Black Knights catching up to Navy plan

Back in 2002, Navy's newly installed triple-option offense completely befuddled the Army defense. Navy first-year head coach Paul Johnson had veteran Army defensive coordinator John Mumford guessing all games as the Midshipmen literally ran wild.

Quarterback Craig Candeto led the way as Navy piled up 421 yards rushing en route to a 58-12 rout of Army at The Meadowlands. Candeto rushed for 103 yards and a school-record six touchdowns while also dealing the ball off to the fullbacks and slot backs as the Midshipmen kept the Black Knights off balance all afternoon.

Mumford has steadily adjusted his defensive schemes in subsequent years and Army has gotten better and better at stopping the option. The Black Knights held the Midshipmen to 264 rushing yards in 2006 and 287 in 2007.

"Defensively, Army has a good plan. When we first played them in 2002, Coach Mumford was still figuring out what type of package to use. Now he knows exactly what he wants to do," Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo said. "Early on, he changed up defenses and tried to get a feel for what works. I think he has found something he likes against us."

Army's primary adjustment has involved positioning its inside linebacker deeper in the alignment in order to make it more difficult for the Navy tackle to reach him. With more space between the two, the inside linebacker has a better chance of avoiding the block.

"We haven't been able to stop their linebacker.

He's been able to roam free and make plays," said Navy quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada, who will likely start Saturday's showdown with the archrival.

Army has also employed a few other wrinkles to make it difficult for the Navy quarterback to read his keys. Kaheaku-Enhada struggled mightily in that department as a sophomore in 2006 and was charged with a slew of missed reads as the Midshipmen struggled to move the ball.

Last season was also frustrating for Kaheaku-Enhada, who was held to 27 yards rushing on 14 attempts. However, the Hawaii native did a better job of distributing the ball as fullbacks Adam Ballard and Eric Kettani combined for 101 yards while slot backs Reggie Campbell and Zerb Singleton teamed for 102 yards.

"Their front seven has been dominating us. They have been stronger at the line of scrimmage and done a good job of stopping us the last two years," said Kaheaku-Enhada, who believes the two worst games of his career came against Army. "I take a lot of the blame because I definitely could have made better decisions. It must have been the bright lights or nerves, they got into my head somehow. This year I want to try to get back and change that. It's just a matter of coming out and doing what I was taught. The last couple games against Army I didn't do that."

Niumatalolo said there are no longer any secrets after six straight years of Navy running the option and Army attempting to defend it. He figures Mumford will use the same schemes that held the Mids under 300 yards rushing the last two seasons.

"I think he's found a good formula. I don't see them changing. If I was Army, I wouldn't change. We haven't done very well against them offensively the last few years," Niumatalolo said. "I see Army lining up the same way and we're going to run our same plays. There is so much familiarity on both sides. It comes down to execution. We need to do a better job of blocking them."

Niumatalolo is most disappointed that Army's defense has been more physical at the point of attack than Navy's offense the last few meetings.

"That is normally our calling card… that we out-physical teams. I'm disappointed that the last few years we've allowed Army to really get after us," he said.

Not surprisingly, playing with a physical mentality has been a point of emphasis in practice this week. Guard Anthony Gaskins, who will be playing in his fourth Army-Navy game, said the coaches are calling out the linemen.

"I think the biggest thing is that Army came out last year and played more physical than us. We have to be ready to match their intensity from the opening whistle this year," Gaskins said. "I heard Coach Culton yelling at the tackles and saying, 'They're going to punch you in the face, they're going to hit you in the mouth.' That's what Army likes to do and we need to respond in kind."

Army's defensive strategy was successful enough that other Navy opponents have copied it. Pittsburgh, Notre Dame and Duke all lined up in a similar fashion and did some of the same things as Army, Niumatalolo said.

"Fortunately for us, there have been teams this season that have mimicked Army. They figured that Army had some success in stopping us, so why not do the same thing," he said. "So we've had some experience this season in going against a defensive scheme that is similar to what Army does."