Jarod Bryant Should Get the Start for Navy

As a fan who acknowledges that the Coaching staff usually almost always knows best, I seldom will ever endorse a player or a particular coaching strategy in my analysis. With that In mind, I'm going to make an exception this one time to tell you who I think should lead the Navy Midshipmen (5-2) against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (5-1) in two weeks.

After Brian Hampton's devastating knee injury against Rutgers last week, the Midshipmen are left with a void that goes far beyond just the loss of their star quarterback. Hampton was the undisputed leader of this team, and a player who could run the triple option in his sleep. His toughness and will were undeniable, and his presence, to say the least, won't be duplicated by any one of Navy's backups. As of right now, Kaipo seems to be the starter, although Coach Johnson has still left the door open for the opportunity of combined quarterback play.

Kaipo may very well grow into the great quarterback many have pictured him to become. From 4.4 speed to Vick-like quickness, he's got all the physical tools to have success as a starter. Yet I just don't think he's ready. Kaipo has looked tentative in relief duty this year, and really hasn't shown an ability to move the offense against any more then the second string Navy defense. Kaipo, for all his big-play potential, just doesn't bring a spark to the offense. Interestingly enough, third-stringer Jarod Bryant has.

Jared has a lot of things going for him. He's only a sophomore, yet already has shown great maturity and poise on and off the field. He was Mr. Football in the state of Alabama in 2004 while leading much-acclaimed Hoover High to a Class 6A state title. Anyone who's watched MTV's Two-A-Days knows how Head Coach Rush Propst manages his kids, and one would think that Jarod's winning mentality would carry over from High School. He hasn't done anything special this year, but the potential is certainly there. He just looks more comfortable in the pocket the Kaipo, who seems to hold onto the ball just a little too long. Granted, neither of these quarterbacks were getting much protection against Rutgers, but Jarod seemed as though he could have gotten something started. I wasn't the only fan who noticed Jarod's actions, as loyal Fan House reader Thomas Murphree also observed the difference in play.

You are very, very perceptive with regard to Jarod Bryant. The press, acknowledging his presence, wrote him off as having suffered the same fate as Kaipo. A very wrong perception. He looked cool and collected. On his first carry he gained over four yards for s FIRST DOWN. He then threw on the money, JT dropped it. He next threw on the money it was caught... BUT, Penalty! He next threw ( a little high ) but on the money, Shun dropped it. A breath of fresh air, though, compared with Kaipo's confused, helpless ineffective presence.

Thomas, who from what I've gathered is a very astute judge of the game, is quite right with regards to Jarod. Coach Johnson has said that Kaipo runs the option better then Bryant, but from what I've seen the opposite is actually the case. Jarod has tremendous leg drive and physical toughness, which coupled with his ability to see the field and read schemes, make him dangerous runner. In addition, Kaipo has look tentative in how willingness to pitch the ball, and from what I've seen looks like he's trying to do too much on his own. While he may be able to run past the defenses of Eastern Michigan or Temple, Notre Dame (and even Duke for that matter) is a different story. If Navy is to have a respectable showing, they're going to need their quarterback to play within himself while having the confidence and ability to pull the trigger on pass plays and option pitches. As it stands right now, I just feel like Jarod can execute the triple option with more effectiveness then Kaipo. This doesn't necessarily mean Jarod is the better quarterback, although it does mean that with where the rest of the offense is at, he should have more success starting. I'm not advocating that Jarod play quarterback the rest of the season. There's a real possibility that neither of these quarterbacks could end up being effective with where the offense is at. All I'm advocating is that Jarod be given his chance to start, and enough time to establish himself at the position and show what he can do.

Now that you've heard my opinion, I'd like to what what some of you, the fans, think about the issue. Who should be Navy's new starting quarterback? Feel free to leave your comments at the bottom of the page.