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Navy Football: Preview, prediction for 2019 season

By Gavin Jernigan

ANNAPOLIS, MD - OCTOBER 13: Malcolm Perry #10 of the Navy Midshipmen looks on before playing against the Temple Owls at Navy-Marines Memorial Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Annapolis, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
ANNAPOLIS, MD - OCTOBER 13: Malcolm Perry #10 of the Navy Midshipmen looks on before playing against the Temple Owls at Navy-Marines Memorial Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Annapolis, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /
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ANNAPOLIS, MD- OCTOBER 21: Running back Taj McGowan #12 of the UCF Knights is tackled by the Navy Midshipmen defense in the first half at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on October 21, 2017 in Annapolis, MD. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
ANNAPOLIS, MD- OCTOBER 21: Running back Taj McGowan #12 of the UCF Knights is tackled by the Navy Midshipmen defense in the first half at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on October 21, 2017 in Annapolis, MD. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Previewing the defense

There is going to be a lot of new faces on the defensive side of the ball for Navy this year. No, I’m not referring to the players on the field. I’m talking about the coaching staff. Head Coach Ken Niumatalolo did something this off-season he has never really done before. He hired almost an entirely new staff of defensive coaches. Dale Pehrson, the defensive coordinator for the past few years, retired. With his departure, Coach Niumatalolo got rid of all but one defensive coach and reassigned another.

So now, who is running the defense? Well, Brian Newberry was initially hired as the defensive coordinator. But the Midshipmen were able to bring on Brian Norwood, who has extensive coordinating experience, and he will be a co-defensive coordinator.

Navy’s offense has been solid for many years, but it’s always been the defense that holds the team back from winning the majority of their losses. Most of this is due to the basic facts that Navy players are simply undersized and less athletic than most other teams. However, this has not stopped them from consistent eight to nine win seasons over the last two decades. It will be interesting to see how the defense performs with the new staff aboard.

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