We Have a Two-Deep!
After sitting out in 2006, Bayo Aregbe looked sharp against Fordham (CREDIT: Columbia Athletics/Ben Shyman)
The secrecy that surrounded the Columbia two-deep before last week's opener is not so much in evidence this time around. The two-deep was presented in the game notes released last night.
There were just a few changes from last week, some of which may have been the result of what happened in the Fordham and some of which may be due to injury.
Starting with the offense, Nathan Walcker is getting the start over Brandon Veldman at Left Guard. I'm not sure if Veldman got the start last week because Walcker was banged up, but Walcker was the presumed starter coming into camp.
Freshman Dan Cohen is getting the job backing up Ralph DeBernardo at Right Tackle. I can't think of a more unlikely place to find a big road grader offensive lineman than the swanky Horace Mann school in Riverdale, NY... but that's where the 6"5 275 lb. Cohen is from.
Freshman Zack Kourouma is getting the backup tailback nod over Ray Rangel. There's been a lot of talk about how Kourouma was the most impressive freshman runner in camp, so now he may get a chance to show it on the field.
Notable by his absence is tight end Jamal Russell who I'm guessing must not be 100%. Coach Wilson heaped a lot of praise on Russell during camp, but he didn't get on to the field in the Fordham game. Hopefully he is okay.
On defense, JoJo Smith is not on the two-deep and again, I presume injuries are a factor there, but hopefully he'll still get into the game. Grant Jefferson gets the nod in his stead with freshman Calvin Otis backing him up. It looks like all the other starters from last week are back for this game, so that front three of Phil Mitchell, Mack Loughrey and Lou Miller will get a chance at redemption.
Justin Masorti is still not starting at inside linebacker, but I expect him to get into most of the game again as he did against Fordham. Junior Corey Cameron is starting ahead of him once again.
posted by Jake @ 7:16:00 PM
9 comments
9 Comments:
Will please you stop with the silly "road grader" description. Especially in cases where you haven't even seen the guy play. He may or may not be a good run blocker but this has yet to be determined. If he was such a great "road grader" he would be starting, wouldn't he or are Brune, Liposky, DeBarnardo "road graders" too?
I'm assuming that since the backups for both players remains the same as last week the switch in positions for Corey Cameron and Drew Quinn is simply a misprint or does anyone know anything to the contrary?
Horace Mann has sent at least two significant players to the Ivies. Chris Misesel/Penn and Ikechi Ogbonna/Dartmouth (both graduated this year) were from Horace Mann. David Johnson, also from Horace Mann, is a freshman at Dartmouth.
The term "road grader" certainly has to be earned. A true "road grader" is hard to find in the Ivies. It means huge, and it denotes an ability to deliver pancake blocks on the run game. I haven't seen a road grader in the Ivies for a long time. It's really an NFL term.
It's interesting that so many freshman are right there on the two deep. While it might mean some near term bumpiness in results, I read this as a pretty clear indication that there is a significant upgrade in talent taking place. Couple that with the success of last year's freshmen and it seems as if NW has made large strides in the recruiting game. The fact that juniors and seniors (recruited before NW) are getting beaten out by freshmen makes me think that they aren't as talented, given the fact that they have a significant advantage since they know the plays better and are physically more mature. If this in fact true, and NW keeps this young guys around and motivated, Columbia could be much, much better in 2 years or so.
Wasn't Calvin Hill from Horace Mann?
Calvin Hill was from Riverdale Country Day School.
Mark Wright, a starting Princeton lineman in the late 70's was from Horace Mann, as was Hubie Morgan, an excellent high school running back who went to Brown -- although I don't recall if he played there.
Has anyone been in touch with ex Horace Mann and Princeton university footballer Mark Wright.
I think he was drafted by the Cincy Bengals in 1976?
Post a Comment
<< Home