{"id":58751,"date":"2024-07-01T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-07-01T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/?p=58751"},"modified":"2024-07-01T12:00:00","modified_gmt":"2024-07-01T17:00:00","slug":"notre-dame-football-2024-opponent-preview-navy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/notre-dame-football-2024-opponent-preview-navy\/","title":{"rendered":"Notre Dame football 2024 opponent preview: Navy"},"content":{"rendered":"

This story appears in the Blue & Gold Illustrated 2024 Notre Dame Football Preview. To order your copy,\u00a0click here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Game 8 \u2022 Oct. 26 \u2022 MetLife Stadium<\/strong><\/p>\n

The biggest storyline of the 2024 Navy spring football season was the installation of a new scheme by first-year offensive coordinator Drew Cronic<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Second-year Navy head coach Brian Newberry<\/a><\/strong> hired Cronic as his new OC after the offense struggled badly last season. The Midshipmen finished 122nd out of 130 FBS teams in scoring offense (17.7 points per game) and 123rd in total offense (300.3 yards per game) in 2023.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Cronic described his offense as a \u201cmillennial version\u201d of the old-school Wing-T from yesteryear. However, Cronic insisted that the revamped Navy strategy will still include elements of the traditional triple-option that has been in place for more than 20 years at the Academy.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Newberry \u2014 the former Navy defensive coordinator before his promotion to head coach in 2023 \u2014 said during the spring that he liked what he saw from Cronic\u2019s offensive changes and adjustments.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI look at everything from a defensive perspective,\u201d Newberry said. \u201cAnd I think what we\u2019re doing on offense is challenging.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

The two standout offensive players during the Navy spring season were junior fullback Alex Tecza<\/a><\/strong> and junior slotback Eli Heidenreich<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Tecza led the Midshipmen with 758 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns last season, while Heidenreich paced the team with 19 receptions for 382 yards (20.1 yards per catch) and 4 scores.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Who starts at quarterback remains the biggest question with Navy trying to replace three-year starter Tai Lavatai<\/a><\/strong>. Expect a two-man race between Blake Horvath<\/a><\/strong> and Braxton Woodson<\/a><\/strong> for starting duties. Both quarterbacks took plenty of reps with the starting offense in the spring, though it appeared Horvath held a slight performance edge. Both quarterbacks appeared in four games last season.\u00a0<\/p>\n

So, while the Navy offensive players face the challenge of learning a new system, the Midshipmen defense will work in the same familiar scheme that Newberry implemented when he was hired as the team\u2019s defensive coordinator in 2019.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Navy defense wasn\u2019t elite in 2023 \u2014 it finished 44th in total defense (353.7 yards per game) and T-37th in scoring defense (22.4 points per game) \u2014 but it was opportunistic. The Midshipmen were second in the nation in fumble recoveries with 14 and their red zone defense was third nationally, allowing opponents to score only 72 percent of the time. They also managed a plus-0.92 turnover margin, the fourth-best mark in the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Additionally, Navy and Penn State were the only schools in the FBS to record three shutouts in 2023.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Navy defense will be led by linebacker Colin Ramos<\/a><\/strong>, who earned first-team All-American Athletic Conference honors last season after recording 110 tackles, the second-best mark in the league.<\/p>\n

Junior defensive end\/outside linebacker Luke Pirris<\/a><\/strong> and senior defensive end Justin Reed<\/a><\/strong> also return after tying for sixth nationally last season with 3 fumble recoveries apiece. These two standout players also tied for the Navy lead last season with 4.5 sacks.\u00a0On special teams, Navy also brings back punter Riley Riethman<\/a><\/strong>. The rising senior earned first-team All-AAC honors last season after averaging 44.8 yards, with 20 boots of over 50 yards.<\/p>\n

Reasons for optimism<\/h2>\n

Opportunistic defense<\/strong><\/p>\n

Run game experience<\/strong><\/p>\n

A more diverse offense<\/strong><\/p>\n

Since accomplished head coach Paul Johnson<\/strong> took the Navy top job in 2002, the Midshipmen offense has become synonymous with the run-reliant triple option. Expect more diversity this season with the hire of offensive coordinator Drew Cronic, who showed a desire in the spring to slightly tweak the rushing game and implement more in the passing game.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Reasons for concern<\/h2>\n

Stalled program momentum<\/strong><\/p>\n

Quarterback play<\/strong><\/p>\n

The search for points<\/strong><\/p>\n

As good as Navy was on defense most of last season \u2014 it didn\u2019t allow a touchdown in four games \u2014 its offense was miserable. The Midshipmen averaged only 17.7 points a game, and this was with three-year starter Tai Lavatai at quarterback. The Midshipmen will task a new starting signal-caller and a first-year offensive coordinator to improve their point production this season.<\/p>\n

Quick facts<\/h2>\n

All-Time Series:<\/strong>\u00a0Notre Dame leads 82-13-1
Last Meeting:<\/strong>\u00a0Notre Dame 42, Navy 3 (Aug.\u00a026, 2023 at Dublin, Ireland)
Head Coach:<\/strong>\u00a0Brian Newberry, 5-7 at Navy and overall (2nd year)
2023 Results:<\/strong>\u00a05-7 overall, 4-4 American Athletic Conference (T-5th)
Returning Starters:<\/strong>\u00a014 (7 offense, 7 defense)
Prediction:<\/strong>\u00a0Notre Dame 49, Navy 10<\/p>\n

Navy returning leaders<\/h2>\n

Rushing:\u00a0<\/strong>FB Alex Tecza (758 yards, 5 TD)
Passing:<\/strong>\u00a0QB Braxton Woodson (163 yards, 1 TD)
Receiving:<\/strong>\u00a0SB Eli Heidenreich (382 yards, 4 TD)
Tackles:<\/strong>\u00a0LB Colin Ramos (110)
Sacks:<\/strong>\u00a0DE\/OLB Luke Pirris and DE Justin Reed (4.5)
Interceptions:<\/strong>\u00a0S Rayuan Lane III<\/a><\/strong> and CB Dashaun Peele<\/a><\/strong> (4)<\/p>\n

Navy 2024 schedule<\/h2>\n

Date<\/strong>Opponent<\/strong>2023 result<\/strong>Aug. 31Bucknell\u2014Sept. 7TempleL, 32-18Sept. 21MemphisL, 28-24Sept. 28at UABW, 31-6Oct. 5at Air ForceL, 17-6Oct. 19CharlotteW, 14-0Oct. 26<\/em><\/strong>vs. Notre Dame<\/em><\/strong>^L, 42-3<\/em><\/strong>Nov. 2at Rice\u2014Nov. 9at South FloridaL, 44-30Nov. 16Tulane\u2014Nov. 30at East CarolinaW, 10-0Dec. 14Army*L, 17-11^ in East Rutherford, N.J.
* in Landover, Md.<\/em><\/p>\n

The post Notre Dame football 2024 opponent preview: Navy<\/a> appeared first on On3<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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