Time to turn to Arline at QB
Struggling Midshipmen offense might as well turn to freshman quarterback to see what’s there
I’ve given up on seeing Navy properly execute the read tripleoption in 2020. Eight games into the season, one must conclude that what we have seen so far is what we’ll continue to get.
The Midshipmen were just as dysfunctional during Saturday’s 10-7 loss to Memphis as they were throughout a 55-3 blowout byBYUin the season opener.
Navy’s offensive coaching staff had a month to fix the problems plaguing the offense, and to describe the results as disappointing would be a massive understatement.
The Midshipmen’s offensive performance in the opener was embarrassing.
Considering that the braintrust consisting of coach Ken Niumatalolo, offensive coordinator Ivin Jasper and running game coordinator Ashley Ingram has been fine-tuning the unit for almost three months since, Saturday’s night showingwas mind-boggling. On the surface, subpar quarterback play has been the primarily culprit. Neither Tyger Goslin norDalenMorris has demonstrated an ability to operate the triple-option as designed.
A quick refresher for what that involves: Dissecting defensive formations pre-snap, making checks at the line of scrimmage, reading certain keys post-snap and distributing the ball accordingly.
Ever since former coach Paul Johnson reinstalled the triple-option in 2002, Navy has found a way to get its starting quarterback to do these things.
I have seen just about every style of signal-caller you could imagine line up under center for the Midshipmen. They all brought certain skills and abilities to the table, but at a fundamental level could run a read tripleoption play to its completion.
That means putting the ball in the fullback’s belly to determine whether it should be a give or keep read. If the latter, the quarterback carries the ball outside and turns
upfield to force a defender to commit. If no one takes the quarterback, he keeps the ball; if someone does, he pitches to the trailing slotback.
Unfortunately, Navy fans have seen very little read triple-option this season.
Morris was a dropback passer in high school and that is clearly what he is most comfortable doing. The 6-foot-1, 206-pound senior is limited as a runner and simply does not possess the speed or quickness necessary to execute the perimeter element of the option.
In limited sample size, Goslin had shown a better grasp of the option in terms of making the reads and running the plays. That must have been the conclusion of the coaching staff after the last few weeks of practice that served as an open competition for the starting job.
I fully expected Goslin to come out and execute read triple-option plays against Memphis on Saturday night. Like the rest of Navy nation, Iwas sorely disappointed. The 5-foot-11, 181-pound junior showed absolutely nothing in that department.
Was the blocking a problem? Absolutely. Despite shaking up the offensive line, the Midshipmen did not win the line of scrimmage nearly often enough against a big, physical front anchored by nose guard O’Bryan Goodson (6-1, 298).
Left guard has been a problem spot all season and Ingram addressed that by shuffling the lineup. After starting 20 straightgamesat right tackle, senior captain Billy Honaker shifted to left guard. He was replaced at right tackle by Kip Frankland, who made his first career start.
Thosemoves did notdomuchtoimprove the ground game as Navy amassed 233 rushing yards, 46 more than its season average.
However, the blocking was adequate enough to open holes for fullback Nelson Smith, who ran for 142 yards on a career-high 29 carries. The 5-foot-9, 213pound senior, whois quietly having a strong season, said afterward he left some yards on the field.
Smith might have missed a hole here or there or failed to see a cutback lane thatwas there, but that seems a case of accepting unnecessary blame. In fact, the fullbacks have borne too much of the burden of carrying the offense through eight games.
With the quarterback keep and slotback pitch elements of the triple-option missing in action, the fullbacks between the tackles — whether with dive, trap or off-tackle plays — has pretty much been all the Mids can muster.
Against Memphis, Goslin and backup quarterback Xavier Arline combined for 11 yards on eight carries. Meanwhile, the slotback corps produced 19 yards on 10 attempts. For the season, Navy’s quarterbacks have 151 yards on 115 runs, while the slots have totaled 404 rushing yards on 75 totes.
For those keeping score at home, the quarterbacks and slotbacks have combined to average 2.9 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Smith and backup fullback Jamale Carothers have combined for 936 rushing yards on 195 carries, an average of almost 5 yards per pop.
That’s not Navy football and is the product of not having an effective perimeter game.
Not having a dangerous running threat at quarterback is the biggest problem, in my humble opinion. Opposing defenses simply do not respect theQBkeeper element of the option and that’s because neither Morris nor Goslin has given them any reason to do so.
If the quarterback cannot get the ball outside with enough speed and precision to force the defense to account for him then the slotback pitch becomes completely ineffective.
Navy’s coaching staff has resorted to direct handoffs and quick pitches to get the ball to the slots. On Saturday night, we saw what was basically a double-option play in which the quarterback faked the handoff to the fullback then immediately pitched to the slotback in motion.
It was a creative way to quickly get the ball to the perimeter and Memphis deserves credit for defending those plays prettywell. As Niumatalolo said during his postgame press conference, the Tigers had the speed to run down the Mids whenever they got the edge.
When asked postgame about the decision to start Goslin, Niumatalolo said itwas a “close race.” Considering itwas Arline, not Morris, that replacedGoslin late in the third quarter, one must presume the plebe was runner-up in the competition.
Indeed, Niumatalolo stated during the week that Arline has come a long way with regard to his overall knowledge and understanding of the offense. The Long Island native was probably not ready for primetime when he started the second game of the season against Tulane but has gotten plenty of practice repetitions to learn and improve.
Arline is the smallest starting quarterback of the triple-option era atNavy, edging out Malcolm Perry (5-9, 190) and Lamar Owens (5-9, 185). However, the 5-foot-9, 165-pound freshman has the type of speed, quickness and elusiveness you want in an option quarterback.
Tothis season observer, itmakes senseon a lot of levels to go with Arline againstTulsa and archrival Army. Most importantly, he provides the perimeter running threatNavy has sorely been lacking this season. Second, the plebe represents the future at the position and game experience would greatly enhance his development.