"Somebody's going to get right this week," Navy coach Paul Johnson said. "One side or the other is going to get better."

It's hard to guess which side it will be, though. Neither has shown signs of progress.

Notre Dame (1-7) is dead last in total offense this season at 188 yards a game, 46 yards behind next-to-last Florida International. The Fighting Irish have rushed for a total of 273 yards through eight games this season. That's 70 yards less than Navy averages per game. That's right, Navy is averaging more yards rushing per game than the Irish have ALL season.

The Irish are coming off a 38-0 loss to USC in which they managed just 165 yards total offense.

Navy (4-4) has the nation's 15th worst defense, giving up an average 460 yards a game. Navy's defense doesn't rank as low as Notre Dame's offense, but the Irish have faced five teams that rank in the top 25 in total defense and the worst defense they've faced is 56th ranked Purdue.

Four of Navy's opponents were ranked 90th or worse in total offense, so the Midshipmen have been giving up a lot of yards to bad teams. The Midshipmen are coming off a 59-52 loss to Delaware of the Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA). The Navy defense allowed the Blue Hens to score on nine of their 11 possessions.

"We've had a lot of injuries and we're really young," Johnson said. "And quite honestly, we just haven't played very well."

The best indication of how things are going will probably be along the line. With four games left, the Irish already have allowed a school-record 39 sacks, which puts them last in the nation in sacks allowed. Navy is last in the nation in sacks with five.

Something's got to give.

There's no doubt the Irish will have a size advantage. The average Notre Dame offensive lineman is 6-6, 305 pounds. The average Navy defensive lineman is 6-2, 260 pounds.

Notre Dame left tackle Sam Young, who is 6-8, 310 pounds, said it doesn't matter. He remembers being warned by teammates about the tenacity of the Midshipmen last season.

"They're a pain in the rear. They really play with a lot of heart," Young said. "They go 100 percent every play. You've got to come out with the same attitude."

While Young dismisses talk Navy is too small, Johnson denies the idea that the Irish lack talent.

"They are Notre Dame. They have good players and they will always have good players," he said. "Notre Dame's number one struggle has been their schedule."

Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis said the Irish offense better play well because he doesn't expect his defense to shut down Navy's high-scoring offense.

An added issue this week is the Irish, coming off a bye week, have beaten the Midshipmen an NCAA-record 43 straight times. Navy quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada, a Kapolei High alum, figures Navy has nothing to lose

"I look at it as a great opportunity," he said. "We lose the game and we're just like the 43 teams that came before us and lost. But if we win the game, we rewrite the history books."

Irish players are aware of the streak, but say they don't talk about it. They also admit they don't want to be part of the team that loses to Navy.

"But you don't think about it too much," defensive end Trevor Laws said.

What is on Notre Dame's mind is its four straight home losses, which matches a school record.

"Because that's now. We're not worried about the past," tailback James Aldridge said. "I know now."