Paul Johnson's Comments Following Practice ...

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Transcript Of Paul Johnson's Comments Following Practice On Tuesday, December 28

Q. Everybody's ready, right?

A. I think so.

Q. Did you get more benefit today?

A. Oh yeah. This was a normal Thursday practice for us during the season. It's good to get outside and throw it around. Today's a nice day. I'd like to have this weather for the game Thursday, it'd be great.

Q. Any update on Amir Jenkins?

A. He practiced some today. We'll just have to see. It will be a game-time deal.

Q. What do you have to do to win this game, play your same game?

A. Score more than them. We gotta score more than they do. 3-2, 40-39. Whatever it is.

Q. Are you happy with Eric's (Roberts) season? His numbers are down, but he wasn't used as much.

A. Yeah, I'm happy. I think he's played well. He might not have had the ball as much, but he's played well. He's done a lot of things to help us win.

Q. Was he used more as a decoy?

A. That just happened. No, not really. It just kind of happened in the flow. I mean, a lot of times when we call a play, we don't know who's going to get the ball. I don't know if his carries are way down, but probably his big plays aren't. And we played a lot more people too. You know, last year he and Tony played about every snap. This year we've rolled five or six guys.

Q. And Divis has played more?

A. Well, Divis has been the other starter, but we've played Trey (Hines) and Marco (Nelson) and Reggie (Campbell) and some different guys.

Q, Does that help you?

A. I think it keeps them fresh and keeps them ready to go.

Q. What about New Mexico's defense? Everybody's talking about their offensive line is huge and fast, but is there anybody real good?

A. Defense is their calling card, there isn't a question about that. That's what they're known for, not the other side. They just run well, they're real physical, they're well coached. They've got a different scheme that people don't see everyday and they do a good job with it.

Q. Anybody in particular? Speegle's (Nick) obviously good.

A. Yeah, I mean, I don't know if you can single anybody out. Certainly he's the guy that leads in tackles and he's a good player, but I think they've got a lot of good players over there. They're not the biggest guys that you're gonna play, but they all run well and they're all very athletic.

Q. So you'd take this Thursday?

A. Oh yeah, this weather? Yeah. It'd be great.

Q. You don't want rain, right?

A. Not really.

 

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Football: Navy-New Mexico notebook

NAVY KEYS: Force third-and-longs on defense, do not commit turnovers on offense, take an early lead.

New Mexico has been extremely ineffective in obvious passing situations. The Mids need to get the Lobos off schedule and create third-and-six, third-and-five situations.

As an underdog against a ball-control team in a game that is likely to have minimal possessions, Navy cannot afford to turn the ball over.

If Navy can get ahead in the first quarter and force New Mexico to open things up, this could well be a minor upset.

NEW MEXICO KEYS: Control the ball on offense, use run blitzes to disrupt on defense, win the special teams battle.

Offensive coordinator Dan Dodd would like nothing better than to be able to run elite tailback DonTrell Moore 30 times or more. The Lobos will look to punish and wear down the Mids with a massive offensive line that averages 315 pounds.

Long is one of the innovators of the 3-3-5 "stack" alignment and knows all the best ways to deploy it. In the pass-happy Mountain West Conference, New Mexico is known for playing man-to-man coverage on the outside and blitz on every down.

It is unclear how New Mexico will defend the triple-option, but you can guarantee the package will include a bevy of blitzes designed to hit Navy ballcarriers in the backfield.

On paper, the Lobos have a distinct advantage on special teams and that could be the difference in a close game.

Tyler Gaus is a quality punter average who could help New Mexico win the field position battle. He averages 40.4 yards per punt as compared to 36.7 for Navy's Eric Shuey.

Wes Zunker, a first team All-Mountain West Conference selection, has been a more consistent kicker than Navy counterpart Geoff Blumenfeld. Zunker has made 11 of 16 field goals, including a 50-yarder, this season. Blumenfeld is 3-for-10 on 3-pointers with none longer than 30 yards.

INJURY REPORT: NAVY - Wide receiver Amir Jenkins (knee) is probable. NEW MEXICO - Backup quarterback Tali Ena (abdomen) is out.

SERIES HISTORY: This is the first meeting between the two schools.

BOWL HISTORY: NAVY _ This is the 10th postseason appearance in program history. The Mids are 6-3 with the last victory coming in the 1996 Aloha Bowl over California.

NEW MEXICO _ This is the ninth postseason appearance in program history. The Lobos own a 2-5-1 record with the last victory coming in the 1961 Aviation Bowl over Western Michigan.

QUOTE UNQUOTE: "We haven't played against a defense that is as multiple formation-wise and blitzes as much as New Mexico. I think a key to any system is knowing how to fix it whenever there are problems. Coach Long can do that. You are not going to hurt them with the same thing over and over. He's got answers."

- Navy head coach Paul Johnson

"Paul Johnson is the best play-caller I have seen on tape. He spends the first quarter probing to see what you are going to do defensively then makes adjustments to take advantage. I am planning on seeing stuff in the third quarter they haven't run all season. He's got plays we've never seen."

- New Mexico coach Rocky Long

 

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SAN FRANCISCO - Organizers and participants alike expect the 2004 Emerald Bowl to be one of the quickest games of the postseason.

New Mexico and Navy are both committed to running the ball and grinding the clock. Both teams rarely throw the ball, ranking 115th and 116th out of 117 Division I-A teams in passing offense.

"This one could be over in a couple hours," Emerald Bowl executive director Gary Cavalli joked during yesterday's pregame press conference at SBC Park. "I think ESPN is worried about how they might fill some time."

The Lobos and Midshipmen employ different style running games and it will be interesting to see which team can impose its will on the other.

"It's going to be good old-fashioned, smash-mouth football," New Mexico head coach Rocky Long said.

"I don't think there's any question this game is going to be won in the trenches," Navy head coach Paul Johnson said.

Navy's triple-option has produced an average of 27 points and 388 total yards this season. Fullback Kyle Eckel leads the Mids with 1,062 yards and 11 touchdowns followed closely by quarterback Aaron Polanco (844 yards, 13 touchdowns).

Guards August Roitsch and Dennis Ray Phillips anchor an undersized offensive line that has done enough to have Navy ranked third nationally in rushing offense (291 yards per game).

"By today's standards, they are not very big, but they don't have to be. They double-team and cut," Long said. "That's the beauty of the offense. They leave guys unblocked and read the option off of them."

New Mexico boasts the nation's eighth-best rushing defense, allowing an average of only 93.6 yards per game. The Lobos employ a creative 3-3-5 alignment that features a myriad of stuntz and blitzes.

"It's like organized chaos. They give you a lot of looks and guys are always jumping around right before the ball is snapped," Johnson said. "It's hard to get a bead on them. They come at you from a bunch of different directions."

New Mexico's scheme is well-suited to the pass-happy Mountain West Conference as it puts constant pressure on the quarterback. Long, one of the original innovators of this type of attacking defense, said he will not back off against the option.

"We will not change what we do. We are going to stunt and blitz on every snap," Long said. "Now we might change our attitude and our strategy a bit. We won't overload one side like we do against a passing team. We will probably use more balanced blitzes."

New Mexico has faced only one other option team this season, allowing 239 yards rushing in a 28-23 loss to Air Force.

"Air Force runs mostly veer option. Navy will use the belly, mid-line, speed and triple," Long said. "Navy is very versatile. They can attack you in a lot of ways."

New Mexico will look to catch Navy ballcarriers in the backfield for losses while the Mids will try to use the Lobos' aggressiveness against them.

"With the kind of defense we play, there is a chance for a lot of big plays both ways," Long said. "We're gambling that we're going to get you more than you get us."

Johnson agreed with that assessment and said it will be crucial for Polanco to recognize where the blitzes are coming from and take the ball to the side with the least defenders.

"If we can read all the stunts and blitzes the way we are suppose to, we could have a field day," Johnson said. "If we don't read them right or we can't block the blitzers, we could be in for a long day."

On the other side, New Mexico will try to punish Navy with a power running game featuring tailback Dontrell Moore (1,083 yards, 5 touchdowns) and a gigantic offensive line that averages 315 pounds per man.

Quick guard Bryan Humphreys is the smallest of the bunch at 6-foot-3, 297 pounds. Center Ryan Cook and quick tackle Terrance Pennington both stand 6-7.

"It's always our goal to dominate up front. We're going to come out and try to impose our will on them early so that come the fourth quarter there will be smiles on our sideline," said All-American strong tackle Claude Terrell (6-3, 325).

"Hopefully, our size advantage will play a factor as the game goes along. When you've got big guys leaning on you all game, it tends to wear you down."

Navy's undersized three-man defensive front of left end Jeremy Chase (6-2, 250), nose guard Babatunde Akingbemi (6-0, 282) and right end Jeff Vanak (6-1, 247) will need to do yeoman work in order to keep blockers off the linebackers.

"We're used to playing teams that are bigger than us," Johnson. "We'll have to move around some and slant and try not to take them on straight up. We've got to find some ways to disrupt them."

When New Mexico's running game is effective, it sets up play-action pass with quarterback Kole McKamey looking to find looking to find 6-foot-4 wideout Hank Baskett (49 catches) in single coverage.

"They make you defend 11 at all times. You can't lock in on the tailback in the running game because the quarterback does a good job of faking the handoff then dropping back or rolling out," Navy defensive coordinator Buddy Green said. "(McKamey) does an outstanding job of executing play-action pass. He really sells the inside fake or the option well."

Navy's defense has been led all season by strong safety Josh Smith, who has recorded a team-high 113 tackles. Smith will likely push up and play somewhat of a linebacker role versus the Lobos, leaving free safety Jeremy McGown alone to help cornerbacks Vaughn Kelley and Hunter Reddick on most downs.

Inside linebackers Lane Jackson and Bobby McClarin rank second and third on the team in tackles with 92 and 90, respectively. They, along with outside backer David Mahoney (76 tackles), will be key to containing the powerful yet elusive Moore.

"I'm sure New Mexico is going to try and shove it down our throats and we can't let that happen," Smith said. "It's important that we play with low pad level and find ways to make plays."

Navy could not do that against Notre Dame, which was also big and talented up front. Tailback Ryan Grant rushed for 114 yards and two touchdowns as the Fighting Irish overpowered the Midshipmen.

"We played with poor leverage and missed a lot of tackles against Notre Dame," Johnson said. "Rutgers also had a huge offensive line, but we were able to get off blocks in that game."

It has been raining off and on in San Francisco since Sunday. There have been several heavy downpours and forecasts call for more rain tomorrow. While neither coach wants to play with a wet football or on a slick track at SBC Park, such conditions could play into the throwback nature of the game.

"We don't mind playing in cold, rain and fog. That's running weather right there," said Terrell, adding that New Mexico faced those factors at Oregon State.

Navy, meanwhile, has not played in bad weather yet this season.

 

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0 TO WATCH

UNM quarterback Kole McKamey among key players in Thursday's Emerald Bowl

By Iliana Lim?n
Tribune Reporter
December 29, 2004

They both ended last year with a disappointing loss and are thirsty for a bowl win.

Their rosters are more blue collar than blue chip.

And their coaches are hard-nosed and demanding.

New Mexico and Navy, who will take the football field Thursday in the Emerald Bowl, have a lot in common.

The game is a turning point for both programs, the ticket to the next level.

A win validates a great season.

A loss pokes holes in the reputation of a non-Bowl Championship Series school that can't win a bowl game.

So who are the playmakers?

Who will decide this game?

Who will land on the good side of a SportsCenter highlight?

The Tribune has identified our 10 to Watch, the five players on each team whose performances will determine whether New Mexico or Navy leaves San Francisco on top.

FIVE KEY LOBOS

KOLE MCKAMEY

Position: Quarterback

Class: Sophomore

Size: 6-2, 208 pounds

2004 stats: Completed 88-of-186 passes for seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 10 games this season. He also rushed for 278 yards on 109 carries and five touchdowns.

Trib's take: Kole McKamey called his sophomore season a humbling experience.

It turns out college football is a lot tougher than the games in the Bulldog Bowl back in Artesia.

The good news is that after suffering two concussions early in the season, McKamey steadily improved during the Lobos' five-game winning streak to close the regular season.

He connected with wide receiver Hank Baskett for big-time plays against BYU.

He sold the option pitch and scampered for an 80-yard touchdown against Wyoming.

And he looked a lot more like the winner offensive coordinator Dan Dodd heralded as one of the best athletes to run the team's multiple option offense.

The Lobos will need the more seasoned McKamey to show up in San Francisco, and the quarterback promises to deliver.

McKamey said he wants to be the quarterback who takes the Lobos to the next level, finally snaring an elusive bowl win.

"I don't want to be a guy who keeps us in games; I want to be the guy who wins games," McKamey said. "With the game on the line, I want my team to know I'll lead them to a win."


DONTRELL MOORE

Position: Running back

Class: Junior

Size: 5-10, 208 pounds

2004 stats: Rushed for 1,083 yards and five touchdowns on 227 carries in 10 games. He also caught 24 passes for 177 yards and one touchdown.

Trib's take: Bowl games have not been kind to DonTrell Moore.

He has rushed for a combined 21 yards in two bowl appearances.

As his rushing numbers suffered, so did the Lobos at the hands of Pacific-10 foes.

This time, Moore should have no trouble getting decent numbers. Navy has a bend-but-don't-break defensive attack that will allow Moore moderate room to run. If he comes up short this time, it will be a major blow to the NFL prospect.

The Lobos need Moore to rush for at least 100 yards. It's the only way to take pressure off the passing game, the only guaranteed way to breath life into the UNM offense.


CLAUDE TERRELL

Position: Offensive tackle

Class: Senior

Size: 6-3, 325 pounds

2004 stats: The unanimous all-conference honoree picked up 104 knockdown blocks and high assignment grades handed out by UNM coaches.

Trib's take: McKamey and Moore have gotten the attention for the Lobos' offensive struggles, but the offensive line is at least partially to blame. Senior captain Claude Terrell, who fancies himself a future NFL star, has to stand his ground against Navy's defense and give McKamey enough time to run the offense. And as the star of one of the biggest offensive lines in the country, Terrell must create consistent holes for the rushing attack if the Lobos' offense expects to flourish.


NICK SPEEGLE

Position: Linebacker

Class: Senior

Size: 6-6, 250 pounds

2004 stats: Recorded 84 tackles, including 12.5 for a loss. He also had 1.5 sacks, forced one, recovered one fumble, broke up five passes and earned one safety.

Trib's take: This was supposed to be the defense's season to struggle. Instead, a group of scrappy, speedy and undersized players molded themselves into the top defense in the Mountain West Conference.

Nick Speegle is the leader of the pack, a warrior willing to play through pain to get the job done.

The problem is that the Lobos' strength, coach Rocky Long's innovative defense, has wilted on the national stage. The defense has struggled in bowl appearances, especially last year's 55-14 loss to Oregon State.

Speegle promises New Mexico can handle Navy's creative triple option offense.

The only way the Lobos can leave San Francisco with a win is if Speegle is right.


WES ZUNKER

Position: Kicker

Class: Senior

Size: 5-9, 175 pounds

2004 stats: Scored 59 points, connecting on all 56 extra point attempts and 11-of-16 field goals. His longest boot was a 50-yard field goal at Colorado State.

Trib's take: Wes Zunker enjoys being a bit underrated.

It makes moments like his last-second, game-winning 43-yard field goal over Texas Tech much sweeter.

Zunker hasn't posted a banner year, but he has been steady when the game is on the line. He clinched the Colorado State and Texas Tech games for the Lobos, a margin that meant the difference between playing in a bowl game and watching a bunch of bowl games at home.

In a grind-it-out contest between two relatively evenly matched teams, Zunker just might be the difference.

 

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FIVE KEY MIDSHIPMEN

KYLE ECKEL

Position: Tight end

Class: Senior

Size: 5-11, 240 pounds

2004 stats: Ran for 1,062 yards and 11 touchdowns on 211 carries. He caught four passes for 52 yards. He was a finalist for several national awards and has been rated this season's best NFL tight end prospect.

Trib's take: Kyle Eckel lives to run north and south.

He'll give you no shake and no bake.

Instead, Eckel is a bruiser who finds seams and knocks guys over on his way to the end zone.

Like many New Mexico seniors smarting from bowl flops, Navy's Eckel was disappointed by his team's loss to Texas Tech last season in the Houston Bowl.

"I won't consider this a great season unless we win," Eckel said. "We're not excited to be in a bowl game. We'll just be excited to win one."


AARON POLANCO

Position: Quarterback

Class: Senior

Size: 6-0, 208 pounds

2004 stats: He was 58-of-108 passing, with seven touchdowns and four interceptions. Polanco also rushed for 844 yards and 13 touchdowns on 220 attempts.

Trib's take: Aaron Polanco enters the Emerald Bowl brimming with quiet confidence and the understated swagger of an assassin.

Polanco's success as a first-year quarterback has meant the difference between a true triple option threat and solely handing the ball off a super tight end.

He has posted more rushing touchdowns than any other Navy player by selling the option pitch and passing game, a skill that has impressed coach Paul Johnson.

He is respectful of the Lobos' defense but is quick to add that it shouldn't be a problem getting past New Mexico.

"I have a lot of faith in coach Johnson's game plan," Polanco said. "We plan for everything."


JOSH SMITH

Position: Safety

Class: Senior

Size: 6-2, 201 pounds

2004 stats: Smith had 113 tackles, including nine for losses, two sacks and three passes broken up. He also recorded an interception he returned for a touchdown, forced three fumbles and blocked one kick.

Trib's take: Lobos fans watching ESPN after the Army-Navy game probably recognize Josh Smith.

The senior safety capped his regular season by intercepting an Army pass and returning it 67 yards for a touchdown.

It's a taste of what the Lobos' passing game can expect from Smith, a Midwest high school football sensation who set the tone for the Midshipmen's vastly improved defense.


BOBBY MCCLARIN

Position: Linebacker

Class: Senior

Size: 5-11, 225 pounds

2004 stats: Recorded 90 tackles, including 2 for a loss, and one fumble recovery in 11 games this season.

Trib's take: Bobby McClarin is so loved at Navy that he has a sandwich named after him at Dahlgren Hall, a restaurant on the academy campus.

He is the namesake of the "Bobby MacClub," an aptly named meal considering McClarin loves to club opponents.

Three years ago, Navy's defense was widely considered a gang of lightweights.

Now it is a true threat, with McClarin posting plenty of mean hits.


GEOFF BLUMENFELD

Position: Kicker

Class: Senior

Size: 6-0, 169 pounds

2004 stats: Hit 3-of-10 field goals, with the longest a 30-yard boot to earn a last-second win over rival Air Force. Blumenfeld also hit 34-of-38 extra point attempts. None of his kicking attempts have been blocked this season.

Trib's take: Air Force respects Geoff Blumenfeld.

He wouldn't strike fear in the hearts of any other foe.

Blumenfeld hit his first field goal of his senior season to beat Air Force. It was the highlight of an erratic kicking year for Blumenfeld.

With the game on the line, there's a 70 percent chance Blumenfeld will miss the field goal. It's comforting, but Air Force fans know it's the other 30 percent that kills you.

 

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ALLEN BROTHERS

The Navy Midshipmen, who face New Mexico in the Emerald Bowl on Thursday, have lost three former teammates in military action during this season:

Marine 2nd Lt. J.P. Blecksmith, a 2003 Navy graduate, was killed Nov. 11 during a military action in Fallujah, Iraq. Blecksmith, who played quarterback and wide receiver, was a four-year member of the football team and lettered as a senior.

Marine 1st Lt. Ron Winchester, a 2001 Navy graduate, was killed Sept. 3 during an enemy attack in the Al Anbar province of Iraq. Winchester, who played offensive tackle, was a four-year member of the football team and a two-year starter.

Navy Lt. Cmdr. Scott Zellem, a 1991 Navy graduate, was killed Aug. 10 when his jet crashed in the Pacific Ocean. Zellem was a linebacker, four-year member of the football team and lettered as a senior.