Fear isn't spreading among Mids despite SMU air attack

[HB Pony Dad]

http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bi ... _22-16/NAS

"Wyatt Middleton has heard all about SMU and its pass-happy offense. Navy's starting free safety has seen on film that the Mustangs throw the ball an average of 40 times per game. Bring it on, the confident sophomore said.

"I love playing these types of teams. In a game like this, there is no doubt what they are going to do. They're a passing team so we know that's the first thing we need to stop," Middleton said.As a defensive back, the pressure is always on you because we're the last line of defense. I love when the game is on our shoulders."

Navy's pass defense will be tested more than it has all season on Saturday against SMU, which employs a pure version of the Run-and-Shoot. The Mustangs are still learning the nuances of the system installed by head coach June Jones, but are nonetheless averaging 302 yards passing per game.

Navy's pass defense has struggled at times this season. The Midshipmen allowed an average of 324 yards through the air in games against Towson, Ball State and Duke, spread offense teams that routinely employed four wide receivers. Defensive coordinator Buddy Green said the SMU attack is entirely different than the spread, which features a lot of short, intermediate passing routes.

"We've seen spread, we've seen teams that run empty backfield, but I don't think we've seen this sophisticated of a passing offense in a long time," said Green, who likened the SMU version of run-and-shoot to what Navy saw in the 2003 Houston Bowl against Texas Tech. "There are some similarities (to the spread) in terms of certain routes, but there is a little different concept in the way the quarterback drops and the way they protect."

Green said the primary element that makes the run-and-shoot unique is the emphasis on long pass patterns. On nearly every play, SMU will send a wide receiver deep to force the defense to respect that threat.

"One thing about a June Jones offense, he will always stretch the field vertical. That's what it starts with. They are going to make you defend the deep ball," Green said. "They stretch the field vertical on you in a lot of different ways. They are going to force you to cover the whole field."

Jones is one of the innovators of the Run-and-Shoot concept, which was initially introduced on the collegiate level by Portland State head coach Darrel "Mouse" Davis. Jones played quarterback for Davis at Oregon State and set an NCAA Division II single-season record with 3,518 yards passing as a senior. Davis' run-and-shoot system also made a star out of quarterback Neil Lomax, who established NCAA records with 13,220 yards passing and 106 touchdowns in 42 career games. Both Jones and Lomax enjoyed long careers in the National Football League.

Jones has never wavered in his commitment to the run-and-shoot, employing the system at every stop of his coaching career, including a stint as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. Hawaii established all sorts of NCAA passing records during Jones' nine-year tenure with Timmy Chang and Colt Brennan as the most productive trigger men.

What makes the run and shoot different from the West Coast or spread offenses that are currently in vogue is that it never utilizes a tight end and always includes four wide receivers and one setback. Jones likes to alternate between a big, powerful back who can run between the tackles and a small, quick back who can run outside or catch the ball out of the backfield.

Green has been impressed by how quickly the SMU players have picked up the intricate system. Freshman quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell has completed 180 of 302 passes for 2,277 yards and 21 touchdowns while wide receivers Emmanuel Sanders and Aldrick Robinson both rank among the NCAA receiving leaders. Sanders leads the team with 59 receptions for 823 yards and eight touchdowns while Robinson has made 46 catches for 909 yards and 10 touchdowns.

SMU is not afraid to throw the long ball from any position on the field, evidenced by the fact Mitchell tossed a 94-yard touchdown to Robinson against Central Florida. Green watched that tape and marveled that the Mustangs throw deep on three straight plays from inside their own 5-yard line. Mitchell and Robinson hooked up on a 70-yard scoring strike in last Saturday's 44-38 loss to Houston.

"The quarterback really throws the deep ball very well. His timing is outstanding and they have completed a ton of long passes," Green said. "I'm really impressed with the way the offensive line is blocking. The protection has been fantastic."

Navy's secondary has been susceptible to the pass in recent years, most notably last season when North Texas threw the ball all over Fouts Field in a 74-62 loss. The Mean Green also had a true freshman quarterback and Giovanni Vizza torched the Mids to the tune of 40-for-50 passing for 478 yards and an incredible eight touchdowns.

Middleton said the Navy defensive backs must avoid getting beat deep and allowing yards after the catch in order to prevent a repeat.

"Like every passing team, they're going to get some yards, get some completions.

We just have to make sure they don't get anything deep, don't get any big plays," said Middleton, who leads Navy with 49 tackles. "We'll give them the underneath stuff, but we have to tackle well and make sure they don't turn short catches into long gains."

[J.T.supporta]

if NTSU can do it, so can we!

[ALEX LIFESON]

Navy is very tough at home, they really defend their turf well. It will be a full house of rabid fans as well. This will be a tough test for the Stangs.

[jimhagle]

I wouldn't bet on it being a full house.

[RGV Pony]

I wouldn't bet on it being a full house.

I think you're right. Their previously smallest crowd was, I think, Northwestern...another private school. Combine that with their QB being hurt, a ho-hum year compared to what they've been used to with PJ, and now with the rain, could be 25-27k.

[ALEX LIFESON]

Navy Marine stadium seats 34,000, as of yesterday, they had sold over 30,000. May not sell out, but should be pretty full.



Fear the mob boss!

[RGV Pony]

Navy Marine stadium seats 34,000, as of yesterday, they had sold over 30,000. May not sell out, but should be pretty full.



Fear the mob boss!

shows you what I know.

[Stallion]

helps to have mandatory student attendance.

[RGV Pony]

helps to have mandatory student attendance.

[larskjenstad]

It should be a sell-out, with Ponies coming to town.

[kent dorfman]

helps to have mandatory student attendance.

Is that for all the service academies?

[Pony!Poni!Pone'!]

also a reason the Cotton Bowl gave up pursuing Army-Navy. Host has to fly the entire student body in for the game.

[CalallenStang]

Towson has a football team?

[larskjenstad]

I think it's Monty Towson's dad's team that played BB with Tom Burleson and Davis Thompson at NC State in 1973

[MrMustang1965]

helps to have mandatory student attendance.

Is that for all the service academies?

Yes.