OFFENSE
Grade: C-
Notre Dame didn't have any trouble moving the ball Saturday, but the Irish did have trouble scoring when they got deep in Navy territory, and that proved to be their undoing. Notre Dame averaged 3 yards a carry and the pass protection broke down late in the game, leading to the backbreaking safety.
DEFENSE
Grade: F
The defense came out shaky against Navy's triple-option and didn't get a whole lot better as the game went on. The Irish never figured out how to stop the fullbacks, who averaged 11.1 yards per carry, and gave up some momentum-changing plays, including a 52-yard TD pass and a 39-yard run from the Navy 1.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Grade: D+
Nick Tausch missed two field goals -- which obviously could've helped in what turned out to be a two-point game -- and Golden Tate let a punt bounce past him late in the game, costing the Irish some field position. David Ruffer did boot a touchback with the wind behind him, and kickoff coverage was solid.
COACHING
Grade: F
Notre Dame looked completely lost on defense for much of the game and it took the Irish half the game to find a way to get the ball to Golden Tate. But the bottom line is this: When your main coaching point of the week is convincing your players to match Navy's intensity and they don't do that, you've failed at your job.