Navy's Deceptive Linebacker Strategy

The Midshipmen also know the fundamentals required to make up for those shortcomings. That’s why Coach Paul Johnson’s program is poised for a fifth consecutive trip to a bowl game. Offensively, Johnson’s patented option attack helps minimize athletic mismatches. But, defensively, it’s tough for the Midshipmen to out-scheme superior opponents. It’s not that they don’t try. “We’re not very big and can’t just line-up and play with some people,” explained Navy linebackers coach Danny O’Rourke. “So we have to use deception.” A lot of that deception goes on up front in the Navy’s 3-4 scheme. The line slants and pinches both tackles the majority of the time. But, after all is said and done, it’s going to come back to the fundamentals, says O’Rourke. “Each game you play and every team that you play is going to have something different for you. You can’t game