2013 Navy Spring Football Analysis

Navy Midshipmen 2013 ... Head Coach: Ken Niumatalolo

Navy Midshipmen

2013 Schedule
8/31 OPEN DATE
9/7 at Indiana
9/14 Delaware
9/21 OPEN DATE
9/28 at WKU
10/5 Air Force
10/12 at Duke
10/19 at Toledo
10/26 Pitt
11/2 at Notre Dame
11/9 Hawaii
11/16 South Alabama
11/23 at San Jose St
11/30 OPEN DATE
12/7 OPEN DATE
12/14 Army (in Phil.)

Why To Be Excited After getting back on track last season with an eight-win season and a bowl appearance, now it’s time to start doing more with a defense that welcomes back seven starters and an offense that has one of its most exciting quarterbacks in the Ken Niumatalolo era. Keenan Reynolds showed a few glimpses of what he could do as a freshman, and now the attack is all his to run with Noah Copeland a good fullback to rely on and three starters back up front. The defense might not have been a rock against the run, but two starters are back on the front three and three starters return to a secondary that allowed just 215 yards per game.

Why To Be Grouchy Arizona State 62, Navy 28. The season ended with a crashing thud as the Sun Devils did whatever they wanted against the Midshipmen. Coming up with stops against the better offenses was a problem, and while the schedule might not be loaded with high-octane attacks, having to deal with Indiana, Duke, Pitt and Notre Dame on the road could be a problem unless the offense does a better job of hanging on to the ball to keep the D off the field. Linebacker Matt Warrick and leading pass rushers Keegan Wetzel and Wes Henderson are gone, which is a major problem because …

What Needs Working On Pass rush. Getting behind the line is always a problem for the Midshipmen, and last season it was a particular issue with inconsistent play behind the line and a totally absent pass rush in some key moments – check the tape of the ASU game to know how much the lack of a disruptive force hurt. Offensively, the running game might have been solid and it might have put up nice stats, but it has to be even more effective. When the offense hummed – like it did against East Carolina and Texas State – the results were generally positive, but there wasn’t enough quite the normal pass efficiency wasn’t there to take advantage of defenses who sold out against the run.

Team Concerns For 2013: Will there ever be a pass rush? It's part of the function of the Navy defense to not send players into the backfield on a regular basis, but there has to be more pressure on a regular basis after finishing 100th in the nation in sacks and 114th in tackles for loss. The running game, for being Navy, has to be even better. It sputtered and struggled against Army and San Jose State, and while it had some dominant games, it has to be more consistent. It would be nice if the placekicking improved after Nick Sloan hit just one of his final four attempts.

The 2013 Class Is Heavy On ... The offensive backfield. Navy is coming in with a huge class of players with a surprising number of receivers to play around with - several will become defensive backs or running backs - and with Sean Spence leading a solid group of defensive linemen. There's actual size among the defensive tackles, especially with 310-pound Patrick Forrestal and 280-pound Dylan Fischer, and linebacker Colton Jumper will eventually be the team's leading tackler. However, it's Navy, so the emphasis will always be on the backfield. Dishan Romine is the only running back of note, but there are plenty of options coming in. Travis Marshall is the best of the quarterback lot that'll be developed for three years from now.

2012 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 99. That Class Was Heavy On ... More running backs. If you’re going to run an offense like Navy’s options at running back are must. Speed is coming in with to fit the Midshipman type of smallish scooters, but there isn’t a thumper of a fullback to rely on. The linebacking corps is getting some help, but a few years in the weight room will be a must to beef up the safety-sized prospects.