Monday, September 30, 2013

Adjust Away!




After the 0-2 start and the obvious emergency situation on the offensive line, Head Coach Pete Mangurian now says he's going to make adjustments.

I’m not sure that statement is going to be enough to placate fans who are currently locked in a debate over whether he can’t or won’t make the changes necessary to win.

I’m not ready to say Mangurian won’t make the necessary changes just because he’s married to a certain type of system. I need to see how he responds to this upcoming first Ivy League game against Princeton to be more sure of that.

Mangurian has basically two choices: he can keep the playbook intact and push ahead with trying to get improved pass protection from his existing players, OR he can adjust the playbook radically to rely less on solid pass protection and emphasize more runs and QB mobility.

What’s great about our schedule is that it does allow the Lions two out of conference games every year to learn and adjust before the games that really count begin. The bad news is that Princeton is better than I thought they’d be this season and the challenge at Princeton Stadium will be tough. But… that’s why we play the games.

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nowhere in the article does Coach M suggest that he'll be making any adjustments other than with respect to personnel, i.e., replacing older players who make mistakes with younger players who, Coach M acknowledges, will also make mistakes. Nowhere does he indicate that he will switch to a run-oriented offense. On the contrary, he states that he's not going to abandon his long-term plan. I suspect that it will take a few more embarrassing games before he's forced to switch to the usual run-oriented "lose slowly" offense favored by failing Columbia coaches.

Jake said...

That's true... but even if he did specifically say he would adjust the playbook, we'd still have to see it on the field. Obviously, we all want to see a lot of different things against Princeton this Saturday. I say the Tiger D is beatable.

Anonymous said...

so just providing an unidentified link is attribution!?

Jake said...

Well, it was a toss up whether I'd link to the Spec quotes of the Mangurian comments postgame, or the Ivy Digital Network's actual RECORDING of the postgame news conference. I'd say I did the Spec a favor.

Jake said...

Speaking of "attribution," who the Hell are you? I'm not going to indulge anymore of your ridiculous questions until I get your full name.

Anonymous said...

Since you fail to answer my questions, ducking their point such as the most recent one's, suffer!

Anonymous said...

The previous poster sounds like a jerk! Jake can you give us your synopsis on how the frosh played and your philosophy on playing frosh in general?

Jake said...

Here are some quick thoughts:

1) Kendall Pace was great at run blocking and needs work with pass pro. He's going to be great. He played Sat because Ramljak was hurt.

2) Brock Kenyan and Cameron Dunn look good too.

3) I'd love to see what frosh QB Hilinski can do right now too, BUT NOT until we can feel better about his chances for survival. No use having him get badly injured now. In short, the first priority is fixing this pass pro situation.

Anonymous said...

It's obvious that some posts need to be just ignored and a few should not even be posted. I would implore the player parents to refrain in getting caught up in any of this. I know it’s very difficult, as I too am a player parent, especially when it concerns negativity towards my son albeit in a generic way. We are just helpless readers of those that are helpless fans that are so desperate to be able to back a competitive team that they can take pride in, that sometimes emotional responses looking for answers are written. I admire the passion in Jake and many of these fans and do somewhat sympathize since my college went through about twenty years of losing until just recently. I know that the twenty years doesn't compare to the full extent of the Columbia suffering. Winning is fun and I do hope for everyone’s sake that we get there sooner than later. I do strongly believe that the AD, coaches, staff and players will turn things around in the near future! Go Lions: Columbia 21, Princeton 20

Anonymous said...

interesting take from voy:
Mangurian = Shoop II. This will not end well. Bad choice.
Wilson gets props for his genuine care and concern for student-athletes and not much else.
Kiffin would be Shoop III.
Need an X's and O's guy, who can recruit, motivate, and support student-athletes, and engage alumni and the community.
Tellier was the closest thing to this above ideal in many ways; albeit without the exponentially better institutional support that his successors have enjoyed.
Little issue with Tellier being fired, but the lack of progess since is alarming!! CU used to spend alot less money to go 3-7.

Jake said...

The longtime fans wanted Tom Gilmore and so did the football player alums from the 80's and 90's.

Anonymous said...

Its time to stop the new losing streak (starting from last year's final game against Brown) from taking hold! Beat Princeton!

Anonymous said...

"....helpless fans that are so desperate to be able to back a competitive team that they can take pride in, that sometimes emotional responses looking for answers are written."

Exactly right.

Leonlion

Anonymous said...

Ray wasn't as bad as you guys like to think. I can't recall the last coach that achieved the best year he had. I know all the talent he had, but how did it get there?? It didn't just show up. If he could have kept his original coaching staff in place I think he would have done better..let's see (head coach at unh, head coach at john hoplins, head coach at holy cross). These last line of pedestrian under achievers resembles whose who of non-performing artists.

Anonymous said...

Ray was done in in his later years by his loyalty to assistant coaches who didn't step up. A fine man, good coach.

Leonlion

Anonymous said...

Mango has what it takes to coach football and form men. For te remained of ths year, we need to simplify the offense
, ride MG 25-30 times a game, short ball control passing, spotting a deep ball, protect the ball, rely on punter to pin opponent deep, play tough d. It's a formula that can work with this team against Ivy opponent. 7 step drops and deep throws will not allow the offense to stay on the field and will result in what we saw the first two games. Mango has the support of the players and is a gifted coach. Look for a strong performance ths week.

Anonymous said...

Gifted-is that what we are calling it now? For a while I thought it was referred to as bad coaching.
Forming men- speak to some of his former cornell players..they would love to see him.
I think I will take my "back to reality pill" now and ask you to please, just stop. He hasn't endeared himself to any alum I know of, he doesn't communicate, but he does have a multi-year plan that none of us are aware of and he has a lot of points scored against him and few for him. Welcome to CU Football where losing is winning!

Al's Wingman said...

I will reserve judgement until after Saturday. I question whether CU has the personnel to make the proper adjustments with. I also question if the coaching staff has the acumen to make the proper adjustments and I question if the talent is too thin, regardless.

I find it hard to believe the OL can be so bad by this point. Haven't there been enough of these seasons (decades) to recognize a problem? You can't pocket pass more than 3 seconds and be at your leisure against the FCS defenses on the schedule (with the exception of Monmouth who should not have pressured the way they did). I could have figured that out and done a better job than Pete and his so-called staff and I have never coached football. Yes, I could do a much better job than Pete. He stinks and he needs to go.

0-10. I don't think they will even have a chance against anyone.

Al's Wingman said...

I guess I could not resist casting judgement!

Anonymous said...

Do any of you see paralells between how the Athletic Department is being run and how Pete runs his program? if you question either, they dismiss you and try and run you off...

To the parents who read and comment on this Blog. Nobody wants to win more than Jake! In my opinion, they need to open up the HOF for him. His analysis and insight into CU athletics and football is unparalelled. There is no greater TRUE supporter for the program than Jake. Say whatever you want about him, but he bleeds blue!

Anonymous said...

Has anyone considered starting every season against Marist?

Anonymous said...

I have not, but whose idea was it to start the season so late? Playing teams that have 3 games under their belt is a tall order.
This does not excuse the atrocious play calling and just flat out overmatched coaching staff, but did somebody in the athletic department look at this and say, what a great idea?

Anonymous said...

Why leave anything to chance by playing Marist? I hear the Sisters of Mercy Retirement Home is putting together a team.

Anonymous said...

in regards to the comment about Tellier and his assistants. If only he had been able to foresee what he had in a young Chip Kelly! Oh what might have been!

Anonymous said...

Chip applied, we said "no"! Way to go Nathan's Hot Dog Committee!... Again!!!

Anonymous said...

The entire Ivy League starts at the same time. The schools have nothing to do with it. Something about when thanksgiving is. I don't know the specifics - but no one would agree to starting so late. Ivy League schools don't have a choice.

Anonymous said...

Marcorus Garrett is #2 in the Ivy League in total rushing yards with 240 on thirty carries or 8 yards per rush. Garret needs to touch the ball at least 25 times per game in my opinion in order for Columbia to win.

Al's Wingman said...

Complete agreement on the above. Give it to Marcorus as often as his body will hold up. Get him a fullback as well.