ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Navy quarterback Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada's injured left hamstring is slowly improving, but the senior and three-year starter remains questionable for the season opener against Towson on Saturday.

"I'm kind of always more on the pessimistic side," Coach Ken Niumatalolo said. "If he comes back, it'll be a great Christmas gift. If he doesn't, we'll move forward. I'm kind of more on the other side, preparing as if he's not coming back. If he does, it will be a plus."

Niumatalolo, however, was pleased with the progress that Kaheaku-Enhada, who was injured Aug. 9 during the team's first scrimmage, has made in recent days. On Monday, he ran in the sand pit and threw for the first time, and Niumatalolo said he was "pleasantly surprised" with what he saw.

Kaheaku-Enhada said his hamstring is "leaps and bounds better than last week," but that he's unsure whether he will be able to play this week. Navy's offense has not played particularly well during the preseason — the first-team offense failed to score a touchdown in two scrimmages — and that has made these past two weeks difficult.

"It's hard coming out here and watching the guys struggle, knowing that I should be out there with them," Kaheaku-Enhada said. "At the same time, you can't show that to the guys. You have to be a leader. I try not to show it, but it's definitely been frustrating."

Senior Jarod Bryant has been working with the first-team offense. Bryant made one start last season — he led Navy to a 35-24 win over Northern Illinois when Kaheaku-Enhada was out because of a knee injury — but he appeared in nine other games.

"If we didn't feel confident with Jarod, we'd probably push the issue a little more, but we just want to make sure (Kaheaku-Enhada) takes his time and does it right," Niumatalolo said. "We don't want to push the issue."

Navy's final scrimmage, held last Friday, served as a dress rehearsal for the coaching staff as well as the players. The Midshipmen have four new assistant coaches — Joe DuPaix (slotbacks), Ashley Ingram (offensive line), Mike Judge (fullbacks) and Steve Johns (inside linebackers) — and several returning coaches who are in new roles.

"There's all kinds of things that you have with a new staff, that you've got to get used to," said Niumatalolo, who has moved from assistant to head coach.

In previous seasons, former head coach Paul Johnson called the plays and sent them into the offense; this year, offensive coordinator Ivin Jasper will call the plays from his spot in the press box and DuPaix will relay them to the players.

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Sophomore left tackle Jeff Battipaglia and junior slotback Cory Finnerty were two of the biggest surprises of the preseason. Battipaglia did not play as a freshman and was not listed on the depth chart at the end of spring practices, but is set to start against Towson.

Finnerty, who has yet to record a carry in his career, has taken advantage of injuries to sophomore Andre Byrd — a starter at the end of spring practices who has been slowed by a bruised leg — and senior Greg Shinego (broken hand) to move atop the depth chart, opposite senior Shun White. Niumatalolo said Shinego likely will not be back until the Ball State game.