Wake tackles Navy

Coach Jim Grobe hopes his defense is prepared to slow down the Midshipmen's option attack

WASHINGTON -- Moments before Friday's news conference, Wake Forest senior Aaron Curry extended his hand and introduced himself politician-style to Navy football coach Ken Niumatalolo.

It was a respectful, yet unnecessary gesture.

"Unfortunately, I know you very well," Niumatalolo told Curry. "I've been watching a lot of tape. I know exactly who you are."

The Navy coach recognized the 6-foot-3, 247-pound strong-side linebacker as the leader of a Wake Forest defensive unit the Midshipmen will face again today in the inaugural EagleBank Bowl at RFK Stadium.

It's a defense very familiar to coach Niumatalolo, as his team faces the Deacs for the third time in two seasons. Today's bowl pits the Midshipmen's vaunted option offense against a savvy, hard- hitting group with nine returning starters, seven seniors and a post-graduate player.

Navy stunned the Demon Deacons on Sept. 27, leaving BB&T Field with a 24-17 victory over a then-ranked team that was undefeated at the time. The Midshipmen never wavered from their option ground attack and amassed 292 rushing yards, totaling three rushing touchdowns as they spread the ball among backs and quarterbacks.

Navy senior fullback Eric Kettani rushed for 175 yards, the only individual this season to gain more than 100 yards against the Deacons, who are allowing just 116.1 yards per game on the ground.

Wake coaches and players know more of the same wishbone option is in store for them today. They have watched film. They have simulated it in practice. They have taken every imaginable precaution and still ...

"It's a nightmare," Wake coach Jim Grobe said. "The problem is you can't simulate the speed. That's what you don't get."

Wake defenders will need a check list:

Who's got the dive?

Who's got the pitch?

Who's got the quarterback keeper?

Navy senior slot back Shun White rushed this season for 1,021 yards and eight TDs, while senior Kettani rushed for 932 yards and 4 TDs.

At quarterback, Navy senior Kaipo-Noa Kahaeaku-Enhada is a threat to run or pass.

While injuries have prevented him from playing complete games against the Deacs, he has scored three touchdowns in the past three games against them.

Just don't expect Navy to deviate from the option script. It is the top rushing team in the nation, averaging 298.3 yards per game.

"We know what we do, we know what we're good at," Navy senior quarterback/slot back Jarod Bryant said. "We know how we win and what it takes."

Wake Forest defensive coordinator Brad Lambert said his group sat back in the first half against Navy earlier this season, reacting instead of anticipating.

"We've got to play sound assignment defense but we've got to be aggressive with them," Lambert said.

Niumatalolo said he expects the Deacs, like most teams, to present a stiffer challenge today, having gained from the experience of seeing the option more than once. That doesn't worry him, because the offensive scheme has so many variations it's plausible to adjust to adjustments, he said.

"We kind of see what people are doing and then we attack them from there," he said.

Niumatalolo, however, acknowledges that adjusting to the talents of players like Curry and senior cornerback Alphonso Smith is no paint-by-numbers task.

Indeed, this is the final game for Wake's 16 seniors. They are playing in a third consecutive bowl game and exit the program as the winningest class ever. Today's nationally televised game will be a showcase for players like Curry and Smith who aspire to play in the NFL.

Navy, a team that plows straight ahead on the ground, is certain to provide plenty of opportunities for crowd- pleasing, scout-impressing plays. And everyone knows the Midshipmen run with force.

"That's one of those games you go get in the full ice tube," said Curry, winner of the 2008 Dick Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker. "You can barely move the next day. They'll hit you, they'll hit you hard."

While Smith is known primarily as a cover corner, he's taking his cues from Curry in approaching this rugged Navy squad.

"You have no choice but to tackle," he said.

Smith, who sometimes last season was reluctant to tackle, has grown in that area this season. Still, his forte is covering wide receivers and snaring interceptions.

With his sixth pick of the season against Vanderbilt on Nov. 29, Smith is now tied with North Carolina's Dre Bly as the ACC career interceptions leader (20).

He has just one more game to try and own the record outright, and Smith's coverage could prove key against a Navy team that will throw.

"He's going to get the opportunity two or three times on Saturday to play in the throwing game," Grobe said. "You just don't know when it's coming."

Throughout this season, one that saw the Deacs' offense struggle, their defense has performed with zeal and poise. They are currently second in the nation in takeaways, collecting 18 fumbles and 17 interceptions.

Wake will need all of that defense's tenacity.

"It's going to be a tough game," Curry said. "It's hard to explain how hard it is to stop that option. ... It's about us executing and them executing. If they don't execute well we can win. If we don't execute well, they'll rush for 600 and beat us by 40."