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SMU Stats:
http://web1.ncaa.org/football/exec/rank ... 009&week=6

Navy Stats:
http://web1.ncaa.org/football/exec/rank ... 009&week=6

the big thing that junps out at me is that Navy's defense is really pretty good.

They seem to be a cohesive, really well coached defensive unit...do they have a size advantage on us? They didn't seem so big when I watched the Rice game....of course that was Rice.

Stallion wrote:SMU Stats:
http://web1.ncaa.org/football/exec/rank ... 009&week=6

Navy Stats:
http://web1.ncaa.org/football/exec/rank ... 009&week=6

OK, what do you take from that?

Stallion wrote:the big thing that junps out at me is that Navy's defense is really pretty good.

#32 total defense. Second to only TCU of our opponents. ECU is 58.

Add a couple. No surprise that they are 3rd in time of possession. But even if you strip away overall defensive statistics per game, arguing that yardage, for example, is reduced by the fewer # of plays that the opponent runs, Navy is still quite good. Very good in 1st down defense, 3rd down defense, 4th down defense, red zone defense, turnovers (top 35 in each).

Just a very solid unit.

Also not a surprise for an Academy, but Navy averages the fewest number of penalties and penalty yards per game.

Guess we'll have to hit them on second down then.

Digging into the stats reinforces that, to win, we will need to be efficient in the passing game.

Navy is tied for 30 in interceptions and is #30 in Int%, needless to say this will have to be avoided.

After those stats though Navy's pass D does not look so invincible:

#97 in pass completion % allowed
#73 in pass eff. D (without Ints even lower)
and #86 in yards allowed per attempt.