FORT WORTH, TEXAS — It sort of makes sense that Navy set single-season school records for points and total yards this season. Those marks were established in 2007, which is the last time the Midshipmen struggled on defense as much as they did this year.

In 2007, as in 2016, Navy was forced to play a bunch of young, inexperienced defenders because of heavy graduation losses and in-season injuries. It was a season-long struggle and the Mids had to routinely outscore opponents to compile an 8-5 record and earn a berth in the Poinsettia Bowl.

Many longtime fans might remember that the lowlight of that season came in the Dallas suburb of Denton, where Navy beat host North Texas, 74-62. That remained the highest-scoring game in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision history until this season when Pittsburgh and Syracuse combined for 137 points.

Navy gave up 40 points or more a total of eight times in 2007 with a 59-52 homecoming loss to a Delaware team led by current Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco also ranking as a low point.

However, there is a silver lining to this story. All those young defenders who were pressed into action in 2007 grew up and led a strong defense in 2009. Navy limited service academy rivals Air Force and Army to 13 and 3 points, respectively, that year. The Mids held a total of seven opponents to 18 points or less, gaining revenge on Delaware, 35-18, and shutting down a potent Missouri offense, 35-13, in the Texas Bowl.

Inside linebacker Ross Pospisil, who was a sophomore starter in 2007, led Navy in tackles in 2009. Safety Wyatt Middleton, who was a freshman starter in 2007, topped the team in interceptions and was second in tackles.

There are a lot of parallels between 2007 and 2016 in terms of the defense's makeup. Fans can expect standout freshman safety Alohi Gilman, who was named Eastern College Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year, to blossom into the type of dominant defensive back as Middleton. They shouldn't be surprised if sophomore inside linebacker Hudson Sullivan, who moved into the starting lineup because of a season-ending injury to senior captain Daniel Gonzales, leads Navy in tackles in 2018.

Those two were among many young players pressed into duty for the Navy defense, which allowed an average of almost 30 points and 430 total yards this season. There were nine sophomores or freshmen listed on the defensive two-deep for the Armed Forces Bowl. Six other starters or backups were juniors who did not play much in 2015.

Navy's defensive woes this season do not mean those players aren't athletic or talented. It was more a case of inexperience that led to a myriad of mental or physical mistakes. Defensive coordinator Dale Pehrson conceded as much when talking to the media last week after practice at Kennedale High. Pehrson referred to “self-inflicted wounds” that hurt the Mids, assignment errors or miscommunications that resulted in big plays for the opposition.

Nowhere were those mistakes more magnified than in the secondary, which was under siege all season by the slew of spread passing offenses the Mids saw in the American Athletic Conference and again on Friday in their 48-45 loss to Louisiana Tech in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl.

Navy started a freshman (Gilman) and two sophomores (right cornerback Jarid Ryan and free safety Sean Williams) down the stretch this season. Left cornerback Tyris Wooten was a junior who was buried on the depth chart at wide receiver for the previous two years.

That unit was responsible for some coverage busts that were largely the result of inexperience. At one point, Ryan turned a wide receiver loose because he expected safety help over the top; at another, sophomore safety Khaylan Williams got burned one-on-one in the slot after getting caught looking into the backfield.

Such problems can be corrected through coaching, film study and just plain game experience. Ryan and Williams learned lessons in those two instances and will be careful to not make the same mistakes again.

Navy has some good parts in the secondary, with sophomore cornerback Noruwa Obanor another up-and-coming talent. With all four starters and three backups returning, you can expect the secondary to be vastly improved in 2017.

That said, it would have made a world of difference if senior Brendon Clements had not been dismissed from the team. Clements was the best cover corner in the program. Coach Ken Niumatalolo gave Clements a second chance and the Miami native wasted it.

Losing Gonzales to a season-ending injury during the Air Force game also hurt big time because he was the most aggressive and physical member of the defense. Outside linebacker Josiah Powell was enjoying a strong senior season until suffering a leg injury against Tulsa and missing the final five games.

Not all of Navy's defensive problems were the fault of players. Sometimes, missed assignments and poor technique are because of coaching. This was one of the worst tackling Navy teams, and that speaks to practice habits.

The coaching staff doesn't like to hear it, but it's clear that Navy needs to do more live tackling in practice. Taking poor angles, using bad form and failing to wrap up can be fixed by practicing proper tackling technique at full speed and in physical fashion.

Navy has a lot of promising players returning on the defense. Sophomore defensive end Jarvis Polu (6?feet?3, 280) started every game and finished with 53 tackles and three sacks. Freshman nose tackle Jackson Pittman (6-3, 315) was the backup all season and flashed the makings of an effective run-stuffer.

Middle linebacker Micah Thomas was the team's runaway leader with 107 tackles. The 6-1, 249-pound junior — a second team All-American Athletic Conference pick — is big, strong, fast and instinctive.

Outside linebacker D.J. Palmore was another bright spot with team highs of 111/2 tackles for loss and six sacks. The 6-3, 236-pound junior is the prototype of what the coaching staff is looking for at the position.

Junior Brandon Jones (6-4, 225) started at the other outside linebacker spot Friday and had a solid game with five tackles and a fumble recovery. The Mids might have found an ideal outside linebacker to play against spread-passing teams that use five wide receivers in Justin Norton, a converted safety who came on strong down the stretch.