For Mids and Knights, Game Began Months Ago
Zerbin Singleton and Navy were overwhelmed by Rutgers last season. Navy has shuffled its offensive line in part as a result of the 34-0 loss.
(By Gail Burton -- Associated Press)
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Friday, September 7, 2007
Rutgers began working on Navy's option-based offense in its preseason camp. The Midshipmen moved senior Antron Harper to center from guard last spring partly with opponents like Rutgers in mind.
The machinations between the Midshipmen (1-0) and the 15th-ranked Scarlet Knights (1-0) began well before tonight's game at Rutgers Stadium.
Rutgers Coach Greg Schiano, a former assistant with Penn State, Miami (Fla.) and the Chicago Bears, is considered a defensive mastermind, and his team allowed 14.3 points per game last year, its fewest since 1980.
Meantime, Navy's offense has led the nation in rushing in three of the past five years. The Midshipmen gained 361 yards rushing in a 30-19 victory over Temple last week. Coach Paul Johnson calls plays without using notes or a script.
"I'm thankful there aren't more on our schedule that do it," Schiano said of facing option teams. "I love the challenge and it is a special week for a defensive coach because it's something different and you get your juices going, but I'd just as soon rather not have to deal with it."
Johnson said Harper was moved to center because his strength and low center of gravity -- he is 5 feet 11, 272 pounds -- make it hard for defensive tackles to push him into the quarterback.
The Scarlet Knights did that quite often in a 34-0 victory over Navy last year; they finished with 11 tackles for a loss and seven sacks.
The key matchup tonight features Harper and guards Ben Gabbard (6-4, 297) and Anthony Gaskins (6-1, 281) against defensive tackles Eric Foster (6-2, 265) and Vantrise Studivant (6-3, 270), who replaces Pete Tverdov, who has a sprained ankle. Like most option teams, Navy's priority is to establish its fullback up the middle. Doing so commits defenders to the middle and possibly opens up the outside running lanes.
Against the Scarlet Knights, it is easier said than done.
Foster is a candidate for the Nagurski (top defensive player), Outland (top interior lineman) and Lott (impact defensive player) awards.
Studivant chose Rutgers over Georgia Tech and Ole Miss in 2005 and was recruited as a tight end-defensive end. He once played in a 2005 Florida all-star game with Navy junior slotback Greg Shinego.
"They're good at relieving pressure by taking on blocks," Harper said of the Rutgers tackles. "They're very good going side-to-side, moving laterally. And it's speed. They get 11 guys to the ball. . . . Nothing goes inside if [the tackles] aren't blocked."
