The 2007-08 Big Time College Football Bowl Season Kicks Off Tonight!
The United States Naval Academy Midshipmen (8-4) verses the University of Utah Utes (8-4). Talk about two different approaches to the option. This amounts to the way things are verses the way things used to be. The military academies were some of the first to adopt the option offense in an attempt to offset their opponent's size advantage or their own lack of size. You see, the academies have certain size restrictions concerning incoming freshman. Years in the past, this wasn't an issue and the military academies were able to compete on an even playing field with the colleges and universities of that era. Today, they have been forced to use deception in the form of such things as the triple-option to keep defensive lineman in check as they have to hold their positions in anticipation of a misdirection play turning back into their area of responsibility. The primary disadvantage for the academies comes on defense. When their undersized defensive lineman are on the field, they have to rely on quickness to counter the blocking schemes of offensive linemen who are anywhere from 15 to as much as 40 pounds heavier. Here are the team line average weight comparisons for this game:
Navy..........................Offensive Line................Defensive Line
So how do the Midshipmen do on offense using the Triple-option offense? They just happen to lead the nation in rushing with a per game average of 351.5 yards. How does this compare to Utah's ability to stop the run? Utah has only allowed an average of 130.0 rushing yards per game... Something's going to give here. Overall, Navy is 20th in the nation with 5,335 yards of total offense while defensively, Utah is 14th in the nation with 3,837 total yards of offense allowed. When the Navy offense and Utah defense are on the field, it should be very interesting.
Offensively, Utah is also running a type of option, the spread option. This variance on the option relies on a more balanced approach between rushing and passing. The size advantage across the line of scrimmage should favor the Utes in this game as the spread option also relies on deception, forcing opposing teams to hold their defensive positions. Utah began playing this style a few years ago when Urban Meyer coached the Utes. This season, under Head Coach Kyle Whittingham, the Utah offense accounted for 4,354 total yards (1,964 rushing and 2.390 passing) for a 71st national ranking. On the other hand, Navy's defense allowed 5,280 total yards of offense for an 87th national ranking.
After taking a look at their 2007 statistics, it becomes obvious this game will pit strength against strength when Navy is on offense and weakness against weakness when Utah has the ball.
Some important statistics:
Average Points per Game: Navy scores 39.9 points per game and gives up 36.5 points per game. Utah scores 25.5 points per game and gives up 15.6 points per game. Net turnovers on the season, Navy is +1 while Utah is +10.
Players to watch:
Navy- QB Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada (4.8 yards per carry [YPC] and 830 yards passing), RBs Eric Kettani and Adam Ballard (5.4 YPC & 4.8 YPC respectively), and Ketric Buffin with 4 interceptions on the season.
Utah- QB Brian Johnson (1,621 yards passing), RB Darrell Mack (4.9 YPC), and Sean Smith with 4 interceptions on the season.
Expect a high scoring game in this year's Poinsettia Bowl. Who do I think is going to win? Well, if I had to say there was an advantage in the crowd, it would be Navy even though they have to travel about three times as far to get to San Diego when considering Utah. The huge naval bases in the region should put a lot of Navy supporters in the stands...
But who do I think will win? I hate to say it...
No one is manning the wheel (Navy Coach Paul Johnson left for Georgia Tech)... Navy is going down!
I'm a sports fanatic living on the west coast of Florida. I'm a rare bird that moved here from the left coast a couple of years ago. I advocate an even playing field in all of life's endeavors.
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