Navy is using more shotgun formation than you might expect against Army

Navy did something you probably weren’t expecting during the 2016 Army-Navy game: It came out and ran the shotgun formation.

Army, Navy, and fellow service academy Air Force are renowned for their use of the flexbone formation, which is associated with the run-option game.

Because of that, any variation from the norm for the Midshipmen is noteworthy. Army’s using some pistol formation, too.

Although the flexbone’s uniqueness is a strength against other opponents, against other service academies it becomes something of a weakness. Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo told SB Nation this in October:

“We have a hard time against Air Force and Army, but Air Force and Army run this offense. Air Force and Army have a hard time moving the ball against us because we see it in spring and in summer. It’s not that defensive coordinators don’t have a plan — because their kids don’t see it week in and week out, it’s just tough to prepare for, and we just feel like on two-a-days, it’s hard to prepare, and even if you have all summer, it’s still hard because the people that are simulating aren’t simulating it hopefully to the level that we are.”

There’s also the matter of new Navy QB Zach Abey, whose first start is coming in this game.

Abey’s high school highlight tape shows him running out of the shotgun quite a bit.

This could serve as the function of the surprise with the added element of suiting your QB’s skill set.

Either way, we’ll see if it’s something Navy continues.