Master Navy's potent option attack. Discipline, a sound game plan, and shutting down the fullback are crucial for Notre Dame's defense to secure victory.
Notre Dame will look to stay rolling as they seek their seventh straight win on the season and eighth straight win over Navy. In order to do that, the 10th-ranked Fighting Irish will need its defense to perform well against the vaunted Navy option attack that leads the nation in rushing. This is a talented Navy offense and the Notre Dame defense will be tested. In order to thrive in this game the defense must perform well in five key areas.
1) Have A Sound Game Plan - Coming up with game plan to defend the option is a challenge, and there is no one way to handle this offense. That's especially true as the Midshipmen have become more balanced with their throwing game and more diverse from an alignment standpoint. You can do four-man or three-man fronts, you can do 4-3 personnel, 4-4 personnel or 4-2-5 personnel. I've seen different types of looks work against the option. So the game plan success isn't necessarily centered on those decisions, but what must be true is that the game plan is sound and aggressive.
Sound means making sure you have answers for the fullback and quarterback, making sure you have a plan for the cutback runs, making sure your secondary knows what to do on each snap and having your defense prepared for the option blocking. You can be overly complex against Navy, but you can't be too simplistic either, which is a challenge for Chris Ash and his staff as well.
One thing that I do believe is a must is being aggressive with the game plan. One of the biggest mistakes teams make is to be too passive against the option. Aggressive doesn't mean blitzing a bunch, as blitzing can be very dangerous for the defense. Aggressive means whatever the responsibilities are the defenders need to be taught to attack their key. You want to throw off the timing of the option, whether it be forcing the QB to pull early, to cut early or pitch early. No matter what, you don't want the option to be able to get downhill.
2) Be Disciplined - To build on key one, a sound game plan must be executed by the players, which means they must be disciplined. Defending the option is very different than defending a traditional offense, where at some point you have to find the football. Against the option trying to find the football can get you in trouble. If you have the fullback you have to take the fullback and not look for the ball. If you have the QB you have to take the QB. A big key to discipline is also protecting the backside cuts and trick plays (reverses, traps, pass plays).
3) Stop The Fullback - At the heart of defending the option is shutting down the fullback. In 2024, Notre Dame held the fullbacks to 37 yards on 14 carries, and Navy scored just 14 points. The Midshipmen fullbacks rushed for 94 yards in 2023, but they did it on 23 carries and much of it came late in the game. Navy scored three points in the game. In 2022, however, the fullbacks rushed for 165 yards on 20 carries, and Navy scored 32 points. Notre Dame has to have a strong fullback plan and they must execute that plan. The cutbacks can be especially problematic.
4) Dominate On First Down - This one is simple. Dominate on first down and limit yards, create negatives and get Navy out rhythm. If that is followed by being good on second down then Navy will have a tougher time keeping its offense rolling. Navy ranks 133rd in third-down attempts this season because they rarely get to third down. Notre Dame needs to get them into third downs, and preferably third and long situations. Do that and the defense has a better shot at making enough stops to limit the Navy offense.
5) Limit Big Plays - This is a very talented Navy offense. Quarterback Blake Horvath is their most dynamic athlete since Malcolm Perry, Eli Heidenreich is their best slot/receiver in well over a decade, slot back Brandon Chatman can rip off big plays and Alex Tecza is a talented fullback with 1,857 career rushing yards and 19 career rushing touchdowns. He's also caught 37 passes for 427 yards and two touchdowns in his career. Heidenreich has 1,000 career rushing yards, 1,628 career receiving yards and 21 career touchdowns. This group can really, really play.
Their talent is why Navy has been such a big play offense this season. Navy ranks 5th nationally in 50+ yard gains (10 in 8 games) and 13th in gains of 30 yards or more. This offensive thrives on big plays, which means Notre Dame needs to limit those big plays. Make Navy work for their yards. The more they have to snap the ball the greater chance something bad happens for the offense.
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