Is Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada playing this week?

[smupony]

What is the situation on Navy's QB?

[cs09viking]

probably not. even if he were to get a few snaps, he's not running at 100%. expect JB to play.

Kaipo can run the option better than any QB in the nation....very exciting player to watch.

[Higher Authority]

Can you imagine Swann trying to pronounce that?????

[smupony]

probably not. even if he were to get a few snaps, he's not running at 100%. expect JB to play.

Kaipo can run the option better than any QB in the nation....very exciting player to watch.

What is his injury? Where can we read more on his chances of playing? I did a google search and didn't find much.

[jimhagle]

Swann was a beast up there in '96-one of his greatest games.

[USNA86]

What is his injury? Where can we read more on his chances of playing? I did a google search and didn't find much.

Hamstring. The Annapolis newspaper is the Capital. Try googling that.

[Higher Authority]

From Bill Wagner's blog in the Annapolis Capital newspaper (dated 10/20/08):

Navy's quarterback situation is fast becoming a soap opera with all sorts of twists and turns. Of course, the media and fans help contribute to the atmosphere with varied opinions about the unique situation.

Former starting quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada wore a blue jersey (not a green) at practice on Monday and was in good spirits as he jogged around the perimeter of Rip Miller Field, the artificial turf adjacent to Ricketts Hall.

Nothing has changed about Kaipo's status as he remains day-to-day with an injured hamstring. Kaipo said last week that his hamstring still felt weak and that he had no burst, no acceleration. It is a difficult situation since the player is not sure how hard to push the rehabilitation without risking further damage and increased time on the sideline.

At this point, it appears head coach Ken Niumatalolo is going to proceed with the utmost caution and it seems unlikely that Kaheaku-Enhada would play this Saturday against SMU. My gut tells me the coaching staff (and Kaipo) are pointing toward a return on Nov. 15 against Notre Dame.

Meanwhile, the media talked to both Niumatalolo and offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Ivin Jasper on Monday about Ricky Dobbs. Both men were backup quarterbacks during their playing careers at the University of Hawaii and know the mentality that fans unhappy with the performance of the starter always want to see a change.

"The backup quarterback is always the prettiest girl at the dance. I went in, and then they wanted the other guy," Niumatalolo joked about fans at Hawaii. "Nobody cares who the second team guard or the second team linebacker is, but everybody wants the second team quarterback to go in."

Niumatalolo reversed course a bit yesterday and said he did consider inserting Dobbs into the Pittsburgh game a little earlier. Dobbs did not enter until Navy's final possession with about two minutes remaining.

"Not much earlier... maybe at the eight-minute mark. We were going to let him get in there and get some reps," Niumatalolo said.

However, Niumatalolo chose not to make that move because he wasn't substituting for the other starters on offense and did not feel it was fair to only replace the quarterback. He felt that would send the wrong messsage to starter Jarod Bryant and the rest of the team.

Jasper said Bryant played well on Saturday and received "a passing grade, a winning grade." Both Jasper and Niumatalolo said Navy's offensive problems were due more to lack of execution and an inability to make the necessary blocks.

However, Jasper admitted that - in hindsight - perhaps Navy should have taken the opportunity to give Dobbs more game action.

"Yes, we probably should have gotten him in the game a whole lot earlier, but honestly it's a pride thing. We wanted to go out and gain some kind of dignity at the end of the game," Jasper said. "We got (Dobbs) in the game, got him six good reps and he led us to a touchdown. I was happy for him."

Both Niumatalolo and Jasper had good things to say about Dobbs, but both agreed the sophomore simply is not ready to start or see significant action at this stage of his development.

"He's a talented young man. He's still learning the offense, but from a physical standpoint he's got a chance to be a good quarterback," Niumatalolo said.

Jasper reiterated the point he has made numerous times with regard to Dobbs: That the youngster still makes the type of mistakes that get a team beat.

"If it got to Ricky, we could scale the gameplan down and he could go out there and play," Jasper said. "Ricky's main problem is that he's inconsistent with being smart. He'll make the same little mistakes over and over again. It's just little things here and there that he'll do to get you beat. The main thing I tell the quarterbacks is, 'Don't go out there and try to win the game, but don't go out there and lose it either.' "

[ponyte]

How rare is this. We get a chance to make not one, but possibly two unknowns (Jarod Bryant, Ricky Dobbs) into Heisman candidates this Saturday. Toss in a receiver that has had less than 2 career receptions and we have the makings of a possible unknown All-American.

Unless our Defense learns to tackle by next Saturday, then we are in real trouble. And if we put 8 in the box to play the run, we all know that some obscure receiver will have an All-American day.

[mrydel]

How rare is this. We get a chance to make not one, but possibly two unknowns (Jarod Bryant, Ricky Dobbs) into Heisman candidates this Saturday. Toss in a receiver that has had less than 2 career receptions and we have the makings of a possible unknown All-American.

Unless our Defense learns to tackle by next Saturday, then we are in real trouble. And if we put 8 in the box to play the run, we all know that some obscure receiver will have an All-American day.

Not only rare but the same QB situation (except passing rather than running) exists with Memphis in our following game.

[jtstang]

If that Navy qb posted here his nickname would be "Bob."

[mrydel]

If that Navy qb posted here his nickname would be "Bob."

That is his given name but he spells it backwards from the way you do.

[jimhagle]

We made Chris McCoy a star- in just one game.

[jtstang]

If that Navy qb posted here his nickname would be "Bob."

That is his given name but he spells it backwards from the way you do.

That's because he was raised below the equator.

[smupony]

Thanks Higher Authority!

[ALEX LIFESON]

SMU, the real Star Search!