Change & Hope

CU There!


Towson Tigers at Columbia Lions

September 25, 2010

Location: Robert K. Kraft Field at Wien Stadium on the Baker Athletic Complex, West 218th Street and Broadway, New York, NY.

Kickoff Time: 12:30pm

Gametime Weather Forecast: Sunny, 82 degrees

The Spread: Towson is favored by 2 1/2 points.


Columbia Game Notes

Towson Game Notes


HOW TO GET TO THE GAME (Jake’s preferred methods):

By Subway: Take the Uptown A train to the final stop at 207th Street. Exit from the 211th Street exit and walk up to 218th Street.

By Car: Do whatever you can to avoid the Cross Bronx Expressway.

By Commuter Rail: Take the Metro North train from Grand Central to the Marble Hill stop and walk back over the Broadway Bridge to the stadium.

Full getting to the game details here.


Two-Deep Comments

The Columbia depth charts for this game were just released today and there are some notable changes and points.

-Owen Fraser still does not appear on the two-deep.

-Because of Mike Stephens being lost for the year, senior QB Paul Havas moves to WR and ends up right on the depth chart as the primary backup to Nico Gutierrez. This is not as shocking a development to those who have always known that Havas has been one of the faster players on the team for years. He also has a deep range of other talents the Lions are more likely to utilize now thanks to this change. Havas also moves up to the starting holder on special teams.

-Mark Muston moves up as the other starting WR opposite Gurierrez. He’s backed up by Kurt Williams.

-Gutierrez becomes the starting punt returner, backed up by DB Ross Morand. Morand also replaces Mike Murphy as the alternate kick returner next to Craig Hamilton.

-Sophomore Josh Martin flips to the top of the depth chart at one DE slot. He impressed in the Fordham game.

-Leon Ivery and Zack Kourouma remain atop the depth chart as starting RB’s.

-Freshman Joe Ghergurovich makes the rare appearance on the two-deep for a freshman offensive lineman.

-Dean Perfetti remains the starting placekicker and Guttas the starting punter.


Keys to the Game




1) Get the Offense Going

Whatever works to get the Lions offense moving, let’s do it. I think the run blocking will improve compared to the opener with Fordham, but it needs to improve now. Mixing the pass and the run and using all of QB Sean Brackett’s tools could do the trick. It sure did in the final drive against the Rams when the Lions moved 81 yards down the field before a fatal turnover.


2) Contain Hart

Towson’s starting QB Chris Hart is super athletic and he will test the Lion linebackers and safeties with his running abilities.


3) Contain Moore

No one else Towson has played, not even Villanova or Indiana, could keep WR Hakeem Moore out of the end zone. The good news is he hasn’t exactly been a guy Towson goes to very often in each game. The Lions need to make sure that continues.


4) Button Up Special Teams

Columbia’s kicking and kick returning issues have to stop being a liability. It would be kinda nice if they were actually a positive, but we can settle for not being a negative for now.


5) Get Out of Your Heads

This is a variation on the “get the killer instinct” cry I’ve made for many years. After last week’s late fumble on a botched snap, I have to add something about not getting too tight to all that. I expect this will be another close game. Thus, the chance that the Lions will be under pressure at some point late in the game is high. Thinking too much in a position like that is all too common and must be avoided.


SEE YOU ALL TOMORROW!!!