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I swear on a stack of Bibles that this is what I wrote way back on Thursday in order post today:
“Columbia's veteran football players have about three days more of freedom before spring practice and the serious tests begin.
Up to now, I've been focusing on individual players and overall units in my analyses of who needs to show improvement this spring.
But let's cut to the chase now and look at the three things that really tripped the Lions up last season, (and in the Norries Wilson era overall).
1. Stopping the Big Play
It all started in week one when Sean Brackett's pass to the corner of the Fordham endzone was intercepted and returned for a 100-plus yard pick six. In just about every Columbia game that followed, some kind of mental error like that struck a huge blow against the team. Sometimes it was a mental error. Other times, it was a physical shortcoming like a missed tackle. Either way, Head Coach Pete Mangurian needs to not only fix this problem, but do so in a way that does not humliate the offenders and demoralize everyone else.
2. Sweat the Fundamentals
Blocking, tackling, running out routes... all those things just didn't happen enough on the field last season.
The missed tackles in the secondary especially were killers, but so were a few dropped passes and muffed fair catches.
Whatever it takes to work out those bugs. Mangurian needs to do.
3. Preparing the Team
It was painfully obvious that the Lions were just not properly prepared to play week after week in 2011. Wilson and Vinnie Marino's teams never used a basic playbook and with the time these kids have and don't have to put into mentally preparing what to do, that wasn't wise.
I hope Mangurian and Co. have already settled on the core of the playbook so they can start familiarizing the team with it right now.
Could any of us stand it to see another scenario like the one that ensued inside the 10 yard late in the fourth quarter against Penn last year? Everyone on the team and the staff just looked completely like deer in the headlights at that moment. That just can't happen ever again.”
Up to now, I've been focusing on individual players and overall units in my analyses of who needs to show improvement this spring.
But let's cut to the chase now and look at the three things that really tripped the Lions up last season, (and in the Norries Wilson era overall).
1. Stopping the Big Play
It all started in week one when Sean Brackett's pass to the corner of the Fordham endzone was intercepted and returned for a 100-plus yard pick six. In just about every Columbia game that followed, some kind of mental error like that struck a huge blow against the team. Sometimes it was a mental error. Other times, it was a physical shortcoming like a missed tackle. Either way, Head Coach Pete Mangurian needs to not only fix this problem, but do so in a way that does not humliate the offenders and demoralize everyone else.
2. Sweat the Fundamentals
Blocking, tackling, running out routes... all those things just didn't happen enough on the field last season.
The missed tackles in the secondary especially were killers, but so were a few dropped passes and muffed fair catches.
Whatever it takes to work out those bugs. Mangurian needs to do.
3. Preparing the Team
It was painfully obvious that the Lions were just not properly prepared to play week after week in 2011. Wilson and Vinnie Marino's teams never used a basic playbook and with the time these kids have and don't have to put into mentally preparing what to do, that wasn't wise.
I hope Mangurian and Co. have already settled on the core of the playbook so they can start familiarizing the team with it right now.
Could any of us stand it to see another scenario like the one that ensued inside the 10 yard late in the fourth quarter against Penn last year? Everyone on the team and the staff just looked completely like deer in the headlights at that moment. That just can't happen ever again.”
But just today I read the latest blog post from Coach Mangurian and it very closely mirrored my focus on preparation and fundamentals.
Here are some key paragraphs that I that had the same basic message as my post:
“ We will not run a lot of plays in each practice, we have to get it right the first time, we will see if we can.”
“But it’s not just about running plays, it’s about execution, fundamentals and technique. Creating habits takes time and tough work, because there is no short cut, it’s about repetition.”
“How we teach our most fundamental skills – blocking, tackling, carrying the ball, catching at its highest point, carrying it in the proper hand, stripping the ball, recovering a fumble, covering a punt – it all has to be taught exactly how we want it done.”
“Our goal is to identify the right players, learn how to practice and sustain concentration for 120 minutes.”
Again, I am generally grateful for this new Mangurian blog because – to be honest – I could use the material!
But we’ve gone from the way-too-reticent and nonchalant Norries Wilson to a suddenly very verbose and intense Pete Mangurian. It’s kind of jarring for fans like us, but imagine how shocking it must be for the players!
If Mangurian can keep up this prolific pace with his writing, that would be something. We’ve certainly moved on from the days when all we heard from the coach were a few words at a weekly breakfast event in the Lion’s Den during the season only.
1 comment:
Jake- in light of Lehigh's big win yesterday, do you think that the Ivy League should implement a basketball tourament?
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