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Notre Dame football: Irish should have no issues against Navy

By Daniel Morrison

SAN DIEGO, CA - OCTOBER 27: SDCCU stadium filed during the opening ceremony and national anthem singing prior to the 92nd playing between the Navy Midshipmen and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at SDCCU Stadium on October 27, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Kent Horner/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - OCTOBER 27: SDCCU stadium filed during the opening ceremony and national anthem singing prior to the 92nd playing between the Navy Midshipmen and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at SDCCU Stadium on October 27, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Kent Horner/Getty Images) /
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WEST POINT, NY – DECEMBER 12: Xavier Arline #7 of the Navy Midshipmen throws a pass during the third quarter of a game against the Army Black Knights at Michie Stadium on December 12, 2020 in West Point, New York. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
WEST POINT, NY – DECEMBER 12: Xavier Arline #7 of the Navy Midshipmen throws a pass during the third quarter of a game against the Army Black Knights at Michie Stadium on December 12, 2020 in West Point, New York. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) /

Notre Dame football: Irish should have no issues against Navy

Navy Offense

Navy’s offense is often oversimplified as the triple-option offense, and while that is true there is so much more going on than just the triple option. Navy’s offense is actually about putting defenders in no-win situations. It’s about putting a linebacker into conflict.

The option is a tool for doing this.

However, it’s not the only one. The Midshipmen will run counter plays and misdirection to great effect. They also thrive on the fullback dive and optioning out from the fullback dive, or running a speed option play. Their offensive line will typically cut block, which makes for a long and dangerous game for opposing defensive lines.

When they do throw, they throw deep, trying to catch safeties cheating towards the line of scrimmage, punishing them for chunk plays. Navy uses large chunks of the clock between plays and takes their time. This prevents their defense from needing to be on the field for extended periods of time.

They also like to go for it on 4th down, more than almost any other team in the country. In 10 games last season, Navy went for it on 4th down 30 times. 20 times they converted. 

This offense only works with a quarterback who understands it fully, and the Midshipmen will be turning to Xavier Arline full-time to run the offense. Dalen Morris graduated and Tyger Goslin was moved to running back. Arline was a freshman last season, and by the best running quarterback, Navy had.

Arline is a great athlete, at one point being committed to North Carolina as both a football player and a top-5 lacrosse recruit. Every academy wanted him, and he has all the potential in the world. After a year of real practice and more time to understand the offense, he could thrive.

In a big loss, Navy lost its top fullback Jamale Carothers, who had to leave the academy. Other than making sure that Arline is up to snuff, finding the right fullback to replace Carothers’ production is going to be difficult to find. It’s important, though, as Navy likes to gain 4 yards per dive and break the will of a defense.

Oddly enough, Navy is most confident in their wide receivers. They know what they have there, and they have a lot of good experience at wide receiver.

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