5 Keys to the Game: Lafayette
1) Tighten up on "D"
The Lions have taken on a team with a great QB, (Fordham). They have taken on a team with a great running attack, (CCSU). And they have taken on a team with a myriad of offensive problems, (Princeton).
But in each game, the defense has given up too many yards for comfort. This has a lot to do with the absence of Owen Fraser, but there's still more work to be done with or without big #71.
The Lions need to get more sacks and pressure Leopard QB Rob Curley or it could be a tough night. RB Maurice White and his talented backups need to be contained as well.
2) Keep the Offensive Attack Diversified
Has anyone noticed that almost every team we face doesn't really make the field very vertical? By that I mean we see so many teams that pass the ball to the sidelines and run between the tackles exclusively.
Columbia has a very diversified offense. The Lions run up the middle and sweep. They use a tailback and a QB to do the running. They pass short, medium and long.
Lafayette certainly did not see that kind of attack the last two weeks vs. Yale and Penn. The Lions need to test and stretch this field and the Leopard defense.
3) Get on the Board with an Early TD
The last two meetings against Lafayette Columbia has just three points. They knocked on the door numerous times in those games, but never punched it in. I think the Lions could really use a relatively early TD to get their momentum going.
4) Get A.K. the ball on Punt Returns
Will opposing defenses continue to get away with punting the ball away from Austin Knowlin? Last week, the Lions used the split returner strategy and still Princeton was able to punt the ball away from them and get the roll. This is not so much anything Columbia or Knowlin is doing wrong. It's just the luck of our opponents that I think has to run out soon. Junior Tom Kondash is the Lafayette punter.
5) Win the Turnover Battle... Again
The Lions have dominated the turnover battles so far this season and that's going to have to continue tomorrow in Easton. The Columbia offense can't leave any points on the table or give the Leopards a short field on defense.
posted by Jake @ 2:36:00 AM
2 comments
2 Comments:
I think a key is the running game.
Last year Lafayette stuffed our
running game, forcing us into perpetual third and longs. They then unleashed a ferocious pass rush which
ruined our downfield passing game. We scored 3 points. Question is, can we generate the same productivity on the ground as vs. Fordham this year?
Doc, three things.
1.I think the opposite will produce the same result. that is
set up the running game by establishing the passing game first. Once the opposition feels compelled to rush more than 4 the running game, screen game, and draw game will have a better chance of success.
2.When teams face a traditional tough defense, the special teams,especially the field goal team could play a huge role in determining the outcome. Let's see if that is the case tomorrow.
3.I think the Lions "D" is designed to work better vs.the Leopards than our first 2 opponents.
Go Lions
4th and Ten
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