Monday, September 30, 2024

Crash Landing

Georgetown 20 Columbia 17


Why Georgetown Won

The Hoyas forced four turnovers and the GU O-line and D-line outplayed Columbia through most of the game. The Hoyas also remained resilient after falling behind 14-0 in the 2nd quarter. 

Why Columbia Lost

The Lions didn't pressure the QB, didn't have a consistent run blocking or pass protection game, and the four turnovers were lethal. Also, while backup QB Cole Freeman played generally well, it was clear that Columbia missed starter Chase Goodwin. 


Key Turning Points

-With CU up 14-0 and about 8:30 left in the 1st half Georgetown executed an eight play, 76-yard drive that ended with a TD on a 4th and 3 from the Lion four. 

-On Columbia's ensuing drive, the Lions were grooving with a 1st down on the Hoya 32 when RB Malcom Terry fumbled the ball away for Columbia's second turnover. 

-The Lions got the ball to start the 2nd half, still leading 14-7. Once again, Columbia was in the middle of a promising drive when Freeman made a poor choice on a short pass from the GU 21 that was intercepted.

-With the Lions up 17-13 and just under five minutes left in the game, the Hoyas began a 73-yard game-winning drive that required just one 3rd down conversion.


Columbia Positives

-The Lion wide receivers played well and remained a viable weapon throughout the game.

-Hugo Metty, William Hughes, and the Lion coverage teams played well. 


Columbia Negatives

-The Lions got no pressure on Hoya QB Danny Lauter.

-Columbia's run and pass blocking was weaker against GU than it was against a bigger and healthier Lafayette team.

-Georgetown joined Lafayette in consistently picking on CB Carter McFadden on pass after pass. McFadden is a great athlete, but his height is the issue and Columbia needs to figure out a way to give him more help in the secondary. 


Columbia MVP

-WR Edan Stagg finally broke into the scoring stats and made some other key catches in the game. His TD grab was notable for his great ability to avoid several tacklers on the way to the end zone.



17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Even with the four turnovers, this loss was clearly on the coaches. They should have gone for a touchdown when it was 4th and one inside the 5 yard line instead of kicking a field goal. The G'town quarterback was untouched the second half and hitting his receivers regularly so a G'town touchdown was definitely possible. If we had scored a TD rather than a field goal, the game would have been over. Going for a FG also showed no confidence in the offense. And why didn't we blitz the whole game, leaving the G'town QB all the time in the world to hit his receivers. Poor defensive game plan.

Anonymous

Anonymous said...

Don’t agree about the field goal call. You’re on the road, and it looked like more than a yard that we had to gain. If you go for it and come up short, then a field goal beats you. That’s a tough fourth-down conversion on the road, and you have more to lose than to gain by going for it. Even if you convert, it’s still potentially a one-score game, unless you go for two (which would have brought its own risks). The thing is, we still had a chance to get into field goal range to tie after the Hoya touchdown. Our clock management wasn’t great, which made things harder for the qb. But overall, I don’t think kicking the field goal was why we lost, and I think going for it would have been risky and would potentially have given G’town even more momentum.

InwoodTiger said...

Here come those Tigers! Oct 5 should be interesting.

Anonymous said...

I disagree on the field goal call, the senseless turnovers cost us the game. Stagg had an amazing game and all the offense did actually minus the QB. I thought he had game experience?

Anonymous said...

Mc Fadden HAS to be replaced in the secondary. Exclusive use as a punt returner. Also coach him up as to when to return and when to fair catch. When the ball is loose on a punt and rolling, get out of there!.. Jake, as usual, spot on with insightful analysis.

Anonymous said...

Parent of back-up DB

Anonymous said...

I agree about McFadden, and I’m not a parent (am an alum). I think we beat Princeton, but it’s going to take a much cleaner game and a considerably better effort. On the plus side, we’re still undefeated in conference play.

Anonymous said...

Agreed!

Anonymous said...

You can say that the coaches should have gone for the 4th and 1 inside the 5, fair point. However, very poor play from the O-line and Georgetown was small! Not great pressure on the G'Town QB and we never wrapped up their RBs.

Our RBs ran hard, but no holes...

FYI- Poppe can't throw the ball. The reality is that Freeman plays very hard (love it), but he under-threw and short-armed balls throughout the game. He's taking unnecessary sacks and he's not a rookie.

Old Lion, thoughts...

Anonymous said...

It starts with Princeton this week. Lions 30 - Tigers 14.

Anonymous said...

5-5 is a realistic first year goal. I think that this team does better.

DOC said...

This game was lost (as most are ) in the trenches. Agree that both our lines got outplayed at crucial points throughout. Certainly didn't see that coming in view of the opener. The decision to kick a field goal was not the reason we are 1-1. It only gets tougher from here.....

Anonymous said...

We look like a legitimate football program compared to last year. This coaching staff is much better than the previous regime. We need to give them time.

Anonymous said...

Great wake up call game for them. Let's see how they respond this week. I would imagine we show great effort and execution against the Tiggas who frankly we should have beat last year.

Anonymous said...

Really hoping Goodwin is healthy, though I imagine we won’t know anything for certain until our first possession on Saturday.

Anonymous said...

Lions will win the Ivy. They are too hungry.

Anonymous said...

9-1 baby!