, but there's no indication Persa will make his season debut this week.The Wildcats are off Sept. 24 before opening Big Ten play Oct. 1 at Illinois. Injury update:Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald put Mike Trumpy (concussion) and Adonis Smith (ankle) on the official depth chart this week, but couldn't put their returns on an official timetable.Trumpy sat out last week's win over Eastern Illinois while Smith left the game in the fourth quarter and needed crutches to get to the locker room.#8220;I'd list (Smith) as day-to-day from an injury-report standpoint,#8221; Fitzgerald said. #8220;I'll be able to know more probably by Wednesday. I'll be able to know more (about Trumpy) as the week goes along. We anticipate him hopefully being ready to go.#8221;If neither Smith nor Trumpy can play, then senior Jacob Schmidt and true freshman Treyvon Green will be the only healthy running backs on scholarship who've played this year.