Everything Navy coach Brian Newberry said about 'great opportunity' vs. Notre Dame

Navy head coach Brian Newberry entertained reporters’ questions for just over 30 minutes on Monday, five days before his unranked Midshipmen (7-1) take on the No. 10 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6-2). Here’s everything Newberry said in his press conference.

On missed opportunities in the loss vs. North Texas

“Yeah, absolutely. I think that was was just the story, the line of the game was the three turnovers, a turnover on downs deep in our own territory. We got inside the 25 three times and got zero points and that’s something we’ve been really good at around here. It’s finishing once we get down in the red zone. So certainly, I feel like you left some points off the board.

Defensively, some self-inflicted wounds there as well from an execution standpoint, from a poor tackling standpoint, from technique, fundamentals. I really felt like we made some progress the week before but didn’t feel like we played well on that side of the ball on Saturday. Certainly not good enough to win.”

On the rushing yards (190) allowed to North Texas

“Yeah, I don’t think it was 300, Wags, it was too much though. Certainly, it goes back to tackling, goes back to gap integrity, getting off blocks. There were some pressures that we didn’t execute the right way and it’s been an issue throughout the year and it certainly rooted its head on Saturday. So, certainly not good enough, things we’ve got to get cleaned up and we’ve got to be much better moving forward. And that’s something we pride ourselves on around here is being able to stop the run. We weren’t able to do that on Saturday and to their credit, good football team, line was good, running back was good, but we certainly didn’t help ourselves in a lot of different ways. So, we got to get cleaned up, got to do better and we’ll have to do much better this week.”

On the challenge of stopping the Notre Dame running game

“Yeah, if we can’t do that against these guys, it’s going to be a long day and obviously it’s going to be a huge challenge for us and they’re big physical up front. Like you said, two of them are the best running back duo in the country and they’re both really, really good players. We got to do a great job of edging the football, great job of tackling. We’re going to play a phenomenal effort chasing the football on Saturday. So, obviously, it’s going to be a huge challenge for us.”

On being locked in on Notre Dame coming off a loss to UNT

“Yeah, well, it’s like every week, whether we win or lose, there’s stuff that you have to build on and work on to get better and we’ve been fortunate enough to get some wins and not play great. And every week that I’ve been on this field, there’s some things I was frustrated about, knew that we had to do better moving forward and that doesn’t change after a loss. It’s just a little bit harder to swallow when you come in on Sunday and Monday to watch it.

“But really feel like we didn’t put our best foot forward on Saturday and it’s up to us as a staff to figure that out and why that was the case and we got to do a better job. We got to do a better job coaching them. We got to do a better job putting them in positions to be successful. And then the players got to take some ownership and do a better job of executing, of tackling, of defeating blocks, of having correct leverage with blocks. So I feel like we left a ton out there on Saturday.

“I’m okay if we get beat if I feel like we put our best foot forward, but certainly that was not the case on Saturday, you know. And they were the better team on Saturday. There’s no doubt about that.”

On how to turn the current situation into a positive going into the Notre Dame game week

“Yeah, well, you got to flush it. So it’s 1-0 and you got to move on to the next one, but you’ve got to learn from the previous one and build off of that and get better. There’s a lot for us to get better at, but you take the lessons learned from the game. And at the same time, the good news is we got a phenomenal opportunity in front of us. We got everything that we wanted to accomplish at the beginning of the season is still in front of us and a great challenge and opportunity to go play one of the best teams in the country on the road. No better opportunity to bounce back after a frustrating, tough loss than that.”

On what stands out about the Notre Dame passing game

“Yeah, well, they’ve got, similar to North Texas, a lot of great team speed. They got some size out of wide out. Quarterback’s are a good player. You watch the game they had last week, and they got behind their DB several times. They can run. So we got to do a great job against the run. Obviously, that’s where it starts. And if you can do that, right, and you can keep things in front of you and make them earn everything that they get, not give up the big plays in the past game, that’s really the only way you’re going to have a shot against these guys.

“But they’re talented all the way across the board on both sides of the football. It’s a typical Notre Dame team. And they’re extremely well coached as well. And they play hard. They’re fundamentally sound. I mean, they’re a very, very well coached football team, a very talented team. And we know we’re going to have to be at our very best just to have an opportunity to win the game.”

On what the Navy vs. Notre Dame rivalry means to him

“Yeah, it’s a game that we love having on our schedule to play a storied program like Notre Dame and just the history behind the meaning of this game, why we still play it. It’s just a phenomenal thing to be to be a part of. Obviously, our kids get fired up to go to play at Notre Dame. And every other year, we’re in a pro venue. And so it’s always a great environment, and it’s always a great opportunity for us because, obviously, we want to have an opportunity to play the best, one of the best teams in the country year in, year out. And it gives us the opportunity to do that.”

On how Navy recruits and how it’s different from other schools

“Sure. Well, obviously, Chris, the academic standards are pretty high here at the academy. So to go out and find an athlete that fits the profile we’re looking for, that has the academic requirements to get in here and that’s willing and wants to serve their country is a hard thing to find. So we’ve got to cast a pretty broad net in the way that we recruit nationally. And we take a lot of pride in the fact that it’s about more than football here, right? It’s one of the best schools in the country and opportunity to serve your country and the requirement afterwards, I think it says a lot about our players and the commitment they make and the kind of kids they are.”

On how Navy is preparing for a rowdy Notre Dame Stadium crowd

“Yeah, sure. We’ll have to prepare for the crowd noise, Chris, but I don’t think I have to do a whole lot to get our guys pumped up. I want to make sure that we understand we’re going there to win the game, not to have a good showing or to get a pat on the back. And I think our guys feel the same way. So we’re super excited about the opportunity. We have to have a great week of preparation, but we’re going to go swing the bat, that’s for sure. Awesome.”

Thanks, Chris. As Chris mentioned, it is a night game. This is the first ever Navy Notre Dame game at night played in South Bend.

On what Navy’s point of emphasis is going in to the Notre Dame game this year aside from taking care of the football

“Taking care of the football? Yeah, just holding on to the darn thing. Making great decisions. I thought we tried to force one on Saturday and then misread a coverage on another one. Blake’s been really, really good at making good decisions and taking care of the football. So that’s at a premium. We absolutely have to take care of the football. Last time against these guys, we turned it over five times, maybe six times. And there weren’t takeaways. Five of them were giveaways. So certainly, it’s one of those games we can’t have self-inflicted wounds when it comes to turnovers, when it comes to penalties. We have to play a really, really, really clean game just to have a chance.”

On containing Notre Dame’s runningbacks

“Both have home run capability. They can both go to the house from anywhere on the field. We’re going to have to fit things really, really well. Our gap integrity is going to be at a premium. We’re going to have to edge the football. And when it comes time to make a tackle, we’ve got to take space. And we’ve got to tackle with great fundamentals and technique. And we’ve got to freaking run to the football. Effort’s got to be phenomenal. We’ve got to swing the football. But it’s gap integrity. It’s having to edge the defense. It’s getting off blocks. And it’s finishing tackles.”

On what it’s like playing against a Marcus Freeman-led Notre Dame team

“I think they play with a lot of passion. And so I think he’s an outstanding football coach. I love his philosophy and his messaging to his team and the focus on the process and all the things that he talks about. And you see that in the way that they play. But I think they’re extremely well coached across the board. I think he does a tremendous job. You combine that kind of coaching and that kind of messaging with the kind of talent and the pride they have in that program, it’s a good formula.”

On what it means to have the annual challenge to beat Notre Dame

“It’s one of the reasons why you come to play football at the Naval Academy, to play in games like this, just have that opportunity. It doesn’t get much bigger than this. And so I know players look forward to this one every year. I know what I do. And it’s a great measuring stick for where we’re at with our program as well when we play these guys. And so just love the opportunity to play them. Anytime you get a chance to play a top 10 team, a storied program like this, you just love the opportunity to do it.”

On what it is it about this Notre Dame team that it can have two losses and still be ranked in the top 10

“Well, you look at their two losses and they’re one score, I think one point and two points, I think. It’s a really, really good football team. It’s an A&M team that’s undefeated. A very, very good Miami team on the road at Miami. Those are respectable losses if there is such a thing. And so when you take that into consideration, you look at the other games that they’ve won, it’s one of the best football teams in the country. There’s no doubt about that.”

On learning from players who have gone against Notre Dame before about how physical this game is going to be

“Yeah, we’ve got enough guys coming back to know how physical this game is. And you watch them on tape. If we don’t play extremely physical, it’s going to be a long day for us. Like I said earlier, they’re big, they’re long. Every year Notre Dame looks like an NFL team. Get on the field and look across the way and they look the part. And yeah, it’s going to be a physical game. We’re going to be ready to go in that regard.”

On Navy linebacker Coleman Cauley

“Yeah, I’ve been really proud of Coleman and really pleased with the way that he’s playing. Truly plays our style of football. He’s fast, physical, plays smart. And he’s going to keep getting better, Tim. He plays extremely hard, he’s physical, he’s smart. Just his second game as a starter and he’s made an impact for sure. But I’ve been really pleased with him and he’ll continue to get better.”

On why he’s confident Navy will flush the North Texas loss

“It’s just the leadership, the things that we talk about in the program all the time. It’s not just 1-0 after a win. Obviously, it’s got to be the same way after a loss. It’s only if you don’t learn something from it moving forward. And so this is something that happened. We got to flush it, but we’ve got to get better from it moving forward. And I think our guys understand exactly where we’re at, what we have to do to get better and we’ll start to attack that today.

“So it’s a group that’s always responded going back to January anytime we’ve challenged them. I think it’s a resilient group. It’s a team that the guys that believe in each other. And we’ll bounce back.”

On building off the game Navy had running the ball vs. UNT

“Yeah, I was pleased with our ability to run the football. There was still some meat on the bone in that game in regards to that as far as having correct leverage on blocks and perimeter and some of those type things. And so, pleased with our ability to run the football. Obviously, against a team like Notre Dame, and the thing that hurt us a little bit on Saturday was some of the negative plays. Outside of the penalties, we got to stay on track. We can’t be in third in long against this group. Can’t allow them to pin their ears back up front and rush the quarterback. So we got to stay on track. But it starts being able to run the football effectively, obviously.”

On what playing Notre Dame in South Bend does for recruiting

“Yeah, I think, like I said, our guys love the opportunity to play in a game like this. And that’s why you come to the Naval Academy. So to have that game on the schedule every year where you can say, ‘This is conference we play in is one of the better conferences in the country. You’re going to get to play Notre Dame every year. You’re going to play in an Army Navy game at the end of the year.’ Yeah, I think it’s a great tool for recruiting.”

On trying to run the ball vs. Notre Dame

“Yeah, I think it’s a challenge to do anything against them offensively. Like I said, they’re good across the board. And from a personnel standpoint, from a scheme standpoint, like I said, it’s gonna be really important that we’re able to establish a running game and that we’re able to stay on track. And that’s gonna be tough. We have to execute at an extremely high level. I know Coach Cronic and those guys are going to be in the lab this week trying to figure out how we can get the numbers advantage here and there and what we do to help our guys equalize the talent a little bit.”

On containing Notre Dame’s offense, which has been successful vs. Navy in years past

“Yeah, it’s always a challenge any time you’re playing a talented football team like this, there’s no doubt about it. And my focus is more on what we can do this year and I’m not too much worried about the past other than personnel and scheme stuff from the other games. But this is a unique game. It has a life of its own. And our game plan is gonna be a little different this time around. So any time you’re playing a good offense like this, it’s challenging. It’s a team that can throw it. They can run it. I mean, they’re balanced, good players across the board, weapons all over the place. It’s a big challenge.” And last for me, obviously, your easiest path to a potential college football playoff is to win the American Conference.

On beating Notre Dame and what it would do for Navy’s College Football Playoff résumé

“Yeah, it would be huge. I’m not thinking too much about the college playoff right now. I’m thinking about what can we do this week to put our guys in the best possible position to have a chance to beat Notre Dame. And all that stuff takes care of itself. But yeah, it certainly would be a tremendous win for our program and for us moving forward. But Notre Dame is the only thing that we’re really worried about right now, Wags.”

On Navy linebacker Marcus Bleazard

“I’ve been really pleased with him when he has gone in. Plays fast. He’s physical. I think the more reps that he can play and take some of the reps off Mark Anthony Parker, the better Mark Anthony Parker is going to be. And try to get him cranked up on some special teams as well. So it’s good to have Bleazard back healthy at full speed. And he’s got to be able to help us.”

OnNavy cornerback Irabonoise Ohniha

“Ira’s extremely talented, Joe. But a little inconsistent. I think he’d be the first one to tell you that. And when he’s dialed in and he’s locked in, he’s playing 100 miles an hour, he’s really, really good. And he’s just got to get more consistent in regards to that. If he can stack those kind of reps one after another, compete his tail off, and he’s just talented as we’ve had here at the corner. He’s just got to be more consistent with it.”

On if Navy needs more from its wide receivers, who don’t have a catch in three games

“Yeah, we do. We do. That needs to be a threat. And those guys are some of the most unselfish guys on our team, Joe, and they do a great job fighting their tail off and blocking on the perimeter. Yeah, it would be nice if we get those guys more involved in the offense. But they’ve got to get themselves open, got to earn the trust of the quarterback and all those things. And I think we have the ability to do that. Certainly hasn’t shown in the last three games, but yeah, we need those guys to step up.”

On what he’s seen from Chris Ash’s first-year Notre Dame defense and how it’s different from Al Golden’s ND defenses

“To be perfectly honest with you, I spent a lot more time today looking at their offense than I have their defense. I usually dive into that Monday evenings. I know Chris Ash is an outstanding defense coordinator. He’s got a great track record. He’s coached the NFL, DC at Texas, one of the most well-respected coordinators in the country. So I know they’re going to be really, really well coached. I know they’re going to be sound in what they do. And I know the two are a little different, but there’s some similarities as well.”

On what his message is to his team about not getting enough respect nationally

“The only thing I’m going to worry about is the guys in that locker room. And it’s always about being the best version of us, and we just haven’t been able to do that for whatever reason up to this point. I tell the guys all the time, we’re close. It’s coming together, and hopefully that starts to happen. It’s going to have to happen moving forward. And all the things that happened to you at the beginning of the year, all those things happened for a reason. If you handle them the right way, you’d like to be peaking at this time, and we’re going to have to be for the rest of the way. And so how much better can we get after a loss? Have to have a sense of urgency to get some of these things fixed and corrected. Our guys will come out today, and they’ll go to work, because it’s important to them.

“And the message for me is our guys work, they prepare the right way, they attack the week, they’re consistent in the way that they show up. But it’s got to translate to Saturdays, and that’s where we’ve struggled the most. And so as coaches, we’ve got to find a way to make sure that those things translate well on the field on Saturdays. So that’s what we’re going to try our best to do this week.”

On the level of leadership from Blake Horvath and Blake Robinson in a week like this

“The same as it has been every other week. I think the leadership comes into play this week for some of the younger guys that may not have played in a game like this, what that means and how you handle yourself going into a game like this. So their leadership’s been great all year, and it’ll continue to be that way.”

On Navy linebacker Luke Pirris

“Luke’s a competitor, Wyckoff. One of the most competitive guys I’ve been around. He’s one of the toughest guys I’ve been around. And he plays his tail off. He fights for everything that he gets. And you’re talking about a guy that’s 220 pounds and taking on offensive tackles that weigh 100 pounds more than him and just fights his tail off. And there’s nobody that plays harder on our football team or fights harder than Luke Pirris. I think that’s what makes him the player he is, his mindset.”

On the importance of backup linebacker Adam Klent vs. Notre Dame

“Super important. Pirris plays really, really hard. So you got to be able to give him some reps off. And Klenk’s a guy that’s gotten better every week. And Klenk’s a really physical football player as well. There’s some things he does in the run game a little stronger than Pirris at the point of attack, things like that. And so I think Coach Volker’s done a good job of finding ways to get Klenk on the field a little bit more. And obviously, we need to get Pirris some blows at times when we’re in regular as well. And we don’t have any issues at all putting Klenk in there to do that.”

On instilling a 1-0 mindset in the Navy locker room

“It’s just simply messaging. And you ask a kid to have a 1-0 mindset, you have to have the same mindset as a coach. Coach them hard, or you move on to the next thing. And it’s just a matter of messaging, talking about it, being an example of that and the way that you approach things on a daily basis. It just goes back to being the best version of yourself, being where your feet are. Here at the Academy, you’ve got to be able to compartmentalize. You’ve got a lot of different things going on. It’s not just about being at your best when you come over here. It’s the same thing in the classroom, right? And so the guys have embraced that, and they practice it. And that’s something that’s not an easy thing to do all the time, is to turn the page and move on to the next thing. But our guys do a fairly good job of that.”

On if Navy is due to have a game where it ‘puts it all together’

Man, I hope so, Tim. I mean, I think that this is a group that deserves to have that kind of a game. But at the end of the day, you can work your tail off, but you don’t go out and execute the high level, it doesn’t matter, right? So you got to trust the process, trust the coaching, and they got to trust each other. And we’re not far off. And despite the game on Saturday, I think we’re a lot closer than what it may look like.”

Good luck this weekend. Thank you. Got a few minutes left.

On if he thinks Eli Heidenreich can play in the NFL

“I absolutely do. In the right system, he can certainly play in the NFL. There’s no doubt in my mind. We’ve had just about every NFL team come through here this fall. I think they’re all impressed with what Eli can do, so I think yeah, absolutely.”

On playing Klenk at multiple linebacker positions

“When we’ve got them both on the field at the same time, Wags, they’re both kind of Raider spots. But asking him to play the overhang out to the field, there’s a lot of nuances to that and a skillset that he doesn’t quite possess. Now, he can run. He’s explosive and all those things. But it’s something that takes a lot of work to get out there and play the variations of quarters coverage and some things that we do out there in space. So to ask him to do all of that would be too much. But he’s playing some defensive end when we get in our nickel and our dime stuff. He can do some of the same things he does at Raider from that spot.”

On getting angry about a delay of game penalty vs. UNT

“No, I did not want to take a timeout right there because I knew we’d probably need it toward the end. So I was more frustrated with us not getting the play off. We had plenty of time, and I think Blake lost track of the play clock right there. So I considered burning a timeout, but in a game like that where you’re behind, you’re going to need those timeouts later in the game. So I did not use one. I was frustrated we didn’t get the play off on time.”