Navy heads into the 2010 season with a ton of confidence, as they finished up the 2009 season at 10-4, including an impressive 35-13 win over Missouri to close out the season in the Texas Bowl. This year the Midshipmen will have 13 starters back and a pretty favorable schedule to reach double digit wins again in 2010. Here is a quick breakdown of what the Midshipmen will send to the field on both sides of the ball, plus my prediction for how they will do this season.
Offense:
If you know anything about Navy's offense, you know they will rarely throw the football, as the pound the football at opposing defenses with the triple-option attack. The thing is senior quarterback Ricky Dobbs can throw the football when needed, as he completed 53% percent of his passes for 1,031 yards with six touchdowns. Dobbs however will do the majority of his damage running the ball, as he led the Midshipmen with 1,203 yards and 27 touchdowns. No question Dobbs will head into the season as a legit Heisman candidate.
The Midshipmen also have a couple of pretty good running backs this season in senior Vince Murray and junior Marcus Curry. Murray finished second on the team with 971 yards and six touchdowns, while Curry finished with 585 yards and five scores. You can pretty much expect similar or even better numbers from these two in 2010.
Not a lot to talk about at receiver, as the Midshipmen just don't throw the ball that often. Curry was the leading receiver for Navy in 2009 with just 10 catches for 287 yards and three touchdowns.
The offensive line will be solid as the Midshipmen bring back both starting tackels in Jeff Battipaglia and Matt Molloy. Also back in the mix is junior right guard Brady DeMell. That leaves two open spots up front, and it looks like it will be junior Eric Douglass at center and sophomore Josh Cabral at left guard.
Defense:
Navy really played well on the defensive side of the ball last season, as they allowed just over 19 points a game, and when you run the ball as much as the Midshipmen do, it really makes it tough for opposing teams to comeback when they grab the lead early.
Navy runs the 3-4 scheme on defense, and should be pretty solid up front with senior nose tackle Chase Burge and junior defensive end Jabaree Tuani back. Senior Billy Yarborough is expected to take over at the other defensive end spot, and it will be important that he can come in and do his job and eat up blocks for the linebackers to go to work.
The Midshipmen have to make a lot of changes at linebacker this season, as they lose all four starters from last year. Senior Tyler Simmons and junior Caleb King are the leading candidates to take over at the two inside spots, while junior Aaron McCauley and senior Jerry Bauburger are set to step in and start at the two outside spots. If the new starters struggle to find their place in the defense, the Midshipmen could see a big drop off on this side of the ball.
Navy brings back a lot of experience in the secondary this season, as they have three starters back from the 2009 campaign. Senior free safety Wyatt Middleton and senior strong safety Emmett merchant are both back, and should keep opposing teams from attacking the Midshipmen deep. At corner look for junior Kewsi Mitchell to step in and take over the open starting spot opposite of returning starter Kevin Edwards.
Prediction - 11-2: No question the offense is going to be able to run the ball, but I have some concerns with the defense and all the new starters at linebacker. The good thing is the Midshipmen have a very easy schedule this season, as their only real challenge comes against Notre Dame on Oct. 23. Right now I have Navy slipping to Notre Dame and one other team, but there is a legit shot that this team can go undefeated and play in a BCS bowl this season.
If you plan on betting the college football odds this season, be sure to stop back each week for Jimmy Boyd's expert college football picks.
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