Nut the F up on Navy, wimps!

[blacklistedbully]

They damn near lost to:

• UConn (3-9)
  Tulane (4-8)
  Houston
  ND (4-8)
  Tulsa

They did lose to Air Force and USF. Only D1 team with a winning record they beat by more than 1 score was Memphis. Ole Miss beat Memphis worse than Navy did.

Playing triple option teams with 2 weeks to prepare is not a bad thing, unless you lose your DC right before, or don't have the athletes and discipline to play assignment football.

We struggled vs GT in the OB because Collins screwed us. We lost to AF in '91 because we took them lightly, thinking we were going to just show up and steamroll them.

We pretty much suck vs the pass...but we have the d-line and LBs (assuming they tackle) to give the running game fits. If we can take away the dive, and jam up the middle with our d-linemen, we're looking at our LB corp being athletic and savvy enough to play the QB properly...then the pitch-man, assuming we force the QB to pitch. I like our LBs in that scenario.

I also like the thought if Simmons & James clogging up the middle, smothering the dive and making the interior a jumbled mass of humanity. I like the idea of Jefferson and Calvin on the ends, and Brown, Lewis & JT Gray our starting LB's.

The only thing that scares me is our DB's recognizing coverage responsibilities, etc. That's a definite concern, but I do think, assuming our guys tackle well (a big assumption), we have a great chance of forcing enough 3rd & 5 or more that we could get off the field defensively and allow our offense to kick some ass.

I think we'd give up a lot of yards and points, but ultimately win a high-scoring game.

[MetEdDawg]

Two thumbs up. Would read again because I agree. Navy is good. But it's our best chance for some street cred in a bowl game I think. Chance at another Top 25 victory. We need to sack up and quit whining about who we play. We can be tentative about winning, but we should never back down from a challenge.

Time for the fan base to mature from the we just need to win these games so let's play someone easy and get to the point where we are willing to put our nuts on the line and play good teams.

[Todd4State]

I agree also. Plus Coman is much better against the run.

[tcdog70]

the plus with playing Navy is they don't PASS. QBs that pass are what kill us. Let's play the middies.

[blacklistedbully]

And if our offense is rolling (thinking Fitz and Williams would have a field day), we could get up by 3 scores early and be in great shape. TO offenses are not built to "come from behind".

[maroonmania]

When it comes down to it, beggars can't be choosers. At 5-7 I'll gladly play whoever they send our way.

[thf24]

X's and O's guys, how does the flexbone match up against the 3-4? Seems from my mostly casual perspective that our 3 down front might be harder to cut block to the degree they want.

[AusTexDawg]

the plus with playing Navy is they don't PASS. QBs that pass are what kill us. Let's play the middies.

This year's Navy team is a slightly different model than recent years. They've proven capable of hitting explosive pass plays when needed in a few games. They just don't need them often.

I'm just glad we're going to get the extra bowl practices. Getting to see the Dawgs in DFW is just gravy if that's how it works out.

[CadaverDawg]

I don't want to play Navy...and you'll see why if we play them. Navy hasn't punted in a month, and our 2016 defense couldn't hold 2014's jock strap.

Granted, I'm just glad to be bowling...but I would rather play anybody but Navy given the choice. I can't remember the last time we actually stopped a Triple Option...and 2 of the times we were destroyed by them was...wait for it...IN BOWL GAMES, with weeks to prepare AND when we had better defense's.

I'm not saying we couldn't beat them...I'm just saying I like our chances far better of beating a less unorthodox offense, and one we've never really beaten before...or even come close.

So it's not about "nutting up". It's about "waking up" to the fact that it wouldn't be a good matchup for us. Personally, I'd like to ride a wave of momentum into the offseason, and getting DL hurt due to cut blocking all night, and getting routed by a good Navy team, is not my idea of momentum. And history supports that us getting routed is the more likely outcome (Air Force, GT, GT, GT)

But that's just my opinion. If we're going to play a good team...sign me up for MSU vs Boise St in the Las Vegas Bowl. At least a loss to them wouldn't be as frustrating as watching the same play wear our asses out all night like the triple option would.

[Bothrops]

We'll have to score 75 to beat them. No thanks.

[CadaverDawg]

We'll have to score 75 to beat them. No thanks.

Yep

[BeardoMSU]

Yep

Double yep.

[MabenMaroon]

We'll have to score 75 to beat them. No thanks.

76 - they hung 75 on SMU a couple of weeks ago.***

[Todd4State]

I don't want to play Navy...and you'll see why if we play them. Navy hasn't punted in a month, and our 2016 defense couldn't hold 2014's jock strap.

Granted, I'm just glad to be bowling...but I would rather play anybody but Navy given the choice. I can't remember the last time we actually stopped a Triple Option...and 2 of the times we were destroyed by them was...wait for it...IN BOWL GAMES, with weeks to prepare AND when we had better defense's.

I'm not saying we couldn't beat them...I'm just saying I like our chances far better of beating a less unorthodox offense, and one we've never really beaten before...or even come close.

So it's not about "nutting up". It's about "waking up" to the fact that it wouldn't be a good matchup for us. Personally, I'd like to ride a wave of momentum into the offseason, and getting DL hurt due to cut blocking all night, and getting routed by a good Navy team, is not my idea of momentum. And history supports that us getting routed is the more likely outcome (Air Force, GT, GT, GT)

But that's just my opinion. If we're going to play a good team...sign me up for MSU vs Boise St in the Las Vegas Bowl. At least a loss to them wouldn't be as frustrating as watching the same play wear our asses out all night like the triple option would.

You're looking at the results and not the cause of the results.

[msstate7]

As much as you guys don't wanna face navy, navy's DC feels the same way about our offense. We'd score at will. They have no athletes that can match ours.

[blacklistedbully]

I don't want to play Navy...and you'll see why if we play them. Navy hasn't punted in a month, and our 2016 defense couldn't hold 2014's jock strap.

Granted, I'm just glad to be bowling...but I would rather play anybody but Navy given the choice. I can't remember the last time we actually stopped a Triple Option...and 2 of the times we were destroyed by them was...wait for it...IN BOWL GAMES, with weeks to prepare AND when we had better defense's.

I'm not saying we couldn't beat them...I'm just saying I like our chances far better of beating a less unorthodox offense, and one we've never really beaten before...or even come close.

So it's not about "nutting up". It's about "waking up" to the fact that it wouldn't be a good matchup for us. Personally, I'd like to ride a wave of momentum into the offseason, and getting DL hurt due to cut blocking all night, and getting routed by a good Navy team, is not my idea of momentum. And history supports that us getting routed is the more likely outcome (Air Force, GT, GT, GT)

But that's just my opinion. If we're going to play a good team...sign me up for MSU vs Boise St in the Las Vegas Bowl. At least a loss to them wouldn't be as frustrating as watching the same play wear our asses out all night like the triple option would.

Vs GT in the OB, we were left with no DC, and it showed. They ran the dive on us all night and we never seemed to make any adjustments. Having 2 weeks to prepare is nearly worthless if you don't have a qualified coach on staff to help you prep.

I remember the AF bowl game well. I absolutely remember us taking them very lightly, and all the talk of them being so small, we would just man-handle them. We went into that game thinking we could just show up.

Also, that was back when CJS was running things, and he didn't view that bowl as much more than a vacation for the kids.

3 of our 4 regular season losses that year were by 6 or fewer pts, 2 of those were to #6 UT & # 7 Bama. A 3rd loss was to #14 UF. We were very disappointed to be going to the Liberty, and played like it.

[CadaverDawg]

Vs GT in the OB, we were left with no DC, and it showed. They ran the dive on us all night and we never seemed to make any adjustments. Having 2 weeks to prepare is nearly worthless if you don't have a qualified coach on staff to help you prep.

I remember the AF bowl game well. I absolutely remember us taking them very lightly, and all the talk of them being so small, we would just man-handle them. We went into that game thinking we could just show up.

Also, that was back when CJS was running things, and he didn't view that bowl as much more than a vacation for the kids.

3 of our 4 regular season losses that year were by 6 or fewer pts, 2 of those were to #6 UT & # 7 Bama. A 3rd loss was to #14 UF. We were very disappointed to be going to the Liberty, and played like it.

Ha, a coachless D in 2014 was better than what we had this year. Plus, who says we will adjust this year? We haven't adjusted to shit all season on D.

Bottom line...you're just throwing hope out there. My reasons are based on our history of not stopping the option. No DC begs to face the option. None. So not sure why our fans ignorantly would.

[CadaverDawg]

As much as you guys don't wanna face navy, navy's DC feels the same way about our offense. We'd score at will. They have no athletes that can match ours.

But their OC & HC are dying to face our D.

[CadaverDawg]

You're looking at the results and not the cause of the results.

Doesn't matter. We had one of the worst defenses in school history this year and you wanna tell me our DC leaving in 14 outweighs that? Not buying it. Y'all are looking at the EB and not thinking about our full season. Asking for Navy is just ignorant. Nobody WANTS to play a Triple Option attack that cuts your legs all game, puts up 50+ in many games, and hasn't punted in a month! Ha, especially anybody with OUR defense.

Yall wanna see us play Navy? Fine. But just don't try to justify why we SHOULD want to face them like BLB is saying...bc that is nonsense

[msstate7]

But their OC & HC are dying to face our D.

I watched south Florida with a dual threat qb completely dismantle them. Navy scored a ton of meaningless points to make the final respectable, but it was a butt kicking big time. USF ran zone read and PA off it and navy looked about like us facing Arkansas.