<p>By BILL WAGNER, Staff Writer
Published April 06, 2008</p>
<p>Versatile Bryant continues to show skill under center Jarod Bryant was supposed to spend spring practice learning how to play slot back. Instead, the Alabama native continues to show the Navy coaching staff why he’s so dangerous as a quarterback.</p>
<p>Bryant was the starting quarterback for yesterday’s initial intra-squad scrimmage and played impressively, rushing for 117 yards and a touchdown on just nine carries while completing 5 of 11 passes for 43 yards.</p>
<p>“I thought Jarod Bryant had a great scrimmage. I’m excited about what he did,” Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo said.</p>
<p>Niumatalolo has said on numerous occasions that Bryant is dynamic with the ball in his hands. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound rising junior showed that on the first series yesterday, bursting through a hole on an option keeper and racing past the secondary for a 63-yard touchdown.</p>
<p>Niumatalolo’s idea of experimenting with Bryant at slot has been hampered by the fact starting quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada is limited this spring while recovering from off-season knee surgery. Kaheaku-Enhada is not participating in contact drills and did not dress for yesterday’s scrimmage.</p>
<p>Bryant is the only other quarterback on the roster with significant experience in varsity games and thus has been called upon to direct the first-string offense. Ricky Dobbs, a plebe with tremendous promise, has not shown he’s capable of leading the starting unit.</p>
<p>“Jarod is a good football player, but unfortunately for him, No. 10 (Kaheaku-Enhada) is pretty good too,” Niumatalolo said. “Kaipo is still our starting quarterback, but we are very, very confident in Jarod. This spring has been great for him because he has gotten lots of reps at quarterback.”</p>
<p>What the coaching staff needs to find out is whether Bryant is equally effective running the ball from the slot back position. Bryant does most of his damage on designed draws or option keepers while slots primarily get the ball on pitches.</p>
<p>“It is something we are constantly talking about,” said Niumatalolo in reference to the dilemma of how best to utilize Bryant’s abilities. “These next two weeks we are going to play Jarod a little more at slot back to see how he does.”</p>
<p>Bryant did a superb job of directing the triple-option offense, making good reads and handling the ball with precision. He drew the cornerback and made a perfect pitch to sophomore slot back Andre Byrd, who raced uncontested down the sideline for a 14-yard scoring scamper.</p>
<p>“I thought the offense came out ready to play and the defense was sleep-walking to start the scrimmage,” Niumatalolo said.</p>
<p>Navy is graduating a pair of outstanding slot backs in 2007 starters Reggie Campbell and Zerb Singleton. Shun White, who will be a senior next season, has seen extensive playing time the past three seasons and is a proven commodity. However, the staff is looking to sort out the rest of the depth chart at that position.</p>
<p>Current junior Greg Shinego was the best of the bunch yesterday, rushing for 30 yards on three carries and catching two passes for another 24 yards. Byrd, a freshman who stands just 5-foot-5, had the nifty touchdown run and also showed he could block.</p>
<p>“We are very, very excited about Andre. He’s a tough kid and has a high football IQ,” Niumatalolo said.</p>
<p>Navy’s defense picked up the pace as the scrimmage went along and got some stops. Defensive coordinator Buddy Green is looking to develop depth along the defensive line and was pleased to see plebe Maurice Cumberland step up at left end yesterday. Cumberland (6-4, 265), a product of Southwest-Onslow High in Jacksonville, Fla., made five tackles, recovered two fumbles and forced a fumble.</p>
<p>“Maurice is a guy that we think has a chance to help us,” Navy defensive coordinator Buddy Green.“I liked how he ran around out there today. He chased the ball and made some plays from the backside. He chased the quarterback down from behind.”</p>
<p>Green also liked what he saw out of Ryan Griffith, a soon-to-be senior who is looking to get into the mix at nose guard. Green was encouraged by how hard the DeMatha product played while working with the second unit.</p>
<p>With the return of Clint Sovie from injury, Navy suddenly has quality depth at inside linebacker. Sovie and rising sophomores Tony Haberer and Ross Pospisil have all started games and performed well. Pospisil led the defense with 10 tackles in yesterday’s scrimmage while Haberer contributed eight.</p>
<p>Ram Vela is the returning starter at strong-side linebacker, but the Midshipmen need to replace Matt Wimsatt at the weak-side spot. Craig Schaefer, who saw extensive action on special teams as a sophomore, has opened some eyes during spring camp and risen to the top of the depth chart.</p>
<p>“Schaefer built a lot of confidence last year playing special teams. He wasn’t ready to play outside backer, he didn’t have enough experience to turn it loose, but he made some really good plays on special teams,” Green said. “He’s come back this spring stronger, a year older and with more confidence. He has been a pleasant surprise.”</p>