Guessing game for Mids preparing for Air Force
Falcons’ starting QB, ‘D’ coordinator unclear
Navy’s coaching staff is in the dark on two significant counts when it comes to preparing for Saturday’s service-academy showdown against Air Force.
In terms of defense, the Midshipmen have no idea which of three quarterbacks will start for the Falcons. On the other side of the ball, offensive coordinator Ivin Jasper cannot be sure who holds the title of defensive coordinator for Air Force.
Air Force issued a depth chart Mondaythat listed Senior Arion Worthman and junior Isaiah Sanders as co-starters. However, sophomore D.J. Hammond played most of the second half during last Saturday’s loss to Nevada and would also appear to be in the mix.
Coach Ken Niumatalolo said during the American Athletic Conference weekly teleconference that Navy will develop a defensive game-plan that accounts for all three.
“You watch all three of them and they’re all good quarterbacks. They can all throw the ball, they’re all strong runners, they’re all big, physical kids,” Niumatalolo said. “I know whoever plays they’ll have him ready.”
Mike Thiessen has held the title of offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Air Force for five years, so that is no Navy defensive coordinator Dale Pehrson will be preparing to face three possible Air Force quarterbacks this Saturday. secret. Thiessen, a two-year starter at quarterback for the Falcons in 1999 and 2000, appears comfortable utilizing the whole playbook regardless of which quarterback lines up under center.
“The one thing I do know is that all three can run their entire offense. So I don’t think Coach Thiessen will be inhibited at all with any of them out there. I think they’re all very similar in terms of skill set,” Niumatalolo said.
Worthman started the season opener Stony Brook and led a 38-0 victory over the Football Championship Subdivision school. Sanders started against Florida Atlantic and Utah State and posted decent passing numbers in those two losses. Worthman regained the starting job for the Nevada game, but was ineffective and lost two fumbles before being replaced by Hammond midway through the third quarter.
Hammonddirected two touchdown drives as Air Force rallied from an 18-point deficit in a 28-23 defeat.
“I was really impressed with that sophomore who came in at the end against Nevada,” Niumatalolo said. “That last Hail Mary pass he threw traveled between 65 and 70 yards. So you know the kid has a cannon. On one of the runs he went up the sideline and the corner was waiting on him. He just kind of ran over the corner and kept going.”
Navy has also used three quarterbacks this season, although it has mostly been situational. Malcolm Perry remains the starter and has been cleared to play after suffering a slight concussion in the loss to SMU.
Perry returned to practice last Thursday and was running the starting offense during practice Monday.
Season-long backup Garret Lewis continued to take the second team snaps as there appears no change in the pecking order. Starting wide receiver Zach Abey, who serves as the short-yardage quarterback for Navy, is still recovering from a lower body injury and remains questionable for Saturday’s game.
Jasper and the rest of the Navy offensive staff is putting together a gameplan without knowing for sure how Air Force will defend the option this season. That was not a problem the previous four meetings as Steve Russ served as Air Force defensive coordinator.
Russ left to become a linebackers coach with the Carolina Panthers and Air Force coach Troy Calhoun has never officially announced a replacement. Defensive line coach Tim Cross, in his fifth season on staff, holds the title of assistant head coach.
Brian Knorr, another former Falcons starting quarterback, is also listed as an assistant head coach and specifically works with the linebackers. Knorr just returned to Colorado Springs for a third stint with Air Force after being away for a decade while coaching at Wake Forest, Indiana, Ohio State and Arizona.
Outside linebackers coach is the longesttenured defensive assistant with12 seasons on Calhoun’s staff. Some have speculated that secondary coach John Rudzinski, in his ninth season at Air Force, is designing the defensive game-plans and calling the signals on game day.
Air Force has traditionally lined up in an odd front against Navy with the nose guard covering the center. Niumatalolo, Jasper and running game coordinator Ashley Ingram can only guess what the Falcons will do this season. Saturday, noon TV: CBS Sports Network Radio: 1090 AM Line: Navy by 31⁄