In 2007, Paul Johnson's Navy team once again leads the NCAA in rushing yards with an average of 343 yards per game. This is on par with what Navy has done since Johnson took over the program in 2002:
2002 (2-10) 3rd nation rushing 271 YPG
2003 (8-5) 1st nation rushing 323 YPG
2004 (10-2) 3rd nation rushing 290 YPG
2005 (8-4) 1st nation rushing 318 YPG
2006 (9-4) 1st nation rushing 327 YPG
Navy has also rushed the ball extremely well against the four best teams on their schedule:
Rutgers
254 yards
Pitt
331 yards
Wake Forest
328 yards
Air Force
302 yards
The Midshipmen are more of a "run by committee" team with no player averaging more than 84 yards per game. And they're doing it with players with the talent of Nebraska's walk-ons. Imagine Zac Lee running the offense, handing off to a committee of RBs like Quentin Castille, Marlon Lucky, Roy Helu, Kenny Wilson, Collins Okafor, Marcus Mendoza etc. And running behind a line that doesn't average about 6'1 and 270 lbs like Navy's does.
There's no guarantee that Johnson would run the same style of offense he does at Navy because he is a coach that will adapt his schemes to the type of players on his roster. However, being able to run the ball at a cold weather (and windy) school like Nebraska is essential.
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8 comments:
Would he lose to I-AA schools with us too?
Well gee dummy, what an intelligent statement. After all, no D-1AA teams could ever beat a D-1 school, right? I mean, Dan Hawkins at CU? Lloyd Carr at Michigan? Gene Chizik at Iowa State? And you fault Navy for losing to a team that could win the 1-AA championship this year? Delaware is a 1-AA power with a multitude of D-1 transfers, including their QB who transferred from Pitt. The athletic difference between the Delaware defense and the Navy defense is night and day. Navy's defense is not only D-2 caliber with their athletes, they're missing their top 3 players to injury.
Lloyd Carr is a dead man walking. Hawkins and Chizik lost to I-AA teams in the infancy of massive rebuilding efforts. We already knew their teams stunk, that's why their predecessors were canned. This is Johnson's what, 6th year at Navy? He should be past the rebuilding mode. Losing to Delaware at this point should be unacceptable.
I don't understand what the fascination with this guy is. Sure he runs the option, but it's nothing like what we used to run. I am less concerned with what our offense looks like than I am restoring some semblance of pride in the Blackshirts again. The defense is the biggest Callahan casualty, far more than the offense IMO. I don't think that someone who gives up almost 60 to I-AA Delaware is the guy to fix it.
That you would say Navy should be past a "rebuilding" mode just shows that you don't have a clue as to what Navy football is really about. Navy rebuilds every season. Every season at Navy is a massive rebuilding effort. Navy doesn't have a player on their roster that could crack the two deep at Iowa State or CU. Period.
Navy has given up more points through 8 games this year than they did in 13 last year. This is way above and beyond the usual gap-plugging to replace guys who graduate. This is borderline negligence on the defensive side of the ball.
Borderline negligence? Please explain. If you follow Navy football at all, you'll know that PJ has stated his concern for the defense as far back as spring practice. You can't make chicken salad out of chicken shit. And I do apologize for saying Navy has the players for a D-II defense. After talking to a friend, he says they're more like Division III talent.
PJ will not be brought to Nebraska to run a defense. He will search the country for the best possible DC to lead the Nebraska team back. Whether that's Marvin Sanders, Sean McDermott, John Tenuta etc. Johnson will be brought here for his leadership, experience, proven ability as a head coach and offensive wizardry.
If they have Division III talent, whose fault is that?
I don't want a glorified offensive coordinator. Our defense is what is killing our team.
Ever tried to recruit football players to the Naval Academy? Its harder than recruiting to Nebraska...much harder. If you fail to understand why they have Division 3 talent, maybe you should do some research?
This is a quote from PJ regarding recruiting:
"Recruiting has always been hard at the academies and it is always going to be that way. We try and sell the experience and the education value you get for a lifetime. You can't change the academics or the commitment required. And there are certain kids who don't want to have anything to do with it. We just try and sell the positives about the program."
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