9/22/2003 - Football
Navy Getting Strong Backing And Wins

By

Pete Medhurst

ANNAPOLIS- Navy's strength in Paul Johnson's first year as head coach was on the offensive side of the football. The defense, well, it needed some work.

Defensive coordinator Buddy Green and his staff have found a formula that has Navy tasting success. It tastes much better than the bitter taste of losing sweat they have tasted over the past few years.

A switch to a 3-4 base defense has allowed Navy to get more athletes on the field on the defensive side of the ball. Now, these athletes have allowed Green and company to give the defense a lot of different things to account for. One set up has linebackers Evan Beard and Jeremy Chase playing up on the line of scrimmage, notably in down-and-distances where passing is the tendency. It has proven to work well. Chase had a pressure on Saturday which resulted in a turnover, one of six the Navy defense caused in a 39-7 rout of visiting Eastern Michigan Saturday.

"It's a lot of fun moving around and doing different things on defense. I think as a defensive player you have to be excited when your in a play where you can make difference, especially rushing the passer, '' Chase said.

"We're working very hard. Our guys have an outstanding attitude about practice and getting better each day and things are going good so far,'' Green said.

Safety Josh Smith had two picks on the day, linebacker Lane Jackson, and Eli Sanders each had one. Jackson says the switch of philosophy has energized guys and led to a more aggressive attitude.

"We're attacking people more confidently now. We're not as passive as we may have been and that allows us to make more plays which we have to do to contribute and get our offense the ball,'' Jackson said.

Navy's linebackers have played well, and it has rubbed off on the others. Navy's defensive front has been much improved with Babatunde Akingbemi playing very well at nose tackle, perhaps the most important position in the the 3-4 alignment. The secondary, besides Smith, has not only shown a pulse but they are hustling to the ball and in more positions to make plays.

"Sometimes the ball just bounces your way. But, we tell our guys that if you play your position and hustle and work hard that ball is going to bounce your way, you just need to be there to make the play and that was what we did today,'' Green said. "We're getting more linebacker types and safety type players on the field, but, it doesn't matter what alignment you use if guys don't give you the effort. Right now, we are getting better each week. Your never satisfied. We could be 3-0,'' Green said.

Paul Johnson always makes it a point to not discuss what happened before his arrival. Rightfully so. He wasn't responsible.

It should be noted though, that while some players remain from the previous staff, the ones Johnson and his staff are responsible for, clearly have a new view of the game. I mean, how long has it been since Navy was angry it wasn't 3-0?

Johnson's willingness to move guys, (remember Chris McCoy?) his ability to adjust in game, and more importantly, his ability to get guys to play harder, with more desperation has the Mids on the way back to more than just respectability. There is not a game remaining on the schedule Navy CAN'T win. Yes I even include Notre Dame as long as they play Carlisle Holiday at quarterback (talk about fitting a square peg into a round hole). The difference now is, they are better prepared to win and more important, believe they can win.

"With the way we can function offensively, like we did in the second half today, we feel anytime we get the ball we can move it. Our defense is now doing a great job of getting us the ball back in great field position and making our jobs that much easier,'' Navy quarterback Craig Candeto said. "It's a great help mentally knowing that your going to get the ball back soon, so you don't get to restless on the sidelines. It helps you maintain focus.''

Navy has Rutgers up next. A winnable game, though on the road. Rutgers has showed some signs of life as well this year, coming in at 2-1, with wins over Buffalo and Army.

"I felt this was the most important game since I've been here,'' Johnson said. "Now Rutgers is the most important game.''

Important indeed. The Mids could be 3-1 for the first time since 1996 when the opened 5-1. We know who was the offensive coordinator on that team and how that season ended up. That mindset is on the fast track back into Annapolis. You might think the Mids are happy to be 2-1, not so. They seek a higher plain.

"It's great to be 2-1. Like coach said, it's better than 1-2, but we can't be satisfied with that. We need to go back in and look at today's film and get better because we feel we can win every game we prepare for when we play well,'' Candeto said.

Its been six years since Navy fans could dream of winning football, but if Paul Johnson does it in year two, he may be even better than any of us who felt he should be the only interview thought he was. No Army fans, he's not available.