Getting to Know You...

My pre-Ivy Football media day 7-day series preparing everyone, especially the members of the media, with what they need to know about every Ivy team other than Columbia continues today with a look at Dartmouth:

2012 Record: 6-4 (4-3 Ivy, tied for 3rd)

Coach: Buddy Teevens

Last Season in One Sentence: Teevens finally got a decent QB, in fact he got TWO, and the Big Green rode the play of rookie Dalyn Williams and transfer Alex Park all the way to their best season in years. 

Six Returning Dartmouth Players You Need to Know: QB Dalyn Williams, QB Alex Park, RB Dominic Pierre,  LB Michael Runger, DB Garrett Wagonner, WR Ryan McManus

Big Losses: WR Michael Reilly, DL Teddy Reed, OL Patrick Lahey

Big Questions: Can Dalyn Williams continue his hot streak that ended last season? Will Teevens continue to shuttle him with Park like last year? Can Dominic Pierre stay healthy enough to make a run at 900 or 1,000 yards? Can a team with real questions on the DL and the OL go 7-3 or better? And is the season all about beating Penn in week 3?

Jake’s Overall Take: There's a reason why I listed six Dartmouth players you "need to know" when almost all the other teams get just three or four. This Big Green team is stacked with talent... except on the O-line and D-line which is troubling. But I still think Dartmouth has what it takes to make a run this year. If I were Teevens, I'd let Williams start every game and give Park just 3-4 series under center just to mix things up. Williams is the star, but you have to worry about injuries with a QB who runs like he does. On defense the linebackers and secondary are very solid, but again I don't know if the D-line is good enough to bring a championship to Hanover.