The Navy Midshipmen visit Memphis on Saturday. Here is your first look at the Tigers.
SEASON SO FAR (4-1, 2-0 AAC)
| Date | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 08/31/2017 | La.-Monroe | W 37-29 |
| 09/16/2017 | UCLA | W 48-45 |
| 09/23/2017 | Southern Ill. | W 44-31 |
| 09/30/2017 | at UCF | L 40-13 |
| 10/06/2017 | at UConn | W 70-31 |
STAT COMPARISON (4-1, 1-1 AAC)
| NAVY PPG | 37.2 | 35.2 | MEM DEF PPG |
| NAVY TOTAL OFF | 508.4 | 506.2 | MEM TOTAL DEF |
| NAVY PASSING OFF | 94.2 | 319.0 | MEM PASSING DEF |
| NAVY RUSHING OFF | 414.2 | 187.2 | MEM RUSHING DEF |
| MEM PPG | 42.4 | 27.6 | NAVY DEF PPG |
| MEM TOTAL OFF | 509.4 | 398.4 | NAVY TOTAL DEF |
| MEM PASSING OFF | 316.8 | 226.8 | NAVY PASSING DEF |
| MEM RUSHING OFF | 192.6 | 171.6 | NAVY RUSHING DEF |
| NAVY TO MARGIN | -0.20 | 0.60 | MEM TO MARGIN |
INJURIES AND SUSPENSIONS
| Date | Pos | Player | Injury | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10/08/17 | LB | Curtis Akins | Undisclosed | ? Saturday vs. Navy |
| 10/08/17 | RB | Patrick Taylor Jr. | Undisclosed | ? Saturday vs. Navy |
| 10/08/17 | WR | Roderick Proctor | Undisclosed | ? Saturday vs. Navy |
| 10/08/17 | DB | Tim Gordon | Undisclosed | ? Saturday vs. Navy |
| 09/29/17 | DB | Shaun Rupert | Dismissed | out for season |
| 09/07/17 | LB | Darian Porter | Undisclosed | out for season |
| 09/06/17 | LB | Jackson Dillon | Head | out for season |
| 09/05/17 | DL | Jared Gentry | Leg | out for season |
| 08/14/17 | WR | Sam Craft | ACL | out for season |
Source: donbest.com
CHALLENGES
This will be the Mids toughest game so far this season. The Tigers average over 500 yards a game on offense but on the flip side, they are allowing over 500 a game on defense. This is a game were Navy needs to execute their option offense to perfection and avoid turnovers. Memphis has feasted on turnovers this season so Navy needs to avoid providing those to the Tigers. Memphis does have several players that are questionable so that may be an advantage to the Mids. If Navy can run the option effectively early and move the ball, they should stick with that for as long as possible. Long, sustained drives are needed that keep the ball out of the Tigers’ playmaker’s hands and suffocate their offense by keeping them on the sideline. This is like a pick’em type of game and will be well worth the watch by any football fan.
Saturday’s game in Memphis kicks off at 3:45 ET and can be seen on ESPNU.
