Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/80354
GAME PREVIEW: NAVY by a combined 11 points, missing out on a bowl game for the first time since 2002. The Midshipmen, who finished 5-7 overall in 2011 (Niu- matalolo's first losing season), will attempt to get back on a winning course with 11 returning starters (six on defense and five on offense). At least that was the plan at the T BY WES MORGAN he United States Naval Acad- emy football team and fifth- year head coach Ken Niumat- alolo lost five games last season SEAWORTHY? Unknown product to leave the Navy shipyard start of fall camp. Like any program, Navy has suffered its share of Au- gust injuries, but a rare lack of focus forced the Mids to take a step back before moving forward with the 2012 season. On the first day of practice, Niu- matalolo announced that junior cor- nerback Albrey Felder, sophomore outside linebacker Josh Tate and se- nior wide receiver Josh Turner had failed their physical readiness tests and were suspended from practice until classes resumed on Aug. 20. They were to be allowed to retake the tests then. "With those losses it's kind of a mixed bag," said Patrick Stevens, a Navy beat writer for the Washington Times. "You look at a guy like Bran- don Turner, a guy who has started 14 games at wideout for them, and has made himself into a pretty good blocker. You combine that with the fact that they just lost [junior] Matt Aiken to a knee injury — not quite certain how severe that is — and sud- denly they're a little down on wide- outs at this stage. If they had to play today, they would have gone with [junior] Casey Bolena, who had one start last season, and [junior] Shawn Lynch, who came to the Academy as a receiver, switched to safety and started five games last year, and then switched back to receiver." Tate was apparently a guy the Navy coaching staff was high on, but has since been passed by sophomore Chris Johnson on the depth chart. Felder was projected to be a backup at corner and it's a position lacking depth. "It's uncertain when any of those 74 PRESEASON 2012 Quarterback Trey Miller played in seven games as a sophomore last year, including his first career start at Notre Dame, and finished the season 12-of-29 passing for 205 yards with three touchdowns to go along with 49 carries for 150 yards. guys will make a difference, if and when they get back," Stevens added. "They'll have about a week and a starters at quarterback and full- back. Junior QB Trey Miller (6-0, 199 pounds) has filled Kriss Proc- tor's void and is expected to be more of a passing threat leading a run-dominated triple-option attack. Sophomore Noah Copeland (5-10, 215) takes over for Alexander Teich, who rushed for 2,122 yards and nine scores over three seasons. half to figure things out before they head out to Ireland to play Notre Dame [Sept. 1]." Navy has to replace last year's last fall, and his only start was in a 56-14 loss at Notre Dame on Oct. 29. He completed 5 of 13 passes for 33 yards, including a nine-yard TD pass, and he carried the ball 19 times for a career-high 55 yards against the Irish. "I think Miller is settling in okay," Miller appeared in seven contests Stevens said. "I wouldn't sit here and say he's a guy that's been out- standing. He has struggled at times in scrimmage. At the same time, you look behind him and you've got a sophomore No. 2 guy [Greg BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED PHOTO COURTESY NAVY