Navy’s No. 21 ranking heading into its regular-season finale is thanks in part to a revamped defense – which none other than Bill Belichick helped make happen, according to a detailed story from USA Today.
The team hosts Army (5-7) Saturday and the Midshipmen are in the Top 25 heading into the rivalry game for the first time since 2015.
A more aggressive, deceptive and creative scheme has Navy allowing 84 fewer yards per game and 9.4 fewer points per game than the team allowed opponents ahead of facing Army (9-2, 7-1 AAC) last season.
The change all began when head coach Ken Niumatalolo gave the Patriots head coach a call last winter.
Belichick is a Navy supporter who the college coach developed a comfortable relationship with.
Niumatalolo told USA Today that he felt like an artist talking to Picasso, furiously taking down notes on information as Belichick gave it over the phone, never feeling as if it’d be appropriate to ask the legend to slow down or repeat anything.
A new defensive coordinator and 11 games later .. it seems like the talk proved effective.
Niumatalolo told USA Today, “Never in my wildest dreams would I think we’d have gotten to where we’re at.”
[vertical-gallery id=877472]