Ivin Jasper has talked about Navy returning to its roots this season. Jasper, in his fourth year as offensive coordinator, is referring to the likelihood the Midshipmen will be giving opponents a steady diet of triple-option offense.Navy threw the ball a bit more than usual the previous couple seasons because starting quarterback Ricky Dobbs had such a strong, accurate arm. The Midshipmen were still predominantly a running team, but did not employ as much true triple-option as years past because Dobbs did not read it well.
With Dobbs, Jasper called more predetermined plays such as quarterback draws and used a lot of double-option or mid-line option featuring the quarterback and fullback. There was a heavy dose of quarterback keepers, fullback dives and quick pitches to the slots.
Now Navy has a quarterback whose strength is running and distributing the ball. While appearing in 11 games with three starts in 2009 and 2010, Kriss Proctor proved that he understands the triple-option and executes the system at a high level. As a result, the Midshipmen figure to do more of what confounds defenses the most.
"With Kriss, that's our main focal point. Getting back to the basics of what we have done in the past," Jasper said. "Kriss is very comfortable running the triple. He reads it well and does a good job of making sure the ball gets where it's supposed to be."
Navy has always tailored its offense to suit the strengths of the quarterback. Brian Hampton was similar to Dobbs in that he was a strong inside runner, so former head coach called fewer triple-option plays that season. Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada read the option better than any quarterback in program history so the coaching staff put the offense in his hands quite a bit.
Navy led the nation in rushing in 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2007. Those years are commemorated with plaques that hang in the offensive line meeting room. However, the Mids finished fourth nationally in rushing yardage per game in 2009 then slipped to sixth in 2010.
Fullback Alexander Teich confirmed that Navy wants to regain the No. 1 ranking. Being the top rushing team in the country is a badge of honor for the offensive line and all that carry the football.
"Absolutely, that's a goal we set every year. I'm kind of disappointed that we haven't done it since my freshman year. That's definitely something we want to get back," Teich said.
Navy attempted 93 passes in 2008, the last year it led the nation in rushing. The Midshipmen averaged just 60.9 passing yards per game that season. Last season, Navy attempted 157 passes and averaged 120 passing yards per game. With Dobbs leading the way, the Mids accumulated 1,560 yards passing in 2010, easily the most of the current triple-option era.
"Ricky was a great thrower so it made sense to take advantage of that ability," Teich said. "Kriss is a great runner so we're going to get back to the basics of the triple-option, get back to how Navy became Navy."
Jasper said he had to resist the temptation to throw the ball even more last season. Dobbs was a very adept passer, but the offensive coordinator and play-caller didn't want Navy to get away from what it does best.
"With Ricky, it was important to make sure we didn't lose our identity. We didn't want to get too enamored with how well he could throw the football," he said.
That won't be a problem this season since passing is not Proctor's strength. The California native may be the fastest Navy quarterback of the triple-option era and has the moves to make defenders miss. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound senior flashed his dynamic running ability by gaining 201 yards on 20 carries against Central Michigan last season.
Navy also has a proven fullback in Teich and a bevy of talented slotbacks led by Gee Gee Greene. Teich enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2010, rushing for 863 yards and five touchdowns. Greene ranked third on the team with 492 yards rushing and second with 286 yards receiving. Aaron Santiago also is a returning starter at the slot position after contributing 201 yards rushing and 251 yards receiving last season.
"We definitely have a lot of talented skill players who have been practicing in this offense for a long time. I really like the weapons we have in our arsenal," Teich said.
Proctor, Teich and Greene will have the luxury of running behind a veteran offensive line that returns four of five starters. Center Brady DeMell, tackle Ryan Basford and guards John Dowd and Josh Cabral comprise the core of a unit that helped Navy average almost 30 points and 404 total yards per game a year ago.
"These are guys that don't want to sit back there and pass block. They want to put their hand in the dirt, fire off the ball and hit someone in the mouth," Teich said. "I joke with them about being grimy. You look at those guys and they've always got grass and mud on their jerseys and snot coming out of their noses. That's because every day they're coming off the ball hard and really getting after people."
Teich said the toughness, intensity and aggressiveness displayed by the offensive line serves as a motivator for the ballcarriers.
"I love running behind those guys because the commitment they have to each other, and the commitment they have toward blocking for me and Kriss and the slots. It makes you want to run hard to reward them for their hard work," Teich said.
Jasper is excited that Navy has so many proven players on offense and agreed the collective experience is invaluable. However, Jasper thinks back to his junior year at Hawaii when almost the entire offense returned from a team that captured the Western Athletic Conference championship. Quarterback Michael Carter headed an impressive group of talented skill players, but the Rainbows could not recapture the offensive magic of the year before and finished with a 6-6 record.
"That season is always in the back of my mind. We have a lot of talent coming back, we have the parts to be successful, but we have to stay hungry," Jasper said. "We've been trying to find stories about teams that had a lot of players returning and failed to accomplish their goals. We've made our guys aware of that. Hopefully, they'll be scared of that happening and go out determined to not let it happen. That's been our motto for the season."
