Weekend Preview: We WILL Score Points Against Navy

Looking forward to the Navy game tomorrow, there are a few stats that I find encouraging, and few stats I find frightening. Read on to see what the Nasties crew thinks of the Midshipmen in an edition of good stat / bad stat.

Good Stat: Navy surrenders 38.1 points a game. What makes this figure even more potent is that the points were against teams not exactly known for their prolific offenses: Temple (30), Ball State (34), Duke (46), Wake Forest (44), and most recently, 1-AA team Delaware (59). Despite the adversity, I've remained positive about Charlie and his army, but if we can't put up some points this weekend, you might see me pulling out all of the hair on my head and drowning my sorrows at the fro-yo machine.

Bad Stat: Navy scores 35.8 points a game. Fortunately, these stats are also against the opponents above, but being able to put up 48 points on Pitt (even though it was overtime) and 24 on Rutgers is arguably better than the Irish could do this season. There will be a lot of pressure on the Irish defense to hold Navy to minimal scoring.

Good Stat: Navy only averages 100 yards passing per game. Compared to some of our past opponents, the Midshipmen do not have the height and speed at the receiver position that has given us problems up to this point in the year. This allows Minter to call more man coverages and apply a little more pressure up front.

Bad Stat: Navy has one of the top ten best rushing attacks in Division 1. Averaging over 300 yards on the ground, our front 8 (that's the regular 7 plus Zibby) will have to step it up if we want to stall their offense.

Good Stat: Geoff Price averaged 45 yards per punt last game. Especially against a ground attack team, the field position game is imperative. A team that stretches the field with the pass can go 80 yards in 5 or 6 plays, but for a grind-it-out running team, such drives normally take 10 to 12 plays. Translation: its much harder to string together 10 or 12 good plays than 5 or 6.

Bad Stat: Notre Dame has only scored 17 first quarter points this year. When facing a team that is great at running the clock like Navy, it is important not to get behind early. Hopefully, ND can get a quick touchdown to keep the pressure off of the defense.

Good Stat: The Irish have beaten the Midshipmen in 43 consecutive meetings. That has to count for something, right?

In other news, good luck to the men's basketball team, who is tipping off against St. Ambrose in their first exhibition game tonight. Although the team will be without power forward Luke Harangody, who is nursing a broken hand, I expect nothing less than a 30 point victory.

Also, keep Robert Hughes' family in your prayers. The sophomore running back's brother was shot and killed a few days ago. His funeral was scheduled for 11:00 am today.