ANNAPOLIS, Md. \u2014 Navy and Cincinnati will meet for the first time Saturday since 1956, yet both coaching staffs are quite familiar with each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell previously served as defensive coordinator at Ohio State and faced Navy twice \u2014 in Columbus to open the 2009 season and in Baltimore in 2014.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In each instance, Fickell had the entire preseason to practice for Navy\u2019s unique triple-option. Knowing how difficult it is to prepare for the tricky attack, Cincinnati\u2019s first-year coach built an option period into practices this August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fickell said the Bearcats began the Navy week with a firm grasp on the defensive game-plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo and offensive coordinator Ivin Jasper can only guess what type of defense Cincinnati will employ. They previously guessed wrong this season when preparing for Florida Atlantic and Tulane, both of which lined up differently than expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey have guys on their staff that have gone against the option,\u201d Niumatalolo said. \u201cWhat are they going to do? I don\u2019t know. You have to get ready for all of it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are some things to look for when the Bearcats (2-1) and Midshipmen (2-0) square off in an American Athletic Conference clash at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
LAST WEEK: Navy had an early bye week, taking off after playing just two games. That is not an ideal situation, but Niumatalolo wasn\u2019t complaining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI try not to make too big of a deal because I don\u2019t want it to be an excuse. Whenever that week off comes, we try to use it to the best of our advantage,\u201d Niumatalolo said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cincinnati is coming off a stunning come-from-behind victory over Miami-Ohio. The Bearcats scored 15 points in the final three minutes to shock the RedHawks 21-17.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s an incredible program win,\u201d Fickell said afterward. \u201cTo put yourself behind the eight-ball a little bit like we did and see the guys continue to fight and scratch and claw, there was no give-up in that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BACK TO THE BASICS: Navy normally ranks among the national leaders in turnover margin. Through two games this season, the Midshipmen have committed four turnovers and created only two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have to take care of the football,\u201d Niumatalolo said. \u201cBall security is something we pride ourselves on. We\u2019re very, very fortunate to be 2-0 right now with all the turnovers we\u2019ve had.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Quarterback Zach Abey, who leads Navy with 343 rushing yards on 61 attempts, has been responsible for three fumbles, one of which was recovered by Navy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
INJURY REPORT: Navy lost backup fullback Josh Walker (knee) and starting slotback Darryl Bonner (ankle) during the Tulane game. Niumatalolo said Walker will be out for several weeks and listed Bonner as doubtful for Saturday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Walker had proven to be an ideal change-of-pace to starting fullback Chris High, a powerful and bruising inside runner. A converted slotback, Walker has more speed and showed it while breaking loose for a 48-yard touchdown run against Florida Atlantic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bonner is Navy\u2019s most versatile slotback, a dangerous weapon in both the running and passing game. He had three receptions for 92 yards and a touchdown through two games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cincinnati starting running back Mike Boone sat out the Miami-Ohio game with an ankle injury and is questionable for Saturday. Boone leads the Bearcats in rushing with 144 yards on 31 attempts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also, Bearcats linebacker Perry Young must sit out the first half while serving a suspension for targeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
CHANGE IN PHILOSOPHY: Cincinnati employed a wide-open, fast-paced passing offense under previous head coach Tommy Tuberville. The Bearcats are more of a methodical, control-the-clock running team under Fickell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs a program, we\u2019ve got to have a philosophy. We can\u2019t just go up-tempo and go 100 snaps a game when that doesn\u2019t fit what we do best,\u201d Fickell said. \u201cThe ability to have balance and mix it up is where we know we want to be.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Quarterback Hayden Moore is attempting to become more of a game manager. Moore, who passed for almost 1,800 yards last season, has been told not to be too aggressive in terms of throwing downfield or into traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Navy and Cincinnati will meet for the first time Saturday since 1956, yet both coaching staffs are quite familiar with each other.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":96599,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":71,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[71,13],"tags":[],"coauthors":[1355],"class_list":["post-59343","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-military-sports","category-off-duty"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"N5PTJTDLRJB6RN6QGIC2WYOTJY","arc_canonical_url":"\/off-duty\/military-sports\/2017\/09\/22\/cincinnati-readies-for-navy-triple-option-in-aac-clash\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"\n