Mids making progress
Middies learning their new systems on offense, defense
Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo is encouraged by the strides his Midshipmen are making installing offensive and defensive plans
Navy football completed its first full week of August training camp on Saturday morning with a spirited practice at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium before a large contingent of season ticket holders that were invited to a barbecue luncheon.
In between practice and the barbecue, the Midshipmen were treated to an inspirational speech from the new Naval Academy superintendent. Vice Admiral Sean Buck strode into the locker room wearing fatigues, and by all accounts got the entire team fired up with his comments.
“I’m really excited about our new superintendent, a very passionate man who loves the academy and loves sports,” Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo said. “We were honored to have the supe speak to the team and he was awesome.”
Navy practiced Monday through Saturday this week, moving into full pads on Wednesday. Niumatalolo is pleased with the progress the team has made in advance of the Aug. 31 season opener against Holy Cross.
“To this point, I’m very encouraged . ... From what I’ve seen so far I’m very encouraged by what we’re doing both offensively and defensively. There are a lot of signs that make me feel encouraged,” Niumatalolo said Saturday.
Navy is ahead of schedule in terms of installing the offensive and defensive systems, the 12th-year head coach said. The Mids are adding elements of a run-and-shoot passing game to go along with their triple-option rushing attack.
“We’re putting in more stuff to go along with our base package and the players are picking it up well,” Niumatalolo said.
Meanwhile, first-year defensive coordinator Brian Newberry was pleasantly surprised by how much of the new system he installed during spring camp has carried over to August drills. Newberry figured there would be a period of review, and that has not been the case.
“The great thing is the retention from the spring was unbelievable. Our players really put a lot into their offseason preparation,” Newberry said. “They watched film, did seven-on-seven sessions, did individual fundamental periods together. They improved over the summer without the coaches, which was really encouraging.”
Coming off a disappointing 3-10 campaign that took everyone involved with Navy football by surprise, Niumatalolo has spent considerable time preaching the intangibles. Teamwork and chemistry were critical factors in Navy posting winning records in 14 of 15 seasons, but Niumatalolo thought both were lacking in 2018.
“I really like where we are culturally. Our guys have been very no-nonsense, just keeping their mouths shut and grinding away,” he said.
Navy emerged from the first full week of camp without any major injuries, just the normal bumps and bruises that arise. Niumatalolo immediately said “knock on wood” when talking about that topic.
Offensive coordinator Ivin Jasper has spoken positively about the development of Malcolm Perry, who has taken charge of the huddle and is playing with great confidence. Perry has developed a solid understanding of the option system and seems comfortable with the run-andshoot passing schemes, Jasper said.
Jasper admitted on Saturday morning that Navy has a long way to go before identifying a backup quarterback. Junior Dalen Morris was given every opportunity to win the job during spring practice, but did not do so. Sophomore Tyger Goslin has closed the gap on Morris while freshmen Perry Olsen and Massai Maynor are also in the mix.
Olsen (6-foot-2, 210 pounds) is a graduate of Yukon High in the Oklahoma town of the same name and a product of the Naval Academy Prep School. Maynor (6-0, 180) is a direct-entry recruit from St. Peter’s Prep in New Jersey.
“It’s kind of a tossup right now. No one is making good decisions,” Jasper said of the backup quarterback candidates. “They’re not doing what it takes to win games so we can’t really trust any of them right now. They’re all a work in progress.”
Navy emerged from spring camp with a starting offensive line consisting of left tackle Kendel Wright, left guard David Forney, center Ford Higgins, right guard Peter Nestrowitz and right tackle Billy Honaker.
That unit remains intact at this point, although Forney has been sitting out with an injury and replaced at left guard by T.J. Salu.
Jasper feels good about the slotback corps led by projected starters CJ Williams and Tazh Maloy along with backups Keoni-Kordell Makekau and Myles Fells. Maloy is a senior while the other three are all juniors.
“We have a group of solid veterans at slotback,” Jasper said.