3rd Down Passing: NFL Caliber?

Jeff Mathews

Continuing my look at how the returning 2013 starting QB’s in the Ivies did on 3^rd down in 2012… I look now at the player many of us, (myself included), believe belongs in the relatively early rounds of the 2014 NFL draft: Cornell QB Jeff Mathews.

Mathews has a great arm, but I was surprised to see how he did on 3^rd down last year.

He was 42-85 passing on 3^rd down for just a .494 completion percentage.

Those 42 completions netted 555 yards, that was an impressive 6.5 yards per attempt.

But after that, the stats get pedestrian again.

His passes were good for just 28 1^st downs, getting the chains moving just 32.9% of the time he threw on 3^rd down.

He threw for 2 TD’s on 3^rd downs, was intercepted three times, and was sacked four times for 37 total yards lost.

I believe Mathews has the talent to be in the NFL, but does he have what it takes to be a winner?

That’s not clear as of yet.

On Monday I'll take a look at how both of Dartmouth's returning QB's, Dalyn Williams and Alex Park, performed on 3rd downs in 2012.

Carlton Koonce takes off

Moment #85: The Blowback

When you fail to score on golden opportunity after golden opportunity, sooner or later your opponents will make you pay with points of their own.

And that’s what happened with about six minutes left in the 1^st quarter of Columbia’s week two game at home against Fordham.

After the Lions failed to even get one 1^st down after starting a possession at the Ram 43, a good Paul Delaney punt pinned Fordham at their own eight yard line.

Two plays later, Ram RB Carlton Koonce was speeding down the west sideline for a spectacular 92-yard TD run giving Fordham a 7-3 lead.

It wouldn’t be the last time the Lions would be punished for missing offensive opportunities in 2012, but in a game that was ultimately decided by just one touchdown, it resonated the most.