Encouraging Signs
Full Speed Ahead
How many times do I need to say that stopping the run is a key to the 2011 Columbia season?
I think I’ve said it enough.
What I haven’t had the chance to say so much is that I see real evidence of improvement in this area… and obviously so do the Lion players and coaches.
The run defense by both the first and second string units in the spring game Friday night was very good.
It was good up-the-middle and it was good on the edges.
And that was WITHOUT Owen Fraser and without the very promising incoming transfer Wells Childress from Texas A&M.
In this area, there is indeed reason for optimism based on what I’m seeing.
As for the second key to the season, “letting Brackett be Brackett,” I was encouraged as well.
No, his stats weren’t that great but it was obvious that Sean Brackett was doing what he wanted to do out on the field. Even with the two-hand touch rule for QB’s in effect for the game, #10 playing with healthy abandon when he was passing and running.
Add to that the fact that he was named one of the team captains, and you get the feeling Brackett will be at least somewhat unleashed in the fall.
Check Your Inbox!
Hopefully, this news is lifting your spirits for the 2011 season.
And speaking of that…
Emails and regular mailings for football season tickets have gone out in the last few days.
The amazing deal remains the same: just $108 for premium chairback seats for the entire season. Bench seats are just $54 each.
When you click here, you get to see the view from your prospective seats via one of those cool interactice seating charts.
I know it’s early, (145 days to go), but showing your support for the team this early in the process helps the program in many ways.
For one thing, a good number of early subscribers is something the marketing guys in the athletic department can use to attract more sponsors.
So, go on the website and make the very modest financial commitment to the Lion football team as soon as you can.
posted by Jake @ 7:17:00 AM
13 comments
13 Comments:
Hey Jake, your blog continues to amaze me. I don't follow many blogs, but I am not sure there are many that routinely get 20 comments per post. Your blog is consistently full of insightful analysis and entertaining news. Have you ever considered synthesizing all your writings into a book--called maybe "Roar Lions Roar: The Remarkable Story of Columbia Football as Told by its Greatest Fan"...Just a thought.
Speaking of encouraging signs, I thought Jerry Bell played very well as the White Team quarterback during the Blue-White Scrimmage last Friday night. Bell ran the White Team's offense almost flawlessly. His passing and ballhandling were both outstanding and he looked very good running the ball on the option. As good as Sean Brackett is, the Lions obviously need two or three strong back-quarterbacks behind him if they are going to contend for the Ivy League Championship this Fall. Bell seems ready to be one of those key guys.
... you commented that the Spring game didn't have Frasier and promosing incoming freshman Childress ... there are several other incoming freshman that also look interesting .... the FB from Hoover, a couple of big O-lineman, a couple of the wideouts, and a one or 2 of the DB's ... BUT .... remember they are freshman ... not sure Coach will let them see much action til at least midway through the season ...
Frank F '70C
One of our guys, a returning senior, told me that hopefully we will have no freshmen on the two deep. That is the best sign of a program ready to compete for a championship.
One of our guys, a returning senior, told me that hopefully we will have no freshmen on the two deep. That is the best sign of a program ready to compete for a championship.
I agree they looked ok against the run, but, they were still having issues with penetration up the middle especially the white defense (1 team). Summers and Groth (2 team) were in the nose position which worked. I am guessing Groth was on 2nd team because Summers is faster, but, I still think the person in the middle needs to be the biggest guy they have even if he is slower. I am guessing those two will probably be swapping constantly when it comes to real games. There wasn't much running up the middle in the spring game which along with outside sweeps killed us last year. I was really impressed with the LBs on both teams coming up and filling wholes and pursuing runners. That was a huge improvement.
As far as Childress is concerned, he could be a great addition as DE and I am still wondering if he might be on the other side of the ball as a TE. It is really hard to get a read on him from the stuff published in Texas. As an example his published weight has a 20lb swing depending on where you look. One also has to wonder why he decided to leave A&M? I think he has the potential to be a really good addition, but, let’s not put too much pressure in that direction strictly because who his father is.
Despite Bell's solid play, I have to wonder why he looked so anemic in the game against Brown last year.It as downright depressing Any clues? is it the 6 months more time to mature that he has gained?
I am concerned about the lack of success of the CU men's teams this year and wondering if the AD has lost some steam (there was some talk of her looking elsewhere fro employment) or whether it is just bad luck this year-- but the men's crew teams that were very strong only a couple of years ago, were barely in the mix this year. The basketball team barely made it over .500; the football team was what is was; the baseball team and tennis teams (both winners last year) had losing records, the golf team (a winner last year,) missed a title this year; and the soccer team and fencing teams --once powerhouses in the 80's--are not contenders. With all the success of the new facilities, it is shame not to have wining programs to go with it. Any thoughts?
I am concerned about the lack of success of the CU men's teams this year and wondering if the AD has lost some steam (there was some talk of her looking elsewhere fro employment) or whether it is just bad luck this year-- but the men's crew teams that were very strong only a couple of years ago, were barely in the mix this year. The basketball team barely made it over .500; the football team was what is was; the baseball team and tennis teams (both winners last year) had losing records, the golf team (a winner last year,) missed a title this year; and the soccer team and fencing teams --once powerhouses in the 80's--are not contenders. With all the success of the new facilities, it is shame not to have wining programs to go with it. Any thoughts?
While it's absolutely true that we need to improve our run stopping abilites, we also have to improve in the pass rushing department. If oppsoing QBs are able to throw w/o pressure, those teams will attack us thru air.
Childress is apparently an excellent student who walked on at A&M. One of his professors apparently encouraged him to transfer to Columbia. I understand that he will be an upper tier Ivy player. PS, I don't know what to make of the fall-off of our Spring teams.
Baseball has had a disappointing year. Strangely, they played very well against good competition in Florida over spring break and have struggled to score runs up north. That said, the baseball coach is excellent and they return a number of strong pitchers next year, so they should be competitive in the future. I think the AD deserves credit for upgrading a number of coaching positions.
"Childress is apparently an excellent student who walked on at A&M. One of his professors apparently encouraged him to transfer to Columbia. I understand that he will be an upper tier Ivy player. PS, I don't know what to make of the fall-off of our Spring teams."
A repeat of the hype that has been going around since his name came up. I truely hope he lives up to the hype. There really isn't much written about him in Texas to go by. Nothing at all this year.
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