Army-Navy Game 2011: 5 Reasons Army Can Snap 10-Game Losing Streak in 2012

It was another great game between the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen. However, Navy again won and increased their win streak to 10 games over Army.

Not since 2001 has Army bested Navy on the gridiron, and the 2011 contest was much closer than any other loss during this Midshipmen streak.

To that end, though, here are five reasons to believe the Black Knights can get it done in 2012.

Sure Navy has a great rushing offense, but Army's is even better.

This season, the Black Knights finished the year with the No. 1 ranked rushing offense, averaging a total of 346.5 yards per game.

Obviously, this means that they don't throw the ball. However, despite being a one-dimensional offense, Army knows how to run the rock very well.

Next season, you have to expect more of the same from Army and their stout run offense, as this is the Black Knights' bread and butter.

As long as they can limit turnovers and win the time of possession battle, Army has a great shot to oust Navy in 2012.

Although teamwork and winning is more important than individual accolades, leaders are needed to stay on the right path.

Well, Army QB Trent Steelman is one of those guys for the Black Knights as he enters his senior campaign in 2012.

Through his first three seasons under center, Steelman ran for an average of 670 yards per year and has scored 11 TDs each of the past two years.

What's interesting here also is that Steelman has proven the ability to throw the rock.

It's not insanely big numbers, as the Black Knights are a run-heavy team, but in 2010, Steelman threw for almost 1,000 yards with seven TDs and a 53.4 completion percentage.

Maybe just to mix it up and keep defenses off balance next year, they'll give him the green light to air it out on occasion.

Despite finishing 3-9, the Army Black Knights have a lot to take away from the 2011 season.

Perhaps the biggest is their 21-14 win over the Northwestern Wildcats of the Big Ten.

Northwestern finished 6-6 and became bowl-eligible along with getting a win over then-ranked No. 10 Nebraska.

So the potential for Army to build off a win like this is big.

Also, they hung with teams such as Vanderbilt (SEC) and San Diego State (finished 8-4). The next step is to win those games and get some momentum rolling before facing Navy in the regular season finale.

Now, it's by no means easy trying to respond the following year after a 3-9 season, but with a win over Northwestern and playing tough against solid teams, there's definitely something to build a foundation with.

Army's defense is a big part of the Black Knights besting Navy, because in the game on Saturday, Army turned the ball over three times and only lost 27-21.

Now, they also did force two turnovers to somewhat even out the field position and time of possession battles, but Army came up short.

That said, the Black Knights defense finished ranked No. 48 in total yards allowed (average of just over 360 yards per game).

As for Navy, the Midshipmen's defense finished ranked No. 85 and allowed almost 420 yards per game.

For as big of a field position battle the game of football is, roughly a 60-yard differential in favor of the Black Knights gives Army a big advantage. For their sake, maybe they can turn it around in 2012 and get the W.

As mentioned in the intro, Army has not beaten Navy since 2001.

In football—or any other sport for that matter—losing to your main rival for a decade has got to be difficult, regardless of who you are.

In addition, the Black Knights have only won twice since the 1997 season as the other win came in 1998.

Just two wins over Navy in the last 15 years should be motivation enough to come out even more intense in 2012.

After the 2010 season, Army may have lost to Navy, but they were bowl-eligible and won their bowl game. 2011 was obviously not the year that kept the momentum rolling, but nonetheless, going 7-6 and then 3-9 isn't a good thing.

It'll definitely be interesting to see if Army can overcome the Midshipmen in 2012, as this is one of the marquee college football games every season.

Follow John Rozum on Twitter @ Sportswriter27