Quarterback Blake Horvath led another impressive offensive performance while inside linebacker Colin Ramos spearheaded a dominant display by the defense. Even punter Riley Riethman sparked a solid outing by the special teams.

Horvath accounted for 234 yards of offense, making plays with both his arm and feet. The talented junior had career highs for rushing (122) and passing (112) yards.

Through two games, Horvath has shown a strong grasp of the new Wing-T offense and the ability to make all the plays asked of the quarterback. He’s always been a smooth runner with great instincts and looks comfortable taking off on option keepers.

Horvath, a triple-option quarterback at Hilliard Darby High in Ohio, showed he has the speed to go the distance during a 65-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. He’s equally effective running inside or outside and has the quickness to make defenders miss.

Navy coaches challenged Horvath to improve as a passer during the offseason to effectively run first-year offensive coordinator Drew Cronic’s “millennial” Wing-T attack. So far, so good, as Horvath has completed 12 of 21 passes (57%) for 220 yards and three touchdowns.

It helps to have a big-time playmaker to target, and snipe Eli Heidenreich has quickly emerged as the primary guy in the passing game. He was a slot receiver at Mount Lebanon High in Pittsburgh and it shows with his route-running and pass-catching skills. Heidenreich has the speed and acceleration to get separation and extremely sure hands.

Heidenreich already has eight catches for 172 yards and three scores because Cronic has designed pass plays to get him in space. Another example came Saturday when Horvath connected with Heidenreich for a 31-yard touchdown strike.

It came off a play that looked like a triple-option with Horvath faking to the fullback then carrying the ball down the line of scrimmage with a trailing back. Temple’s linebackers and safeties rushed up in run support just as Horvath pulled up and set to throw. Heidenreich, who was wide-open downfield, caught the ball in stride and waltzed into the end zone.

Millennial, indeed.

“I think the biggest thing is the wrinkles you can add off the plays you run already. We want to make as many plays look as similar as possible,” Horvath said of the play. “We run option off that look and [Brandon Chatman] had a long run. We ran it to the left and I had a solid gain. They were really flying downhill. You reel them in a little bit and lull them to sleep.”

Cronic also used a simple play to get the ball into Heidenreich’s hands, having him run a short route into the right flat for an easy pitch and catch. It is the type of high-percentage short passing concept that is almost guaranteed to pick up a few yards and has the potential for a big gain because of Heidenreich’s speed, quickness and elusiveness.

Cronic still has plenty left to show from the Wing-T playbook. It’s going to be fun and exciting as the veteran play-caller unveils more of the diverse package.

Navy has piled up 87 points and 846 total yards through two games, which means the offensive line is getting the job done. Following Saturday’s game, Horvath made sure to give credit to the unit composed of left tackle Connor McMahon, left guard Ben Purvis, center Brent Self, right guard Cam Nichols and right tackle Javan Bouton.

Temple had a highly touted defensive line, but Navy dominated the line of scrimmage on the way to amassing 297 rushing yards. The Midshipmen currently rank 10th nationally in rushing offense with 280.5 yards per game on the ground. That’s more like it after some underwhelming offensive performances in recent seasons.

“[The Owls] give the toughest players single-digit numbers, so when you see a bunch of those guys on the defensive line you know they are going to try to make some plays,” Horvath said. “A big point of emphasis was winning the game up front, and I thought we did that.”

Temple quarterback E.J. Warner torched Navy last year to the tune of 402 yards and four touchdown passes in a stunning upset. Ramos, the defensive captain, said the Midshipmen were determined to make amends, and they did so convincingly. Ramos recorded 15 tackles as Navy shut down the running game and made Temple one-dimensional with quarterback Forrest Brock completing 30 of 46 passes for 277 yards. He missed a lot of throws, however, and routinely settled for short passes. The Mids had two interceptions and five pass breakups.

Cornerback Ira Oniha set the tone on the first play of the game, drilling a wideout for a 3-yard loss.

“We knew we basically had to punch them in the face,” Ramos said, “and Ira did that on the first play.”

That was a theme throughout the game as Navy was aggressive in coverage and refused to allow Temple receivers to turn short passes into big gains. The Mids tackled well in open space and had multiple defenders rally to the ball.

Give credit to defensive coordinator P.J. Volker, too, for creating a game plan that prevented the nickel-and-dime approach Temple implemented so successfully last season.

“I think they tried to make the screens an extension of their run game and we handled the perimeter pretty well. I thought we fit things up outside,” Navy coach Brian Newberry said.

When Newberry was hired as Navy defensive coordinator in 2019 he brought a “get six” mantra he believes is key to success. The Mids’ defense has met that challenge in a big way so far this season, totaling nine points against both Bucknell and Temple.

On Saturday, the defense recorded a trio of three-and-outs, a pair of turnovers on downs, two interceptions, a fumble recovery and a safety.

Newberry was upset about how the special teams performed in the season opener as there was a kickoff out of bounds, a missed extra point, and too many yards allowed on returns.

Navy was much better with the specialty units against Temple with Riethman repeatedly pinning the visitors deep with three punts that were downed inside the 20-yard line. He boomed a 51-yard punt early in the first quarter that was downed at the 2-yard line. He followed with a high punt that was fair caught at the 9-yard line and led to the safety.

Temple’s average starting field position for the game was its 22-yard line, which was an important factor in the game.

“We played really well on special teams. Field position was really critical, especially in the first half, and we dominated that area,” Newberry said. “I just thought the overall effort and execution were much better. The attention to detail was much better.”

However, the defense deserves as much or more credit for the Midshipmen posting another convincing victory Saturday before an announced crowd of 28,889 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

Inside linebacker Colin Ramos spearheaded a dominant defensive effort as Navy routed visiting Temple, 38-11, in the American Athletic Conference opener for both programs. Ramos, the senior defensive captain, recorded 15 tackles and the defense made a ton of big plays in totally shutting down the Owls.

Cornerback Ira Oniha had six tackles, a clutch pass breakup that prevented a touchdown and a forced fumble for Navy (2-0), which held Temple three points until there were 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter. Outside linebackers Jaxson Campbell and Kenneth McShan notched interceptions for the Mids, who limited the Owls to 193 total yards through three quarters.

“I thought defensively we really flew around and competed. We gave up some stuff underneath, but we didn’t give up any explosive plays. The plan was to make them earn it and I thought we did that today,” said Navy coach Brian Newberry, noting that Temple’s run game was “nonexistent.”

Navy avenged last season’s embarrassing 32-18 loss to Temple in Philadelphia. Members of the Midshipmen’s defense in particular said they had this contest circled after getting picked apart by quarterback E.J. Warner.

“It was pretty personal because of last year, so this was a big one,” Ramos said. “The main focus was on ourselves and coming out the right way as a defense, and I think we did that.”

Newberry said defensive coordinator P.J. Volker beat himself up about the game plan against Temple a year ago.

“I thought [Volker] called a brilliant game today. He put our guys in the right positions and we executed well for the most part,” Newberry said.

Quarterback Blake Horvath was the sparkplug of a Navy offense that amassed 409 total yards. Horvath rushed for 122 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries before leaving the game late in the third quarter. He also completed 5 of 9 passes for 112 yards and a score.

Horvath became the first Navy quarterback to surpass 100 rushing and passing yards since Tai Lavatai accomplished the feat against SMU in 2022.

“I thought Blake did a nice job and played really well. He threw some nice balls,” Newberry said. “One thing about Blake — as he gets more and more confident, he’s going to get better and better.”

Snipe Eli Heidenreich had another big game with four receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown. Fullback Alex Tecza made his presence known with 92 rushing yards on just nine carries.

Horvath took an option keeper 62 yards for a touchdown on a first down play early in the second quarter. On Navy’s next possession, Tecza broke a fullback dive 65 yards for a score on first down. Heidenreich later added a 51-yard reception that got Navy off its own goal line.

“We have a bunch of skill players that when they get the ball they can go to the house with it,” Newberry said.

It’s been an explosive start to the season for the Wing-T offense brought to Annapolis by first-year coordinator Drew Cronic as Navy is averaging 43.5 points and 423 total yards through two games.

“I knew Drew was going to do a great job. He’s a proven winner whose had success everywhere he’s been, scored a lot of points everywhere he’s been,” Newberry said. “Just a really good football coach and a really good person. He’s got these guys believing in what we’re doing.”

Temple’s Forrest Brock completed 30 of 46 passes for 277 yards and a touchdown to lead Temple (0-2), which has been outscored 90-13 in two games this season. The Owls were completely one-dimensional, managing only 35 rushing yards against the stout front seven of the Midshipmen.

Navy’s defense put the first points on the board. With the Owls backed up inside their 10, Brock could not handle the shotgun snap and the ball rolled into the end zone. Brock was able to recover, but was drilled by Justin Reed and knocked out of bounds for a safety.

Isaiah Bryant returned the subsequent free kick 21 yards to give Navy great field position. Horvath then directed an efficient 11-play, 58-yard touchdown drive the quarterback capped himself with a 2-yard plunge into the end zone.

Things got worse for Temple on its third possession as Navy outside linebacker Jaxson Campbell made a great read and jumped in front of an attempted slant pass to record his first career interception. Navy needed only one play to capitalize on the turnover with Horvath taking an option keeper around the left side, picking up a great block by tight end Jake Norris and racing down the sideline 62 yards to paydirt. Kicker Nathan Kirkwood made his second extra point to increase the lead to 16-0 .

After a Temple three-and-out, Navy produced its second straight one-play touchdown drive. Tecza did an impressive job of maintaining balance and staying on his feet while shaking off a tackle attempt on a dive play. Tecza broke loose and found no defenders between himself and the goal line, racing 65 yards to the end zone to make it 23-0.

Temple mounted a late drive that produced a 36-yard field goal by Maddux Trujillo and went into halftime trailing 23-3.

Navy got the ball to start the second half and promptly mounted an impressive nine-play, 81-yard touchdown drive that featured a nice mixture of plays. It started with a reverse that wide receiver Nathan Kent took 17 yards for a quick first down. Horvath gained another 17 yards on consecutive keepers to bring the ball into Temple territory.

Three plays later, Cronic made a great call that produced a 31-yard scoring strike. Horvath faked to the fullback and carried the ball outside with a pitch man trailing on what looked like a triple-option play. However, Horvath abruptly pulled up, set his feet and found Heidenreich racing wide-open down the seam.

Heidenreich caught the pass in stride and waltzed into the end zone. Newberry called for the two-point conversion and Horvath completed a swing pass to Chatman to give Navy a commanding 31-3 lead.

There were more heroics from the Navy defense on the ensuing possession after Temple converted on fourth down in its own territory. Brock completed a pass to speedy wide receiver Ashton Allen and cornerback Mbiti Williams missed the tackle attempt.

Allen, an Odenton resident who initially attended USC on a track and field scholarship, raced down the sideline and seemed headed for the end zone, but cornerback Ira Oniha made a great hustle play and knocked him out of bounds at the 7-yard line after a 47-yard gain.

However, Navy held and forced a turnover on downs.

Horvath later iced the game with an 18-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter.

Memphis at Navy

Saturday, Sept. 21, 3:30 p.m.

TV: CBS Sports Network

Radio: 1430 AM

Jaxson Campbell, a first-year starter at striker, led the Midshipmen with 10 tackles, including 1½ for loss. He also had half a sack and a pass breakup.

“Jaxson played the way I hoped and expected he would,” Navy coach Brian Newberry said after the game. “That’s a critical position that needs to be productive. Typically, when that guy is productive we’re doing pretty good on defense.”

Luke Pirris, in his second season as the starting raider, recorded eight tackles with 2½ for losses. Pirris notched 1 ½ sacks and forced a fumble that he recovered himself.

“I love Luke Pirris and the way he plays football. He had a couple really nice pass rush moves in the game and was very disruptive,” Navy defensive coordinator P.J. Volker said. “Luke just keeps getting better, keeps getting bigger, stronger and faster. You can tell the game is starting to slow down for him quite a bit.”

Campbell and Pirris got most of the defensive repetitions while the Bucknell game was in doubt, but Brown feels very comfortable with replacing them at any time with backups Kenneth McShan (striker) and Dylan Spelios (raider).

Brown said Spelios gets his vote for most improved player on defense, while McShan has adapted well after being moved from inside linebacker.

“We’ve had really, really healthy competition at both positions,” Brown said. “Dylan Spelios has shown that he’s ready to be a key member of this dark side defense. Kenny McShan has come really far in such a short time and is playing at a high level as well.”

Pirris was pressed into the starting lineup five games into last season after Jordan Sanders suffered an injury and played so well he kept the job even once Sanders was healthy.

Pirris wound up leading Navy with 10 tackles for loss and tying for the team lead with 4 ½ sacks. He ranked fifth with 62 total tackles and also had three pass breakups, three forced fumbles.

“You don’t really experience what playing in a game is like until you’re thrown into one,” Pirris said. “I grew a lot last year as far as seeing the pace of the game with how fast things move and how talented the players we go against are.”

Brown praised Pirris for working hard during the offseason with strength and conditioning coordinator Jim Kiritsy to “totally transform his body.” Pirris put on 15 pounds of primarily muscle and believes the increased size and strength has allowed the junior to “take my game to another level.”

Both Brown and Volker pushed Pirris to improve as a pass rusher and the production in the opener showed that he did. “I feel like I’ve taken a big step forward in that department and I’m looking forward to showcasing that this season,” he said.

While Pirris was impressive in the opener, he was nowhere near flawless and Volker pinpointed several fundamental mistakes while reviewing the game tape.

“Luke’s got to be more consistent with some of the techniques we’re looking for,” Volker said.

Volker says this is the deepest Navy has been at the raider position during his six years with the program and that is evidenced by the fact Sanders, who has played in 29 career games with four starts, is third on the depth chart. However, Volker is not surprised Spelios has made a move because he was the best defensive player at the Naval Academy Prep School in 2021.

“Dylan Spelios has really come on and is developing into the type of player we thought he would be when we recruited him,” Volker said. “Jordan has started games and is a tremendous talent as well. He brings some pass rush ability and is sturdy in the run game.”

Campbell was given every opportunity to earn the starting striker spot in August 2023 and was unable to do so. He too often played outside the parameters of the defense and got caught out of position. Senior Xavier McDonald wound up starting all 12 games and the coaching staff switched classmate Eavan Gibbons from safety to be the backup. Campbell was forced to prove himself on special teams.

“Jaxson probably got humbled a bit last year for the first time in his football career,” Volker said. “It was probably a little surprising for him, as it was for the coaches.”

One year later, Campbell is a completely different player with a better understanding of the defense and his role within it.

“Jaxson has matured a lot and made a ton of progress. The thing he’s improved the most is his discipline and not trying to make every play,” Volker said. “The level of detail with him has gotten so much better.”

Campbell agrees with that assessment and took to heart the Navy defensive mantra of having a high fixation to details.

“I know my job and where I’m supposed to be, so the coaches are now able to trust me. I’m not just relying on my athleticism to just run into plays and kind of be lucky,” Campbell said. “I’m so excited that I’m finally getting released and have the opportunity to go out and showcase what I can do for my football team. I’m excited to cause a lot of havoc.”

Brown said Campbell attacked spring camp like a consummate professional and saw the light bulb come on in terms of executing what the coaching staff demands from the striker. Newberry said Campbell’s “motor runs hot” at all times and noted he’s learned how to properly channel that intensity.

“Jaxson loves football and is hungry to improve. I love his work ethic and the way he attacks every day with amazing energy and enthusiasm,” Volker said. “We need that position to be a game wrecker and Jaxson has shown he can do that. He’s a very versatile athlete who can win off the edge or drop into coverage.”

McShan is another talented player who has been the victim of the injury bug. He earned a spot on special teams as a plebe and suffered a season-ending knee injury in the second game against Memphis. He worked hard to rehabilitate and was back in the mix at inside linebacker during preseason camp a year ago when the right knee blew out and required another surgery.

“It speaks volumes about Kenny’s mental toughness and character to battle back and be primed to make an impact for this football team,” Volker said. “Kenny brings a level of physicality to the striker position that we haven’t had in the past. He is a very sudden, violent hitter.”

Navy Outside Linebackers

Position coach: Ricky Brown, second year

Current starters: Jaxson Campbell (Junior, 5-10, 202) at striker; Luke Pirris (Junior, 6-4, 217) at raider

Top backups: Kenneth McShan (Junior, 6-1, 207) at striker; Dylan Spelios (Junior, 6-4, 225) at raider

Starters lost: Striker Xavier McDonald (graduated)

Other lettermen lost: Striker Eavan Gibbons (graduated)

The legendary former Navy coach will be back in Annapolis on Saturday to celebrate the 20th anniversary of being named the Bobby Dodd National Coach of the Year.

Johnson reached the pinnacle of the profession in 2004 when he lead Navy to a 10-2 record. It was the first 10-win season for the Midshipmen since 1905 and caught the attention of the entire college football world.

Navy beat service academy rivals Army and Air Force to capture the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy and capped the memorable campaign by defeating New Mexico in the Emerald Bowl. It was the culmination of a remarkable turnaround for the Midshipmen, who went 2-10 in Johnson’s first season at the helm in 2002.

“That was the cherry on top of a very special season. It was great to see Coach Johnson recognized for what he accomplished that year,” said Aaron Polanco, starting quarterback and offensive captain of that 2004 Navy squad. “That was something we as players could be very proud of — having the coach of the year for the entire country.”

Johnson will be recognized during Saturday’s game against Temple for the 20th anniversary of his award.

Johnson totally transformed Navy football during his six-year tenure, turning around a downtrodden program and leading it to a 45-29 overall record. The Midshipmen went 11-1 combined against the other two service academies and claimed the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy five times.

“I think the biggest thing we did at Navy was change the expectation level and do away with some of the preconceived notions on what could happen there,” Johnson told The Capital. “Everyone had all sorts of excuses for why you couldn’t be successful and we changed that whole mindset.”

Navy football hit rock bottom toward the end of coach Charlie Weatherbie’s tenure, going 1-20 in his last two seasons. Johnson, who was Weatherbie’s offensive coordinator in 1996 when Navy went 9-3 and upset California in the Aloha Bowl, was coaching at Georgia Southern, where he went 62-10 and won two 1-AA national championships.

Athletic director Chet Gladchuk lured Johnson back to the Naval Academy and it did not take long for him to resurrect the program. In just his second season at the helm, Johnson led Navy to an 8-5 record and a berth in the Houston Bowl. That set the stage for even greater success in 2004.

“What we were able to do the year before gave the players a lot of confidence and set a new standard for what we could accomplish,” said Mick Yokitis, a starting wide receiver on the 2004 team. “It was a bunch of  guys coming together and wanting to change the culture of the program and obviously it started at the top with Coach Johnson.”

Polanco, a senior, replaced graduated starter Craig Candeto at quarterback. He rushed for 980 yards and a team-high 16 touchdowns and passed for another 1,131 yards and eight scores.

Standout fullback Kyle Eckel, one of the greatest offensive players of the triple-option era, ran for 1,147 yards and 11 touchdowns. Slotback Eric Roberts accounted for 700 yards from scrimmage.

Safety Josh Smith recorded 119 tackles to spearhead a defense that only allowed an average 17 points per game in the 10 wins. Inside linebackers Bobby McClarin (107 tackles) and Lane Jackson (102 tackles) were other key figures on that side of the ball.

“I think a big part of that season was that we had a player-oriented team. Once we got the culture right, the players took ownership of the program and they expected to win,” Johnson said. “We had some good players that meshed well together. Once we got rolling, things kind of steamrolled that season. It was a really fun team to coach because it was player-driven.”

Memorable campaign

Navy got off to a great start and showed its potential by dominating Duke, 27-12, in the season opener. Polanco and Eckel led an offense that amassed 430 rushing yards, while the defense held the Blue Devils to 265 total yards.

Surprisingly, one of Navy’s toughest opponents proved to be Division I-AA Northeastern, which pushed the home team to the limit before falling, 28-24.

“That game was a good reminder that Navy cannot take anyone lightly,” Johnson said. “We could never roll our helmets out there and out-athlete any team we played.”

Navy posted a 29-0 shutout of Tulsa in its first road game of the season, then edged Vanderbilt, 29-26. The Midshipmen were brimming with confidence going into the opening leg of the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy series.

Eckel and Polanco combined to rush for 168 yards and three touchdowns as Navy beat Air Force, 24-21, at Falcon Stadium. It was a Thursday night game broadcast nationally on ESPN and kicker Geoff Blumenfeld was the hero, booting a 30-yard field goal with four seconds remaining in regulation.

“Geoff always had a great leg and he handled the pressure in that big moment when he needed to make a big kick,” said Polanco, who was the holder for the huge field goal. “That was an unforgettable game that we still talk about to this day.”

Johnson said the seeds for that momentous win were sown during his first season when Navy lost to Air Force, 48-7, in Colorado Springs.

“I’ll never forget picking up the local paper on Sunday morning and [Air Force coach] Fisher DeBerry said they wanted to send us a message,” Johnson said. “I put that newspaper in my desk and kept it there the entire time I coached at Navy. When we beat them for five years in a row, I felt like saying: ‘Message delivered. Right back at you!’”

Navy suffered its first loss of the season at the hands of Notre Dame, 27-9, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. However, the Midshipmen rebounded the following week to become bowl eligible.

Riding high with a 6-1 record, Navy laid an egg in New Orleans when it got routed by Tulane, 42-10. The Green Wave, who finished 5-6 that season, had plenty of offensive talent as running back Matt Forte and wide receiver Roydell Williams both played in the NFL. Quarterback Lester Ricard was on fire that day, completing 18 of 19 passes for 323 yards and four touchdowns.

Yokitis, now in his 14th season as Navy wide receivers coach, thinks overconfidence was the reason for that lopsided loss. “That Tulane game still haunts me to this day. They were talented, but we should never have lost to that team. We just didn’t show up that day.”

Navy closed the epic campaign with consecutive blowouts, beating Rutgers, 54-21, and Army, 42-13. Eckel ran for a career-high 179 yards and the triple-option offense was clicking on all cylinders in totaling 405 yards against the Black Knights.

“Our coaching staff called Kyle Eckel the academy killer. Our defense couldn’t tackle him and neither could Army or Air Force,” Johnson said.

Navy went 6-0 against its archrival during Johnson’s tenure, a period that saw Army have three different head coaches (Todd Berry, Bobby Ross, Stan Brock). Johnson’s patented triple-option system so confounded the Black Knights the administration ultimately hired one of his disciples, Jeff Monken,  as head coach.

“I remember playing Army one year and at halftime I stepped out of the locker room just as Army was walking through the tunnel on the way back to the field,” Johnson recalled. “One of their defensive linemen looked at me and said: ‘Coach, we don’t have a freaking clue.’ I tried not to laugh, but it was just too funny and I couldn’t help myself.”

Bowl champions

Navy capped the 2004 season by beating New Mexico, 34-19, in the Emerald Bowl at SBC Park in San Francisco. Polanco accounted for 237 yards of total offense and four touchdowns as the Mids earned just the fifth bowl victory in program history and the first since 1996.

That game is still remembered for the epic drive that enabled Navy to salt away almost the entire fourth quarter. The Mids set NCAA records with 26 plays and 14:26 time of possession while marching 94 yards to set up a 22-yard field goal by Blumenfeld.

“We kept converting third and fourth downs. We were barely picking up first downs and just chipping away,” Polanco recalled. “You could see that our superior conditioning showed through. We steadily wore down the defense and they were tired. Halfway through the drive you could see their guys were sucking wind.”

What Johnson remembers most about that remarkable drive was that he twice called for a throwback to the quarterback on fourth down. Polanco pitched the ball to slotback Frank Divis, then snuck out the back door to catch passes of 6 and 17 yards.

“They were playing man-to-man and had no one assigned to cover the quarterback,” Johnson said.

When all was said and done, Johnson was the winner of the Bobby Dodd Trophy, which boosted his candidacy for the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame.

“Considering all of what Coach Johnson did during his career, it’s a very deserving honor. I think all the intangible things he brings to a program are what made him a Hall of Fame coach,” Polanco said. “Coach Johnson brought a winning mentality to Navy an left an incredible legacy. We learned that the triple-option was basically unstoppable at times when you’re running the right plays and making the right reads.”

Yokitis said Johnson was never satisfied and established a high standard at Navy that was maintained for most of the 15-year tenure of successor Ken Niumatalolo.

“Coach Johnson never told us we were any good. He was relentless about always getting better and stayed on us all the time,” Yokitis said. “He was a master of staying on your butt and making sure you reached your potential.”

Johnson left Navy to become head coach at Georgia Tech, which he led to an 82-61 record over 11 seasons. The Yellow Jackets won the Coastal Division and played in the ACC Championship Game four times under his direction. Johnson said leaving Navy was “probably the hardest career decision I ever made.”

“I coached at a lot of places, but nowhere were the guys tougher than they were at the Naval Academy; We challenged them in a lot of ways and they always responded,” Johnson said. “I enjoyed coaching every day I was there and look back on those days fondly.”

Wing backs is the traditional term for the position in the old school offense. Navy fans knew these players as slotbacks for the past 21 years. Starting this season, they are now snipes — a nickname coined by current position coach David Cole.

Perhaps the most accurate description for these two players would be playmakers. In Cronic’s “millennial” version of Wing-T offense, the wing backs — or slots or snipes — have always played a pivotal role.

“They’re receivers and running backs. They’re good football players that can do a lot of things,” Cronic said. “You want home run hitters at that position —- guys that are able to do things we can’t teach when you get them the ball out in space.”

Navy fans saw Saturday how versatile a weapon the snipes can be in this offense. Starters Eli Heidenreich and Brandon Chatman combined for 170 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns to spark Navy to a 49-21 blowout of Bucknell in the season opener.

Cronic moved Chatman and Heidenreich all over the formation and found all sorts of creative ways to get them the ball. Chatman turned a well-designed screen pass into a 42-yard touchdown by slipping several tackles while threading his way through the defense. He also lined up in the backfield when Navy was in shotgun formation, followed an escort of blockers around the left side, turned the corner and picked up 14 yards. One possession later, he had a 16-yard gain off a well-designed run play.

Heidenreich took a short pass in the flat and raced 39 yards for a score, using a pair of lightning-quick jump cuts to leave two defenders grasping for air. He later lined up as a wide receiver, came in motion and took a jet sweep for an 8-yard gain. Shortly after, he ran a precision-like route to get open in the end zone for a 9-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Blake Horvath.

“We’ve got to get the ball in Eli’s hands and Chat’s hands as much as possible,” Cronic said. “I thought those two played exceptionally well and really made things happen [on Saturday].”

Heidenreich emerged as a big-time playmaker last season, leading Navy with 382 receiving yards and adding 214 rushing yards. The Pittsburgh native averaged a whopping 20.1 yards on 19 catches and a stellar 7.9 yards on 27 rushing attempts.

The 6-foot, 201-pound junior is the bigger body the coaching staff is seeking at the snipe position going forward. He was a slot receiver in high school and boasts extremely sure hands. That reliability catching the ball has led the coaching staff to install Heidenreich as the team’s punt returner this season.

It was somewhat fitting that Heidenreich set up Chatman’s touchdown reception with an impressive 23-yard punt return in which he made the gunner miss. Cole, who describes Heidenreich as the complete package in terms of speed, quickness and elusiveness, has nicknamed him Drago — the fictional Russian boxer from “Rocky IV.”

“Eli brings tremendous toughness and he does not get tired. He’s like a machine, which is why we call him Drago,” Cole said. “On top of all that, Eli is a really smart player as well. He does a tremendous job of seeing the defense and understanding what they’re trying to do. He can process stuff quickly and play fast.”

Chatman, like Heidenreich, also made a mark in his first varsity season — tying for the team lead with 19 receptions for 254 yards, while rushing for 165 yards. The Florida native worked hard during the offseason to add 15 pounds to his 5-foot-9 frame and got much stronger.

Chatman credits strength and conditioning coordinator Jim Kiritsy for crafting a plan that enabled him to add pounds and muscle mass without sacrificing speed. Cole said Chatman has “built up his body armor” and is therefore a more physical runner and is not getting bumped around on pass routes.

“I was actually able to build my explosiveness and become bigger, faster and stronger,” Chatman said. “That adds a whole different factor to my game. It’s also showing up in my blocking, too. I feel like I’ve improved greatly with that.”

Chatman’s new-found power was on display during the 42-yard catch and run that produced his first career touchdown Saturday. He made several cutback moves while running through several arm tackles.

“I feel like I can be dangerous from the slot position as far as being able to catch the ball in space and make plays. That’s a very crucial aspect of this offense and we need to step up whenever our number is called,” he said.

Pound for pound, Chatman is one of the toughest players on the Navy football team and showed that last season despite being so slightly built. Coach Brian Newberry said Saturday’s touchdown run, in which Chatman literally powered through the body of one defender, is something we’ll see more of this season.

“Brandon’s always been a guy for his size who is a really hard runner and breaks tackles,” Newberry said. “You can definitely see that he’s a better football player than a year ago because of that added weight and strength.”

Cronic also had high praise for the way Chatman, Heidenreich and the other snipes blocked against Bucknell. He was proud of the way they competed and won matchups.

“Not only were they making plays with the football; they were also really unselfish and imposing themselves as blockers in the run game,” he said.

Senior Amin Hassan and sophomore Isaiah Bryant were the only other snipes that saw action while the game was still in doubt with each getting one carry and being targeted once in the passing game. Sophomore Joshua Guerin and freshman Mikey Pearson III are listed third on the depth chart.

Hassan was named position captain by the coaching staff with Cole describing him as a “steady Eddie type of guy” and said the maturity and experience he brings is invaluable. Chatman said his fellow south Florida native is like a big brother to the younger snipes.

“We all look up to Amin and lean on him for advice and wisdom,” he said.

While the position is now known as snipes instead of slots, the job description has not changed much. Chatman said the A snipe plays more of a running role, while the Z snipe is more involved with the passing game. Cole expects every member of the unit to know both the A and Z spots and be comfortable with switching back-and-forth.

“It’s the same position. The only thing I would say is different is the mentality,” Chatman said. “Coach Cole says we’re elite snipers and we’re going to be better than every position on the field. We’re going to make plays and practice harder than everybody else, too.”

Navy Snipes

Position Coach: David Cole, first year

Starters lost: none

Other lettermen lost: Anton Hall (dismissed); Daniel Jones (graduated)

Current starters: Eli Heidenreich (Junior, 6-0, 201); Brandon Chatman (Junior, 5-9, 167)

Top backups: Amin Hassan (Senior, 5-7, 170); Isaiah Bryant (Sophomore, 5-9, 160)

The Midshipmen could easily highlight a four-point loss at Memphis as a result that could have gone a different way. However, if you ask the players and coaches what game they would most like to have back it would be Temple.

The Midshipmen played arguably their worst game of the season against the Owls during a 32-18 loss at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. It was a surprisingly poor performance for the Navy defense, which got picked apart by Temple quarterback E.J. Warner. to the tune of 402 yards and four touchdowns.

Senior Xavier Arline made his season debut at quarterback after playing slotback through seven games and was initially rusty as Navy was limited to 268 total yards. It was an extremely disappointing loss for the Mids considering the Owls finished 3-9 overall and tied for last place in the American Athletic Conference with a 1-9 mark.

Afterward, first-year coach Brian Newberry said Navy got “outplayed and outcoached” by Temple. He thought the Mids came out “extremely flat” and played “very uninspired and sloppy football.”

Needless to say, Navy has some serious motivation as it hosts Temple on Saturday in the American Athletic Conference opener for both teams. Inside linebacker Luke Pirris said this game was circled on the schedule going into the season, while Newberry said the Mids definitely have a chip on their shoulder about the Owls.

Navy’s defense had played well for two straight games prior to Temple, shutting out Charlotte on just 265 total yards and limiting Air Force to 288 total yards. Newberry thought the defensive players may have been reading some of their own press clippings and “were a little overconfident” going into the Temple game.

Temple was picked to place last in the 14-team American by the preseason poll of media covering the conference. The Owls are now 6-19 under coach fourth-year coach Stan Drayton, who overhauled the roster by bringing in a slew of transfers.

Meanwhile, Temple suffered a significant loss through the portal as Warner transferred to Rice. Warner threw for 6,084 yards and 41 touchdowns during his two seasons as the starter for the Owls.

Newberry was certainly happy to see Warner go, but thinks his replacement — Forrest Brock — is very capable. Brock threw for more than 2,000 yards and 16 touchdowns at Santa Monica Community College in 2022.

“They replaced one good [quarterback] with another,” Newberry said. “I think [Brock] is a good player. He throws it really well and is athletic and can do some things in the running game. I’ve been really impressed with [Brock] and the skill around him.”

Navy football vs. Temple

Temple certainly has some talent at the wide receiver position led by redshirt junior Zae Baines, who had seven receptions for 132 yards against Navy a year ago. The Owls also brought in two highly-touted transfers in Ian Stewart (Michigan State) and Dante Wright (Colorado State).

Almost all the running backs are transfers, including Antwain Littleton, who came from Maryland. Sophomore Joquez Smith started the season opener, while Florida International transfer E.J. Wilson was the team’s leading rusher.

Poor offensive line play was a major issue last season as Temple ranked at the bottom of the Football Bowl Subdivision in rushing with 95.7 yards per game.

Temple only returns three starters on defense with talented end Tra Thomas (6-4, 225) the most notable. The Owls added another playmaker at end in Cam’Ron Stewart, a transfer from Rutgers.

Temple was routed on the road by Oklahoma, 51-3, on Friday night. The Owls committed six turnovers (four fumbles, two interceptions) and fell behind 34-0 at halftime.

Despite the lopsided result, Newberry came away impressed with Temple’s overall size and athleticism. He thought the Owls’ defense, which had three sacks and a quarterback hurry, played better than the final score would indicate.

“We need to play a lot faster this Saturday. There’s going to be a noticeable difference from what we saw this past Saturday and what we’ll see this Saturday. Things are going to happen faster,” Newberry said.

Navy opened with a 49-21 blowout of Bucknell, an overmatched Football Championship Subdivision opponent. The Midshipmen amassed 437 total yards as their new Wing-T offense made an impressive debut. On defense, the Midshipmen recovered two fumbles and totaled four sacks, seven tackles for loss. However, Newberry was not happy the unit allowed 337 yards.

“We left a lot out there on Saturday. You expect first-game jitters and mistakes because you have a lot of guys playing for the first time on both sides of the ball,” Newberry said. “We’re going to have to play much better this week to have a chance to beat Temple. We have to build off the good things we did well and correct the mistakes we made. Our goal is to be the most improved team in the country from Game 1 to Game 2.”

Starting quarterback Blake Horvath did a solid job of operating the Wing-T in its debut outing as Navy amassed 437 total yards in a 49-21 blowout of Bucknell. Backup Braxton Woodson took over under center early in the second half and showed a solid grasp of the schemes as the Midshipmen spread the ball around to an array of skill position players.

Second-year head coach Brian Newberry made a bold move by firing offensive coordinator Grant Chesnut after just one season and replacing him with Cronic. Chesnut was not a good fit in Annapolis for a variety of reasons, but the bottom line is that Navy ranked at the bottom of the Football Bowl Subdivision in total offense (300.3 yards, 123rd out of 130 teams) and scoring offense (17.7 points, No. 122).

I can confidently say the Midshipmen will significantly improve upon those numbers this season thanks to Cronic’s Wing-T.

I watched the Wing-T closely during spring practice and August preseason camp and was impressed by the schemes being introduced. Seeing the offense move the ball consistently and hit big plays against a solid, experienced defensive system that has been in place since 2019 was very encouraging.

However, it remained to be seen if the offensive success would carry over from practice into games and Navy’s new Wing-T passed its first test with flying colors. Granted, the competition was not comparable to what the Midshipmen will see in the American Athletic Conference, but the overall performance was impressive nonetheless.

First and foremost, the diversity of the Wing-T must be a breath of fresh air for Navy football fans that had gotten tired of a constant barrage of fullback dives and quarterback keepers in recent seasons.

Cronic’s playbook has a lot more variety. In addition to the traditional Wing-T schemes, there are triple-option elements and run-pass elements. Navy went no-huddle and operated at tempo at times on Saturday. Horvath and Woodson alternated between lining up under center or in the shotgun formation.

From the opening possession, Cronic showed he will keep defenses honest by running the ball between the tackles with power concepts. After seeing on the first series how Bucknell defended three runs up the middle, the veteran play-caller made a nice adjustment and ran a veer type of player with multiple down blockers creating a huge hole on the left side.

Fullback Daba Fofana exploded past the first and second level, then outraced several chasing defenders to the end zone for a 49-yard touchdown run.

Cronic did a nice job of incorporating pass plays in not-so-obvious situations with the quarterbacks often throwing on first or second down. However, it was notable that Navy showed it could convert in obvious passing situations with Horvath tossing a 9-yard touchdown to Eli Heidenreich on a third-and-8 situation in the red zone.

Horvath and Woodson combined to complete 10 of 19 passes for 173 yards and three touchdowns, validating Cronic’s vow to throw the ball more often.

When all was said and done, Navy displayed superb balance with 264 rushing yards and 173 passing yards. Perhaps most impressive was the fact so many different skill position players got touches.

Fofana and fellow fullbacks Alex Tecza and Shane Reynolds teamed for 24 rushing attempts. Brandon Chatman and Heidenreich spearheaded a snipe corps that ran the ball 13 times. Horvath and Woodson combined for 15 carries.

As far as the passing game, Horvath and Woodson targeted every position group — wide receivers, tight ends, fullbacks and snipes.

“You saw the balance we’re seeking offensively. We did some good things running the football and Blake did some nice things throwing the ball as well,” Newberry said. “To score 49 points and have that type of production in the first game… I’m really pleased.”

One element of this offense that I really like involves moving the quarterback out of the pocket. Cronic has several sprint-out plays that provide a run or pass option. There are some designed roll-out runs and Horvath had three double-digit gains on what is effectively a quarterback sweep.

Tight end is a staple position in the Wing-T offense and has to be an effective weapon, so it was encouraging to see sophomore Jake Norris record two catches for 25 yards.

We know from last season what a weapon Tecza can be in both the passing and running games as he accounted for 855 yards from scrimmage. Cronic has already indicated that he plans to line up Tecza all over the field and utilize his talent in a variety of ways.

It was nice to see Fofana, the senior offensive captain, lead Navy in rushing with 82 yards on eight carries. Fofana became a forgotten man last season after Tecza emerged.

Heidenreich was the focal point of the passing game in the season opener, catching four passes for 74 yards and two touchdowns. He turned a flare pass just past the line of scrimmage into a 45-yard touchdown with his speed and elusiveness, using a pair of jump steps to make defenders miss.

Junior Brandon Chatman, the other starting snipe, had 47 rushing yards on six attempts and turned a short screen pass into a 42-yard touchdown with a spectacular run after the catch.

“Eli is a guy we need to get the ball to more. We’ve got to find ways to do it. He’s a really good football player. When the ball gets into his hands good things tend to happen,” Newberry said. “I think [Chatman] is that type of player, too. Those two guys are playmakers. We need to make sure No. 22 and 24 get a lot of touches.”

What was most obvious during the season opener is that Cronic has a very good feel for play-calling and does a superb job of utilizing all the available weapons. He created this hybrid version of Wing-T offense and knows exactly what plays work against various defensive schemes. If the defensive coordinator attempts to take certain elements away, Cronic always has answers.

“What I love about Drew is that he’s an excellent play-caller. He sees things very well and knows how to adjust. He’s got a system in which one thing compliments another. I was really pleased with how he managed the game and called it,” Newberry said.

Most exciting for Navy fans is that Saturday provided just a glimpse of the “millennial” Wing-T playbook. Newberry said the coaching staff did not want to “overwhelm” the players with too many plays in Game 1, but felt the Mids displayed a “healthy menu.”

“We got the ball into the playmaker’s hands in some pretty simple ways,” Heidenreich said of Saturday’s game plan. “I can’t predict the future, but I can say we’ll be mixing it up and doing some more complex stuff moving forward.”

Quarterback Blake Horvath and fullback Daba Fofana led the way as the Midshipmen flashed an ability to break big plays and unveiled some innovative passing concepts.

Horvath completed 7 of 12 passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns before leaving the game with cramps, while Fofana rushed for 82 yards and a touchdown on just eight carries as Navy blew out Bucknell, 49-21.

Snipe Eli Heidenreich was the primary weapon in the passing game with four catches for a career-high 74 yards and two touchdowns. Heidenreich used his speed and elusiveness to pile up a bunch of yards after the catch.

Backup quarterback Braxton Woodson replaced Horvath and accounted for two touchdowns, one passing and one rushing, as the Midshipmen amassed 437 total yards. It marked the most yards for Navy since it piled up 510 against SMU in 2022.

“You saw the balance we’re seeking offensively. We did some good things running the football and Blake did some nice things throwing the ball as well,” Navy second-year coach Brian Newberry said. “To score 49 points and have that type of production in the first game … I’m really pleased. With that being said, there’s a lot of room for growth and improvement.”

Horvath and Woodson combined to complete 10 of 19 passes for 173 yards and three touchdowns. It marked the first time since November 2017 against Temple that the Mids had three passing touchdowns in a game.

Snipe Brandon Chatman contributed 47 rushing yards and scored on a spectacular 42-yard run off a screen pass for Navy, which won its season opener for the first time since 2019.

An announced crowd of 28,763 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium saw some of the diversity of the “hybrid” Wing-T attack installed by first-year offensive coordinator Drew Cronic. There were power concepts and triple-option elements in the running game, screens and throws down the seam in the passing game.

Sophomore tight end Jake Norris had two receptions for 25 yards, including an 18-yarder off a nice drag route to convert on third down. It marked the first time the Navy tight end has been targeted, much less caught a pass.

“It was a good variety of things today. Coming into the game we didn’t want to overwhelm [the players] with too large of a call sheet, but I thought it was a healthy menu,” Newberry said. “There’s still a lot out there and we’re going to have wrinkles every week. It’s an offense that keeps you off-balance and you guys saw that today. It’s a good variety of things.”

Newberry noted the offense could have done more had there not been four costly penalties and numerous dropped passes. A chop block penalty nullified a first down and brought an abrupt end to one promising drive into enemy territory. Wide receiver Nathan Kent had a perfectly thrown pass deflect off his hands into the arms of Bucknell linebacker Nick Hoying for an interception instead of a first down.

“We left some things out there and shot ourselves in the foot with some penalties and missed blocks here and there, but overall — 400 yards and 49 points — you can’t ask for much more,” Horvath said.

Outside linebacker Jaxson Campbell and inside linebacker Colin Ramos spearheaded a Navy defense that totally shut down Bucknell following a surprising touchdown drive to start the game.

Navy vs Bucknell football | PHOTOS

Campbell, a junior making his first career start, recorded 10 tackles, including five solo and 1 1/2 for loss, and also had a pass breakup. Ramos, the senior defensive captain and returning first team All-American Athletic Conference selection, also notched 10 tackles and added a quarterback hurry.

Outside linebacker Luke Pirris also had a big game with eight tackles, 1 1/2 sacks, a forced fumble and fumble recovery. Bucknell only managed 14 points and 262 yards against Navy’s front-line defense. The Bison used a 75-yard drive to score a meaningless touchdown in the final minute after the Midshipmen had cleared the bench.

However, Newberry was not happy with the defensive performance on the whole, especially three offsides penalties that extended Bucknell drives.

“I think we were a little sloppy at times and didn’t play to our standard. People have been telling us how good we’re going to be on defense and you can’t choke on that sugar,” Newberry said. “Jumping offsides three times on defense was disappointing. We can’t have those pre-snap penalties. Those are the type of things that, when we get into close games, are going to kill us.”

Bucknell, which was a 32-point underdog, stunned the Navy defense and silenced the partisan crowd by scoring a touchdown on the game’s opening possession. Cornerback Ira Oniha, a sophomore making his first career start, appeared to bite on a double move and that enabled wide receiver Nate Anderson to get wide-open down the field for a 47-yard touchdown catch.

Quarterback Ralph Rucker IV sold the double move with a nice pump fake as the Bison went 65 yards in just four plays and 1:23 to take an early 7-0 lead.

Newberry described that opening drive as a “disaster” and said the Navy defense had “three major busts” on those four plays.

“We couldn’t have started off worse. I think it was just jitters and communication issues,” he said. “I love the way the defense responded. It’s a veteran group that has a lot of trust in each other and a lot of confidence. I love that they didn’t flinch or hang their heads.”

After going three-and-out on the first possession of the Wing-T era, the Midshipmen showed how the offense could produce explosive plays the second time they got the ball. Fofana found a huge hole on the left side and burst past the second level into the clear, outracing several chasing defenders to the end zone for a 49-yard scoring scamper.

Kicker Nathan Kirkwood missed wide right on the extra point attempt and the Mids still trailed, 7-6.

Navy’s defense buckled down for the remainder of the first half, limiting Bucknell to 97 yards on seven subsequent possessions. The Bison punted five times, turned the ball over on downs once and committed a turnover.

Campbell made a huge play on fourth-and-2 at the Navy 19-yard line by dropping running back Danny Meuser for no gain. Pirris also made a critical play by both forcing and recovering a fumble on Bucknell’s next possession.

Replay review determined that Pirris punched the ball out of Lee’s arms and he fell on the loose ball to give the Mids possession at the 23-yard line of the visitors.

Five plays later, Tecza plowed across the goal line from 3 yards out to give Navy the lead for good, 13-7, at the 14:56 mark of the second quarter.

Cronic got into a nice rhythm as a play-caller on Navy’s sixth possession with Horvath directing a nine-play, 59-yard touchdown drive that increased the lead to 20-7. Chatman gained 14 yards on a jet sweep, while Horvath picked up 12 and 13 yards on consecutive designed quarterback carries to set up first-and-goal from the 9. Horvath then made a perfect throw to Heidenreich in the end zone for a 9-yard scoring strike.

A sack by nose guard Landon Robinson followed by a false start penalty backed up Bucknell on its own goal line and led to a three-and-out that enabled Navy to tack on a touchdown late in the first half.

Heidenreich set up the score by returning the punt 23 yards to the Bucknell 42. Cronic called for a screen pass on first down and the Mids executed it perfectly. Chatman caught the pass in the flat and followed an offensive lineman downfield. Chatman used several nice cutback moves to make multiple defenders miss and somehow weaved his way through traffic for a 42-yard touchdown.

Horvath completed a 2-point conversion pass to Heidenreich and Navy took a 28-7 lead into halftime.

Navy got the ball to start the second half and sophomore Isaiah Bryant brought the kickoff back 31 yards to just shy of midfield. Horvath found tight end Jack Norris open on a drag route for an 18-yard gain on third-and-12 to keep the drive alive.

However, Horvath left the game with cramps and was replaced by backup Braxton Woodson, who finished the nine-play, 49-yard march by connecting with Heidenreich for a 20-yard touchdown pass.

Heidenreich did most of the work, using a pair of lightning-quick jump cuts to make two defenders miss before speeding into the end zone to give Navy a commanding 35-7 lead.

AAC opener

Temple at Navy

Saturday, 3:30 p.m.

TV: CBS Sports Network

Radio: 1430 AM

This is the first time in 21 years the Midshipmen haven’t run some version of the triple-option. Coach Paul Johnson brought his patented version of the flexbone attack to Annapolis in 2002 and former head coach Ken Niumatalolo and former offensive coordinator Ivin Jasper put their own spin on the triple-option.

Cronic acknowledged there is some pressure that goes along with transitioning Navy from the triple-option to the Wing-T.

“I do feel a sense of responsibility. It is very important to me that we go out and be a sharp offensive football team that is well coached,” he said. “I’ve got an ego just like anyone else and I want people to say that guy is doing a good job of putting the players in position to be successful.

“Can what we’re doing work here? That’s what everybody wants to know. Is true triple-option the only offense that will work at an academy? I think what we do has enough of that flavor to make people have to defend us in some similar ways, but hopefully we can be a little more dynamic and be able to do more things.”

Cronic’s Wing-T attack, which he has evolved over the span of 15 years, is extremely unique in its own right. It would be safe to say that no other program at the Football Bowl Subdivision level is employing a system remotely similar to what Cronic has created.

Cronic calls it the “millennial” or “hybrid” version of the Wing-T and Navy fans will see what it’s all about starting Saturday. Football junkies that consider it a high school offense or archaic should be forewarned that this is not your grandfather’s Wing-T.

About the only aspect of Cronic’s Wing-T offense that resembles the traditional version is that he’s mantained the base personnel group of skill positions — a fullback, two wing backs (called snipes at Navy), a tight end and wide receiver.

Of course, Cronic has also remained true to the original philosophy of making different plays look as similar as possible so the defense can’t figure out where the ball is going until it’s too late. The Wing-T relies on deception and misdirection to force defenses to be disciplined and assignment-sound. When properly executed, the Wing-T prevents defenses from playing as fast they would like, forcing them to react instead of attack.

Cronic has evolved the offense to feature lots of formations and tons of motion. He has added the shotgun formation and developed numerous innovative passing concepts. He has also incorporated traditional triple-option and run-pass option schemes.

Navy head coach Brian Newberry has seen Cronic’s offense move the ball effectively and hit big plays enough during spring practice and August preseason camp to become a believer.

“I’m definitely excited about the offense and can’t wait to see it in action on Saturday. I look at things from a defensive perspective and it’s challenging stuff to defend,” said Newberry, who initially came to Navy in 2019 as defensive coordinator. “I think it’s exactly what we need to be doing to give our players an edge. It’s very unique and hard to prepare for defensively.”

Cronic recently conducted a “film study” session for members of the media that cover Navy football to help them understand the Wing-T and what it’s attempting to accomplish. What stood out was the ability for the Midshipmen to run a wide range of plays using the same personnel group. That typically prevents opposing defenses from substituting players in order to call different defensive schemes based on down and distance.

It was also obvious that in Cronic’s system the skill position players can and will move all over the formation. Fullback Alec Tecza could initially line up as a wide receiver then come in motion to take a jet sweep. Tight end Cody Howard could start off in a slot position, then shift a few yards to attach himself to the offensive line. Snipe Eli Heidenreich could set up in the backfield, then move outside to a receiver spot along the line of scrimmage.

Navy defensive coordinator P.J. Volker said the multiple formations and almost constant motion has the effect of distracting the defense. Players can get caught looking at the wrong things and lose track of where the football is going.

“Coach Cronic does an amazing job with the offense and I think anyone who has been out to practice has seen that. It has been very difficult to defend,” Volker said. “There are a ton of challenging things going on, a lot of eye candy. Defensively, it all comes down to being able to play with phenomenal eye discipline. I can tell you it’s been a major challenge for us. Kudos to the offense for that.”

Triple-option factor

During the half-hour film study session, it became clear that triple-option elements remain a staple of Navy’s new offense. Many of the same plays fans have become familiar with over the past two decades can be implemented using the traditional Wing-T personnel.

“There are going to be some things we do that are similar to what Navy offenses have done in the past.” Newberry said. “At the same time, it’s going to look a lot different for sure. There’s the ability to get into the gun and do some things out of that as well.”

Navy football conducted mock games at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium the past two Saturdays with Newberry and Volker both coming away impressed with the offense’s ability to execute. Newberry believes the offensive players are getting to the point where they are not thinking as much.

“Things are starting to slow down for them a little more. I thought Saturday’s mock game was really clean,” he said. “It all starts with Drew being very clear on what he wants taught and being a great communicator. He’s done a great job of installing the offense.”

Volker agreed wholeheartedly with that assessment: “I think the guys on offense are really comfortable with what they’re doing and are playing at a high level. I think they’re playing fast and physical. I think they’re in sync with what they’re doing.”

Cronic has been pleased with the progress and believes the Midshipmen are right on schedule. He does see the offensive players becoming more confident in executing the system, but recognizes that confidence is fragile.

“I have to remind myself that this is a process; We have to take one step at a time and give these guys a chance to get better every week. We’re certainly going to be better three weeks from now and eight weeks from now,” Cronic said. “The main thing is for these guys to trust me and believe in what we’re doing, and I think they do. They’re also going to have to do that when there’s a storm this fall, when there are difficulties and things aren’t going your way.”

Cronic did not hesitate when asked this week what he wants to see out of the Navy offense in Week 1.

“Points. I want to see us score,” he said. “Seriously, I just want to see us go out there and play wide-open and be sharp in our processes. I want the players to be in attack mode. If you’re going to make a mistake, do it at full speed.  think the kids are enjoying what we’re doing and believe in what’s going on. You solidify that confidence by being able to go out and executing at a high level in a game.”

For the two decades since, the scheme employed by the Midshipmen has been designed to keep blockers off the two inside linebackers to allow them to fill gaps between the tackles and run sideline-to-sideline without interference.

An inside linebacker has led Navy in tackles 17 times since 2005. Colin Ramos continued the tradition by leading the team with 110 tackles last season on the way to earning the Tony Rubino Memorial Silver Helmet as Navy’s most outstanding player.

Ramos is the latest in a long line of outstanding players at the position and began his career playing alongside Diego Fagot, who led the Mids in tackles for three straight seasons.

Considering the recent history, it speaks volumes that Navy head coach Brian Newberry said this week that “I feel as good about our inside backers as I have since I’ve been here.” Current defensive coordinator P.J. Volker, who came to Navy along with Newberry in 2019, said the position is as deep as it’s been since they arrived.

Ramos, the senior defensive captain, returns to lead the unit and received high praise from Volker as someone who has set a new standard at inside linebacker, and brings unique intangibles to the position.

“We’ve been really fortunate since I’ve been here to have really talented inside linebackers that understand football and understand our schemes,” Volker said. “I think what separates Colin from everyone else I’ve coached is that everything is extremely important to him. Every rep in practice, every meeting, every film session… anything we do football-wise is detailed and important to him.”

Ramos burst onto the scene as a plebe, appearing in eight games and starting the final two of the 2021 season. The Don Bosco Prep product has now made 24 starts at the Will linebacker spot and amassed impressive career statistics — 198 tackles, 18 ½ tackles for loss, six sacks and five forced fumbles.

Although undersized for the position at 5-foot-11 and 210 pounds, Ramos is difficult to block due to a combination of speed, quickness and surprising strength.

“I just love the way Colin Ramos plays football. He’s extremely physical and violent. He’s also as instinctual a linebacker as I’ve ever coached,” Volker said. “Colin can slip a block, but he’s also really sudden with his block destruction as well. He’s going to do everything in his power to win his one-on-one matchup on every play.”

Volker described Ramos, who was a first team All-American Athletic Conference selection last season, as a technician whose fundamentals are flawless.

“Colin plays with great eye discipline and sees things very well. He takes great angles and  eliminates all the false steps,” Volker said. “He has the mental discipline to stay focused on the details for every down for three hours. He does everything you try to coach in terms of the mentality piece of things and sets the tone for the entire defense in terms of approach. He practices like it’s fourth-and-one on every single rep and that’s infectious.”

Navy needs to replace Will Harbour, the team’s second-leading tackler in 2023, at the other starting inside linebacker spot. As good as Harbour was last season, Volker and Newberry believe there will be no drop off in production because senior Kyle Jacob has stepped up and played at a very high level during preseason camp.

Jacob saw significant action off the bench in last season’s opener against Notre Dame and recorded a career-high seven tackles before suffering a season-ending injury.

Jacob underwent surgery and was not cleared to resume football activities until late May. He was one of the stars of summer strength and conditioning and surprised even the coaching staff with how quickly he rounded into top form after returning to the football field in August.

Newberry loves the combination of the two New Jersey natives, saying “both those guys are the epitome of Navy football.”

“Not a lot of people know about Kyle Jacob right now, but they will pretty quickly. Kyle has the same mentality as Colin does —- he’s smart, he’s hungry, he’s tough and loves football,” Newberry said. “I love his style of play — it’s what a Mike linebacker’s style of play should be. I’m looking forward to unleashing Kyle Jacob this season.”

Volker said there were times during scrimmage situations between the starting units that Jacob was the best defender on the field. Job Grant was listed as the co-starter at the Mike inside linebacker spot going into August drills, primarily because Jacob sat out spring camp.

It did not take long for Jacob to solidify himself as the starter with Volker saying it was “very, very evident to anybody that watched the first 15 practices because he was a wrecking ball out there.”

“We are a different defense with Kyle Jacob playing Mike linebacker. He is playing football at a very high level right now, playing at a different speed than any linebacker on the field,” Volker said. “He is a true thumper and one of the toughest guys I’ve ever coached in my career. He plays knock-em-back football; he lands on top in a dominant position.”

Jacob played in 21 games as a member of special teams his freshman and sophomore seasons. It was a cruel blow that a junior campaign that started with great promise came to such an abrupt end.

“I’m not going to lie, it was pretty frustrating. To put in all that hard work during the offseason and earn an opportunity to play on defense then get hurt in the first game was rough,” Jacob said. “Those things happen; you just have to come back stronger. I’ve put that in the past and am looking forward to this season.”

Although unable to participate in spring camp, Jacob was fully immersed off the field. He attended all the inside linebacker position meetings and lived in the video room.

“I would watch a ton of film to get mental reps,” he said. “I did it so much that when I finally got out there [in August] I was putting my eyes where they were supposed to be and playing fast.”

Sophomores Marcus Bleazard and Coleman Cauley are listed second and third on the depth chart behind Jacob at Mike. Junior Elijah Oatsvall and Grant, a sophomore, are backing up Ramos at Will. Volker said those six inside linebackers, and perhaps a couple more, will likely make the travel squad as the position is heavily involved with special teams.

“This inside linebacking corps is very deep. There are a lot of guys we have confidence and trust in,” Volker said. “We’re in a great place at that position. I’m really excited about those six guys in particular.”