The wind came from the north...
Lehigh 24 Columbia 10
Why Lehigh Won
The Mountain Hawks churned out 440 yards of offense and mostly passed the ball at will while holding the Columbia passing game in check. Lehigh QB Brian Bialkowski didn't have his best game, but he was brutally efficient at times and still completed 66% of his passes for 320 yards and three touchdowns. The Mountain Hawks were also able to control the clock when it really counted.
Why Columbia Lost
The Lions offense was still unable to get the job done, despite a 150 yard rushing performance from Marcorus Garrett and better pass protection. The passing attack was still almost non-existent, going nine of 21 for just 71 yards. One crucial turnover and a bonehead play call also sealed Columbia's fate.
Key Turning Points
-The Lions opened the game with an impressive drive into the stiff wind with 10 plays that set them up with a 1st and goal at the Mountain Hawk five. But Columbia could move no further and they had to settle for a Luke Eddy 23 yard FG instead of a badly needed TD.
-After Lehigh took a 10-3 lead Max Keefe muffed the ensuing kickoff, giving the Mountain Hawks the ball at the CU 31. Six plays later it was 17-3.
-After the Lions narrowed the Lehigh lead to 17-10 late in the 3rd quarter, the Columbia defense forced a three-and-out and seemed to be riding steep momentum. But the Mountain Hawk punt nailed the Lions at their one yard line. On the first two plays of the possession,Columbia played it safe with short QB runs by Kelly Hilinski. That left the Lions with a 3rd and eight at their thre with time rapidly running out in the quarter. All CU needed to do was run it one more time to run out the 3rd quarter clock and get the very strong wind at their backs for a likely punt. But the Lions elected to pass and Hilinski's toss fell incomplete. Columbia's Paul Delaney was forced to boot into the brutal wind and the kick went just 26 yards. Lehigh responded with an eight play TD drive and the game was then basically out of reach.
Columbia Positives
-Garrett finally got the ball more than 20 times and parlayed his 27 carries for 150 yards and a TD. He broke open for several runs, but also had a fantastic game pushing the piles for extra yards on runs up the middle.
-The offensive line did a decent job with pass protection, although it did allow two sacks near the end of the game that killed the Lion hopes. Overall though, only three sacks were allowed and the CU QB's weren't harassed all day.
-Columbia's defense held the Mountain Hawks to their worst performance of the season. While Lehigh still looked generally good with the 440 offensive yards, but the Lions still grabbed their first two INT's of the season and gave the offense a great chance to win the game.
-Columbia only committed four penalties.
Columbia Negatives
-QB's Trevor McDonagh and Hilinski both showed flashes, but neither were consistent enough to get the passing game going.
-The CU defense's one weakness was pass coverage in the middle of the field. Lehigh WR's seemed wide open all day on short routes.
-The decision to pass on that 3rd down play at their own three was a classic case of a coach throwing away points and killing momentum. You could feel the air going out of the home side of the field after that play.
Columbia MVP
Marcorus Garrett now has 421 yards rushing on the season and is back on track to register only the second 1,000 yard rushing season in Columbia history. Garrett is also now the 3rd all time leading career rusher in Lion history.
81 comments:
OldLion- Yes, the defense played better, agreed, however, you keep making excusses for: dropped balls, punting into the wind, the O-Line, kick-off fumbles, not hitting open passers, etc. That's all part of the game.
Regarding Pace... He's 17 years old, I get it. In reality, he should be playing HS, or JV and that's it. I RESPECT the fact that he is out there and trying hard. I can also appreciate the fact that he is gaining valuable experience as a Freshman, however, at what cost??? I saw the entire game and all he does for pass protection is take two steps backwards, sick it his arms, and then he the defense does 1 of two things: either they bull rush him because he is not strong enough, or the defenders employ a "swim" technique to get around him. I saw two and a half sacks that were dedicated to him alone. As far as his run blocking, he hoes to the hole and has difficulkty staying with his assignment past the initial hit. Just look at the tape and see if I am wrong. As Coach Garrett used to say, "the eye in the sky does not lie". Now as opposed to just stating the obvious, here is what I propose to help the situation. First, Pace should ATTACK his defensive responsibility so that they don't have time to react to how he sets us (and does not move-work on his feet as well!). Second, follow-through on your blocks all the way through the hole. Garret breaks through to the next level, he can use you down field.
M Garrett, THANK YOU for running so hard!
...keen interest of many bloggers in the "bonehead" play to pass before the end of the first quarter....had we run, they say, the quarter supposedly expires and we kick with the wind.
I sit with a group of semi-oriented old alums most of whom never played the game and even we know, that if we run, dosen't Lehigh call time out and we still kick into the wind? We're watching the Lehigh coach speak to an official before the third down play probably to get a quick time out if we run.
One play....big deal but it does show the folly of this blog....a venue, with its anonymity only aids our competition and Columbia haters.
By the way, hats off to Dr. McGroarty.
Looked at the game live and at home and #76 had 1 sack only. He had a monster game and #23 ran left much of the game. Your exaggeration of his numbers (2.5 sacks) is ludicrous. The tv announcers said his name twice for great blocks.
Lehigh scored about 50 points against 2 teams that womped the Lions.
LBs seemed to be too worried about deep passes, leaving lots of real estate beyond the line of scrimmage.
Some deep defenders either didn't check the receivers' eyes or turn around to find passes.
The announcers also said that Columbia was making tremendous strides from last year to this year. Really? Did we miss something? They were just being kind and uninformed. I saw 1.5 sacks against Pace, maybe 2. Garrett at Harvard would be an All-American.
Pete can't manage the clock or the play calling. The short "pop" passes were working at the beginning of the game, stick with it and then let Garrett run!!!
The 1st poster- has spome points...
To the first author, are you expecting a NEW 17 year old to do what 21 year olds on the team AND on other teams can't do? He's already holding his own against GROWN MEN! He is the youngest player in the country and shows NO FEAR! If he was as bad as you make him out to be the he should be giving up 10 sacks in the first quarter alone. NOBODY seems to agree with your point but I respect the fact that you have the right to make it no matter how ignorant you sound.
I know that we all crucify Dianne (myself included), but let me tell you what a fantastic job that she (and her staff) did for the game! The food concessions, free programs, face painting for the kids, apparel vending, and game-day staff, were fanstic! Also, the field preparation and area in and around the stadium looked great. I really was a first class experience. The only negative was that the Leigh fans were tailgating (or reserved the area) next to the Lou Gehrig lounge. That's not Dianne's fault, it just looked like the Leigh supporters were there oin full force. next time, stick them in the parking lot or the boat house area.
Thank you Athletic Staff!
Dianne and her staff do for these games
Does Pete call O plays? or OC?
Hilarious that this poster is telling #76 how to block!!! Without knowing his assignments even! Too funny on this blog. The poster must be Dave Remington or Anthony Munoz!
So last week he was the youngest player in the Ivy league to play, now he's the youngets player in the country to play? Give him All-American status now why don't you.
What I said, if you read it correctly, was that I appreciiate everything that he is doing, he's just not ready, that's all. If you can't see that, you are blind! I also offered suggestions on how he can improve his game; which apparently they fail to teach the linemen.
My "ignorance" made me All-Ivy 2 years in a row. I'm trying to help him!
If you read the game program produced by Columbia athletics, it says that the kid is the youngest D1 player in the country per the NCAA. It also says it on the university website. Give him a little time to make All-American.
Sure you were all ivy wink wink
Enough on Pace. let's stop picking on one player! Is he our best lineman? No. Is he physically and mentally ready? No. But the coaches feel as though he is better than what we have in the stable. He's trying, and that is all we can ask.
Very good D-Line play without Childress. I like the direction of the D-Line. They (not all) look a bit on the small side though. A well fought effort by all in the trenches!
Jake- I would like to see you grade the play, like they do in majotr newspapers; along with your more in-depth analysis: my 2 cents...
QB C -still learning the position
RBs-A – They ran really hard and the H-Back made some GREAT blocks (would like to see him run and catch the ball as well).
O-Line - C- sacks, consistency. 4 weeks in a row they were over-powered (for the most part).
D-Line - B+ - stuffed a lot of plays, did not look tired, and put pressure on the QB.
LBs - C WHY playing ack so far? the DBs played up closer than you
DBs - Gave upo far too many 3rd and long plays. #80 owned the day, especially when everyone knew they were throwing to him.
Kicking B+ - The wind is the wind, but overall great punting. yes, we missed a FG, but good leg strength. Correcting location is easier than correcting a distance issue.
Coaching c. Poor game management (announcers thought so as well). Our 3rd down selection was baffling at times. Would like to see more short passes (so that the QBs gain more confidence) and then run!
Where is the BLOG meeting at Homecomming? Jake, where will you be if we want to say "Hello" and "Thank" you for this forum.
How about a Friday night get-together at The West End (whatever it is called now). I would like to meet several of you (no rotten tomatoes will be thrown).
Leigh is as scholarship team (ranked 14th in the nation and beat UNH, Monmouth and Princeton). We were close (regardless of your interpretation). This should put all of that nonsene about not playing scholarship schools to rest now. Or at least I hope so.
Excellent point about Pace. I don't understand why you have so many people on this blog talking as if there are much better players sitting on the bench. The coaches want to win. The are playing the guys who they evaluate as the best players for the job. Unless you are on the practice field and intensively watching the practice snd game film, you have no basis to assert otherwise. Arguing thay that they aren't playing the best guy available is just stupid. You haven't really watched a football game or or practice until you go through every play multiple times in slow motion and stop action. If you just watched from the stands and don't know the asigments, you really don't know which lineman (or other positions for that matter) played really well and who didn't. It is remarkable the things you don't see until you watch film.
Someone should ask the DC why the LBs are playing so far off the ball. It's clearly part of the "game plan"
In reference to anonymous who wrote "Excellent Point", in addition to Pace being the youngest D1 player in America, he was switched to left tackle. Previously he was a right tackle. Also, as you so eloquently stated there aren't better o-linemen on the bench. And to all, lets stop getting personal. We all want to win.
Making the switch from RT to LT makes his body of work that much more impressive. Also speaks volumes about his athleticism.
"What if this is as good as it gets?"
<< The are playing the guys who they evaluate as the best players for the job. Arguing thay that they aren't playing the best guy available is just stupid >>
What is just plain stupid is M is NOT evaluating everyone. In fact, he is not even PRACTICING everyone. Out of the gate he told everyone he was going to focus on the NEW guys to get HIS system in place. Anyone who protested was and has been banished from real participation. A senior tried to SNEAK into one practice rotation and was immediately called out and sent back to the sideline "where he belonged."
What speaks volume is not that a rookie is playing out of position. The real talking point should be the character of dozens of young men who are being screwed because they were recruited by the previous coach. They remain loyal to their teammates in spite of being IGNORED by M.
Let's not forget football is still a GAME played at Columbia by STUDENT ATHLETES. It is bad enough that the head coach never comments on the success of individual players in public. The fans should not join in and support this negative tone. It is great to see a rare smiling coach on the sidelines of a college football game instead
of the usual scowling maniacs. Can you imagine college professors screaming and getting in the face of their students. They would be escorted off campus and possibly be charged with child abuse.
General Douglas MacArthur's WW II staff was dominated by ex West Point football players who would never give up on him or the mission. If the undersized Columbia STUDENT ATHLETES give 110% what else can you ask for.
I once saw an undersized player at Craig Valentine's Long Island high school being berated by his line coach educator in the middle of the field during a time out. The student athlete was being embarrassed in front of his family, fellow students and the whole community. As he took his lonely walk off the field, he turned and loudly told his coach teacher, "Do you think I stink on purpose." I am quite sure the line coach educator felt as bad as all of us did in the stands for the student athlete who was giving 110%. My four children had this coach as a teacher in the classroom and they said he was a wonderful caring teacher.
Support Columbia's student athletes and their coach 120% and remember "No one wants to stink on purpose."
We need more stops outside of our 40. More punts by opponents less punts by us. Agree with poster about pass patterns. Almost every reception is just squeezed in. Frosh QB needs to throw more passes to WRs in practice. Every receiver runs differently, leading each guy correctly is a challenge until you get the feel of his pace and moves. Takes time.
Keeping the score at 24 or under for them, will get us some wins when the kid get used to his receivers and they run better patterns.
GP
Where does your information come from? Paraphrasing: a senior tried to sneak into a practice rep and was banished to the sideline? That doesn't sound at all believable.
It is fairly obvious that M feels that many of the upperclassmen are not as able to contribute as much the new guys. Who are you to say he is wrong? Are you in the practices? Are you watching the film? Maybe a guy with 30 years coaching experience is a better judge of the talent level of his players than the folks on this blog and the understandably disgruntled parents of some of of the upperclassmen.
LBs play off the line of scrimmage because they are on the light side and have a better chance to read and react. WRs aren't getting separation and are dropping too many catchable balls. If Connors gets back next week that will help... Nelligan is better in the slot. Pace is going to be a good one.
<< Where does your information come from >>
You would be amazed at what you overhear in the eateries when they guys have some free time.
I really don't want to get involved but I support our school and these are really great guys who don't deserve to be treated like this. Making guys SIT IN THE STANDS on game day is wrong. Making them get up early to work out knowing they will NEVER get a chance to play is wrong. Putting guys on the field that you LIKE instead of those who deserve a chance is wrong.
My last word on what is wrong is this: the people who are running this. Do you really believe that year after year our football PLAYERS are bad? There is no way possible the GUYS are the common denominator. So join me in cheering THEM on each Saturday because they ALL deserve your support.
PS, Padilla had a very good game on the DL. We need to have ourDBs jam the WRs. Too many free releases. Also, the DBs fail to play the ballon too many occasions.
Old lion, LBs are on the "light side" because that's what the coaches want. It's not their choice.
the LB's average, across the roster, roughly 220 pounds. there is no reason for a LB to be that far back if they can read their keys, take the right angles, and use their hands.
there is no excuse
On every fooball team, there are guys who contribute as a practice player and never ever get on the field in a game. There is nothing new or unusual about that at all. That is football and most sports for that matter.
To the parent who chimed in about what goes on in the secret covert practivces of Coach M, I say BRAVO! It is clear that these underclassmen are under[preforming, let the upperclassmen play. could they be any worse? I hate alienating these players who stuck with the program in spite of Pete. Thank you players and parents for sticking with the program. It requires a lot of character knowing that things could/should be different. Thnak you!
Re the LBs, Lehigh had an enormous OL, an H back/FB who had to go 250, likewise an enormous TE. Our LBs are closer in size to strong safeties. I don't think the coach wants 220 pound LBs but has no choice. Unless you have exceptional speed and athletic ability it is tough in today's game to play that position and take on H backs and TEs who go 250 or so. PS, I wonder why #58 isn't playing LB. He looks like a natural.
OldLion, Again, I respect your opinion, but these are more excuses. Why are we light at LB? Why are we light (and weak) on the O-line? Why are our DBs so slow and unable to cover 1 on 1 (See #80 this past week)? Why??? Because it's part of Pete's Master Plan/"System". What a joke!
Old lion you are wrong. I am a parent of a player on the team and know for a fact the the some of the LBs are 10-15 LBs heavier and are still under 10% body fat. Again I say to you the LBs are light because that's how the coaches want them
I apologize, that's was supposed to say 10-15 lbs heavier in the offseason and still under 10% body fat
Pete should be less concerned with body fat and more concerned about his play calling and game management. For an Xs and Os guy, he doesn't get it!
To parent, then I stand corrected. I would like to see our LBs bulk up f they can do so without loss of speed. As far as the DBs, I don't think that they are jamming the WR at the line of scrimmage and in many cases don't seem to know when to turn and start playing the ball.
Yes Old Lion, sorry but you are way off about the weight of the LB. The parent of the player is correct.
Once Leh took advantage of the LBs playing deep, there should have been a realignment. The color man said there wasn't in the 2nd half.
Gee, thank God that poster who loves to lose every week
remembered to thank Murphy so warmly for having the grounds look nice and some apparel on hand for sale. And here I thought she was the AD, not the groundskeeper or the t-shirt seller. Did the T-shirts read "We Suck!"?? No?
Jeez she can't even get that right. You forgot to thank her for giving you room to spread out, since she makes sure even our tiny little 17,000 capacity stadium is empty every week.
What needs to be "realigned" is Bollinger, Murphy and Mangurian right out the back door where the dumpsters are.
Have to agree with the Murphy comment , she comes across like she is all in with Columbia FB . After a couple of years of seeing what she's done ( or has not done) its obvious she could care less about Football. I think our problems start with her and if you contact her , you get nowhere. It's discouraging
That's pretty funny RE: Murphy allowing us to spread out. I am a die-hard CU Lion fan and football alum. I was trying to point out a positive since we constantly complain about her. I just wanted to point out what she did right from a game-time experience. I get it...
HIRE LANE KIFFIN
Kiffin? Or did you mean his wife?
Did anyone else notice that Ed Argast was not on the sideline yesterday ? I heard Coach M is now the line coach.
Kiffin.. yeah he has done well! right
Kiffin.. yeah he has done well! right
I heard someplace that Argast was sick. Hope he gets better.
Kiffin is really looking like the only option here. He's stated in the past (before he took the USC job) that Columbia would be his dream job. Wouldn't be shocked to see him hired this winter when Mangurian takes his extended leave of absence to shop for visors and turtlenecks.
TROLL
He's tanned.
He's rested.
He's Tressel.
I listened to magurian's radio spot this week. According to him. This is how you build a successful and sustainable program. I was scratching my head a little because I haven't seen this methodology anywhere else and can't recall him building anything in the past.
He also said there were groups on the team that believed and other groups that did not. As a head coach, would you really be that entangled in knowing what the groups were? The groups only exist if talent isn't being played otherwise there are no groups unless the coach is favoring some over others.
The priceless piece was him saying that he knows how to read a stat sheet and that he can tell a good team on paper from a bad team. Well, what does the paper on your team say coach? Sometimes the paper, in my opinion, also tells you if the coach is any good or not, and what I am reading is a bad novel and it is telling me the coach should think about doing something else with his life, like finding a new profession.
Pretty sure Tressel has spent the past three years living in Jamaica dressed only in a banana hammock and a bucket hat sleeping on a pile of autographed OSU gear and dancing to the song in Silence of the Lambs. Would probably be a hard sell to ask him to give that up and ask him to come to a place where that would be frowned upon.
Only way Kiffin would come to Columbia is if Kraft promised not steal his wife.
"Aw man, Bob Kraft just stole my girl!" - everyone
Murphy cares about football because she wants a winner to be her legacy, but her enormous ego makes her think she knows more than she actually does about the game and how to have a successful program that she screwed up the coaching search.
Pete doesn't know how to build a successful program because he has never done it. He is a qualified OL coach but that is all. So the smokescreen half-assed rhetoric he spouts is only good enough to allow the powers that be in CU athletics to cower in their mistake of hiring him. It is a shame that is the reality CU football.
Don't kid yourselves this game was an improvement. Anything can happen any given game between any teams. It just so happens Lehigh did not amass a lot of points.
On a positive note, it does sound like the game day experience is actually enjoyable for people. That is a good development.
"For forty-one million, you built a playoff team. You lost Brackett, Ward, and Murphy and you won more games without them than you did with them. You won the exact same number of games that the Harvard won, but Harvard spent one point four million per win and you paid two hundred and sixty thousand. I know you've taken it in the teeth out there, but the first guy through the wall. It always gets bloody, always. It's the threat of not just the way of doing business, but in their minds it's threatening the game. But really what it's threatening is their livelihoods, it's threatening their jobs, it's threatening the way that they do things. And every time that happens, whether it's the government or a way of doing business or whatever it is, the people are holding the reins, have their hands on the switch. They go bat shit crazy. I mean, anybody who's not building a team right and rebuilding it using your model, they're dinosaurs. They'll be sitting on their ass on the sofa in December, watching the Columbia Lions win the Ivy League" Gotta go moneyball system boys
Really classy
Can we stay away from crass comments please. We are supposed to be gentlemen!
Jake, what happened to Wanamaker and Gross? Two of our 4 best WR's and they're nowhere to be found! Not in the stands or the sideline!
that's a great question. we are the best receivers? who is coaching them? in order to keep getting MG the ball we have to convince people we have stil committed to the pass as well. as soon as they see us rush 75 percent of the time we will lose by more points than we do now AND we wont develop the passing game. I believe we have the QB RB Line and Def to win 1 or 2. we need the WR's to get separation. the game plan will follow the players
NDY not dead yet
Connors is our best receiver. He has been out with a quad injury. Hopefully we will see him this Saturday. Not sure about Gross or Wanamaker.
Fire this clown dressed up as a coach!
Is Argast(their best coach) really sick or has Mangurian micromanage him out of that role?
The OL played its best game of the year last Saturday. What inferences can be drawn?
Jake,
Does anyone iknow if there are drills to increase short distance quickness?
If so, maybe one of the coaches will read the response and get the O line a half step quicker.
GP
GP, great suggestion! I'm sure the coaches haven't thought of that! Let's keep 'em coming, guys!
The line is not slow. Do you see how much they "pull" and get out? Even the center "pulls" on this team. Look for something else expert!
Thanks Jake for taking down the gay-bashing comment and the vulgar one about beer.
Looks to me like they are pulling out on pass defense. Centers pulling out? What kind of run blocking have you been watching?
GP
Hey smart guy, if the O line is not slow tell me why the QBs are -127 yards rushing.
Because our QB's are slow and immobile Einstein. Any more questions?
Yah, what sport did you play other than frisbee?
GP
I think, Old Lion, that the OL needed a few games to get their timing as a unit down pat. I'd look for further improvement as we go forward.They proved that we can be a run first offense since Garrett doesn't need much than a little seam to break one. He (Garrett) looked more comfortable in anticipating the blocks and finding holes.
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