Post-Game - Navy 40, Delaware 17

So that was not the best start to a season.  The defense could not stop that triple-option for it's life, and Sasek had to leave the game with an injury.  Here's my take on the game as it went on and we will have my post-game review of the action and my over/unders.

• Sasek is the Starter - From the tweets of Kevin Tresolini and the tone of K.C. Keeler's voice throughout the week, I knew that it was going to be Trevor Sasek under center when the Hens took the field.  I did not call that he would already be down 7 points when he took his first snap.
• Procter is a BEAST - First he runs off a 75 yard score to start the game, and then he goes on to just systemattically dismantle the Delaware defense all day long.  Just when you think the Hens had stopped the Navy quarterback, he fakes the pitch out wide and cuts up the middle for another first down.
• Dropped Passes - I had believe that this would be a shootout-type game, and it might have been, but there were so many dropped passes early that it hurt any chance of the Hens to retain momentum.  And just when a pass is finally caught, it is fumbled on the play.
• We found our Quarterback - As the game pressed on, you could see Sasek gaining confidence, and his 21-yard touchdown run showed his determination as he dived for six and put the Hens on the board.  It seems like this drive helped calm everyone that Keeler made the right decision to hand Sasek the ball over Tim Donnelly.
• At the Half - Navy was up 19-7 as the teams headed back into the locker rooms.  The only way for the Hens to get back in this game was to stop dropping passes, and to find a way to keep the Navy offense on the sidelines.  Clearly neither was an easy task.
• Nice Start... - The Hens came out running the ball in the 2nd half after the passing game had just begun to open up.  I thought they needed a bit more passing, but the run lanes were there for Andrew Pierce and he took full advantage of them to start the half.
• ...and then the Trick Play - Hand off to Rob Jones, then he stops and passes the ball back to Sasek who tries to juke a DB, only to get wrapped up and injure his right leg.  This all happened in front of the Delaware section where I was sitting.  It appeared like he would return, but I've seen lesser hits take players out for weeks.  He was playing so well up to that point that everyone knew this would kill any rhythm that the Hens had finally achieved.
• Enter Donnelly - His first play on a 3rd and Goal sees him hit the ground, as did his pass, leading to a Blue Hens field goal.  Sasek would return for a few plays only to see his have an awkward fall again and really favor that right leg.  Donnelly took the reins of the offense back with 29 seconds left in the 3rd quarter and never looked back.
• Icing on the cake - The fourth quarter had a passing touchdown from Proctor to put Navy up 40-10, and eventually, Andrew Pierce surpassed the 100-yard mark and grabbed a touchdown for confidence points
• FINAL SCORE: NAVY 40, DELAWARE 17

After the game, it appears that Trevor Sasek twisted his knee and actually wanted to try and give it another go in the 4th, but Keeler would not let him return to the field.  The Hens seem unable to determine what their strategy and identity will be going forward.  They honestly look like a team that could adapt to either a run or pass offense as needed, and based on the opponent.  But as Keeler says in that last article, the Hens will have to go back to square one on defense as Navy's system was so complex and different that almost nothing can be used going forward.

Overall, the offense showed promise, but dropped passes, two turnovers, and Sasek's injury stunted anything they ever got going.  The defense needs to get back to normal schemes before we can really assess anything on their side of the ball.  Sean Baner was great on special teams, and seeing the blocked XP was a nice touch early.  Rob Jones also had a few good returns.  All that anyone needs to worry about now is the status of Sasek's right knee.

REVIEWING MY PREDICTIONS
My Over/Under for UD @ USNA

• Total Points: 67.5 pts - 57 total points.  Delaware never held up their end.
• Delaware Turnovers: 1.5 TOs - Two by the Hens, a fumble (Hayes) and a pick (Donnelly)
• Navy Rushing Yards: 214.5 yds - 391... that's Three-Hundred and Ninety-One yards on the ground.  RIDICULOUS!

Bold Prediction: Andrew Pierce will score a TD of over 30 yards. - Pierce's longest run was 17 yards and his touchdown was a one-yarder.  He had holes for most of the 2nd half, but could not break the long one.  Longest rush on the team was tied between David Hayes and Trevor Sasek at 21 yards.

Projected Score: Navy 38, Delaware 30 - Yes and no.  I was 2 points off of Navy's total, but the deficit and the Hens total score were way off so I'm giving myself a fail on this one.

GAME STORY ARTICLES:

• BlueHens.com - Navy Attack Too Much for Blue Hens as Delaware falls 40-17 to Navy in Season Opener
• Delaware Online - Navy dumps Delaware 40-17 in opener
• SportsNetwork.com - Delaware in the midst of an identity crisis