The Road Ahead

Ronald Smith grabs a TD pass vs. CCSU

*UPDATE: The following post was written with the full knowledge that Josh Wainwright was out for the season, but I omitted that fact due to a longstanding agreement I have with the football program not to divulge injury information. Now that the news is officially released, some minor edits have been made below.

It's times like this that college coaches really earn their pay.

Columbia's task for the season has in some ways become tougher after the serious injuries suffered in their 41-24 win over Central Connecticut State Saturday night. 

On other ways, it's become much clearer with fewer either/or types of options.

The Lions must now go forward now without WR Josh Wainwright for the rest of the season and starting QB Josh Bean possibly on a tighter leash.

The good news is that the wide receiving corps at Columbia is probably the most talented and deep unit this program has ever seen. The bad news is that Wainwright was still the best of those wide receivers. 

QB Dillon Davis is a good passer, and I expect him to start at least this Saturday at Georgetown. Look for freshman QB Ty Lenhart to get more than just goal line action as a running QB in select situations. 

The remaining group of receivers need to step things up, especially the starters Ronald Smith and Kyle Castner. But now is a very key moment for backups Darion Acohido and Emerson Kabus. And perhaps Kaleb Pitts and some of the very talented incoming freshmen WR's will get into the mix now more as well. Acohido will have to step up as a punt returner in Wainwright's place as well. 

Columbia may have its most talented runner since at least the days of Johnathan Reese '02 in freshman Dante Miller. It wasn't lost on me that Miller was given Reese's old #7 in a late switch a week or so before the CCSU game. It's now even more imperative that the offensive line opens enough room for Miller to be a consistent threat on the ground and not just late in games. Lynnard Rose needs the same blocking help and it may behoove the Lions offensive coaches to consider more snaps from under center and using the two-back at times as well.

The defense will have to do better overall. The Lions D had good flashes and stretches against CCSU, but it also got lucky that Blue Devil Jacob Dolegala overthrew his receivers at a few key moments in the 2nd half.