Kaheaku-Enhada faces first big test as starter
In a week of lighthearted bantering, Rutgers coach Greg Schiano tirelessly praised Navy's passing game and Midshipmen coach Paul Johnson countered with typically droll observations.
Told by Rutgers beat reporters during a teleconference that Schiano was impressed with the passing of Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada, Johnson didn't miss a beat.
"Based off our seven attempts against Temple?" he asked.The laughter stops and the gloves come off, though, when Navy visits Piscataway, N.J., to play the 15th-ranked Scarlet Knights tonight in a 7 o'clock kickoff on ESPN. It will be Navy's relentless triple-option offense against Rutgers' suffocating, quick defense.
Navy's passing game represents the unknown.
The last time Kaheaku-Enhada passed this way, the Mids had just lost quarterback Brian Hampton to a season-ending knee injury and the Hawaii native was thrown into the breach. That was last October.
"I remember a lot of white and red around me," he said. "They were fast, by far the fastest team we played."
Kaheaku-Enhada completed two of six passes for 28 yards and rushed 22 times for only 11 yards in a 34-0 home loss to Rutgers.
"He didn't play real well," Johnson said, "but he didn't have a chance. It's hard to play well when someone is hanging on your back."
Rutgers (1-0) rendered the triple option obsolete last season. Defensive tackle Eric Foster, a preseason candidate for the Outland Trophy awarded to the nation's best interior lineman, is back and going against first-year starter Ben Gabbard, Navy's right guard.
The Scarlet Knights under Schiano have defended the triple option as well as any team. Navy (1-0) averaged just more than 2 yards a carry and totaled just 113 rush yards in last season's game.
"If you are asking me what they do best, it's play defense," Johnson said. "They run the ball well and they hit big plays in the passing game."
That's why Kaheaku-Enhada might have to resort to the pass. Fortunately for Navy, he's been preparing for that eventuality.
"It's something I'm still really trying to work on," he said. "My arm's gotten better; it's just my footwork. My footwork is something that's been hurting me this past game and over the summer."
Schiano, who turned down a chance to go to Miami after last season's 11-2 success, was effusive in his praise of the Navy quarterback.
"When he came in the game last year, what worried me [was] that he can throw the football," Schiano said at a news luncheon. "With 10 more pounds on his frame and the way he runs, this may be the biggest threat we faced at quarterback since we started playing Navy."
To which Johnson replied during a news conference: "I'm sure [Schiano's] a good evaluator of talent. He's got his program in pretty good shape. I think Kaipo's a good player, too."
The other issue awaiting Navy is Rutgers' potent offense. In a 38-3 rout of Buffalo last week, the Scarlet Knights recorded 563 yards of offense. Heisman Trophy candidate Ray Rice ran for 184 yards and three touchdowns, wide receiver Tiquan Underwood caught touchdown passes of 66 and 65 yards, and quarterback Mike Teel threw for 328 yards.
Rutgers has speed and more speed on offense.
"They have so many weapons to beat you, starting with the tailback and wide receivers," Navy defensive coordinator Buddy Green said. "The bottom line is, we've got to keep everything in front of us, do a great job tackling and we've got to run to the ball. If we don't, bad things can happen."
Kaheaku-Enhada understands the challenge.
"Everything worries me about Rutgers. They're such an awesome team," he said. "We've got to go out and try to match their abilities. It's going to be hard."
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Navy offense vs. Rutgers defense // Rutgers has done an excellent job stopping Navy's vaunted triple option, winning five of the past six games, including last season's 34-0 romp in Annapolis. Navy slotback Reggie Campbell is averaging better than 10 yards a carry on 15 attempts against Rutgers, but fullback Adam Ballard had just 23 rushing yards against them last season. Rutgers allowed Buffalo just 2.1 yards per carry last week but didn't force a turnover. The Scarlet Knights tormented Buffalo with 10 tackles for losses and three sacks. Second-year starting quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada will need more help from his blockers than he had last year to get the triple option started. The Midshipmen have three new starters in the offensive line.
Navy defense vs. Rutgers offense // Navy has a quicker defense than a year ago but is much less experienced with only two starters returning. Rutgers presents big-play threats in the passing game and running game. Ray Rice, a 5-foot-9, 205-pound tailback, is one of the leading Heisman Trophy candidates. Quarterback Mike Teel threw two touchdowns last week, both to wide receiver Tiquan Underwood, who had 10 catches for a school-record 248 yards. Navy will have to play flawless defense. The Midshipmen were far from that last week, when they kept Temple in the game with missed tackles.
In a week of lighthearted bantering, Rutgers coach Greg Schiano tirelessly praised Navy's passing game and Midshipmen coach Paul Johnson countered with typically droll observations.
Told by Rutgers beat reporters during a teleconference that Schiano was impressed with the passing of Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada, Johnson didn't miss a beat.
"Based off our seven attempts against Temple?" he asked.The laughter stops and the gloves come off, though, when Navy visits Piscataway, N.J., to play the 15th-ranked Scarlet Knights tonight in a 7 o'clock kickoff on ESPN. It will be Navy's relentless triple-option offense against Rutgers' suffocating, quick defense.
Navy's passing game represents the unknown.
The last time Kaheaku-Enhada passed this way, the Mids had just lost quarterback Brian Hampton to a season-ending knee injury and the Hawaii native was thrown into the breach. That was last October.
"I remember a lot of white and red around me," he said. "They were fast, by far the fastest team we played."
Kaheaku-Enhada completed two of six passes for 28 yards and rushed 22 times for only 11 yards in a 34-0 home loss to Rutgers.
"He didn't play real well," Johnson said, "but he didn't have a chance. It's hard to play well when someone is hanging on your back."
Rutgers (1-0) rendered the triple option obsolete last season. Defensive tackle Eric Foster, a preseason candidate for the Outland Trophy awarded to the nation's best interior lineman, is back and going against first-year starter Ben Gabbard, Navy's right guard.
The Scarlet Knights under Schiano have defended the triple option as well as any team. Navy (1-0) averaged just more than 2 yards a carry and totaled just 113 rush yards in last season's game.
"If you are asking me what they do best, it's play defense," Johnson said. "They run the ball well and they hit big plays in the passing game."
That's why Kaheaku-Enhada might have to resort to the pass. Fortunately for Navy, he's been preparing for that eventuality.
"It's something I'm still really trying to work on," he said. "My arm's gotten better; it's just my footwork. My footwork is something that's been hurting me this past game and over the summer."
Schiano, who turned down a chance to go to Miami after last season's 11-2 success, was effusive in his praise of the Navy quarterback.
"When he came in the game last year, what worried me [was] that he can throw the football," Schiano said at a news luncheon. "With 10 more pounds on his frame and the way he runs, this may be the biggest threat we faced at quarterback since we started playing Navy."
To which Johnson replied during a news conference: "I'm sure [Schiano's] a good evaluator of talent. He's got his program in pretty good shape. I think Kaipo's a good player, too."
The other issue awaiting Navy is Rutgers' potent offense. In a 38-3 rout of Buffalo last week, the Scarlet Knights recorded 563 yards of offense. Heisman Trophy candidate Ray Rice ran for 184 yards and three touchdowns, wide receiver Tiquan Underwood caught touchdown passes of 66 and 65 yards, and quarterback Mike Teel threw for 328 yards.
Rutgers has speed and more speed on offense.
"They have so many weapons to beat you, starting with the tailback and wide receivers," Navy defensive coordinator Buddy Green said. "The bottom line is, we've got to keep everything in front of us, do a great job tackling and we've got to run to the ball. If we don't, bad things can happen."
Kaheaku-Enhada understands the challenge.
"Everything worries me about Rutgers. They're such an awesome team," he said. "We've got to go out and try to match their abilities. It's going to be hard."
=============
Navy offense vs. Rutgers defense // Rutgers has done an excellent job stopping Navy's vaunted triple option, winning five of the past six games, including last season's 34-0 romp in Annapolis. Navy slotback Reggie Campbell is averaging better than 10 yards a carry on 15 attempts against Rutgers, but fullback Adam Ballard had just 23 rushing yards against them last season. Rutgers allowed Buffalo just 2.1 yards per carry last week but didn't force a turnover. The Scarlet Knights tormented Buffalo with 10 tackles for losses and three sacks. Second-year starting quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada will need more help from his blockers than he had last year to get the triple option started. The Midshipmen have three new starters in the offensive line.
Navy defense vs. Rutgers offense // Navy has a quicker defense than a year ago but is much less experienced with only two starters returning. Rutgers presents big-play threats in the passing game and running game. Ray Rice, a 5-foot-9, 205-pound tailback, is one of the leading Heisman Trophy candidates. Quarterback Mike Teel threw two touchdowns last week, both to wide receiver Tiquan Underwood, who had 10 catches for a school-record 248 yards. Navy will have to play flawless defense. The Midshipmen were far from that last week, when they kept Temple in the game with missed tackles.
