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| | Monday, September 6 | |||||
| 1998 Record: 3-8 | 1998 statistics | 1999 schedule Head coach: Charlie Weatherbie Returning starters: 15 (offense 6, defense 7) Outlook After dropping to 3-8 after back-to-back winning seasons, coach Charlie Weatherbie knew changes needed to be made. Not content to rest on the laurels which come with a contract extension through 2006, Weaterbie fired both coordinators. Tim DeRuyter takes over as defensive coordinator after serving the same role at Ohio and Mike Vaught, last year's slotbacks coach, takes the offensive reins. But a return to its winning ways won't come easily for Navy. There aren't any more Division I-AA teams on the schedule, and the Midshipmen must face Georgia Tech, West Virginia, Boston College and Notre Dame in addition to the regular battles with Air Force and Army for the Commander-in-Chief trophy. OffenseFiguratively, the offense is in Vaught's hands, but literally it falls to quarterback Brian Broadwater. The junior, who took over starting duties midway through last season, beat out last year's starter Steve Holley for the job. Broadwater led the team with 679 yards rushing and added an impressive passing performance out of the spread offense (47-for-98, 838 yards, 7 TDs, 6 INTs). For the offense to get back to its dominant ways of two years ago, the running game needs a strong option. Slotbacks John Vereen and Dre Brittingham and fullback Raheem Lambert need to grasp their roles in the offense. Finding a good receiving threat would help -- Ryan Read and his 25.5-yard per catch average are gone. Travis Williams and Matt O'Donnell need to step up, especially since Weatherbie has said he wants to open up the offense. Two new starters need to emerge along the offensive line. Tackles Kostas Hatzidakis and Hoot Stahl bookend the line and center Terrance Anderson, one of the best in the nation, lead the group on which the offense depends. No one will outwork this group, but physical limitations (no projected starter is 300 pounds) could hurt against the bigger programs.
It's a good sign if: The new offense can get the most out of Broadwater's expanding game. DeRuyter shelved the 4-2-5 scheme for a more conventional 3-4 to get a better fit for Navy's personnel. It isn't easy to find four linemen big enough to battle in the trenches. Now, Navy can put four linebackers on the field and maximize that unit's speed. Outside 'backers Earl Fountain, Shaka Martin, John Chavous and Rashad Jones have plenty of quickness. Inside, Ryan Hamilton (6-2, 218) and Matt Daigneault (6-1, 238) are set to start. Backing up the linebackers is safety Jamie Doffermyre, who racked up 127 tackles last year. He had more unassisted stops (84) than anyone else had in total tackles. Gary Lane, last year's No. 2 tackler, fills the other safety slot. Sophomore Bas Williams, who started the last two games of '98, and Davede Alexander is the other starter. Most of the defensive concerns are along the line. Last year, much of Navy's inability to slow down the run or get a decent pass rush on was because of the lack of bulk and strength. David Ryno, who played defensive tackle in '98, slides over to nose guard and is the biggest of the crew at 6-3, 276. Ends Alex Murray (6-4, 258) and Brad Wimsatt (6-4, 257). No matter who plays, the team needs to improve on the 15 sacks it recorded last season. It's a good sign if: The switch to a 3-4 helps the defense handle bigger teams.It's a bad sign if: Doffermyre puts up tackle totals like he did last season. Special Teams Punter Tray Calisch averaged a shade over 40 yards per kick last year, and Tim Shubzda will take over full placekicking duties after handling kickoffs and two field goal attempts (he made both). -- Greg Collins |
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