Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo isn’t paying attention to Southern Methodist’s eye-popping passing game, which averages 302.1 yards per game, 11th most in the country.
He’s focused on his own team’s ability to move the ball and put points on the board.
“We’ve got to get guys to understand that we’re not playing very well offensively and that every time we come out to practice — from stretching to cool-down — we’ve got to be dialed in,” he said. “We’re not a team that is looking for balance. If we rush for 200 yards, we’re not going to win many more games. We need to execute better.”
The Midshipmen (4-3) must find a way to consistently move the ball if they are to beat the Mustangs (1-7) on Saturday afternoon at 3:30 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
And Navy could hardly pick a better opponent to get its offense rolling against. The Mustangs high-powered passing game masks its porous defense, which ranks next to last in the 119-team Football Bowl Subdivision. SMU is yielding an average of 501.6 yards, 41 points and 214 rushing yards per game.
But the Mustangs ineffectiveness on defense will mean little if the Midshipmen can’t get out of their own way. Senior quarterback Jarod Bryant has taken harsh criticism for the stagnant offense as he has replaced Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada, who has missed parts of six games with a left hamstring injury.
Kaheaku-Enhada was ruled out of the SMU game on Thursday afternoon, giving Bryant another chance to be the offensive leader Niumatalolo is trying to find.
“You have to have tough skin if you are going to play quarterback — you are going to have your fans and your critics,” said Bryant, the Alabama High School Player of the Year as a senior at Hoover High. “As long as I have my teammates behind me I am fine.”
Bryant has rushed for 392 yards with six touchdowns this season, but his lack of playing time leading into this year has put him at a steeper learning curve in running the triple option offense.
On every play, the quarterback is required to make a split-second decision about where the ball goes. If Bryant, who has had trouble with fumbles, can improve reading his keys and protect the ball, the offense figures to build on its averages of 367 yards and 28 points per game.
“We have to step up, me especially,” Bryant said. “I have faith we are going to figure things out — we are so close.”
UP NEXT
Navy (4-3) vs.SMU (1-7)
When » Saturday, 3:30
Where » Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
Radio » 1090 AM
TV » CBS College Sports Network
Tickets » Available
