What Works
Sean Brackett on the run (CREDIT: Columbia Athletics)
With about 9 days to go before the spring game, it’s time to add an offensive mantra to go with the already established “Stop the Run” mantra for our defense.
But first, a little analysis.
Two of Columbia’s wins in 2010 were especially tight games where the Lions were either behind or just ahead by less than a TD going into the fourth quarter.
Both of those games featured crucial touchdown drives by Columbia that sealed the wins.
And both of those drives have something very important in common.
Check the drive summaries and you tell me what that thing is:
The first drive began late in the 3rd quarter of the Towson game with Columbia leading by just 14-10
Wallace kickoff 70 yards to the COL0, Morand, Ross return 20 yards to the COL20 (C. Ford).
Col 1-10 at Col20 COLUMBIA drive start at 05:40.
Col 1-10 at Col20 Ivery, Leon rush for 2 yards to the COL22 (Blakey).
Col 2-8 at Col22 Ivery, Leon rush for 8 yards to the COL30, 1ST DOWN COL (Blakey;C. Patterson).
Col 1-10 at Col30 Brackett, Sean rush for 2 yards to the COL32 (M. Morgan).
Col 2-8 at Col32 Brackett, Sean pass complete to Kennedy, Andrew for 2 yards to the COL34 (O. Thomas).
Col 3-6 at Col34 Timeout Towson, clock 03:20.
Col 3-6 at Col34 Brackett, Sean rush for 9 yards to the COL43, 1ST DOWN COL (O. Thomas).
Col 1-10 at Col43 Brackett, Sean sacked for loss of 7 yards to the COL36 (M. Valentine).
Col 2-17 at Col36 Lenz, Nathan rush for 4 yards to the COL40 (Blakey).
Col 3-13 at Col40 Brackett, Sean rush for 25 yards to the TOWSON35, 1ST DOWN COL (Dangerfield).
Col 1-10 at Towson35 Gerst, Nick rush for 8 yards to the TOWSON27 (N. Oates).
Col 2-2 at Towson27 Brackett, Sean rush for 14 yards to the TOWSON13, 1ST DOWN COL (Beltre).
4th Quarter
Col 1-10 at Towson13 Start of 4th quarter, clock 15:00.
Col 1-10 at Towson13 Clock 15:00.
Col 1-10 at Towson13 Gerst, Nick rush for 13 yards to the TOWSON0, 1ST DOWN COL,
TOUCHDOWN, clock 14:53.
Eddy, Luke kick attempt good.
Columbia 21, Towson 10
The second drive began late in the 4th quarter of the Cornell game with Columbia trailing 17-13
Col 1-10 at Col41 COLUMBIA drive start at 02:37.
Col 1-10 at Col41 Brackett, Sean pass incomplete.
Col 2-10 at Col41 Gerst, Nick rush for no gain to the COL41 (Imhoff, Zack).
Col 3-10 at Col41 Brackett, Sean rush for 16 yards to the COR43, 1ST DOWN COL (Quinn, Dempsey;Murdock, Zak).
Col 1-10 at Cor43 Brackett, Sean pass incomplete.
Col 2-10 at Cor43 Brackett, Sean pass complete to Williams, Kurt for 10 yards to the COR33, 1ST DOWN COL.
Col 1-10 at Cor33 Brackett, Sean pass complete to Gerst, Nick for 6 yards to the COR27 (Fenton, Emani).
Col 2-4 at Cor27 Brackett, Sean pass complete to Cummins, Ian for 15 yards to the COR12, 1ST DOWN COL (Lainhart, Brand).
Col 1-10 at Cor12 Brackett, Sean rush for 3 yards to the COR9, out-of-bounds (Quinn, Dempsey).
Col 2-7 at Cor09 Brackett, Sean pass incomplete to Kennedy, Andrew (Quinn, Dempsey).
Col 3-7 at Cor09 Brackett, Sean pass complete to Gutierrez. Nico for 6 yards to the COR3 (Imhoff, Zack).
Col 4-1 at Cor03 Timeout Columbia, clock 00:45.
Col 4-1 at Cor03 Brackett, Sean rush for 2 yards to the COR1, 1ST DOWN COL (Minor, Tre').
Col 1-G at Cor01 Brackett, Sean pass incomplete.
Col 2-G at Cor01 Brackett, Sean rush for 1 yard to the COR0, TOUCHDOWN, clock 00:37.
Eddy, Luke kick attempt good.
Columbia 20, Cornell 17
Okay what is that thing in common?
Time’s up!
Answer: On these two drives, Sean Brackett ran for first downs on three crucial third and long plays and also moved the chains on a 4th and 1.
What works for Columbia, especially in the crunch time wins of 2010, was letting Brackett and the offensive take care of business.
Now let’s look at what doesn’t work:
This drive began late in the 4th quarter of the Dartmouth game with the Big Green leading 24-21
COLUMBIA drive start at 02:23.
Col 1-10 at Col12 Brackett, Sean pass incomplete to Pope, Clif.
Col 2-10 at Col12 Brackett, Sean pass complete to Gutierrez. Nico for 13 yards to the COL25, 1ST DOWN COL (Dettorre, A.J.).
Col 1-10 at Col25 Brackett, Sean pass complete to Williams, Kurt for 8 yards to the
COL33, out-of-bounds.
Col 2-2 at Col33 Brackett, Sean pass incomplete to Gutierrez. Nico.
Col 3-2 at Col33 Brackett, Sean rush for 5 yards to the COL38, 1ST DOWN COL (Dwyer, Mark).
Col 1-10 at Col38 Stupi, Kyle rush for no gain to the COL38, fumble by Stupi, Kyle recovered by COL Brackett, Sean at COL35.
Col 2-13 at Col35 Brackett, Sean pass incomplete to Gutierrez. Nico.
Col 3-13 at Col35 Brackett, Sean pass complete to Kourouma, Zack for 8 yards to the COL43 (Green, Bronson).
Col 4-5 at Col43 Brackett, Sean pass incomplete to Muston, Mark.
This drive began late in the 4th quarter of the Yale game with Columbia trailing the Elis 31-28
COLUMBIA drive start at 04:26.
Col 1-10 at Col08 Ivery, Leon rush for 11 yards to the COL19, 1ST DOWN COL (Stanley, C).
Col 1-10 at Col19 Brackett, Sean rush for 16 yards to the COL35, 1ST DOWN COL (Dunham;Stanley, C).
Col 1-10 at Col35 Brackett, Sean pass complete to Gutierrez. Nico for 6 yards to the COL41 (Haynes).
Col 2-4 at Col41 Ivery, Leon rush for loss of 1 yard to the COL40 (Williams, Se).
Col 3-5 at Col40 Brackett, Sean sacked for loss of 5 yards to the COL35 (McCarthy;Williams, Se).
Col 4-10 at Col35 Timeout Columbia, clock 02:16.
Col 4-10 at Col35 Brackett, Sean pass incomplete to Kennedy, Andrew (Reising).
On these two failed drives, Brackett dropped back and was unable to convert key 3rd and 4th down passes with the games on the line.
The point here is NOT that Brackett is a bad passer. He IS a GOOD passer and will only get better.
But even the best passers are only on target about 60% of the time. It’s clear that Brackett as a runner or scrambler has a better success rate than that.
Even when the other team is looking for him to run.
Even when there’s more than 10 yards to go for a 1st down.
Even when the game is on the line.
That’s because Brackett is just too quick and elusive for most Ivy defenders on their best day.
Months ago I coined a phrase: “Let Brackett be Brackett.”
It should become a mantra at Wien Stadium in 2011.
posted by Jake @ 7:25:00 AM
4 comments
4 Comments:
We are very excited about the spring game but we can't make it to New York to watch it. Will we be able to hear or see the spring game anywhere?
We have to keep Brackett healthy. I understand that we have more live scrimmages during the season than the other Ivies. I hope that we can take notice of the fact that too many live scrimmages can be counterproductive. And hopefully nobody tackles Brackett during the Spring game. Our season depends upon keeping him healthy.
Frank F '70C
I too have lots of confidence leaving the ball in Brackett's hands ... he's a great athlete with lots of talent and desire ... I think your examples make a different point ... your examples show that in the 2 victories, the Defense held the opposition to a combined 27 points ... in the losses, the Defense gave up a combined 55 points (twice as many points) ... hence, your examples underscore your original mantra ... STOP.THE.RUN ... rather than ... Let Brackett Be Brackett
You can not have your quarterback running the ball 15 to 20 times a game. You have a great back in Gerst. Use him. A great option. It will make Brackett that much better and stay healthier.
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