Navy?s biggest question mark this season has been its defense, but now the Midshipmen have to find answers for its offense and special teams if its to defeat Delaware on Saturday.
The Midshipmen have plenty of solutions to discover after so many of their problems were exposed in a 44-24 loss to Wake Forest in front of a Homecoming crowd of 36,992 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis.
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The defending ACC champion Demon Deacon scored 17 points off Navy?s three turnovers to help turn a close game into a route.
“I think you have to give Wake Forest credit,” Navy coach Paul Johnson said. “They played a good game. We made too many mistakes to beat a good team. We have no margin for error.”
Navy was ineffective in every phase of the game. Besides turning the ball over three times, Navy surrendered Wake Forest great field position early as it gave up returns of 70 and 46 yards to Kevin Marion in the first quarter.
“Everybody has to play well for us to win,” Johnson said. “When you are struggling on defense it doesn?t help when they return the kick to the 20-yard line. We still have to move the ball on offense. We can?t turn the ball over. We can?t fumble snaps.”
But that?s exactly what Navy did against a bigger, faster and stronger opponent. Navy?s inexperienced defense continued to struggle as the Midshipmen have allowed at least 30 points in five of seven games and at least 40 points in back-to-back contests for the first time since 2002.
Now comes Delaware (6-1), which is ranked 13th in the Football Championship Subdivision ? formerly Division I-AA ? after posting a 30-20 victory over Northeastern on Sunday. The Blue Hens pummeled Towson, earlier this season, and average 36.7 points per game. If they hit 30 against the Midshipmen, there?s a good chance they?ll leave Annapolis a winner, as Navy is 6-20 when it allows at least 30 points since Johnson took over the team in 2002.
“I don?t know what to say [about the defensive struggles],” Navy linebacker Irv Spencer said. “As the coaches say, the mistakes we are making are correctable.”
Also of concern for Navy is the health of junior quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada, who left the game right before halftime with a neck injury. That injury occurred after being sacked by linebacker Aaron Curry with a hit that included helmet-to-helmet contact. He walked off the field on his own power, and is listed as “probable” to play against Delaware.
Navy slot back Shun White said even if Kaheaku-Enhada is out, the team has confidence in backup quarterback Jarod Bryant. Bryant committed two turnovers against Wake Forest, but has mostly played well this season, including leading Navy to a win over Duke. However, White added if Navy continues to make mistakes like it did Saturday, it doesn?t matter who starts at quarterback.
“It is crucial in a game like this to not turn the ball over,” White said. “If we take care of the ball we can take it into the end zone.”
