The player the Navy coaches have nicknamed "Big-Play Bobby" has averaged less than one carry per game over the course of his college career. He has made a measly five catches in four seasons. And he has failed to record a single statistic in 17 of the 35 games in which he has played.
No, senior slotback Bobby Doyle doesn't get the ball all that often in the Midshipmen's triple-option offense. "But when he touches it, good things happen," coach Ken Niumatalolo said.
In his career, Doyle has scored touchdowns on a 17-yard run and on a 38-yard catch. He has thrown a 5-yard touchdown pass. He also blocked a punt against Army in 2007, Navy's first since 1999. And in last year's 33-27 win over Air Force, Doyle scored what turned out to be the winning touchdown by recovering a blocked punt in the end zone.
"Some guys under pressure thrive. Some guys, when the pressure's on, they can't think, they can't remember their name or which way to go," Niumatalolo said. "It seems like with Bobby, during pressure situations, his mind is still clear. He's still able to execute. The pressure doesn't bother him."
The Midshipmen's ability to flourish under pressure as a team is one reason they've won the Commander in Chief's Trophy in each of the past six seasons. Navy (2-2) hosts Air Force (3-1) on Saturday, having beaten the Falcons six years in a row by a combined margin of 33 points.
Doyle's play the past two weeks was a microcosm of his career. In a 27-14 loss at Pittsburgh on Sept. 19, Doyle didn't touch the ball once and spent the majority of the game blocking. But in the 38-22 victory over Western Kentucky on Saturday, Doyle rushed for 33 yards on three carries, caught three passes for 71 yards and accounted for five first downs.
"In our offense, a lot of the times you're not going to make a play unless five other people are doing their jobs," Doyle said. "When I'm catching the ball, it's because [quarterback Ricky Dobbs] had time to throw, Ricky made the right read, Ricky put the ball somewhere right. When I'm making a run outside, it's because Ricky made the right read, we got the ball outside, and the front side [slot] back and wide receiver got those blocks. It's really a culmination of things."
"There are some guys that have that intangible ability to make plays, and you can't really put your finger on it," said Doyle's father, Bob, who retired from coaching when Bobby was in middle school. "He's grown up with the game, he knows the game, he understands the game. He's got talent. The thing is, some people just go out and play. I know he always thinks about it."
AIR FORCE @NAVY
Saturday, 3:30 p.m.
TV: CBS College Sports
Radio: 1090 AM, 1430 AM
Line: Navy by 3
