TGS 2007 Football Preview Bonus: Navy Midshipmen

We’re talking about the option offense. Air Force’s recent abandonment of the formation, after Army did the same several years ago following HC Bob Sutton’s dismissal, has left Navy as the lone option survivor in the service academy ranks, if not the entirety of college football. (West Virginia still utilizes a variation of it, there are elements of it in Louisiana-Lafayette’s “fire drill” attack, and a handful include a version in their overall packages, but no others use it as the base offense anymore.) Why, even longtime ground gobblers Nebraska and Rice have adopted nouveau “spreads” as their preferred modes of attack. But, like Nick at Nite reruns, the Mids remain an option throwback, and look a good bet to win their fourth NCAA rushing crown in five years this fall because of it. It’s a credit to clever HC Paul Johnson (left), who seems in no hurry to leave the academy. Why should he? After all, the admirals and superintendents at Annapolis take care of Johnson (whose contract reportedly exceeds $1 mill per year, or 2½ times that of President Bush) as if he were one of the Navy’s prized Polaris submarines.

The fly in the ointment for this year’s Midshipmen could be their defense, which has been of the bend-but-don’t-break variety at its best in recent years, and a liability at its worst. And shrewd, longtime d.c. Buddy Green might have to be at his scheming best this fall with only three starters returning from LY’s undersized but scrappy platoon. Of particular concern is replacing everyone (first and second teamers) from a dogged DL that was tough enough to prevent bigger foes from utilizing smashmouth tactics a year ago. A key could be big (by Navy standards) 285-lb. soph NG Nate Frazier, who made the travel squad as a plebe and is considered the most-athletic lineman in recent years at Annapolis. Replacing tackling-machine LBs Rob Caldwell and Tyler Tidwell is a concern, but returnees Clint Sovie and Irv Spencer are back at ILB spots in Green’s 3-4, and new OLB Matt Humiston (an ex-DB) adds athleticism to the edge. Green also figures to do a lot of rotating in a smallish 2ndary. ::img2465::Of course, the best “D” is often a ball-control “O,” and with those stop unit concerns, the Mids’ ground (and clock) gobbling option will come in handy this fall. And this might be the most-dynamic of Johnson’s recent creations, with homerun RB threats Reggie Campbell (7.1 ypc LY) & Shun White (below right; 12 ypc in ‘06!) ready to explode at a moment’s notice after rugged

FB Adam Ballard (792 YR LY) softens enemy stop units up the gut. Meanwhile, jr.QB Kaipo-Noa Keheaku-Enhada (left) got his feet wet running the option in ‘06 after starter Brian Hampton went down at midseason. Although Kaipo doesn’t run with Hampton’s power, he’s a sleight-of-hand magician at the tiller. We’ll see if Kaipo can elevate the pass (where Navy ranked last in ‘06) to something more than an occasional diversion, and if WR O.J. Washington, a high school sprint champ, can ever become a useful wideout. Don’t worry about three new starters on the OL, as reloading up front is standard operating procedure in Annapolis.

Summary...Regional sources insist Navy’s recent success isn’t all gimmicks and schemes, and that Johnson has recruited better athletes than past Annapolis regimes. A manageable slate, with the toughest tests well-spaced, translates into 5th straight bowl, and perhaps more pointspread success (32-14 last 46!), this fall.

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