Call it one of college football's imperfect storms.
Navy, ranked near the bottom in pass defense in the country, will meet Rutgers, ranked near the bottom in passing efficiency, today in Annapolis. Whichever team improves on its deficiency might win at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
In returning home for the first time since a season-opening win over Towson, the 1-2 Midshipmen want to get to .500 before going back on the road against Wake Forest and Air Force. In playing their first road game this season, the 0-2 Scarlet Knights are even more desperate for a victory.
"It's going to be a circle-the-wagons game for them, just like it is for us," first-year Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo said this week.
Navy and Rutgers are in their respective predicaments for different reasons.
As much as the offense struggled in the second half of last Saturday's 41-31 defeat at Duke, Navy's pass defense has yet to make good on its promise to improve from last season, when injuries contributed to the Midshipmen finishing at or near the bottom of the Football Bowl Subdivision in several categories.
"We've had a lot of coverage busts, guys not being where they're supposed to be, not pressuring [the quarterback]," said Niumatalolo, whose team is ranked 114th of 119 in pass defense. "Pass defense is a combination of things. It's an area we continue to address and try to get better at."
The Scarlet Knights expected their passing game to be one of their strengths this year, considering the loss of running back Ray Rice. But it hasn't been effective in losses to Fresno State (24-7) and North Carolina (44-12). Rutgers ranks 106th in pass efficiency.
Quarterback Mike Teel has thrown only one touchdown pass but five of the team's six interceptions, which is tied for 114th. Rutgers has converted four of 23 third downs, with most of the opportunities coming in passing situations.
It hasn't helped that the Scarlet Knights have been outscored 31-0 in the third quarter, putting Teel on his heels.
"You have to throw the ball down the field. We just didn't make good decisions there, and we will," Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said. "He [Teel] will make the right decisions there. We just have to keep coaching him, and he has to keep studying and he needs to keep doing it. If you don't throw the ball down the field, it's very hard to nickel and dime all the way down."
