Columbia-Lafayette: Keys to the Game
The Leopards take the field (CREDIT: Lafayette Athletics)
For the second straight week, Columbia comes in to a tough road game as a heavy underdog. But this is a winnable game, one that offers a tremendous opportunity for the Lions to prove their strength on the field and their maturity as a team.
Key #1: Get Fired Up!
I realize this is a non-league game, played on the road and at night to boot. But every game in a 10-game schedule is precious and a win is a win. An early score, or a bone-crushing tackle, something to prove the Lions are in it to win it would go a long way here.
Key #2: Make them Pass, Make them Punt
Coach Wilson talked this week about how Columbia needs to make opponents punt more, not only because that's what happens when you get a defensive stop, but because you want guys like Austin Knowlin handling the ball as much as possible. Lafayette QB Mike DiPaola is not the best passer on third down, but he has scrambled for a 1st down or two when the Leopards have faced short-yardage situations. Columbia can't let DiPaola squeeze away from sacks like Princeton's Bill Foran did last week.
Key #3: Get Jordan Davis to 100 again
The Lions need to keep working on ball control and take advantage of the fact that the offensive line is performing so much better. Coach Blackshear is performing some miracles right now and with only one senior starter on the O-line, this group will produce victories for some time to come. Jordan Davis must be riding high confidence-wise right now as he has a chance to become only the second Columbia player to rush for 1,000 yards in a season.
Key #4: Don't let Adair beat you
Shaun Adair is DiPaola's favorite target, especially on third down. I'm not sure if Eugene Edwards or JoJo Smith will draw the Adair assignment, but he can't be left open as much as Princeton's Brendan Circle was at times last week.
Temperature at the 6pm kickoff time is expected to be a toasty 81 degrees! I'm not sure how that will affect the game, but it might take a toll on some of the bigger players as we head into the latter stages.
posted by Jake @ 7:45:00 PM
13 comments
13 Comments:
#5 might be "Hormann plays decent game"...He is second to last rated Ivy QB in front of Penn QB's and for a guy who was 2nd team all Ivy last year and with his weapons at receiver, he needs to be more productive in the passing game. A 50 pct completion rate (56/110) just won't get it done at this level.
I'm pretty sure i know what Dan Hawkins would say about the 81 degree comment.....this is college football guys. Not intramurals.
Strap it on and play football.
M.S.
Agreed...the hotter the better, if we are one thing, we are in shape and that will be a huge advantage to us
Hormann started slowly last year and got better and better later in the season. He has also had some drops.
Last year was last year..he is a captain now and we are going into the meat of the Ivy schedule. Time for him to step up and play.(he was very mediocre at Princeton game) That's my point...
Will we ever see MA on the field, in any capacity?
As predicted we get trounced and our QB play continues to be mediocre at best--time to make a change before the season gets away from us and we lose the few winnable games ahead of us.Anyone blaming Dianne for scheduling Marist now? Very disappointing that Norries didn't have these guys ready to play against an average Leopards squad.
I reluctantly agree. CH has been hampered by his injury and is not making the plays. NW takes the blame for his coaching of the OL. The defense hung tough until the offense kept self destructing. too much of the old Lion inability to score in the red zone. Poor reads by CH. And CH presents no threat to run. Let's see what some combination of Kelly and MA can do, a la '94 QB shuttle.
21 out of 41 again last night..enough is enough. I admire Norries' loyalty to his co captain but he clearly isn't near 100 pct after his injury and he needs to sit. Norries whole deal is the best guy plays regardless--time to show that isn't coachspeak because I find it very hard to believe we don't have a better option at QB. We are at a very sensitive spot in the season where one or two more demoralizing losses in a row where the offense did nothing and Norries is at risk of having a divided locker room.
One bright spot last night (for Lafayette's future opponents, anyway): 2 missed extra points in a row. Otherwise......
On to Homecoming!
RS
I agree with the poster who wants to make a change at QB. In fairness to CH, it is time to look to the future. Kelly and MA need a chance.
The future QB is Paul Havas, the frosh. But I disagree about sitting Horman down...it's too early for that. He needs one really good game to get going. Penn would be a great showcase.
Oh to be a backup QB. You never get hit, you hardly take any reps in practice, you never make a mistake in a game and, best of all, you are a hero to all the clueless fans who are certain that you are much better than that bum of a starter, that is until you actually play!
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