Navy Football: What to watch for in Week 1 vs. Holy Cross

Navy football opens its 2019 season against FCS Holy Cross and the Midshipmen should win big, but what should fans be watching for?

The Midshipmen will open the season against FCS opponent Holy Cross in a matchup where they will be highly favored, but in college football that doesn’t mean much.

Here are things to look for while watching Navy vs. Holy Cross. 

Malcolm Perry: If the Mids hope to win more than three games this season, Malcolm Perry will need to average at least 5.0 yards a carry and limit his turnovers on offense. The Mids will look to catch Holy Cross by surprise and throw a few passes which will allow Perry to show his arm strength and his efficiency. The quarterback is a special talent similar to former Navy star Keenan Reynolds. Perry is a game-changing player and one to watch for versus Holy Cross.

The offensive line: Running the triple-option, everything starts in the trenches, and the Mids are at their best when the offensive line is playing well. The Mids’ offensive schemes will not be successful if the line doesn’t allow time for plays to develop. Holy Cross will be a great first test to see if the Mids’ offensive line will dominate this season.

Defensive line: The Mids allowed 234 yards passing a game and 24 passing touchdowns last season. This season, the Mids hope to create pressure on opposing quarterbacks while creating turnovers and pass breakups.

If the defensive line can wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks, the Mids will have a successful season. Look for the line to be more active and fierce this year coming off of a 3-10 season.

If the Mids hope to open this season with a win, look for these positions to dominate the game. After a 3-10 season, Navy will need to dominate Holy Cross to show that this season will not be a repeat of last year.