Sudderth, Mids Show Flexibility
Greg Sudderth, above as a safety in 2005, says it has been easy to make the move to wide receiver because "It's not a lot different from playing defensive back, except I can use my hands."
(Toni L. Sandys - The Post)
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Friday, August 31, 2007
Greg Sudderth's move to wide receiver from defensive back was easier at Navy than it would have been at other schools.
The Midshipmen have led the nation in rushing in three of the past five years entering their season opener against Temple tonight at 7:30 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
The flip side to a successful rushing attack is a stronger emphasis on blocking from the wide receivers. Despite having played defensive back for 2 1/2 years, Sudderth said he was not that far behind the other wide receivers when he moved last October.
"I'm a receiver but I still have a defensive mentality," Sudderth said. "It's not a lot different from playing defensive back, except I can use my hands."
Whether the Midshipmen throw the ball more this year likely depends on how the opposing defense is aligned.
History, however, indicates it would be unlikely for the Midshipmen to suddenly take to the air. Dating from Coach Paul Johnson's first season in 2002, the Midshipmen are 1-5 in games in which they threw 20 or more passes. (The victory came against Virginia Military Institute in 2003; Navy completed 11 of 23 passes in a 37-10 win.) By way of comparison, they are 10-2 when throwing six times or less.
However, junior Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada is the first starting quarterback the Midshipmen have had back since 2003.
And his performance in the Meineke Car Care Bowl against Boston College last year does leave open the possibility that the passing attack will be more productive.
Kaheaku-Enhada completed 4 of 6 passes for 77 yards and two touchdowns in a 25-24 loss to the Eagles.
The wide receivers rotate frequently in Johnson's offense. Tyree Barnes, a 6-foot-2, 188-pound junior, has four touchdowns among his 12 career catches, including one in the bowl game.
O.J. Washington, a 5-10, 188-pound senior, is considered the best blocker. Curtis Sharp, a 6-4, 239-pound junior, is the most physical.
Sudderth, a 6-2, 207-pound senior, is pigeon-toed, and he has found a way to use it to his advantage.
