Short Wide Receivers Stand Tall for Navy

One of the jokes of the Navy football team's preseason camp is whether freshman slotback Andre Byrd, who is 5 feet 7, 165 pounds, is taller than senior Reggie Campbell, a starting slotback and team captain. (Byrd is a half-inch taller; Campbell is three pounds heavier.)

Once the team's first preseason scrimmage started yesterday morning at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, the comparisons between Byrd and Campbell became even more pointed. The two provided most of the big plays in the nearly two-hour, 145-play scrimmage.

Campbell rushed for 42 yards on five carries, including a 24-yard run on a toss sweep against the first-team defense.

Byrd had a nine-yard touchdown run against the second-team defense. He also caught a 24-yard pass from junior Jarod Bryant -- a play on which Byrd gained at least five extra yards after spinning to evade a defender. And he had a 20-yard touchdown run called back for holding.

Navy Coach Paul Johnson said Byrd "looked a little like Reggie" during the scrimmage, though he also put the performance in context.

"He's with the threes going against the threes," Johnson said, referring to the third-team offense and defense. "But we think he's going to be a really good player."

The scrimmage pitted the first-team offense against the first-team defense, the No. 2 offense against the No. 2 defense, etc. The offense scored four touchdowns and kicked two field goals. The defense had five sacks, a fumble recovery and an interception by sophomore Blake Carter.

Junior quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada led the No. 1 offense to a touchdown and two field goals in four possessions. Junior fullback Eric Kettani had a game-high 75 yards rushing on 21 carries against the Nos. 1 and 2 defenses. Freshman quarterback Ricky Dobbs, playing mostly against the No. 2 or No. 3 defense, rushed for 63 yards and a touchdown. On one play, he ran over a defender; on another, he gained 22 yards on an option keeper.

Navy's wide receivers, meantime, dropped at least five passes and spent much of the scrimmage blocking on the offensive line as part of the "heavy" formation.

All of the nearly 150 players in uniform took part. Six expected contributors sat out -- senior center Antron Harper (foot injury), junior slotback Shun White (hamstring), junior linebacker Clint Sovie (hand), sophomore defensive back Jesse Iwuji (hamstring), junior defensive back Ketric Buffin (concussion) and junior cornerback Rashawn King (shoulder).

However, only King is listed as questionable for the opener against Temple on Aug. 31.

Johnson said he used the scrimmage mostly to evaluate individuals. Generally, he called a play to one side of the field, then called the same play to the other side.

The coaches graded the film as if it were the Air Force or Army game; players were given marks for such things as technique, correct reads and whether they hustled on every play.

"We got everybody in today, so that was good," Johnson said. "It's a good tape to evaluate."

But Johnson said he did not expect many changes from the preseason depth chart.

On defense, sophomore lineman Nate Frazier had 10 tackles and a forced fumble and sophomore linebacker Matt Nechak had nine tackles. Freshman defensive back Wyatt Middleton had nine tackles; he played mostly with the No. 2 defense.

"We had some guys with the 'B' group step up and possibly show they should be fighting for a spot with the 'A' group," defensive coordinator Buddy Green said. "We wanted to go 14 or 16 plays, or 10- 12 plays, and see which guys were still running to the ball."