Statistically Speaking, Little to Brag About

Navy enters its game against Notre Dame on Saturday ranked 105th out of 119 division I-A teams in total defense and 114th in scoring defense. And the Midshipmen have not made Notre Dame punt since the fourth quarter of their 2004 meeting, a span of 126 minutes 30 seconds.

"Statistically, we took some better defenses in there than the one we're going with," Navy Coach Paul Johnson said. "I'm sure [Notre Dame] can't wait."

Navy (4-4) has been hurt by several things this season, from a lack of execution and poor tackling to injuries to key players. The defense has used 22 starters. That is tied for the most in a season since Navy began tracking the statistic in 1991. There were four previous seasons when the Midshipmen used 20 or more; in those years they went 2-10, 0-10, 1-10 and 3-8.

"I'm surprised we haven't played better" on defense, Johnson said. "But I think part of it is we've had some injuries, and part of it is the confidence factor has not been there. . . . And we've had way too many guys play. You're not going to get better if you keep rotating all the time."

Defensive coordinator Buddy Green said the defense has started games poorly and has not built much-needed momentum, or confidence.

"The last two or three ballgames, we have not had those big [defensive] plays happen early," Green said. "You feed on those things."

The Fighting Irish (1-7) are ranked No. 119 in rushing offense and total offense. One mitigating factor is that they have played No. 2 Boston College, No. 13 Southern California and No. 15 Michigan.

Overall, Navy has not beaten Notre Dame since 1963, a span of 43 games.

Dragging a Bit

Junior Anthony Gaskins, a starting guard, received a rather unusual present after graduating from high school. Gaskins and his family are fervent drag racing fans; he said he began going to the track when he was 3 years old.

After his graduation from St. Peter's Prep in Jersey City, his great grandfather and mother sent him to Frank Hawley's Drag Racing Camp in Gainesville, Fla.

He earned his license to drive Super Comp Dragsters at the camp after he drove six rounds; his fastest time came when he drove 8.53 seconds at 163 mph.

"It's still a dream of mine to drive a [drag racing] car," Gaskins said. "I'm big into it. I watch it on TV, I go on the NHRA Web site every day. Some of [his teammates] make jokes, you wouldn't think a guy coming from North Jersey would be into it."

Gaskins is considered a little small for an offensive lineman -- he is 6 feet 1, 281 pounds. Yet that is considered big for a drag racer. "It was a little bit of a tight squeeze" getting into the car, he said. "But I made it."

Injury Updates

Junior cornerback Rashawn King (arm) will not know until today whether he will play against Notre Dame. Junior tackle Andrew McGinn (foot) is probable.