2008 Woodie Awards
FOOTBALL: The edge
Our reporter breaks down the teams and who has the advantage
Ryan Wood
Offense
BALL STATE - Anyone would have trouble finding an aspect the Cardinals' offense could have improved upon from their season-opening performance against Northeastern University. Anyone but coach Brady Hoke, that is. The thought of an offensive unit that posted 48 points on the scoreboard and recorded 487 yards of total offense improving seems crazy. But Hoke wasn't happy that his offense settled for two field goals. It's official - field goals for Ball State University's offense are as popular as getting run over by an 18-wheel truck.NAVY - Similar to Ball State, Navy's triple-option offense is the highlight of its team. Often as dangerous as the Cardinals' propensity to spread the field and use the strong arm of Nate Davis, the Midshipmen will provide Ball State's defense its toughest challenge of the season. Fresh off a 558-yard rushing performance in its season opener against Towson University, Navy's offensive game plan isn't difficult to predict. It's stopping the Midshipmen's run that provides challenges.
ADVANTAGE - CARDINALS
Defense
BALL STATE - It's interesting how each performance tends to stand as an island. For the second consecutive season, Ball State's defense allowed 14 points on the scoreboard. Unlike last year, the Cardinals gave up their point total to a strikingly overmatched team and had sloppy moments that Hoke was less than proud of. Northeastern began running misdirection and trick plays in its second offensive series, a strategy that worked against Ball State's over-pursuing defense. Having defensive speed is great, but overcommitting against a Navy offense that relies on deception is dangerous.NAVY - The Midshipmen might have fewer questions in their defensive unit than Ball State, but that doesn't mean they're not completely outmatched against the Cardinals' spread offense. Honestly, it's difficult to give an edge to either defensive unit. This game is going to be a good old-fashioned shoot out, and the team that has the ball last very well might be the winner. Yet, Navy allowed 13 points to Towson compared to Northeastern's 14 points against Ball State. Never mind Northeastern's last touchdown was a meaningless score against the Cardinals' third-string unit; Navy gets the edge.
ADVANTAGE - NAVY
Special Teams
BALL STATE - Finally a comparison that leaves no doubt. Ball State All-American punter Chris Miller averaged 40.3 yards per punt. Field goal kicker Ian McGarvey made both of his attempts. Punt returner B.J. Hill earned Mid-American Conference Special Teams Player of the Week in the West Division, averaging 26 yards per return in four run backs. In fact, he almost took one to the end zone ... until getting run down by Northeastern's punter.NAVY - Navy's offense was so good against Towson, starting punter Kyle Delahooke took the field a single time, when he booted a 32 yarder. Field goal kicker Matt Harmon made two of his three attempts, with the lone miss being a 47-yard try. Blame it on its offense for stealing the spotlight, but there isn't much more information on the Midshipmen's special teams.
ADVANTAGE - CARDINALS
Coaching
BALL STATE - Last Thursday was a great first showing for Hoke. Trounce a tune-up opponent by 34 points - his second-biggest winning margin at Ball State - and then state the need for improvement in the postgame press conference. It would have been easy for Hoke to look at the results on the scoreboard and be happy, but he was clearly unsatisfied. Expect Hoke to have his team even more ready for Navy.NAVY - Hoke surely won't win every coaching matchup this year, but not much is known about Navy's first-year coach Ken Niumatalolo. After spending the past 10 seasons at the Naval Academy, Niumatalolo was promoted in December as the Midshipmen's head coach. His team looked great in its season opener, but Ball State will provide a considerably tougher challenge to his squad.
ADVANTAGE - CARDINALS
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