Preview: New coach, same old Midshipmen at Navy

ANNAPOLIS, Md.

Navy quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada breaks the huddle and casually struts toward the football, where a group of offensive linemen are bunched together in front of him and two wingbacks flank him.

He calls out signals, takes the snap, hands the ball off to one of his teammates and, seconds later, the whistle blows.

Over and over again, the same scene is replayed as Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo observes like a director on a movie set ready to yell, “Cut!” There is no improvisation or pretense involved in the Midshipmen’s practice on this day or any other.

When Navy plays, there are no secrets, either.

“People know we’re going to run the ball,” slotback Shun White said. “The question is: ‘Can you stop us?’”

Last year, teams like Pittsburgh and Notre Dame couldn’t. They were two of Navy’s victims during the Midshipmen’s 8-5 season – their fifth consecutive winning campaign under coach Paul Johnson. But Johnson is now the head coach at Georgia Tech. What he left behind: a blueprint for success, a team of veteran players, a new practice facility and Niumatalolo, the first Division I head coach of Samoan descent.

Niumatalolo, Johnson’s former offensive line coach, is as stripped-down as his team’s style of football. He doesn’t hem and haw. He gets to the point and, when asked if he plans to tinker with his team’s playbook, a slight smile breaks across his face.

“Coach Johnson has a system,” said Niumatalolo, 42. “I know the system works. We kept a lot of the things the same. I just want to win. I could care less about whose idea was it, whether it’s coach Johnson’s, Don Shula’s or Tom Landry’s. What coach Johnson was doing was working.”

Last season, the Midshipmen’s ground attack was more prolific than any in the country. As other teams were throwing all over the field in high-falutin’ spread formations, Navy was doing just the opposite.

The Midshipmen rushed for an average of 348.8 yards per game using the triple option – an offense many in college football consider passe but one Niumatalolo has no plans to abandon. And that is just fine with Kaheaku-Enhada, a dual-threat quarterback who passed for 952 yards and rushed for 834 more.

“It’s been a great run the last few years,” Kaheaku-Enhada said. “Hopefully we can continue it.”

With 12 starters back and links between the previous coaching staff and the current one, there is reason to believe the Midshipmen will. The foundation is still in place. So is the team’s modus operandi. Navy will rely on its ground game and opponents will be charged with tripping the Midshipmen up.

It’s football in its most distilled form – just the way the Midshipmen like it.

“We’re going to run the ball,” White said. “It’s just what Navy does and we’re going to be successful at it.”

Rainer Sabin, (757) 446-2367, rainer.sabin@pilotonline.com

About Navy

Coach Ken Niumatalolo, first season at Navy

Last year 8-5, lost to Utah in Poinsettia Bowl 35-32

Returning starters 4 on offense, 8 on defense

Impact players Dual-threat QB Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada is back for his senior season. In 2007, he passed for 952 yards, only 118 more than he rushed for. FB Eric Kettani led the team in rushing with 880 yards. Junior nose guard Nate Frazier and Michael Walsh anchor a strong defensive line.

Good news The offense isn’t changing under Niumatalolo. With its triple-option scheme, Navy has led the nation in rushing three consecutive seasons, last year at 348.8 ypg. It also averaged 39.3 points.

Bad news They also gave up a lot. While the defense returns eight starters, the players with experience don’t have a great track record. Opponents averaged more than five TDs a game last season.

The big game Nov. 15 vs. Notre Dame. A second straight victory against the Irish could prove that the Midshipmen’s recent success was no fluke.

Bottom line Niumatalolo inherited a good situation and a program on the rise. The Midshipmen have the talent to get back to a bowl, but they have to navigate a difficult schedule.