Quarterback holds key to improvement for Navy
Ken Niumatalolo’s and Ivin Jasper’s biggest question mark for the Navy offense going into the 2020 season surrounded the quarterback position.
Navy’s 13th-year head coach and longtime offensive coordinator were determined to identify a starter during spring practice. They planned a grueling competition that included making the quarterbacks go full contact, a rarity, to determine which could elude defenders or break tackles.
But Navy football was forced to cancel spring camp after the coronavirus pandemic erupted in mid-March, leaving the most critical position in a tripleoption offense wide open.
“Losing spring practice was devastating as far as developing the other quarterbacks,” Niumatalolo told The Capital. “We had planned to tackle quarterbacks last spring because we wanted to see howthey handled live ammunition.”
By the time August training camp rolled around, things had changed dramatically. By then concerns about COVID-19 were significant enough that Niumatalolo elected to conduct noncontact practices.
Jasper, who has coached the quarterbacks since 2002, had to evaluate the candidates based off how they operated the offense without any defensive opposition.
Itwas all downhill from there as the Midshipmen used three different quarterbacks during the season, and none were consistently effective. Navy’s patented triple-option offense deteriorated to the point that it was unrecognizable.
Speaking in-depth about the offensive struggles this season, Niumatalolo and Jasper both pointed to the fact the quarterback was not a running threat as the root of the problem. Opposing defenses keyed on the fullback dive then stretched out option plays to take away the slotback pitch, daring the quarterback to beat them with the keeper.
“We’ve always been a heavy quarterback-oriented offense. Everything we do offensively is based off the quarterback being a running threat. It’s always been quarterback driven,” Niumatalolo said.
Throughout the current triple-option era at Navy, the quarterback position has always accounted for a significant number of rushing yards. From 2002 to 2019, the quarterback has led the team in rushing 12 times and surpassed 1,000 yards on eight occasions.
Malcolm Perry set the Football Bowl Subdivision record for rushing yards by a quarterback (2,017) a year ago. Keenan Reynolds holds the Navy record for career rushing yards (4,559) and the NCAA mark for rushing touchdowns (88). Zach Abey ranks third in program history for single season rushing yards after amassing 1,413 in 2017.
“In this offense, you need a dangerous runner in that position,” said Jasper, noting Navy’s had quarterbacks with vastly different abilities and styles.
“Malcolm was the most dynamic runner we’ve ever had as far as being a breakaway threat. Ricky [Dobbs], Will [Worth] and Zach were power runners who could break tackles and get the tough yards inside. Keenan had power and speed, could run inside and outside. They all got it done in their own way.”
This past season, Navy got 312 rushing yards out of the quarterback position. That figure is astounding considering the previous low during the triple-option era was 942 yards in 2012, the year Reynolds took over as starter midway through the season.
“We didn’t get anywhere near as much production from the quarterback position as season’s past,” Jasper said. “When you can’t establish the quarterback as a threat, it affects the whole offense.”
Arline shows potential
Xavier Arline led the Navy quarterbacks with 210 rushing yards, most of which came in the last two games. The 5-foot-9, 165-pound plebe provided the type of production Navy needs from the quarterback by running for 109 yards against Army.
Arline delivered a reminder of what the Midshipmen had been missing all season by breaking loose in that contest for a 52-yard gain, displaying explosive speed, quickness and cutback ability.
“I’m excited about Xavier. He’s got some characteristics about him that remind me of Keenan, such as his maturity and attention to detail. He’s got some running ability that is similar to Malcolm,” Niumatalolo said. “Obviously, he has a long way to go before he’s like Keenan or Malcolm, but there are some things that remind you of both of them.”
That Arline was not ready to contribute until season’s end was due largely to circumstances caused by coronavirus. Naval Academy leadership didnot allowthe plebes to practice with the football team until aweek before the season opener.
Arline showed enough potential early to earn the starting assignment in the second game against Tulane but did not have a strong enough grasp of the offense at that point.
“It would have made a big difference if we’d had Xavier in August. Instead, he was watching practice from the bleachers,” Niumatalolo said.
Jasper likes the confidence, maturity and swagger of Arline, who must add weight and strength during the offseason while also sharpening his passing ability.
Arline will enter spring camp atop the depth chart, but Niumatalolo emphasized the competition is open. Junior Tyger Goslin gained valuable experience while appearing in four games with two starts, while sophomore Maasai Maynor got into the Air Force game and did some good things.
Jasper is anxious to get a longer look at freshmen Tai Lavatai, John Meagher, Matthew Peters and Jayden Umbarger.
Niumatalolo has often referred to Jasper as the “quarterback whisperer” for his ability to teach players with different styles and backgrounds how to run the tripleoption.
“Ivin is the best at getting quarterbacks ready to play in our offense,” he said. “I’m confident coach Jasper will get the quarterbacks ready to run the offense and we won’t have to go downall these rabbit holes trying to find something that works.”
Elsewhere on offense
Navy has plenty of returning talent at the skill positions, which were underutilized during the 2020 campaign because the offense was so dysfunctional.
Junior Jamale Carothers figures to regain the starting fullback spot he lost to senior Nelson Smith. After rushing for 734 yards and14 touchdowns in 2019, Carothers dipped to 358 yards and two scores this season. That was partly due to the emergence of Smith, wholed the team in rushing with 645 yards and eight touchdowns.
Juniors James Harris II and Isaac Ruoss give Navy two other returning fullbacks with game experience. Sophomore Gavin Marts has returned to fullback after moving to inside linebacker to start the season.
Chance Warren becomes the leader of the slotback corps with the pending graduation of starters Myles Fells and CJ Williams. No skill position was impacted more by Navy’s inability to run the tripleoption than the slots, which barely touched the ball.
Junior Carlinos Acie appeared in all 10 games and is the early favorite to join Warren in the starting lineup. Freshman Daniel Jones developed as the season went along and was third on the depth chart by the end.
“Wehave to be able to get the ball pitched and we have come up with more designed ways to get ball to slotbacks outside of the triple,” Jasper said.
Perhaps the deepest position on offense is wide receiver where Mychal Cooper will be the senior leader. The 6-foot-5, 221pound Texan has played in 35 games with 22 starts and has 35 receptions for 675 yards and five touchdowns in his career.
Sophomore Mark Walker (6-2, 203) hada breakout campaign and led Navy with 13 catches for 175 yards. Junior Marcell Gleaton (6-3, 224) and sophomore Devin Mathews (6-4, 214) both saw significant action and showed improvement.
“Whoever winds up starting at quarterback has to be able to throw the ball effectively because we have some talented weapons at wide out,” Jasper said.
While the fans and media focused on the subpar play from the quarterback position, a review of game tape shows shoddy blocking by the offensive line was just as much to blame. There were too many missed assignments and examples of linemen getting beaten badly at the point of attack.
Navy never found a left guard and that forced running game coordinator Ashley Ingram to move senior Billy Honaker to that spot from left tackle. That broke up the strong right side combination of Honaker and senior guard Peter Nestrowitz, who was named first team All-American Athletic Conference.
Ingram admits there was a point in the season when the only element of the triple-option the Midshipmen blocked properly was the fullback run between the tackles.
“Wenever really found our identity along the offensive line. I take the blame because I did not get the most out of them,” Ingram said. “Itwas a lot of moving parts to find the right combination. I think we finally got to it, just a little too late.”
Now Navy must rebuild the unit again as junior center Pierce Banbury (6-2, 302) is the lone returning starter. Ingram thought Banbury got better with each game but there were many times when he was pushed around by bigger, stronger nose guards.
Sophomore Kip Frankland (6-1, 280) started the last three games at right tackle and showed promise. “I’m really excited about Kip. He’s got a very good skill set and has a chance to be an outstanding football player,” Ingram said.
Junior Luca Fratianne (6-2, 273) started the opener and played six other games at right tackle. Hewill likely battle sophomore Jake Cossavella (6-4, 258) at that position. Junior Bryce Texeira (6-2, 297) started six games at right guard and will compete with classmate Nick Bernacchi (6-2, 290), who played in nine games.
Ingram likes the looks of freshmen Lirion Murtezi and Ahmad Bradley, both of whom check in at 6-foot-3 and 300 pounds. Luke Coleman could challenge Banbury at center. Any of those players could wind up replacing Nestrowitz at right guard.