Columbia-Brown Keys to the Game
This could be a record-setting day for Austin Knowlin (CREDIT: Columbia Athletics/Gene Boyers)
1) Slow down the Brown Juggernaut
It's a serious challenge for the much-maligned Columbia defense today, but the one bright spot is that the Brown Bears move the ball mostly through the air. That plays a little more to the Lions relative strength in pass defense. The Columbia secondary needs to pick off some passes, probably at least two, to have a chance here. And I also think the Lions will need a few sacks and lots of pressures and hurries on Brown QB Michael Dougherty as well.
2) Run the ball successfully
One way to keep the Brown offense off the field is to use the running game well. I;m not sure if Jordan Davis or Ray Rangel is the best man to get the job done today, but I'd like to see the Lions try to get something going out of the I formation or another two-back set other than the shotgun.
3) Get Knowlin his 1,000 yards
Running game or no running game, Austin Knowlin will need to put up big numbers for Columbia to win. He needs 130 receiving yards to tie Don Lewis' team record of 1,000 for a single season. Jerry Recco and I will be watching very closely during the game to track his progress.
posted by Jake @ 6:40:00 PM
46 comments
46 Comments:
Here's a great stat- 53 attempts (-149 yds) which is Hormann's rushing stats for the year and has him dead last in the entire league for rushing. Can we finally give Kelly a chance. I've been saying this since we were 1-3, now we are 1-8. Give Hormann his farewell quarter as a Senior and captain and let's focus the future..please
We do have to get consistent pass pressure to win. The secondary won't be able to cover too long, there'll be a breakdown somewhere. INT's are quite often the result of a hurry and we have not had a good pass rush this year,along with our biggest problem of not stopping the run between the tackles. Our run stuffers up the middle,linemen and backers are going to have to get bigger and more importantly nastier than they have played this year. We need kids with attitude to stop the run and start imposing our will in the middle and in the trenches. I thought Masorti showed signs of that when healthy,but he was banged up too much. Gross is very mobile and gets to a lot of plays,very encouraging for a freshman. Both he and Augie Williams on the outside spur spot did outstanding jobs for us as freshmen. They both should get much better as they mature and gain more size and strength. I hope the lineman will do the same. We desperately need better line play on both sides to improve to where we can contend for a league title. Hope for another good recruit class with some big mean sob's. I really loved the spot they did on the school site for the senior players. I most admire the guys like Stevenson,Weldon among others that never saw much play time but were always there for the team. I wish them all the best and I wish their last year could have included a few wins. Maybe today.
Here's our MO..we always play from behind, thus have to abandon a rushing game,therefore become a 3 and out offense or score very quickly thus putting the D on the field way too much. Same old song and dance. How about not giving up the opening KO for a td and playing with a lead--sound good? I'm afraid it could be really ugly if we get down early as Brown has most explosive offense in the league.
Once again NW has given the ball away after winning the toss. You only do this when you have good defense. It is already 14-0 and soon to be more. What is his reasoning, if any?
Here we go again..21-0..pathetic..and as predicted, Harvard crushing Eli--awesome...good coaching makes a BIG difference
This has been an awful season. I have only been to homecoming, but we have been out of almost every game from the beginning. This is almost as bad as two seasons ago. I can't figure out how we can go from 5-5 to another disaster. 1-9,0-7 is tough enough, but atleast if we lost some close games we would have something to build on! other than the 05 season, this is about as horrible as it can get! I see no positives from this year, and how do you recruit quality players after this type of season, if you keep the same coaching staff in place, how can u compete for players with harvard and yale, etc. yet, i don't think the answer is to change coaches once again, unless we are convinced that nw can not win at columbia, in which cse we should cut our losses now, and bring in a new staff.
I agree the results are terrrible- they speak for themselves. The issue is that shoop and his staff were let go in 05, there appears however to still be alot of optimisim with regard to nw and his staff, hopefully, he can still get the job done. THose of us who care about the program can not continue to stomach these types of seasons every other year- it is too much too ask of the players, parents, etc- it is simply not fair to the kids. we must find a way immediately to compete in the league, or start palying williams, hamilton, etc. We have only finished over 500 in the league twice in the last 40 years. The question is can nw accomplish what campbell, naso, tellier, shoop and the others could not, whcih is to build a consistent competive team
It is clear that all these people writting in care about the program, and want to see the team win. I have not seen any games this year, but the results speak for themselves, and i can not imagine that anyone associated with the program at the university level are happy, but there does seem to be a sense that things will get better. I think the faithful who have atended all these games need to explain why they remain so optimisitc about the future. Let us just hope we can win some more games next year, and get back on track. I assume the faithful seem to think nw and his staff have the ability to do so, although it appeared for a while that shoop and his staff were on the right track as well, going 4-6 in the first year. I am confused as to how these last two coaches have fielded competitive teams in the first seaso(each time coming off disasters), and then everything collapses.
I posted one of the earlier blogs it now looks like the team is coming back, which would agreat lift for the program, and prove that the players have not given up on nw and his staff. I think real lion football fans are just hungry for a winner. if Nw can do that, then we would all be happy to stick with the present staff.
A come from behind victory would be just what the program needs- agreat way to start the off season, and would give everybody who follows the team something to build on fro next year. I am so happy that the future appears so bright, despite the record this year.
yes, unlike two years ago, it seems that every one in the know is very high on the program. Although this year has been frustrating, the sense is that with the current crop of young players , the team should be very good next years and for some years after that. recruiting has really improved.
The team really came on strong in the second half. I wrote one of the earlier posts, but i stand corrected. given what i am hearing and the strong showing in the second half, the future may be ok. Sorry to all for suggesting we consider mvoing down to division3. we proved we can comptete today in the league and hopefully for years to come. I just got a bit frustrated earlier today with how we fell behind. glad to know the lion faithful are confident about the future. sorry again to all
I also was too negative earlier. the great second half performance showed alot of heart and is very encouraging. I just hope nw and his staff are not too discouraged from the results this year and continue to work hard to build for the future
yes, agree with the others- the second half was a good way to end what otherwise was a down season. Hopefully, this stong showing will continue next year
yes I agreed with all of the above. we did not have a good season, but i am sure basketball will be good, and football will get better
I was very encouraged by the second half. We actually had a good chance to win the game. Bottom line; somebody lit a fire in the second half. CH's play was a microcosm of his career. Strong arm, lots of courage, but doesn't see the whole field (including the deep pattern) and makes mistakes which are costly. But the way to win in this league is with superior line play. Our line was at least as big as and perhaps bigger than Brown's. So go figure/
Just returned from Baker Field and offer these comments: (1) Columbia played a tremendous second half and had Brown reeling on both sides of the ball, but could not make up the 21 point deficit at the end of the first half; (2) We caught fire in the second half when Craig Hormann started drilling the ball in to the receivers, and boy, we have some good ones, including Knowling, Guitterez, Joseph and Williams; (3) Our defense in the second half played like the "D" last year, particularly Phil Mitchell, up front, and Alex Gross and Eugene Edwards at lineback and defensive back; (4) Ray Rangel showed signs of becoming outstanding running back; (5) Our inability to punch the ball over the goal line from five or six yards out hurt us today as it has throughout the season; (6) After Brown's first three drives the Columbia defense played very well, but was unable to sack Brown's quarterback; (7) The Columbia fans made lots of noise, the cheerleaders were terrific and even the band looked good led by its entusiastic leader and great trumpet player; (8) Brown won because it got started faster, had a very mobile quarerback and a tremendous athlete in Bobby Sewell; and finally, (8) With virually everyone returning next year, we certainly will be very competitive in the Ivy League. It all comes down to recruiting. If Columbia wants to have a great team next year, then it must recruit some immediate impact players at quarterback, running back, on the offensive and defensive lines and two mean linebackers. Let's do it!
guys-
1-9 is pathetic, any way the posters here sugar coat it. we need hear from nw on why we as alums should be patient. i'd like to know what is going to be different next year.
is it same old columbia and continued losing or do we need a change of leadership?
Agreed...1-9 is not acceptable during any year. Glad the team showed some guts and never gave up all year. And the fact no one quit the team from camp speaks volumes about the small changes in the program. I find it hard to believe that it's still a talent gap like the old days so it comes down to schemes and coaching. NW and staff need to show results next year-bottom line. Gilmore has turned around Holy Cross and Teevens Dartmouth so it's doable.
Sorry guys, there is still a talent gap as anyone connected with Ivy League Football knows. We just do not have the horses. It's not fair to blame the coaches when our guys are not as good as the other team's guys. We are getting there, but it's not easy to win games when the teams we're playing have more All-State high school players on their roster. Let's get behind the coaches and bring in an outstanding group of recruits.
Totally disagree re talent gap..saw every Ivy team play in person this year and as I mentioned in an earlier post we are very similar one deep at the skilled positions. Our lines are the glaring weak spot vs the Harvards and Yales but I'm hoping that is youth. We should have beat Cornell,Dartmouth and possibly Princeton this year--we were outcoached and outplayed. Fyi...My 80's CU team had at least 10 allstate hs players on it--means nothing in the grand scheme. If it did, Harvard would win the title every year and be top 5 in IAA(or whatever it's called now)
Regarding talent,a more mobile QB would have won us some games, and made the coaches look smarter.
But mobile academically superior D1 level QB's dont grow on trees.
Heres hoping we find one amongst the other recruits we need.
This program I still believe has good momentum going with this staff. I think too many fans expect first years to come in and turn things around immediately. Just doesn't happen. Like I've said before they are trying to build a good BASE of talent. That means mature and deep. This is Wilson first full recruit class and I think they showed a lot with players like Gutierrez, Gross, Williams,England, Gaston, Moretto, Otis, Mehrer, Myers,. Let these guys grow and mature and bring in another class just like it and we will start reaping the fruit. We are just planting the seed now. These are just players from this class that saw a lot of time, I'm sure there is more quality waiting to mature a little physically that will emerge later. Have faith people, this team has been down a long time, it won't get fixed that fast.
a reply to:
Nov 18, 09:33:00 AM PST
We have Shane Kelly and Havas.They have big potential.
Have faith, guys.Thing will change.
I've watched the QB backup play with keen interest this year, and God bless those guys (Kelly, Havas) if they get some more quickness in the next year-meanwhile, maybe we'll find a speedy Gonzalez.
Havas is really quick.
Mobile quarterbacks are useful if the offensive lines are not so strong.
Hormann's skill set was overshadowed by his line getting knocked over every week.
We need bigger and stronger linemen on both sides of the ball. Some of our current kids may be what we need - but they need to commit to the weight room.
We couldn't run or pass block this year. The inability to open holes for Davis and Rangel took the play-action away, and made our QB a sitting duck.
If Hormann had Harvard or Yale's O-Line, he had the skill to be Bushnell Cup winner. No quarterback in the league had his arm. Even Dougherty.
I agree,Hormann has fantastic arm strength, and he reminded me of Jeff George, who played with a number of Pro teams until recently-- physically big, ultra strong arm, but immobile enough to not be a consistently winning QB. In college, esp the Ivies that dont have the 300lb linemen, give me a running/option QB who is a "B" rated passer and I think we have a better chance of consistently moving the chains.
CH has a rocket of an arm but could barely move after his ACL.
Another freshman player who impressed me yesterday afternoon was the starting tight end, Andrew Kennedy. Tight end is one of the most difficult positions to play as a freshman, yet Kennedy seemed to block very well and had three receptions for 22 yards. He's quick and strong, and now that he knows Columbia's system, there's no limit to what he could accomplish the next three years.
Having attended the Brown game yesterday afternoon, I truly believe that if this team plays as well as it did in the last three quarters, it will be competing for the chammpionship next year.
Time to concentrate fully on recruiting. We need to add about eight to ten impact players to ensure that we make a championship run next year, including a couple of 4.4/4.5 running backs like Xavier Martin of Fordham, an outstanding quarterback, a powerful fullback, several huge linemen, and two or three more linebackers in the tradition of Andy Shalbrack and Alex Gross. Add those 8 to 10 outstanding recruits to the 80+ talented and now experienced players who will be returning, and Columbia will be a very serious contender in the Ivy League.
I think you'd be better off looking to this years class to find some line help. I don't think you realize how hard it is for a true freshman to make an impact at the line positions. There may be more talent waiting to emerge as sophs. in the linemen. If NW can keep building good recruit classes and retaining players than we will be fine. You just have to get your first class of recruits to their third year and then you will really see how he's doing vs. other Ivy schools. I believe this years class stacked up really well. I also think they did a great job on a limited recruiting basis last year with players like Knowlin, Masorti,Shalbrack, Bashaw, Miller just to name a few.
Thanks for the clarification, dabull. I certainly agree with you about how difficult it is for freshmen lineman to make an impact, or for that matter even play any varsity football during their first year in college. However, there are exceptions. For example, Ben Gaston stepped in to the starting line-up at OG for us midway through the season and apparently played very well. I'm hoping that a few more outstanding linemen come our way and perhaps a couple can help immediately.
There is NOtalent gap. just a age and numbers gap. Look at the two deep for all the Ivy's. We've had too much loss of talent in the junior and senior years. I think the seniors played with a ton of heart this year.
If we are to be an improved team next year (and we should have a better record), it'll take improvements in all phases not just one or two. The negative posts here about this position group or that simply don't get the big picture.
Being the parent of a freshman who didnt play varsity at all this year(yet was heavily recruited by Columbia and a slew of other schools)I know the challenge it will be to retain these kids, as they progress to upperclassmen. Sheer exhaustion, injuries,lack of playing time, academic and social pressures due to lack of free time, change in focus in their lives(ie career over sports)will take its toll on the roster, especially at a school where they have not been "bought" with a scholarship. It is a testament to the 'brotherhood' of Columbia football that Wilson is cultivating, that will help retain most of them. It also makes it more impressive that some, particularily the nonstarters, stick it out to their Jr and Sr years.
Well said, parent of a freshman. I too am a parent of a freshman who saw no playing time. We, as parents, have a role in this too, by encouraging our sons to stay comitted and reminding them of the players who have, and by staying positive during the dark moments. And I say moments, because the future is very bright!
Not seeing any playing time as a freshman is normal in D1 FCS and BCS football.
Strong programs bring in good recruits who have to wait behind the Juniors and Seniors who were the good recruits of 3 and 4 years ago(especially lineman). Having a lot of freshman play is a sign of a program that is either troubled or was troubled and is now in the process of a turnaround. Columbia is an example of the latter. If there a lot of freshman starting on the Varsity in two or three years that would be a sign that NW is not doing a good job building a program. If you look at the current first and second year players, there are quite a few guys who didn't play much this year who will be starters over next two or three years. They are good athletes who, with solid work in the weight room and some physical maturation, will be big contributors in the future.
Agreed. The future is specially bright when you consider the fact that so many freshmen players contributed so much to this season. Every player is vital to the success of the program. Columbia played more far freshman this year than anyone else in the league and the JV players showed plenty of talent as well. It will payoff next year in a Championship run if the players remain committed to the program, improve their physical skills in the weight room, and help in the recruiting progress.
It's good to hear so much positive spirit about CU football. Be careful about next year, though. It would be nice to be in the thick of the Ivy title race, but that is a very long step from where the team is now. Progress from this year to next is the thing to look for, in stats first and wins second. As we all know, line play is the key on both sides of the ball. Getting the running offense and defense under control, getting the pass blocking and rushing under control -- these will show real progress. Then the wins will follow. I hope there will be many next year, but I'm looking for the Lions to become competitive next year and to win the following year. We were spoiled by the 5-5 year, which was a testament to several frosh overachievers, certainly, but primarily to the contingent of exceptional seniors. Their loss was the difference this year.
I would echo what is being said about the difficulty developing an offensive line -- it's the hardest position to recruit for and to build skills for. Gaston played because his strength impressed the coaches. They knew he was giving up a lot in skill and experience. His playing time should hasten his development into a solid starter, and help build a foundation for a successful 2008 season.
BITING MY TOUNGE ALL SEASON
Football is a game which should be played with joy.It was apparent that the coaching staff had sucked all the life from the team.The overly complicated playbook did not create the mismatches and isolation required for success.The contraction and expansion of the opposing teams defence was never achieved.You could see the natural instincts of many players had been taken away.
We lost on many fronts.No o-line play means you must create something from nothing.Move the QB around.If he is a man stuck in cement all the other team has to do is tee off.Move him around, create deception, you buy yourself another second or two.All the talk of CH's arm is poppycock.Yes, it is strong,but it is not his accuracy more than his inconsistancy.75% of all his throws are way too high not allowing any rac or yac.Our receiving corps was never in a position to consistently extend a play or create uncertainty in the opposing team defence.
The lack of any run option killed us.The opposing DB's never were forced to commit between the passer and receiver making their jobs much easier and ours much harder.The lack of isolation put on anyone defensive player was horryfing.The receiving core bailed CH out many times.What's this talk about him being a bushnell cup candidate with a good O line.How many 70 yard throws do you see in the Ivys? The one common thread in the winning teams QB's is that they are mobile and can throw on the run.They can prolong plays and extend drives.How many 3 and outs did we have in the first half of most games?Our big drives were mostly in the second half when the game was for the most part over.
The running game from the shot gun without a mobile QB or H back just doesn't work "maybe with Adriane Peterson".
We had three to four games to try our other QB’s and start to prepare them for next year.The writing was on the wall after five games and I am being kind.The freshman QB’s handed in their playbooks after training camp,why? Shane Kelly CC,PH,and MA all had chances to play big chunks of time,but these opportunities were squandered.6000 yds and records for what? Always throwing into coverage and forcing throws to AK.
In the ivys there is always someone open.This is not the NFL or even the SEC.All the good teams in the Ivys rely on the short game,dump offs and dink passes to keep the opposing linebackers honest.
The opposing defences were salivating at the opportunity to make plays without having to check any options.
No shovel passes or properly executed screens to take the pressure off the pass rush shame on you.
Our special teams are just a microcosm of how poorly prepared the coaching staff had are our boys ready.A big stick on a kickoff has a much more positive impact than a return TD against us.
Special teams can set the tone.We were sloppy at best.
Princeton was the first of many IVY league games that we let slip away because our guys were not playing to the whistle as much as the other guy was ,plain and simple.
Many times we lost on lack of fundamentals.not form tackling or dishing out major hits or even wrapping up properly.
We were caught holding one too many times.
The Denver Broncos untill recently had the smallest o line in the NFL and its best running game.We are loosing on technique and coaching.Execution and a coherent game plan,focusing on the strength of the players as opposed to their weaknesses.
How hard is it to recruit three stout nose tackles or a killer mlb who can set the tone early on in games.Let the other team fear going over the middle. Belichek goes into the trenches ,NW will have to get down and dirty and teach our young line proper technique.
Our bad plays and we are second and 13,our opponents bad plays against us are a gain of 3or4yds.
Sometimes you have to take two steps backward to really start to move forward.Well we blew half a season not recognizing who we were and not taking advantage of not preparing our boys for next year.Our QB was a square peg in a round hole.It was not his fault,it was the coaching staffs for not recognizing this.How ever couragious Craig was he was never put into a position where he could do well.
they wasted precious time that will have to be spent learning the rythms and strengths of the other QB’s.
Ivy league players should not be terrorized by the opposing teams or there own coaching staff.
If I was the offence of coordinator I would start to worry.NW having many great attributes must realize he is ultimately responsible.
Game time adjustments are one of the most important elements in winning football games.We consistently tried to fit our kids to a system instead of vice versa.
Schools which are ranked in the top 25 frequently rotate QB’s frequently as a change of pace as the situation demands.Heck they will even trust a freshman qb.Would not MA have been a viable option in some second and third down situations, just to keep them guessing.
We are an Ivy league team we are supposed to be a team of thinkers.We should not get beaten up so badly on strategy and fundamentals alone.
In the first super bowl of the Kraft era,Bledsoe had the smarts and decency to realize that he could not get it done,because he wasnt,so he handed the keys over to Brady in the middle of the super bowl.I am not saying for one second that we have another Brady in our midst.But if a QB1 has this sense with all the marbles on the table,how come our staff wasted a whole half season trying to salvage a one win season.1 and 9 or 3 and7 is still a bad team,but to throw away the opportunity for real live game action experience,why?
On the positive side ,this seems to be a team that really cares for each other.We have fine human beings as coaches.We should somehow simplify,execute and some how bring the joy of playing football to Columbia.Lets have fun the rest will come.Trick plays,deception all have their place in small doses.The fun is in beating the other team with your mind as well as your heart.We must be better prepared out of the locker room after half time.How many games fate were sealed on the opponents first drive after half time.
We should not be beaten before the game starts.Go out and have fun kick some ass next and in the end it is only a game.
AMEN!!!!!!!
The Columbia faithful witnessed a coaching disaster this year!
Lots of pricks around here today
Can we keep it civil and constructive? Nothing gets accomplished with rampant negativity.
I find all of this very interesting. our team went 0-7 in the league- yet, many are very optimistic about the future. I hope you are all correct, but i just wonder if our young players are really better than the young players at the other schools
You've got to admit 10:37 made some good points.
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