Stat Sheets 2: The Front Five

Offensive Line Coach John McLaughlin

Another stat from the 2021 season that stands out is, well it's a series of stats, that are heavily connected to the play of the offensive line.

The Lions allowed just 12 sacks this season, down from 21 the season before and second least in the Ivies.

In rushing yards, Columbia had 1,580 net yards. That's up from 1,092 the previous season. The Lions also had the second most rushing yards in the Ivy League. 

Here's the kicker: Depending on what senior Center Tyler Worrell decides to do, the Lions could return their entire starting offensive line in 2022. That's something that simply doesn't happen more than once in a lifetime in college football, and even less often in the Ivy League. (I do believe Cornell returned about all of its O-line two or three seasons ago, but it was actually a subpar unit both years). 

Yes, some part of the O-line's success in 2021 was due to the amazing talents of RB's Dante Miller and Ryan Young. It also benefited from QB Joe Green's better-than-expected ability to avoid sacks. The O-line also has to take some responsibility for the Lions not scoring enough red zone TD's in 2021. 

But by any standard, this was and is a very good front five. There are just too many strong stats proving that to ignore it. And getting four or five of these starters to return in 2022 with the same QB and one of the two key RB's is a positive scenario Columbia has not experienced... well maybe ever. 

Stat Sheets

As we wait for more commitment news, etc. it seems like it's time to break down the 2021 season and pinpoint what should be the team's top priorities for spring practice and the upcoming season. 

Let's start with the one stat that really jumped out at me at the end of the season and it's one I expect longtime Lion fans to be shocked by.

Columbia turned the ball over a total of nine times for the entire season. 

I'm not kidding when I say I'm pretty sure the Lions turned the ball over nine times in some individual games a few times in my lifetime. 

That turnover total of 9 was way down from 20 the season before. 

Columbia had 16 takeaways in 2021, coming mostly via interceptions (12). That number seems like it's lower than what a team would want over 10 games, but the +7 turnover ratio is very close to a good target number.

Much of the credit for the low turnover rate obviously goes to QB Joe Green, who threw just three interceptions and never fumbled the ball all season long. This validates the coaches' decision to give him the starting job as training camp ended, which I believe was heavily based on his ball security skills. 

But I also can't remember too many fumbles made by the Lions RB's, which was also a blessing and it's another reason why the return of RB Ryan Young for 2022 is such a plus. 

In general, I think the Lions offense should take a few more risks in the passing game now that we know Green isn't easily rattled. Later this week, we'll see just how much being too conservative with him as a passer showed up in the stats.

Two Vacancies

Ryan Larsen & Joe Green

With yesterday's news that CU QB coach Ryan Larsen has been named the new head coach of D-III Carnegie Mellon, and DB coach Andrae Murphy taking the Dean College head coaching position last month, the Lions now have two coaching vacancies on the staff. 

I enjoyed seeing the nice back-and-forth on Twitter yesterday between Larsen and CU QB Joe Green. I think you will too. 

These two job openings should be attractive. The new QB coach gets to work with the reigning Ivy Rookie of the Year and a very mature Green. He will also get to work with speedy and strong Gabriel Hollingsworth, who gave us a nice appetizer last season as a tough running QB. Finally, there are some impressive newcomers arriving like A.J. Simpkins. 

The secondary is more of a challenge with the graduations of Ben Mathiasmeier and Will Allen, and the transfer of Jordan Colbert. But we did get the good news this week that Fara'ad McCombs will return this fall, and that means he, Bryan Bell-Anderson and Seth Parker will bring their considerable talents back to the back line in September. 

It's also reasonable to think that three winning seasons over the last four seasons will bring more top quality applicants for these jobs. 

Signing Day Pics

Here are some pictures of incoming freshmen footballers from today's National Letter of Intent signing day:

Edan Stagg

Patrick Sodl

Shawn Lin

Lucas Bullock

AJ Simpkins

Young Isn't Restless

I was among those who were surprised by RB Ryan Young's tweet late yesterday afternoon where he announced he will be returning to CU Football in the fall. Young had entered the transfer portal, and I presumed he had no Ivy eligibility left. 

It's hard to express how much of a positive development this is for the Lions. While Dante Miller grabbed a lot of attention as the year went on, Young never stopped being a crucial and effective part of the Columbia offense. 

Now, he will bring that talent and perhaps the most RB experience in the Ivies back the Lions in 2022.

Recapping some of Young's big highlights: 

-A 19-carry, 91-yard rushing performance capped by a dramatic TD run with a Yale defender riding his back for a 17-10 win over the Elis in 2018.

-Key contributions on the ground and as a receiver in the 2018 wins over Brown and Cornell. 

-A 65-yard TD run against Saint Francis that got the Lions back into the game in an an eventual win in the 2019 season opener. 

-Also was key contributor in the 2019 wins versus Harvard and Penn, and had a big TD run in the loss versus Brown. 

-Was an Honorable Mention All Ivy at RB in 2021, with major contributions to the wins vs. Marist, Georgetown, Dartmouth, and Brown. In the loss against Yale, he may have had his best ever game. And getting back to Brown, his 60-yard TD catch along the west sideline electrified the team. 

The Lions now have a lot to be confident about on offense heading into the fall. Young is returning with other talented RB's backing him up, the starting QB is the reigning Ivy Rookie of the Year, the O-line is returning more starters and experienced players than at any time in CU history, and some very exciting WR with solid experience as well. 

The defense seems to have more holes to fill, but in some ways there are fewer tough questions about the defense than we had going into 2021. There are still excellent players returning on all three lines of the D.

If this trend keeps up, we may have to start asking the "If not now, when?" question about the Lions and their championship chances for 2022.