We’re headed down the home stretch of the season, a time where injuries are beginning to pop up as others are continue to fight to get healthy. It’s also that special part of the season (awesome scheduling!) when the Irish have to play triple option teams in back-to-back games which is going to naturally tweak the defensive depth chart.
First, let’s start with the offense.
Starting right guard Colin McGovern will play this weekend after concussions issues forced him to miss the game against Miami. As has been the case all season, backup left tackle Hunter Bivin is the first man in if McGovern can’t play.
I’ve officially removed Justin Brent from the injury report as he continues to practice with the scout team following foot surgery. As noted by Kelly a couple weeks ago, they won’t be playing Brent this season with the solid 3-man rotation already going strong at running back.
I find it pretty amazing that Tristen Hoge has played 1 snap since the Nevada game. In the same vein, tight end Tyler Luatua has been doing a lot of standing on the sideline this year with just 24 snaps on the season, including just 5 snaps over the last 6 games.
This week we’ve seen the punt return job become a battle between Sanders and Finke following the former’s tough night against Miami.
Switching to defense we’re bound to see a bunch of different formations to keep Navy guessing this weekend. Below is a selection of various ones used from 2015 against the Middies and Georgia Tech.
The first screenshot the Irish are in a 30 front with the tackle heads up over the center and a defensive end standing off the edge. The second screenshot is similar, except a defensive end has been removed in favor of an extra linebacker. The third screenshot is similar to the second except the tackle has moved off the center and the outside linebackers are crowding the line giving more of a 5-2-4 look against the Middies.
The fourth screenshot versus the Yellow Jackets shows how the defense occasionally used Drue Tranquill (prior to his injury in 2015) in a formation that is similar to a standard 4-man front, single-high safety, with Tranquill lurking near the box off the edge. You’ll also notice Greer Martini–nominally the strong-side linebacker–tucked in the middle of the defense.
First off, Daniel Cage will not play with a concussion so that’s one fewer interior body to use. Last year, without Jarron Jones it was Jerry Tillery playing the majority of the “nose guard” snaps against Navy. You would imagine in a 30 front this weekend the Irish will use Jones flanked by Tillery and Rochell but they’ve been known to really switch the personnel up in this game.
On Thursday evening, head coach Brian Kelly mentioned Pete Mokwuah and Brandon Tiassum have moved up the depth chart without Cage traveling but I doubt either will get any snaps. Realistically, Jones and Tillery will likely split reps at nose guard. If that’s the case, that might open up a lot of playing from someone like Daelin Hayes or Johnathan Bonner, depending on if the staff wants to go a little faster or bigger, respectively.
Linebacker will be interesting to watch as this will be the first triple option game in a long while without Jaylon Smith erasing things. Everyone is excited to see Greer Martini healthy and traveling following a concussion last week but keep in mind he hasn’t played more than 29 snaps in any game since week one. I’d still expect a ton out of the trio of Morgan-Coney-Onwualu with Bilal sprinkled in occasionally.
I really like the linebackers’ physical abilities, at least, in this game; Onwualu, Morgan, Coney, Bilal, and Martini all have excellent skill sets to be disruptive tomorrow. I’m concerned that Coney and Bilal haven’t seen it in a live game yet, but hopefully they’ve been drilled well enough. No reservations about Onwualu or Martini, when he’s in. Morgan obviously got carved up by Navy as a frosh but these are different times. If the DL can keep him clean I think he’ll have a Manti-like performance.
I’m looking at the d-line for penetration, and the o-line for shoving bodies all game.
It’s really amazing just how little blue there is on that depth chart. Even recognizing that it is exceedingly likely that Kizer, Zaire, and Butler will not be back, there still aren’t too many holes to fill next year. Seems like the keys to the offseason roster-wise are convincing Hunter and McGlinchey to come back; fortunately, it does seem like that would be in their interest for both.
Ok, I’m at the game. I wish I was smart enough to share a photo for you guys.
Tranquil is huge.