Navy football has a huge game today against East Carolina. Bowl hopes are still alive. Here is everything you need to know ahead of kickoff.
ECU Scouting Report
Navy head coach Brian Newberry talked about how this East Carolina team is far superior to their 2-8 record. Watching their games this year, that fact is very apparent. This ECU team is very good, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.
On Defense, ECU is very fast, athletic, and aggressive. They like to bring a lot of heavy blitzes. They also do a great job of disguising blitzes and using late shifts along the defensive line to create confusion for opposing offenses. They’re particularly strong on run defense. Defensive coordinator Blake Harrell also has experience defending the triple option from his time at Kennesaw State, an FCS team that runs the triple option.
Offensively, East Carolina is a very balanced team in terms of run and pass. They like to run a lot of RPOs and Read Options. They also like to use a lot of spread formations. Their offensive line does a really good job, particularly in pass protection.
Navy Keys to Victory
Navy is going to have to play disciplined, particularly on defense. They’re also going to have to tackle well. East Carolina quarterback Alex Flinn has been inconsistent at times. He can make some great throws then miss easy completions. Navy has to tackle well to limit big plays, string out ECU drives, and force them to consistently execute in order to score.
This could very easily be a low scoring, defensive game. One mistake could lead to a game changing play. Navy has to stay patient, execute well for four quarters, and hit a few big plays in the passing game to win this game.
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