New Navy offensive coordinator Drew Cronic has said the transition from a triple-option offense to the Wing-T is most difficult for the offensive linemen, who have to operate as a five-man unit and it takes time to develop chemistry and cohesion.
Also, what the offensive linemen are asked to do in the Wing-T is different from what it was with the option.
In the triple-option, Navy’s offensive linemen were forward leaning and taught to come off the ball fast and hard. In the Wing-T, the lineman need to have a more balanced stance because there is more zone blocking and pass blocking.
“It all starts with our stance. We’re balanced so we can work on all different angles out of one stance,” first-year offensive line coach Jay Guillermo said. “We’re still going to be a tough, physical group that comes off the ball hard, but there are some times when you have to be more patient and be able to sustain blocks longer.”
Cronic wants to throw the ball more often than Navy has in the past and that makes pass protection vitally important. That was not a strength of the Midshipmen during much of the triple-option era simply because the linemen did not do it very much. There were many times when multiple defenders broke into the backfield to sack or pressure the quarterback.
Guillermo acknowledged that pass blocking is a work in progress.
“If there is a weakness, that would probably be the thing. There is a noticeable difference between the beginning of camp and now in terms of protecting the quarterback and giving him time to throw the ball,” he said.
Navy returns five offensive linemen that started games last season with the lone regular starter needing to be replaced being right guard Josh Pena. Connor McMahon, who started 22 straight games over the previous two seasons, is the clear-cut leader of the unit.
McMahon is versatile, having started eight games at left tackle then four games at right tackle a year ago. He posted every Saturday despite battling ankle issues the entire season.
“Connor is a tough kid who shows up every day ready to work. He is technically sound, very physical and does a great job of finishing blocks,” Guillermo said. “He sets the standard for the entire unit and is the guy all the other linemen look up to and try to emulate.”
Center Brent Self has the second-most experience among the linemen, appearing in 20 career games and starting 11. After senior Lirion Murtezi went down with an injury in last season’s opener, Self took over as the starting center and acquitted himself well.
Trey Cummings started five games at right tackle last season and opened preseason camp atop the depth chart at that spot. However, Cummings was limited during much of preseason camp and Navy’s latest depth chart, released this week, now has senior Javon Bouton as starting right tackle.
“Trey Cummings is a little banged up and a little behind from a conditioning standpoint and Xs and Os standpoint,” Newberry said Monday. “Bouton’s kind of a utility knife up front because he has the flexibility to play guard or tackle.”
Junior Ben Purvis started five games at left guard last season and gained valuable experience. He is the biggest member of the unit at 6-foot-3 and 300 pounds and by all accounts has been mauling defenders during August training camp with McMahon calling him “dominant” during the preseason.
Sophomore Cam Nichols has stepped up and seized the vacant starting spot at right guard despite not seeing any varsity action in 2023. He’ll be thrown into the fire in Saturday’s season opener against Bucknell.
“I’ve been really impressed with Cam. He’s still learning, but is making a lot less mental errors the last couple weeks,” Newberry said. “He’s come a long way and has a chance to be a really good player.”
McMahon, for one, is bullish on the Navy offensive line. He’s been impressed with some of the young players that are currently penciled in as backups such as sophomore tackle Caden Hooper and sophomore guard Hoke Smith II.
“I think in general as an offensive line this is the biggest, strongest and fastest we’ve been in a long time. We’ve got a bunch of guys who have played a lot of games and a ton of kids who know what they’re doing,” McMahon said. “I feel very confident going into this first game that we’ll dominate as an offensive line.”
Cronic brought Guillermo to Annapolis from Mercer to teach the Navy linemen how to operate in the Wing-T. While the unit is still a work in progress, both coaches see things coming together.
“That’s certainly an area we’re focused on and want to improve,” Cronic said of the offensive line. “I see a great attitude from that group and I see tremendous improvement. We’ve got to do a good job of asking those kids to do things they’re capable of doing.”
Cronic hired Guillermo as offensive line coach at Mercer following last season, but about a month later accepted the position at Navy. The Midshipmen became in need of an offensive line coach when Ashley Ingram, who coached the unit for 16 years, left to become head coach at Carson-Newman.
Cronic told Navy coach Brian Newberry how impressed he was with Guillermo, who was the starting center on Clemson’s 2016 national championship squad.
“To be the offensive line coach at the Naval Academy at my age …. I’m just so appreciative every day,” Guillermo said. “This is a program that prides itself on tough, physical football and great offensive line play. I’m very grateful for Coach Newberry and Coach Cronic for believing in me.”
Navy offensive line
Position coach: Jay Guillermo, first year
Current starters: Left tackle Connor McMahon (Senior, 6-4, 279), left guard Ben Purvis (Jr., 6-3, 300), center Brent Self (Senior, 6-2, 275), right guard Cam Nichols (Sophomore, 6-1, 288) and right tackle Javon Bouton (Senior, 6-3, 285).
Top backups: Tackle Trey Cummings (Senior, 6-1, 262) and guard Hoke Smith II (Sophomore, 6-3, 303).
Starters lost: Right guard Josh Pena (graduated)
Other lettermen lost: Tackle Sam Glover and center Lirion Murtezi (graduated)