Harvard 49 Columbia 21
Why Harvard Won
The Crimson offense moved almost at will for four quarters, especially through the air, while keeping the Lions off the scoreboard for the most of the game. Harvard QB Luke Emgee became the second straight, and third overall this season, signal caller to have a stellar game in a first collegiate start against Columbia.
Why Columbia Lost
In a game everyone knew would be a major test of both teams' emotional resiliency, the Lions showed little to none until the game was effectively over. Columbia's pass defense was also ravaged again, providing little resistance to the Crimson attack.
Key Turning Point
-After Harvard scored quickly on its first possession, Columbia looked like it might answer nicely after it forced a three-and-out on the Crimson's second possession. A 44-yard pass from QB Joe Green to WR Emerson Kabus set the Lions up with a 1st and goal at the Harvard 6. But three offensive plays yielded just one yard, and PK Alex Felkins 23-yard FG attempt sailed stunningly off the mark, and Columbia came away with nothing.
Columbia Positives
-Columbia managed to score three TD's in exciting fashion to preserve some positive memories and create highlight reel fodder. Green's nifty six-yard TD run, TE Luke Painton's very tough catch for the second score, and RB Dante Miller's 40 yard signature scamper down the east sideline for the final score were all fun to watch.
-Returner Mike Roussos had a strong game; punctuated by his 31-yard punt return in the 3rd quarter that set up Columbia's first score.
-The Lions have now gone three straight games without a turnover... and lost two of them. Strange, but true.
Columbia Negatives
-The Columbia pass defense gave up a whopping 10.2 yards per attempt and was burned multiple times. The rush defense was not much better; allowing 5.3 yards per carry.
-The Lion running game mysteriously tried to attack the vaunted Harvard middle for most of the game, instead of going off tackle. Miller's TD was an example of how that strategy could have worked better if implemented much earlier.
-Columbia team spirit seemed lacking.
Columbia MVP
It's almost embarrassing to be named the MVP in a game like this, but QB Joe Green kept his composure and continues to protect the ball and give the Lions a fighting chance in the air. One can only hope that a full offseason working in person with the coaches and his teammates, (something COVID-19 has prevented so far), will yield major benefits in the future.
17 comments:
Our pass defense was missing some starters—one our our sub DBs was picked on all day until he was pulled; we lost most 50/50 balls; our passing game suffers from not having any real #1 guys; we have several good receivers but no Josh Wainwright. We also lose too many 50/50 balls to the DBs; where is Wills Meyer? Also, I think Painton can be great at TE if he asserts himself more and holds onto the ball. I agree that the turning point was in the first quarter when our offense inside the 10 fizzled and then we missed the chip pie FG, which deflated us. When we get inside the 10 we do not seem to have an effective offensive game plan. Very disappointing-coach said we were flat from the beginning and lacked passion; I think it was the letdown from snatching defeat from the jaws of victory at New Haven.
It was a horrible day all around but as I posted elsewhere, one thing that stood out was our WRs inability to make difficult plays -- our WRs do not catch balls in traffic. Harvard's guys were just outstanding on every jump ball. I came away even more impressed with Joe G as he is accurate and a good decision maker. He needs more guys besides 3 who can get open and finish plays.
Also, bad play calling didn't lose the game but how does Fabish run Young straight into the teeth of Harvard's outstanding interior DL nine times? I don't think Miller had a carry on the first two or three possessions. The entire day was second and 10 as Fabish refused to make adjustments.
The Offense is the same one that shows up for every game: lacking a break-away deep threat, modest receiving corps who drop catchable balls, don't always seem to fight-as oldlion says- for the 50/50 jump ball- and of course, some head-scratching play calling that often kills drives. Yet they've played well enough to hold onto some wins if the defense shows up. In this game, the D did not show up, and they were left to their own devices. I hope as a team they rally for the next two games, which are eminently winnable.
This Harvard team has more talent, period...Talent trumps coaching (see Bagnoli championship years)....In order to beat more talented teams you have to bring your total A+ game ( see Dartmouth game)..I give myself a Thanks Captain... (Captain Obvious). What is it time for with two remaining? Two back sets with Miller and Young in at the same time... not every time but.... use the option with Killingsworth, some fake punts.. Have we seen one this year? In other words some offensive imagination! Scrap the 5 yard average per pass and really open things up!
In addition to the 50/50 balls our receivers have two other problems: drops and inability to get separation. Other areas: Roussos is a great return man, but why not give him a chance to return some punts by providing him with some blocking help? On our running plays we cannot sustain blocks long enough to run wide—every running play that has the RB run to the outside is too slow in developing and gets blown up. Likewise the bubble screen-which never works. Wheel routes with Young as a receiver have been successful—can Miller run that route? But the real culprit for the last two weeks has been the defense—the same defense that was so great against Dartmouth. Apparently Yale made some half time blocking adjustments which turned its offense around; whatever they did, we did not counter and Harvard copied. And as previously noted some of our DBs were just not ready for prime time.
Hey Robert,
Fake punts make no sense to me given our punter's skill set, but I do agree with you that the Lions should be regularly using two back sets with Miller and Young in the backfield and all kinds of options when Killingsworth is on the field. It is also obvious that Joe Green is much more mobile than we were led to believe at the beginning of the season. If so, why not use him occasionally on option plays, particularly those involving Dante Miller. Green has already proved himself to be an outstanding passing quarterback and I suspect that in the next two games he will also show off his underrated running skills. And will we finally turn Canty loose in the next two games? Harvard had no choice but to drew two separate defensive interference calls in their rather unsuccessful efforts to stop Canty. Finally, I strongly disagree with those Lion fans who feel that our receiving corps lacks a Josh Wainwright quality receiver. Yes, Wainwright was great, but the group we have is very good.
Stan Waldbaum
In short, how do you reconcile Columbia's decimating shutout win over Dartmouth, at Dartmouth to Dartmouth's victories over Princeton, Harvard, Yale, and New Hampshire?
TOD HOWARD HAWKS
Al Bagnoli is a hall of fame coach. Don’t you guys think he has thought out everything you mention about scheming or player rotations. I trust Al.
I love this post. Al is indeed a Hall of Fame coach and brilliant leader for our program. Also, we were behind 42-0 in the third quarter and showed no fight. The fans grouse when the team plays poorly. That’s a thing!
I usually listen to games on opposing teams' radio stations. Gives a much different perspective. The Harvard broadcast made several notable points. One example was a 5'10" Mathiasmeier losing a jump ball TD to a 6'7" Harvard receiver. Another was an echo of Jake's "mysterious" description above, i.e. "Columbia must see something to keep running into the middle of the Harvard line." One comment was "It seemed like XXX player gave up on the ball."
Successful Ivy programs require several elements but those elements only really get one to the starting line. They all have to be coordinated well to consistently vie for an Ivy title. I am beyond happy that CU has made a commitment to supporting those elements: recruiting, facilities, social media, coaches, school spirit. And beyond happy that CU has a legitimate chance of winning in most games.
My source of frustration (a good thing because I want CU to excel) lie in the comments made by opposing team broadcast that frequently echo many made on this blog. They encapsulate the well-worn definition of insanity - doing the same thing and expecting a different result like ineffectively running into the Harvard line until the game is out of hand or an offensive game plan that, at least as presented on the radio, seems disparate where plays don't build on one another but seem more like dart-throwing.
My wish is that the game plan is more coherent going forward and the in-game adjustments happen much more quickly. These are smart coaches and players and I think they are capable of doing that. I think when they do that Columbia will become much more successful and formidable on a consistent basis.
Yes, Al Bagnoli is both a great coach and Hall of Fame Coach, but unlike basketball and many other sports, football is a very complicated game where even Hall of Fame college football coaches like Al have to rely entirely on their huge coaching staffs with assistant coaches who are responsible for every aspect of the game. There is no question that Al has put together an outstanding coaching staff at Columbia, but it is the wonderful nature of the complicated game of football for all coaches AND fans to reflect upon what happened on the football field in the games that have been played and what could be done better.
Stan Waldbaum
Re 6’7” receivers, I really think that Luke Painton can create mismatch nightmares at his size if he can be coached up and learn how to secure the ball. I don’t know why he isn’t the primary target for fade patterns inside the 10, and why Hollingsworth isn’t being coached up so that he has the skill set to make that very throw from the wildcat.
Agree on Painton. Joe threw at least one fade to Libman, who is terrific but not very big. It's a high degree of difficulty throw to a short receiver. Harvard threw those fades to their big WR and he pulled them down. Painton made a nice catch on the TD and when we were first and goal at the six in the first quarter, he maybe should have gotten that fade route.
Did QB Bell suffer a serious knee injury? In an otherwise dreary afternoon, he looked like a good player. I was very sorry to see him get hurt.
Also, sorry my phone seems to send duplicate copies of my posts.
One other mystery is what is going on with our excellent punter Drew Schmid. Two years ago he routinely flipped field position and dropped punts inside the 10. Last week he did not have a good game and pretty much shanked a few of his punts. I wonder if he is injured.
Go Stan! I agree with you completely!
Schmid got hit hard on the first punt Saturday and limped off. There was a roughing penalty on the play. I expect he was dinged up the rest of the day as he did not punt well.
I hope Schmid is OK; we are going to need him for the last two games.
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