In football, the more offensive options you have, the better your odds of putting up points. Most teams line up with two-the running back runs, or the quarterback throws.
Navy is not most teams. Navy has three.
Welcome to the triple-option offense, not seen regularly in college football since the 1960s. Except, that is, at Navy.
This unique style of offense is the pet project of former head coach Paul Johnson. Johnson, however, left for Georgia Tech in the offseason. He was replaced by new head coach Ken Niumatalolo, the assistant head coach and offensive line coach last season who had been involved with the program for the past seven years.
By promoting from within, Navy guaranteed the return of their quirky triple-option.
"We're not going to rearrange things," Niumatalolo said at the beginning of August. "We're going to continue to build on the foundation that Paul [Johnson] set. He was very successful. Those things that worked before we plan to keep on doing."
In the triple-option, the quarterback operates from under center and not from the shotgun, as he does in most schemes. There are two slotbacks, one on each side of the quarterback, and the fullback lines up behind the passer in the backfield. The first option is to hand the ball off to the fullback and have him run straight ahead through the middle of the defensive line. The slotbacks can also run behind the quarterback and receive a pitch before turning upfield. The final option is to have the quarterback hold onto the ball and run it himself.
Senior quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada has had great success running the offense. Navy has led all Division-I schools in rushing the past three years. On the flip side, though, the Midshipmen have finished last in passing yards and only averaged 10 pass attempts per game last season.
Against Duke last year, however, the Midshipmen threw 21 times for 236 yards, both season-highs, and put up 14 points off of those pass plays. Last year's Blue Devil defense, which had prepared for the run-oriented attack by having running back Clifford Harris line up as the scout team quarterback in practice, was caught off guard.
"It almost felt like we were just surprised by the pass-and for them to have so many yards, it was almost disrespectful," senior defensive end Greg Akinbiyi said. "As a defense, you are just thinking you never want to allow someone to have 500-plus yards, so that was disgusting on my part to see that happen to us."
This year, the Blue Devils have had freshman Sean Renfree, a four-star recruit who backed out of his commitment to Georgia Tech when Johnson took over, filling in as the scout team quarterback. Renfree can run and pass, so he will have the Duke defense more prepared for the potential of an aerial attack.
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