Last Minute Navy Musings

Many of the players from the beating Navy put on the Irish in 2010 when the Midshipmen ran for 367 yards (6.1 yards per carry) may be gone but the coaching staff remember and have taken care of business in 2011 and 12 limiting Navy to under 200 rushing yards and under 4 yards a carry.

Defensive depth will be center stage with both Louis Nix and Ishaq Williams out on Saturday.

Navy Quarterback Kennan Reynolds may be considered a legitimate duel threat quarterback and a good passer but at an average of just over five competitions a game the Navy offense has not allowed him to prove it.

The Midshipmen win when they abandon the pass.  Navy is 18-1 when they pass five times or less and have a losing record when they throw the ball 10 times or more since 2003.

The main option in Navy’s triple option is their quarterback.  Reynolds leads Navy in; carries with 147 carries for 36% of the teams 407 total carries (71 more carries than the teams second leading ball carrier), rushing yards with 546 yards for 27% of the teams 2024 total rushing yards and rushing touchdowns with 11 rushing scores for 48% of Navy’s rushing touchdowns.

Collectively Navy has a total of four receiving touchdowns; the Irish have three different players with four or more receiving touchdowns.

Navy as 45 receptions total as a team, Notre Dames T.J. Jones has 44 alone.

Size might matter; Navy has six players on its roster listed at 300lbs or more while Notre Dame has fifteen, The Irish have nine players listed at 6’6” or taller while the Midshipmen have one.

The Irish may have been practicing to defend the option for two weeks but remember Navy has been practicing how to run it for years.

Navy linebacker Cody Peterson is number two in the country in solo tackles with 7.1 per game (72 total solo tackles on the season).

Navy dominates the first quarter.  The offense has outscored their opponents  38-9 while their defense has not given up a first quarter touchdown this season.

Games Notes. We sift through them so you don’t have to.

Navy Game Notes

History

Notre Dame and Navy will play one another for the 87th straight year on Saturday, making it the longest continuous intersectional rivalry in the country.

The Irish hold a 73-12-1 (.855) edge in the series. 

Notre Dame has won 46 of the last 49 meetings in the series.

Notre Dame and Navy have met every year since 1927, playing 54 times at neutral sites and 32 times at Notre Dame Stadium.

The Irish have scored 30 or more points in 21 of the past 28 meetings with Navy.

The Irish have totaled 56 and 50 in the last two meetings with Navy (2011, 2012).

The Irish have outscored the Midshipmen 2,343-979, over the 86 all-time meetings, or an average of 27.8-11.4.

Top Notre Dame Performances vs. Navy

Rushing Yards: Julius Jones, 33-221, 2 TD; 11.8.2003

Passing Yards: Jimmy Clausen, 37-51-452, 2 TD; 11.7.2009

Receptions Michael Floyd: 10-141, 1 TD; 11.7.2009

Receiving Yards: Tim Brown, 6-184, 1 TD; 11.1.1986

Interceptions: Dave Duerson, 3-56; 10.30.1982

NOTRE DAME - NAVY CONNECTIONS

Notre Dame freshman WR Corey Robinson is the son of NBA Hall of Famer and former Navy superstar David Robinson.

ND Kyle Brindza, K and Navy Tyler Goble, LB both attended Plymouth H.S. (Michigan)

ND Jacob Matuska, DL and Navy Geoffrey Whiteside, SB both attended Bishop Hartley H.S. (Ohio)

ND Max Redfield, S and Navy Ryan Harris, LB both attended Mission Viejo H.S. (California)

“Or lack of connections” The 2013 Notre Dame roster does not include a Maryland native. The 2013 Navy roster does not include an Indiana native.

Notable Head-to-Head Statistical Matchups

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Navy Midshipmen

 

National Rank 42nd, Rushing Defense (144.1 yards allowed per game)	vs.	Rushing Offense, National Rank 10th (292.1 yards gained per game)
National Rank 46th, Passing Defense (220.4 yards allowed per game)	vs.	Passing Offense, National Rank 120th (103.9 yards gained per game)
National Rank 13th, Sacks Allowed (0.88 sacks allowed per game)	vs.	Sacks, National Rank 120th (0.86 sacks per game)
National Rank 58th, 3rd Down Conversion % (41.6 conversion percentage)	vs.	3rd Down % Defense, National Rank 118th (50% surrendered on third downs)

 

A VICTORY OVER NAVY...

Improves Notre Dame's all-time record to 74-12-1 (.856) against Navy.

Improves Notre Dame's all-time record to 136-26-5 (.829) against Service Academies.

Improves Brian Kelly's record to 11-1 (.917) in the month of November as Notre Dame head coach.

HOW DO THEY STACK UP?

Average weight of the offensive and defensive lines:

Notre Dame OL 311.8 lbs. vs. Navy DL 267.0 lbs.  44.8lb average difference Advantage Irish

Notre Dame DL 317.0 lbs. vs. Navy OL 283.6 lbs.  33.4.7lb average difference Advantage Irish

Average height of the receivers and the secondaries:

Notre Dame WR/TE 6'0 3/4" vs. Navy DB 6'0"  3/4 average difference Advantage Irish

Notre Dame DB 5'11 3/8" vs. Navy WR 6'1"  1 5/8”average difference Advantage Navy

ON THIS DATE

Notre Dame has played 16 previous games in its history on Nov. 2. The Irish are 12-3-1 (.781) all-time on this date.

Irish Milestones Within Reach

TJ Jones has Receiving 1,952 Yards and needs 48 receiving yards to reach 2,000 (10th in school history).

TJ Jones has 155 Receptions and needs 3 receptions to move into 4th all-time in school history.

TJ Jones had 16 TD Receptions and  1 TD receptions to move into 8th alone all-time in school history and 2 to move into 7th all-time in school history.

Tommy Rees has 539 Pass Completions and needs 19 pass completions to move into 3rd all-time in school history.

Stephon Tuitt has 19 Sacks and needs 0.5 sacks to move into tie for 5th all-time.

Notable “The Last Time” Notre Dame against Navy

Had 60 or more rushing attempts: vs. Navy, 2007 (63)

Had seven rush TDs: vs. Navy, 2011 (7)

Had six rush TDs: vs. Navy, 1996 (6)

Had 400-499 yards passing: vs. Navy, 2009 (452)

Had 35-39 pass completions: vs. Navy, 2009 (37)

Had multiple players with multiple TDs in a game: vs. Navy, 2012 (T. Riddick - 2, G. Atkinson III - 2)

Committed six or more turnovers: vs. Navy, 1984 (6)

Had 85-99 plays total offense: vs. Navy, 2007 (90)

Scored 50-59 points: vs. Navy, 2012 (50)

Returned a fumble for a TD: vs. Navy, 2012 (1) (Stephon Tuitt - 77 yards)

Did not punt: vs. Navy, 2009

Missed a kicking PAT: vs. Navy, 2012

Had 25-29 first downs: vs. Navy, 2012 (27)

Had 400-499 yards total offense: Jimmy Clausen vs. Navy, 2009 (447)

Rushed for four or more TDs: Emmett Mosley vs. Navy, 1994 (4)

Rushed for three TDs: Jonas Gray vs. Navy, 2011 (3)

Passed for 400-499 yards: Jimmy Clausen vs. Navy, 2009 (452)

An opponent had four rush TDs: Navy, 2010 (4)

An opposing offense had 75-79 plays: Navy, 2013 (77)

An opposing player rushed for 200-299 yards: Alexander Teich, Navy, 2010 (210)

An opposing player rushed 30-39 times: Ricky Dobbs, Navy, 2009 (31)

An opposing player rushed 25-29 times: Alexander Teich, Navy, 2010 (26)

An opposing player rushed for three or more TDs: Ricky Dobbs, Navy, 2010 (3)

An opposing team had three or more fumbles lost: Navy, 2012 (3)

All Time Notre Dame Records against Navy

Completions – Game Jimmy Clausen 37 vs. Navy, Nov. 7, 2009

2nd Take

After reviewing dozens of articles, stories and watching game highlights on Notre Dames win over Air Force there are a number of notes I’d like to pass along that may not have sown up in our last post.

Steve Elmer played two positions on the Offensive Line Saturday; starting at guard for Lombard and then sliding over to tackle for Ronnie Stanley.   While Matt Hegarty moved up to play right guard and Conor Hanratty took Watt’s spot at left guard.

First college touchdowns for Corey Robinson, William Fuller and Chris Brown.

Robinson’s and Fuller’s scores made them just the third set of Irish freshmen to have touchdown receptions in the same game.

Air Force second half offense had 339 yards and zero points.

Only six quarterbacks in the country have thrown more touchdown passes than our very own Tommy Rees.

The Irish are #25 in the BSC Standings (2 spots behind #22 Michigan State whom they beat eairler this season).

In the AP Poll Notre Dame has 132 points (1 point behind Arizona State and 34 points behind Michigan State, both of whom the Irish have beaten this year).

With 54 career touchdowns Rees needs only six more to tie and seven more to pass Jimmy Clausen to move into number two on Notre Dame’s touchdown list.

The only penalty on the Irish Saturday was an early off sides call on freshman Steve Elmer.  

T.J. Jones now has at least one catch in 35 consecutive games.

The Air Force Game…By the Numbers.

45-10: This Irish team should have beaten a one-win Falcons team by 35 points.

7, 17, 14, and 7: Points scored in each quarter respectively giving the Notre Dame Offense a nice rythem.

290: Yards rushing lead by Air Force compared to 135 for the Irish.

331: Yards passing for Notre Dame compared to 49 for the Falcons.

18.4:  Yards per catch for Irish recievers.

5: Passing touchdowns to five different receivers, all by Tommy Rees a career record, for Notre Dame compared to Zero for Air Force.

7: Number of the eight Irish kickoffs that resulted in a touchback.

6.1: Yards per carry for Cam McDaniel on 10 rushes.

104: Yards receiving for T.J. Jones.

7: Tackles, by seven different players for a loss for the Notre Dame Defense.

8: Tackles by Freshman outside Linebacker Jaylon Smith.

7: number of offensive series out of 12 that the Irish scored on.

44.3: Average on three punts for Kyle Brindza

1: Irish field goal attempt blocked by Air Force.

 

Last Minute Air Forces Musings

With Louis Nix not making the trip out to Colorodo Kona Schwenke will do just fine.

The Falcons quarterback choices; a fourth string with no starts or a third string QB coming of a concussion.

Expect Air Force to run the ball as they are ranked 121 in passing averaging 102.3 yards a game, as opposed to their running game ranked 12 at 268.6 yards a game.

What to do with Hendrix in this game?  With the Falcons defense giving up over 37 points a game good for 116^th in the country Rees should not have to play the entire game.

Who to watch out of the backfield?  Air Force have five backs with at least 40 carries this season,  all of which have at least 200 yards each.

If Jaylon Smith follows his assignments against the option he could have a career (early career) game.

 

Is there any chance Air force can win (or even keep it close for that matter)?  If the Falcons get up early and the Irish are forced to play from behind, Rees goes out early and Hendrix, well plays like Hendrix and a lot of luck.

Air Force Game Note Highlights

What you should know about going into this Saturdays game at Air Force from Notre Dame’s Game Notes.  We sift through them so you don’t have to.

Notre Dame holds a 23-6 series lead against Air Force, including a 12-2 record against Air Force in Falcon Stadium.  Their last meeting in 2011 Notre Dame routed Air Force, 59-33.

Freshman DL Isaac Roshell has an older brother Matt that's a sophomore OL for Air Force. Both attended Eagles Landing Christian Academy in McDonough, Ga.

Notable head to head match ups.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Air Force Falcons

National Rank 12th, Sacks Allowed	vs.	Sacks, National Rank 117th
National Rank 85th, Sacks	vs.	Sacks Allowed, National Rank 7th
National Rank 43rd, Red-Zone Defense	vs.	Red-Zone Offense , National Rank 6th

 

A VICTORY OVER AIR FORCE...

Improves Notre Dame's all-time record to 24-6 (.800) against the Air Force

Improves Notre Dame's all-time record to 135-26-5 (.828) against Service Academies.

Improves Notre Dame's all-time record to 29-6 (.829) against Mountain West Conference opponents.

HOW DO THEY STACK UP?

Average weight of the offensive and defensive lines:

Notre Dame OL 311.4 lbs. vs. Air Force DL 256.7 lbs.  54.7lb average difference Advantage Irish

Notre Dame DL 317.0 lbs. vs. Air Force OL 261.0 lbs.  56lb average difference Advantage Irish

Average height of the receivers and the secondaries:

Notre Dame WR/TE 6'0 3/4" vs. Air Force DB 5'11".  1 3/4” average difference Advantage Irish

Notre Dame DB 5'11 3/8" vs. Air Force WR 6'0".  5/8” average difference Advantage Falcons

ON THIS DATE

Notre Dame has played 14 previous games in its history on Oct. 26. The Irish are 12-2 (.857) all-time on this date.

Irish Milestones Within Reach

Carlo Calabrese Tackles 194 6 tackles to reach 200 for his career

TJ Jones TD Receptions 15 1 TD receptions to move into 8th all-time in school history

Stephon Tuitt Sacks 19.0 0.5 sacks to move into tie for 5th all-time

Prince Shembo Sacks 17.0 1.0 sacks to move into tie for 8th all-time

NOTRE DAME IN OCTOBER

Notre Dame is 382-92-8 (.801) all-time during the month of October.

The Irish are 147-43-4 (.768) in October games away from Notre Dame Stadium.

Notre Dame has won 11 of its last 13 games away from Notre Dame Stadium in the month of October.

Notable “The Last Time” against Air Force

Had four rush TDs: vs. Air Force, 2011 (4)

Had four or more passing TDs: vs. Air Force, 2011 (4)

Returned a blocked FG for a TD: at Air Force, 2006 (Terrail Lambert, 76 yards)

One player accounted for four or more touchdowns: Tommy Rees vs. Air Force, 2010 (4 passing)

An opposing team had 300-399 yards against the Irish: Air Force, 2011 (363)

Had 80 or more plays: Air Force, 2011 (88)

Had 30 or more first downs:  Air Force, 2011 (32)

Follower Question

Talking Irish Follower John M. sent us a question and we did the best to answer.

Question that came into Talking Irish from follower John: what will the Notre Dame team do to prepare for the Colorado Springs altitude @ the upcoming USAFA game?

Response from talking Irish: At this point in the season the Irish should be in about as good of shape (as far as conditioning) as they are going to get.  I think the coaching staff may make so e adjustments in the game plane to address any altitude issues such as rotating in and out a lot of personal on both sides of the ball.  Thanks for the question.