Perry stays at slotback, Lewis at QB and Abey in hybrid role
Navy football’s musical chairs offense is starting to sort itself out and coach Ken Niumatalolo is hopeful that will lead to improved consistency.
Niumatalolo said after practice on Tuesday that Malcolm Perry is going to remain at slotback for the foreseeable future and that Zach Abey is going to resume his hybrid role as a starting wide receiver and shortyardage/goal-line quarterback.
Garret Lewis is expected to make his third straight at quarterback on Saturday night against Notre Dame. Additionally, starting slotback CJ Williams is expected to play after missing the last two games with an upper body injury.
“CJ is back so we feel good about that,” Niumatalolo said.
Perry opened the season as the starting quarterback and through five games he was focal point of the offense. The 5-foot-9, 185-pound speedster switched to slot for Game 6 against Temple, due largely to the fact Navy was short-handed at the position with Williams and top backup KeoniKordell Makekau out with injuries.
Perry started at slotback for the second straight game versus Houston and rushed for 97 yards on 10 carries before suffering a leg injury on the first play of the third quarter. Makekau returned to action last Saturday and Williams should return this Saturday, but Perry will continue to play slot.
“It depends on how things go, but for right now he is going to stay there,” said Niumatalolo, who was encouraged by Perry’s progress health-wise. “From what I saw today, he’ll probably be able to go.”
Perry said after practice on Tuesday that his transition to slotback is going well. The Tennessee native started10 games at slot last season so it was just a matter of reacclimating.
“I’m knocking a little of the rust off and getting back used to moving around side-toside. It’s been fun,” he said.
Perry has been adjusting to coming into tail motion and taking a pitch as opposed to taking the snap and running the ball himself.
“It is a lot different as far as how you’re running the ball. You’re not in-between the tackles as much, not running into linebackers as much,” Perry said. “At slot it’s more about hitting the edge, getting outside and using your speed a little more and moving laterally a lot more.”
Abey did not play a single snap at wide receiver last Saturday, which was a bit surprising considering he had started five of six games there this season. That may have been due to the fact Abey spent most of the previous week practicing at quarterback as the coaching staff was considering whether to start him or Lewis.
Abey did enter the Houston contest twice at quarterback. The Pasadena resident had a fourth-and-short play nullified by a penalty and Navy wound up punting. The 6-foot-2, 212-pound senior scored a touchdown from 1-yard out on a goal-line situation.
Lewis appears to have solidified his status as the starter because Abey was back practicing at wide receiver on Tuesday. The Archbishop Spalding product did take some repetitions at quarterback in order to stay sharp for his specialty role. Navy quarterback Garret Lewis hands off to Malcolm Perry, left, in the second quarter against Houston. Perry, who started the season at quarterback, will remain at slotback.
“Zach is going to play this week and it might be a combination like what he’s done in the past – play wide-out and quarterback,” Niumatalolo said. “I think he’s getting back closer to 100 percent. He feels really good this week and practiced really well today.”
Speaking to the media moments later, Abey confirmed the knee injury he sustained against SMU is healing thanks to his diligence in the training room.
“I’ve been running around in practice and it feels pretty good. I’m not having any issues so far so that’s good,” said Abey, who is no longer wearing a bulky knee brace.
Abey was asked about having to flip-flop between wide receiver and quarterback. Based off what happened last week, there were some who assumed he would be returning full-time to quarterback.
“It’s not any different than what we have been doing. I talk with Coach Jasper to make sure I’m up on whatever quarterback stuff I need to know for the game and I’m playing receiver in practice. There’s nothing really different about it,” Abey said. “Everything we do at quarterback is the same as last season so just getting refreshed is like riding a bike.”
With Abey and Perry practicing at wide receiver and slotback it means Dalen Morris is getting the backup repetitions at quarterback. The 6-foot-1, 204-pound sophomore was running the second team huddle on Tuesday.
“Ivin is giving Dalen more reps,” said Niumatalolo, who was non-committal when asked who would play quarterback against Notre Dame if Lewis had to leave the game.
With Lewis set to make his third straight start at quarterback and Perry expected to do the same at slotback, Niumatalolo is hopeful the Midshipmen can find some continuity. Factor in the return of Williams, who was the team’s top slotback through five games, and perhaps that goal will be realized.