Navy?s secondary enters Saturday?s Meineke Car Care Bowl with its confidence at the highest point of the season.
This positive emotional state stems from arguably their best performance of the season on Dec. 2, when the Midshipmen picked off two passes and returned one for a touchdown in Navy?s 26-14 victory over Army.
Navy defensive backs like senior Keenan Little know they have to play with confidence if they want to have any shot at stopping No. 23 Boston College?s vaunted passing attack when the Midshipmen (9-3) and Eagles (9-3) face off at Bank of America Stadium.
Boston College enters the game as the leading passing team in the Atlantic Coast Conference at 241.1 yards per game. Much of that credit goes to quarterback Matt Ryan, who has thrown for 2,700 yards and 14 touchdowns this year.
“We know we?re going up against a good team that?s the top passing team in the ACC,” Little said. “We know what?s up ahead. We just have to practice hard and study film and everything that [defensive coordinator Buddy] Green gives us. We have confidence in what defense he calls for us, and we?ll be ready.”
Navy?s secondary has been prone to allowing big plays this season. Opposing teams average 216.5 yards a game through the air against the Midshipmen, who have the 84th ranked pass defense nationally. However, Navy coach Paul Johnson said while his secondary has played well at times, stopping Boston College will require more than just quality play from the secondary.
“When you play a team that throws the ball, you?ve got to get some heat on the passer and some pressure,” Johnson said. “For us, we can?t give up big plays over our heads. If we do that, we have a chance.”
Still, Little said that it?s also important for Navy to get solid contributions from its two youngest members starting in the defensive backfield: freshman safety Jeromy Miles and sophomore cornerback Rashawn King.
“We just have to get them to relax,” Little said. “We know they can play when we see them in practice. We just need to let them know when they get out there in games with older guys just go out and do your job like in practice.”
NAVY NOTES
» While Boston College is a great passing team, it?s not so great against the pass. The Eagles? secondary allows 213.1 yards per game in the air. They are ranked 79th nationally in pass defense.
» Navy?s starting safety senior DuJuan Price is out of Saturday?s game with a pulled right quadriceps.
