STILL DEVELOPING A BACKUP PLAN
Freshman Olsen No. 2 on ever-evolving QB depth chart for now
With the season opener against Holy Cross looming, Navy does not have a clear-cut backup quarterback in place.
Four candidates were given ample opportunity to seize the job during August training camp and none did. Offensive coordinator Ivin Jasper, who personally tutors the quarterbacks, now has one week to make a decision.
“It’s a work in progress and no one is ready yet,” Jasper declared this week. “It’s all about decision-making and not going out and losing a game. Right now, they’re not doing that. They’re turning the football over and not making great decisions.”
Junior Dalen Morris emerged from spring practice as the backup behind Malcolm Perry. Things have changed dramatically this month and Morris is not even listed on the updated depth chart that was released on Monday.
Freshman Perry Olsen is now No. 2, slightly ahead of sophomore Tyger Goslin. Both Jasper and head coach Ken Niumatalolo said Morris is still very much in the mix. Navy runs two offensive huddles during practice with the starter and backup receiving most of the repetitions.
“It’s still a battle, but we feel we need to give Perry a majority of the reps. It’s hard to split reps between three quarterbacks,” Niumatalolo explained. “It’s still very close, but we just feel we’re going to invest in Perry and see how he does.”
In other words, Morris and Goslin both got their chance to direct the second huddle and did not distinguish themselves. Now Olsen is getting a shot to show he can take charge.
“Dalen has been struggling decision making-wise so we put Tyger in there and he struggled, too. We’re working with Perry Olsen as the backup right now, but he’s not lighting it up either,” Jasper said after practice on Tuesday.
“All three of those guys can play. Again, the main thing is their decision-making and not losing a game for us. It’s a process we’re going through and they are all coming along,” Jasper added.
In an ideal world, Perry will play all 12 games and take every meaningful offensive snap. However, starting quarterbacks have rarely gone the distance since Navy installed the triple-option offense in 2002.
Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhanda and Ricky Dobbs were among the multi-year starters that missed games due to injuries. Even record-setting Keenan Reynolds, who was pretty much a four-year starter, sat out a couple contests to nurse minor ailments.
Tago Smith, understudy for Reynolds from 2013 through 2015, suffered a season
Season opener ending knee injury in the 2016 opener against Fordham. Brian Hampton suffered a similar fate midway through the 2006 campaign.
Morris, who is by far the biggest and strongest of the bunch, played in a pro-style offense at Madison County High in Alabama and still seems most comfortable as a pocket passer. The 6-foot-1, 204-pounder possesses a strong, accurate arm and an ability to throw deep.
Ball-handling and decision-making in the option game have been issues for Morris, who has also struggled with executing Navy’s new run-and-shoot offense that requires making reads.
Goslin is a product of Moorpark High in the California town of the same name and spent a year at the Naval Academy Prep School, where he was introduced to the triple-option.
“NAPS definitely prepares you for a lot of things, one being how to run the triple,” said Goslin, who was coached by his father at Westlake and Chatsworth high schools before transferring to Moorpark.
Goslin was initially named Ty at birth, but his grandfather immediately noted how aggressive the infant was and started calling him Tiger. John and Stacey Goslin merged the two and Tyger is actually the name on the official birth certificate.
“Probably my biggest attribute is getting along with everyone on the team,” Goslin said.
Olsen operated at a triple-option offense as a senior at Yukon High, where he was an All-State selection and also started at linebacker. Olsen, who was a three-year varsity performer at Southmoore High before transferring, also attended the Naval Academy Prep School.
While Olson may be listed as the backup this week, he knows that’s a tenuous position subject to change based off weekly — even daily — practice performance.
“I would definitely agree with Coach Jasper on that. I don’t think anybody has taken hold of the position. We’ve all kind of had a chance to take it over,” Olsen said.