Navy 27, at tOSU 31 (Sep 5th, ESPN)

[osugrad21]

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Navy Scrimmage Notes
Posted: August 16, 4:54 pm | (permalink) | (0 comments)
I thought the Navy football team looked good in its initial intra-squad scrimmage of preseason camp. Players on both sides of the ball flew around and competed hard on an unbearably hot, humid day. It's fairly remarkable that Navy's players are already in such good condition that no one was felled by the severe heat, which was worse down on the artificial turf field due to the black rubber that is part of the surface. I'm venturing to guess the temperature was at least 100 degrees at field level.
An article about the scrimmage appeared in Sunday's edition of The Capital, but here are some additional notes and observations.
* Quarterback Ricky Dobbs looked really good throwing the ball. Dobbs is just a natural passer who sets up nicely in the pocket and shows outstanding form while delivering the ball on time and on target. Had Mario Washington not dove for a pass over the middle and simply caught it in stride, Dobbs would have finished with eight completions in nine attempts for 176 yards. If the junior signal-caller can do that during a regular season game, it would certainly add a different dimension to Navy's offense.
* Despite dropping what could have been a 63-yard touchdown pass, Washington looked capable of becoming the go-to receiver the Mishipmen need to replace Tyree Barnes. Washington got open repeatedly and did make a 31-yard catch. Dobbs said afterward that he and Washington, who are classmates and close friends, played pitch-and-catch all summer so I'm guessing they have developed some chemistry.
Dobbs was asked if he gave Washington a hard time for dropping the very catchable ball. "I could have put it in a better spot, but Mario said he should have caught it because he got his hands on it."

Cont...

[lord vegas]

Originally Posted by tonystarx

This is personally one of my more highly anticipated games of the season, but not for what others may think are obvious reasons. Navy's option attack will put our LB corps "front and center." This game should give fans, and the staff, a good idea of who will be our playmakers out of the bunch. I'm really anxious to see the young guys get in there and PLAY SOME FOOTBALL...as one of my HS coaches would say.

I complained about playing Navy at first I'll admit. However, the more I thought about it this is almost ideal tune up game for us like you said. We should be able to solidify our 2-deep because there will be plenty of reps for both teams. The DT's will show if they've stepped up their game and the LB's will show who's able to stay clean and shed their blockers (which we've had problems with previously).

The only downside is our pass coverage won't be tested much. Although 3 quarters of our back 4 have tons of experience, so while nice that would be icing on the cake.

[Poe McKnoe]

Originally Posted by osugrad21

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Navy passes the ball?

[DaddyBigBucks]

They have their best QB in years and his arm is looking good so far in camp, by all accounts.

[osugrad21]

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Navy Dismisses Starting Nose Guard Frazier

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Senior nose guard Nate Frazier is no longer on the Navy football team, Coach Ken Niumatalolo said Monday.
Commander Joe Carpenter, an academy spokesman, confirmed that the nature of the issue that led to Frazier's dismissal from the team is administrative and is not criminal. But "because this remains an ongoing administrative matter, the academy will not be able to provide additional details, in order to protect the individual's privacy," Carpenter said.
Frazier, a two-year starter, participated in the first two weeks of practice and was dominant in a team scrimmage on Saturday. As a junior, he tied for the team lead in tackles for a loss with nine and was particularly disruptive in Navy's shutout victory over Army (seven tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss).
"In my years here, we haven't had a nose guard like him," said Niumatalolo, who has spent 12 years in Annapolis as either the head coach or an assistant. "From a football standpoint, it's a big loss."
Defensive line was expected to be a position of strength for the Midshipmen, who open the season at Ohio State on Sept. 5. But two of their most experienced linemen, senior Mike Walsh and Matt Nechak, are working their way back from offseason surgery.

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[BuckBlitz24]

At the top has got to be the mid-season victory over #15 Wake Forest in Winston Salem, NC last year. 59 rushing attempts, 4 passing attempts. I'm looking forward to watching an exciting game. Do they have any studs on the defensive side of the ball?

[NateG]

Their best Defensive player got thrown off the team.

[Tresselbeliever]

Originally Posted by BuckBlitz24

At the top has got to be the mid-season victory over #15 Wake Forest in Winston Salem, NC last year. 59 rushing attempts, 4 passing attempts. I'm looking forward to watching an exciting game. Do they have any studs on the defensive side of the ball?

I hear they got this Arleigh Burke guy that is pretty proficient at stopping the enemy's aerial attacks.

[DontHateOState]

Originally Posted by Poe McKnoe

Navy passes the ball?

Their passing offense is based off the Run and Shoot.

[Buckskin86]

Navy on the radar

Even if the season opener is still more than two weeks away, it was clear Wednesday that the Ohio State defense has Navy on its primary radar.
In the practice session that preceded the special teams scrimmage in Ohio Stadium, the OSU defense spent an extended period going against the Flexbone option offense, Navy's primary attack. Sept.5 likely will be the only time the Buckeyes will face that type of offense this season.
Peculiar to the Flexbone is its quasi spread look, with the quarterback under center often, a back directly behind him, wingbacks lined up tight to the outside of each tackle, and a wide receiver further out on each end of the line. It allows the Midshipmen to run a variety of options while also making the defense's back seven at least have to ponder the threat of a pass on every play before attacking the option.
The funny thing about Wednesday's practice was the Buckeyes might have had a better quarterback running the offense than Navy will. At the helm was Rocco Pentello, a star quarterback at Westerville South before showing up at OSU as a safety. He displayed deftness on the option pitches, and true grit when he kept the ball and turned up field against the likes of Cameron Heyward, Brian Rolle and company.

Navy on the radar (Blogging the Buckeyes)

[DaddyBigBucks]

As Chris Spielman would say, "Don't sleep on Navy!"


The Big Ten Landmine Games

The traps to watch out for

By Pete Fiutak

Originally Posted by Pete Fiutak

...
- Ohio State- Sept. 5 vs. Navy
This is a landmine because ... It's Ohio State. It's going to struggle to put teams away early in the season, and this could be another one of those games where the vastly inferior opponents hangs around for three quarters and then the Buckeyes get one huge play and everyone breathes a sigh of relief. The last thing a team with a new linebacking corps needs is to face the Navy option, and having the USC game looming the following week will only add to the concerns. ...

[SayNoToMichigan]

Is this game gonna be a national broadcast or just regional? I ask because I'm in Texas right now and would hate to miss the opener.

Edit: Found out what I was looking for...

[DaddyBigBucks]

This game is very different from most others, in that we owe the players for the other team (and their band, cheerleaders and many of their fans in attendance) a debt of gratitude for their service. Acknowleding this, the University President and Sir Archie Griffin (it's Buckeye Knighthood) will be hosting an event in the opponent's honor.

Ohio State, Navy Team Up for Pregame Pep Rally Sept. 5

Originally Posted by Official Site

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Alumni Associations for Ohio State and the Naval Academy are teaming up to host a one-of-a-kind pep rally prior to the Buckeyes game against the Midshipmen on Sept. 5.

The Naval Academy Drum and Bugle Corps, the Middies' cheerleaders and 500 Midshipmen will join Ohio State president E. Gordon Gee, Alumni Association president Archie Griffin, the Ohio State cheerleaders and more for this collaborative pep rally.

The Bash is scheduled for 8:30 to 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5 on the lawn outside of the Fawcett Center. The cost is $10 for OSUAA members and $15 for non-members and includes food from City Barbeque and non-alcoholic beverages from Coca-Cola. Register at The Ohio State University Alumni Association, Inc. | Columbus, Ohio by Tuesday, Sept. 1 (unless the Bash sells out before that date).

[Bucky Katt]

Excellent! If ever an opponent deserved a standing ovation when they take the field, I can think of no more suitable teams than Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Don't let the Navy team hear their fans cheer. Drown them out with your own.

[DaddyBigBucks]

Originally Posted by Bucky Katt

Excellent! If ever an opponent deserved a standing ovation when they take the field, I can think of no more suitable teams than Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Don't let the Navy team hear their fans cheer. Drown them out with your own.

+1

I will add that a great time for this is during the AFCA-"requested" pre-game handshake. If it were any other opponent, I would yawn (at best) at a pre-game handshake. This is different.