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Cade Ballard’s playmaking off charts vs. UTSA

Photo by Lynn Fern/Black Knight Nation

Cade Ballard’s passing yards against UTSA were the most by an Army quarterback in 15 years.

Ballard’s poise and feel for the game shined on a handful of throws and that didn’t go unnoticed by Army offensive coordinator Brent Davis.

Davis compared Ballard’s playmaking in Army’s 41-38 overtime loss to that of Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield.

“He’s always had that great savvy throwing the football and just awareness,” Davis said. “He’s a gunslinger. He’s a Baker Mayfield type guy as far as playmaking and just his presence in that mold and he is able to make things happens.”

Ballard, whose 221 yards are the highest since Carson Williams passed for 321 against Tulsa in 2007, entered the game on the final play of first quarter. Starting quarterback Tyhier Tyler threw a 77-yard touchdown pass to Ay’Jaun Marshall on Army’s previous play.

Coach Jeff Monken said he is “comfortable” going the same combination of Tyler as the starter and Ballard coming off the bench against Villanova Saturday based on the unknown of how opponents will line up defensively.

“Tyhier has more game experience than Cade so sometimes to start the game we have no idea what we are going to see and a guy with experience, he handles that pretty well and we get settled into a groove.”

Davis said he was “real pleased” with the play of both Tyler and Ballard last Saturday. When asked about Ballard, Davis said his playmaking ability “was off the charts,” highlighting a 42-yard pass to Braheam Murphy late in the second quarter and a 15-yard flat pass to Tyrell Robinson.

“(He) backpedaled out of getting pressure, went to his left and found a crossing receiver before halftime and hit Murphy, an unbelievable play,” Davis said. “Threw a dime of a pass to T-Rob out in the flat with a guy bearing down on him. He couldn’t even see the guy. He just dropped it over his shoulder 18 yards. Incredible.”

Another one of Ballard’s qualities is he’s never satisfied. He wasn’t thinking about the passes he completed after Saturday’s game. Ballard, who had back surgery early in his college career, was thinking of an errant pitch that didn’t lead to a gain in overtime.

“There’s some things he’ll tell you that he’d like to have back and some average things that he needs to do better and he will,” Davis said. “We’ve always seen the things that he can do. This is the best that he’s felt physically for one thing. You see how quick he is and breaking tackles. Two years ago, he wasn’t the same guy physically. He’s in the best shape that he’s been in.”

That stood out in Ballard’s running. He gained a career-high 58 yards and had a team-best, 21-yard run.

2 Comments

2 Comments

  1. Mike Twardy

    September 14, 2022 at 8:14 PM

    I know Army likes to run the ball but when you have a QB like Ballard you have to utilize his arm and the play makers that are available.

    • Norm Remick

      September 14, 2022 at 9:52 PM

      No question in my mind, Mike. It seems logical to start Cade Ballard, as he is almost sure to complete at least one of three passes every series to move the chains, and possibly three of three passes. That will blow away the opponents’ loading the box with 9-10 defenders as they have been to our detriment. He also appears to make good option decisions, so we could actually get back to running the triple option, not just called runs. and I think he’s savvy enough to put in an audible at the LOS when he sees the opportunity when the defense reacts to his passing and opens up the defense. I like Tyhier very much, but I think a talent like Cade Ballard rarely comes along to West Point, and it’s a serious error in judgment to not take full advantage of it while we can. Coach has two good weapons at QB, but almost never one like Cade Ballard. Hopefully they both stay healthy, cause they’re both such good kids — young men.

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