<p>Weis concerned with Navy's ball control</p>
<p>By Bill Wagner, Staff Writer</p>
<p>Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis met with the media yesterday and the session produced an 11-page transcript.</p>
<p>Weis' weekly press conference, held in the school's Guglielmino Complex, is the primary availability to the media during the week and thus lasts more than an hour. Of course, the third-year head coach addressed a wide range of topics, from Saturday's game against Navy to the fact he spent more time with his wife during the bye week.</p>
<p>Weis showed he is well-versed in Navy's game notes, pointing out during his introductory remarks the Midshipmen are seeking to become the first team in NCAA history to lead the nation in rushing three seasons in a row and have committed the fourth-fewest penalties among 119 Football Bowl Subdivision schools.</p>
<p>Weis lauded Navy head coach Paul Johnson while noting he has compiled a .725 career winning percentage.</p>
<p>"Coach Johnson, he's also their offensive play-caller, and obviously with the way they go up and down the field against everybody, he does a heck of a job," Weis said.</p>
<p>Weis then proceeded to run through Navy's entire starting lineup, from offense to defense to special teams. He had complimentary words for every one of the Mids' skill position players, but reserved special praise for slot back Reggie Campbell.</p>
<p>"I think one player that really needs to be called out the most is this Reggie Campbell because he's a pain in the butt now, both on offense and as a returner," Weis said. "He's a dynamic kick returner, a dynamic punt returner. I mean, he's 5-foot-6, but he's a really good player. He runs a sub-four 40 (yard dash) and catches the ball for 20 yards a reception, carries the ball for seven years a carry. I think Campbell definitely deserves a call out because this kid is a good player in more ways that just as a slot."</p>
<p>Speaking of the defensive personnel, Weis called nose guard Nate Frazier "the most disruptive" member of the line and said inside linebacker Irv Spencer "is definitely the guy who leads this defense."</p>
<p>With regard to special teams, Weis noted Navy uses two placekickers in Joey Bullen and Matt Harmon and admitted he wasn't sure why.</p>
<p>"I really haven't been able to figure out the pattern of why they use who when," he said. "Bullen looks like the main guy, but I've seen Harmon both kicking field goals and kicking off."</p>
<p>In closing his analysis of Navy's personnel, Weis pointed out that Greg Veteto has punted only nine times and became the first opposing head coach this season to mention long snapper Matt Oberlander.</p>
<p>Notre Dame football publicist Brian Hardin then opened the floor to questions from the assembled media and those ranged from the insightful to the inane. One of the more light-hearted moments came when Weis revealed he spent "quality time with his wife" in addition to recruiting last week since the Irish did not have a game.</p>
<p>When a reporter responded that no more information was needed on that topic, Weis declared: "Maura, if you're watching this, which I hope you're not, I did not say that."</p>
<p>On a more serious note, Weis admitted that Navy's penchant for limiting possessions coupled with a scoring average of 35.8 points per game was problematic.</p>
<p>"You're going to get fewer possessions and you're going to have to make the most of them," he said. "Let's be bottom line, we've only scored (seven) offensive touchdowns this season. This is a team that's scoring five, six touchdowns a game. It's definitely a concern about the production per possession."</p>
<p>Asked about Navy quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada, Weis gushed about the junior's running and ball-handling ability.</p>
<p>"We had heard about his athleticism, and it's pretty obvious on tape. People want to talk about an academy, they're undersized this and that. Well, an athlete is an athlete, and this kid is very athletic," Weis said. "He's dangerous with the ball in his hands and he's got the ball in his hands on every play."</p>
<p>Other interesting points that Weis made during the press conference:</p>
<p>Notre Dame relied heavily on defensive line coach Jappy Oliver when preparing for Navy's triple-option offense. Oliver was an assistant at Air Force under Fisher DeBerry from 1995-2002 and thus defended the option every day in practice.</p>
<p>"I've leaned on Jappy and some of his resources this week because he's the one who's definitely had the most familiarity defending this offense," Weis said.</p>
<p>The Fighting Irish, while 1-7 and out of bowl contention, are not playing for next year. Weis admitted the coaching staff is spending more time than usual evaluating young players in practice, but that he wants to win the final four games against Navy, Air Force, Duke and Stanford for the team's fifth-year seniors.</p>
<p>"You've got several players who are wrapping up their careers that don't want to leave with a bad taste in their mouth. I think they have every reason to go out winning every game down the stretch," Weis said. "Those nine guys (whose) eligibility is up, I don't think they'd like to go out the way we're standing right now."</p>
<p>Weis said Notre Dame is using a pair of walk-on quarterbacks - Darrin Bragg and Justin Gillett - to simulate Navy's triple-option. Both quarterbacks ran option offenses in high school and Weis said they have done a solid job of mimicking what the Midshipmen do.</p>
<p>Weis opened the press conference on a somber note, revealing that true freshman running back Robert Hughes had returned home to Chicago after learning that his brother Robert had died unexpectedly.</p>
<p>"I really don't have any more details, so I'm really not at liberty to talk about it. His mom called me and she was shook up, and obviously when I told Robert this morning he was shook up," Weis said. "I told (Hughes) to take as much time as he needs. He was very upset, and I just want Robert and his family to know the whole Notre Dame family has their family in our thoughts and prayers."</p>