Setting the stage: Navy – Charlotte Athletics

Greer Martini can coach it because he lived it.

An extra week gave the linebackers coach time to think about Charlotte. His thoughts on five matchups against Army or Navy during his stay at Notre Dame were fully stated – he collected at least nine tackles in every game in which he faced a military academy as a player.

Perhaps more importantly, he defeated the Fighting Irish 4-1.

Option crimes have evolved, but their basis remains. Two weeks separated a lopsided win over East Carolina and the 49ers' last chance at a meaningful victory, the program's first against a top-25 opponent in its short history.

It must also be held in Annapolis for the first time.

“As a high school coach, I coached in this stadium several times,” Trainer said Biff Poggi said. “I went to a Navy game and I think it was a homecoming (like this). It’s an incredible atmosphere because Navy graduates come back and really care about their team.”

“It’s going to be one heck of a challenge.”

The challenge is theoretically simple.

Navy's undefeated start against Bucknell, Temple, Memphis, UAB and Air Force was not due to the program's ability to hide its plans and plans, but rather its ability to execute them.

Each defense is given a similar plan to defend the Midshipmen. Linebackers, defensive ends and backs are each assigned a player to focus on during an option play – one takes over as pitchman, another as dive and a third keeps an eye on the moving back who may soon be behind the quarterback on one Pitch is waiting.

The group will attack as one, and Martini has learned in his defense that a team with players good at disrupting that synchronization can stop it.

“The whole system is designed to create numbers,” Martini said. “They force you to be extremely disciplined with your eyes; they have to be in the right place. It takes a team of people who make insane efforts to make the ball an eraser, you have to have someone who can make the difference.”

Navy has passed for 295.6 yards per game this year and has five players with at least 150 receiving yards. Quarterback Blake Horvath leads the team with 565 ground yards and 10 touchdowns, but also brings a feel for the system with 771 passing yards.

He wasn't at the helm in Navy's 14-0 win in Charlotte last year, when the latter held the Midshipmen to 265 total yards and a first-half shutout. The 49ers ultimately allowed a touchdown in each of the final two quarters to fall behind, but showed the ability to stop the run.

Reid Williford will be tasked with making lots of correct reads, forming tackles and relaying in-helmet communication to the rest of his defense. The four tackles he made against Navy last year are just a starting point. Prince Wallace Bemah will assist him with advice and support.

Those behind it won't be able to take the day either. It's all about the eyes, no matter the position.

“We have guys for everyone, some are the running backs, some are the fast guys outside,” Williford said. “It's easy in that respect, but only if you keep your eyes in the right place. You have a man, and your job is your job, but he will do a lot of moves and moments to confuse your eyes. That's the part that makes it difficult.

The microphone in the linebacker's helmet turns off when the game clock reaches 15 seconds per play.

A bye week gave him and the group extra seconds. They spent some time outside the facility to heal, but the time they spent within its walls was used to watch videos of the system and learn it – the scout team going up against the defense in practice , had to learn it even faster.

In two on-field drills, Charlotte had the opportunity to blow up lead blockers and make tackles through contact.

Overtime was spent on iPads and watching movies with a notepad nearby. Players who have never used the system will be limited in their efforts to reproduce it, even with an extra week.

“This is the Navy, this system is what it does best and what it is known for,” Williford said. “Our scout team does a great job, but you’ll never be able to truly replicate it unless you see how (the Navy) runs it.”

Martini was able to defeat the system on numerous occasions as a player and Williford and Co. are now ready to echo his thoughts from the sidelines.

Charlotte needs to keep things simple and focused to take down the Midshipmen. The Navy has repeatedly shown that the task is often more complex than it seems.

knick-knacks

A Charlotte win over Navy on Saturday would be historic. The program faced a top-25 team last year when it traveled to Gainesville to battle the Gators. It was the fourth loss in as many chances against ranked opponents in the 49ers' FBS era. A win over Navy would be the 49ers' first win since the Midshipmen were ranked No. 25 in the latest AP poll.

Annapolis is familiar territory for many. The 49ers have 10 players from Maryland, and Poggi's impact on the state's high school landscape is enormous, having won titles at Gilman School and Saint Frances Academy in Baltimore.