Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1039349
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com OCT. 29, 2018 39 In 2015, Navy joined the American Athletic Conference and was 7-1 in the league the first two seasons there. In the 11 years from 2003-13, the Midshipmen also won the Com- mander-in-Chief 's Trophy nine times in their round-robin competi- tion with Army and Air Force. Navy defeated Army 13 straight years from 2003-15, and it was 10-3 versus Air Force over that same span. However, some cracks in the Mid- shipmen football armor have shown more since joining the AAC. It went only 4-4 in the league last season en route to its 7-6 overall mark, and the 1-1 start this year included a loss to SMU. What's more, Army has now won two straight over the Midshipmen, while Air Force has won three of the last five. Maybe it's just the law of averages catching up, but one theory is that by joining the AAC, opponents now see Navy on a yearly basis and are more prepared to handle the option. Nevertheless, even last year the Midshipmen demonstrated they will give no quarter to anyone. They took Notre Dame down to the final minute, fell only 31-21 to a Central Florida unit that finished unbeaten and staked a claim to their own "national title," and lost a 14-13 heartbreaker to Army. A lot of that frustration was rinsed away with a 49-7 slaughter of Vir- ginia in the Military Bowl while rushing for 452 yards. Notre Dame knows the drill by now with Navy. How many "starters" the brigade returns is relatively imperti- nent because this is a system that is truly greater than the sum of its parts. A reflection of the danger the Navy quar- terback position poses is with starter Malcolm Perry and Zach Abey, who basically has been the third option. Perry played the slot much of 2017, but shined at QB when Abey was injured. Perry ran for 1,182 yards and an average of 8.6 yards per carry, while Abey amassed 1,413 yards on the ground with 19 touchdowns. Through the first five games this year, Abey led the team in touch- downs with seven, while playing in short-yardage and goal-line packages. BYE THE WAY Notre Dame's bye Oct. 20 comes the week before facing Navy. That might at least provide a little more time to prepare for the "keep away" style that puts pressure on Notre Dame to score on every series it possesses the ball, even though any coach in the country will tell you there is no way to simulate it in practice compared to the real thing against a program that runs it daily and with aplomb. Notre Dame, though, has thrived under head coach Brian Kelly in games following a regular season bye, recording a 9-1 mark that was highlighted by a 49-14 demolition of USC last season. Even when the Irish were reeling during the 4-8 campaign in 2016, they responded well after the bye with a 30-27 victory over a Miami team that would then win its final five games. Notre Dame has won eight straight after a bye, with the most recent defeat coming in 2011 versus USC (31-17). ✦ GAME PREVIEW: NAVY Predictions Corey Bodden: Notre Dame 38, Navy 10 This Navy team isn't as good as others in recent years. It will really need to work on getting long and sustained drives to keep the scoring down and try to pull off the upset. Bryan Driskell: Notre Dame 41, Navy 17 Navy has taken a step back on defense in recent seasons, and the Fighting Irish will take advantage in a much-needed blowout victory in this series. David McKinney: Notre Dame 37, Navy 20 With their time of possession modus ope- randi, Navy will be able to limit Notre Dame's scoring opportunities, but not enough for it to matter in the big picture. Lou Somogyi: Notre Dame 42, Navy 21 Barring a rash of turnovers, even if Notre Dame has only seven possessions again like last year, the offense could move at will enough to tally six touchdowns. Head coach Ken Niumatalolo (left) — with Brian Kelly before last year's matchup with the Irish — and the Midshipmen finished just 7-6 in 2017, marking only the second time since 2003 they had more than five losses. PHOTO COURTESY NAVY