Notre Dame must be ready to solve Navy's triple option

The Irish already faced the triple option against Air Force.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) -- Notre Dame already faced the triple option against Air Force, so playing it again against Navy three weeks later should make it easier to prepare, right?
"Well, no -- and when I say no, I mean yes," Irish coach Tyrone Willingham said.
It's the kind of enigmatic answer Irish coaches and players were giving all week when asked about getting ready to face Navy's triple option.
Willingham explained his conflicting answer by saying that while both teams use the triple option, there are differences in how they run it and differences in how the Irish need to prepare.
Different arrangement
"What will be my greatest concern is that we don't take that for granted -- that we have played the option -- yet pay great attention to detail because this will be a different package and a successful package," he said. "It is different and our guys need to understand that it is different."
The Irish shut down the Air Force option better than any other opponent this season, holding the Falcons to a season-low 104 yards rushing and a season-low 161 yards total offense en route to a 21-14 victory.
Irish defenders concede that it has been a little confusing adjusting.
"I was in meetings all day asking [defensive line coach Greg] Mattison, 'We did this for Air Force, is it the same?' " defensive tackle Darrell Campbell said. "He was like, 'No, it's not the same. If you do that we're going to get beat.' "
The similarity in playing the two teams is that the No. 9 Irish (8-1) must be disciplined and take care of their responsibilities. They also want to overwhelm the undersized Midshipmen (1-7), defensive coordinator Kent Baer said.
Different responsibilities
The difference comes in that some players have different responsibilities and reads than they did against Air Force. The most obvious difference is that Navy is a bit more of a passing threat.
Navy throws the ball an average of 14.8 times a game, compared with 11.4 for Air Force, and averages 108.9 yards a game passing compared with 78.4 yards a game by Air Force.
As in all triple-option offenses, the quarterback is the key. Navy's Craig Candeto isn't quite as potent a runner as Air Force's Chance Harridge. Candeto averages 77.8 yards a game compared to 94.7 for Harridge.
Navy also has a potent threat in slot back Eric Roberts, who averages 30 yards a catch with 12 receptions. He's also averaging 8.8 yards a run on 38 carries.
So just how well do the Irish understand the differences between the two options? It depends on who you ask.
"If you think they're like Air Force, then you're going to get burned," Campbell said.
But linebacker Mike Goolsby countered by saying: "There are a few different things that they do, but basically the option is the option."
Which might help explain why when Willingham said no, he meant yes.