When linebacker Clint Sovie left Friday?s 41-24 loss at No. 15 Rutgers with a likely season-ending ankle injury, Navy lost much more than a player who had 61 tackles andtwo interceptions last season.
The Midshipmen lost one of their leaders, who is responsible for calling defensive signals.
Now, Navy must lean on sophomores Ross Pospisil and Tony Haberer?who have made a combined eight tackles?to lead an inexperienced defense. The unit will also be without senior safety Jeff Deliz, who is likely out for the season after also injuring his ankle against Rutgers.
The Midshipmen (1-1) unveils their new lineup Saturday when they host Ball State (1-1) at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium at 5 p.m. Neither Pospisil nor Haberer had any varsity experience coming into the season, but Navy coach Paul Johnson said every player needs to get tested on the field.
“I don?t think we learned a whole lot from that game [against Rutgers], but at least those players got on the field,” said Johnson, who added that either freshman Wyatt Middleton or junior Kevin Snyder would start for Deliz. “Now, at least those players won?t be out on the field for the first time this week.”
Navy?s players are still reeling from their loss at Rutgers, but realize they still have several high-profile games on their schedule, including Oct. 10 at Pittsburgh, Nov. 3 at Notre Dame and Dec. 1 against Army at M&T Bank Stadium.
“It bothered us a little bit having another linebacker not used to making calls,” said senior linebacker Irv Spencer on losing Sovie. “But we?ve got to pick each other up and keep playing, and I think we tried to do that. We?ll be OK.”
Johnson said for Navy to defeat the Cardinals, it is imperative it plays with discipline, which he has instilled in the program since arriving in 2002.
Through two games, the Midshipmen have five turnovers ? two lost fumbles and three interceptions ? after having 23, including just four interceptions, in 13 games last season. Also, Navy is allowing its opposition to control the ball for 31 minutes a game, compared to 27:58 last fall.
“For us to be successful we need to run the football and take care of the football,” Johnson said. “Those are the two things we have to do. We ran the ball OK [at Rutgers], we missed some things in the passing game and we didn?t take care of the football.”
Despite the loss, Navy does have some history on its side. Since 2003, the Midshipmen are 12-2 following a loss and have lost back-to-back games just twice during that span. Navy, which has not lost three straight since 2002, lost to Maryland and Stanford to open the 2005 season, and to Rutgers and Notre Dame last season.
“We just have to come back out, put our heads together and get ready for Ball State,” Navy junior quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada said. “It?s a loss, and we?re not happy about it, but it?s over with so it?s not something to keep on your shoulders.”
