Navy Football: Can Midshipmen stay in 2020 AAC title chase?

The defense needs to maintain its aggressiveness

A big part of Navy’s turnaround from 2018 to 2019 was the massive improvement on the defensive side of the ball. In his first season in Annapolis, defensive coordinator Brian Newberry transformed the Midshipmen into an aggressive bunch. In 2018 they recorded 10 sacks and 37 tackles for loss in 2018 and increased to 30 sacks and 80 tackles for loss last season.

Returning at the inside linebacker position is star Diego Fagot. A year ago was a breakout for the junior, who lead the team with 100 total tackles, recorded 12 tackles for loss and five and half sacks. Fagot could find himself on an NFL roster in the future.

The biggest loss for Navy is at nose guard where Jackson Pittman was a three year starter. Senior Mike Flowers is expected to replace Pittman. Flowers has a the size at 318 pounds but needs to improve his consistency and having no spring practice really hurts. Luckily for the Midshipmen two proven starters at left end and defensive tackle return in J’arius Warren and Jackson Perkins, respectively.

The secondary lost a key piece when hybrid linebacker/safety Jacob Springer decided to enter the transfer portal. Cornerback Michael McMorris flirted with the transfer portal but decided to return and will star opposite corner Cameron Kinley. Safety Evan Fochtman also returns after recording 53 tackles, two interceptions and five pass breakups a year ago.

As long as Navy keeps up the pressure and gets into the opposing backfields at the rate they did a year ago, the secondary will be just fine.