Down two key players in Saturday’s loss to Fordham, the Bulldogs lost another two against the Rams.
WR Chris Smith (knee) and LB Andrew Larkin missed Saturday’s game. QB Henry Furman (upper body) did not play in the second half and RB Tyler Varga (foot) left the game after getting injured on a run early in the third quarter. Varga didn’t return, and was on the sideline with crutches and a boot on his left foot.
Also, QB Morgan Roberts came into Tuesday’s media luncheon with a walking boot.
Of course, head coach Tony Reno lists all as “day-to-day.”
“The good thing is, everyone is pretty much day-to-day as to when they can come back and when they can’t,” Reno said. “We will find out more about it as we go on throughout the week. They were all at the doctors this morning and the feedback we got from our medical staff is that they are all day-to-day.”
UPDATE: Smith, Furman and Varga were suited up, but did not practice. Varga was in a boot. Roberts and Eric Williams split time at QB. Larkin practiced.
ADAPTING
Recruited as a RB, Fr. Darius Manora has moved to LB this season and has transitioned well.
He has 19 tackles with a sack. He had eight tackles and a sack against Dartmouth.
“We try to get the best guys on the field,” Reno said. “We had a log jam at RB. He’s made a great transition and has done a nice job.”
Manora picked up most of his awards in high school as a running back. A standout at St. Stephens and St. Agnes school in Virginia, Manora rushed for over 4,500 career yards to set a league record. He also played linebacker.
“It’s a tough change coming in learning both the offensive and defensive scheme,” he said. “Once you get situated, there are a lot of great leaders to help you along the way. It’s been fun. I’ve been able to play right away and help the team.”
LOOKING BACK
Yale lost to a legitimate FCS title contender Saturday in Fordham. The Rams are now No. 7 in the nation and off to their best start – 8-0 0 – in program history.
“Fordham is an exceptional football team,” Reno said. “They really don’t have any weaknesses. They have playmakers all over the field. Their QB is exceptional, their WRs have speed and size, they’re big up front. They had it all. We hung it there with them. It was a good test for us. If we did a couple things different in the first half, it could have been a different outcome. We’re a little more banged up then we would’ve liked, but I think we’re much more prepared.”
Reno said Fordham is as good of a team as any he’s seen during his tenure in the Ivy. That includes Harvard’s 2004 squad.
Fordham WR Sam Ajala finished with a school-record 282 yards and tied a record with four TDs.
“He was faster than anyone else on the field and a kid that can throw to the front shoulder ever time,” Reno said. “We tried different things, but in the end they were just really good. It was the first time our guys have been run by.”
Chris; Thanks for the update but can you tell us what type injury each sustained?
ReplyDeleteHere we go again. It looks like Eric Williams will be back at QB next week and I wonder who after him? How does this happen? Is this the down side to playing ranked teams instead of of our own level? Well, last year we lost three QBs against Penn, our own level, and we still won...
ReplyDeleteSeems to be more about style of offense. When your QB runs a lot, he gets hurt. That's why that type of guy, as opposed to the classic dropback passer, never lasts long in the NFL. Whose career would you bet lasts longer in the NFL - Robert Griffin III or Andrew Luck?
ReplyDeleteWhat are you talking "runs a lot". Our QBs run the least of any in the Ivy League. If you play the spread your QB has to run as much as the RB or everyone will take a beating, especially the RB. If your QB doesn't run all the defense has to do is tackle your RB on every play even if he doesn't have the ball and your run game is done. That is what the defenses have been doing when Varga is in the game. If our QB is not going to run then we have to change to a different style of offense or it's going to be a long season. Pick your poison!
ReplyDeleteUh, Furman has six rushing TD's in five games. Here's a contrast: Dan Marino had 9 in a 17-year career. That's what I'm talking "runs a lot."
ReplyDelete4:03 ... you know nothing. Let me ask you something. Why do you think the QB can score 6 TDs on 20 rushing attempts? Varga only has one TD and over 100 rushing attempts. Based on that I think we should put Furman at RB, don't you? What he did on those six TDs is what he should be doing every 3rd play. Then you will see the run game fly and the receivers will be open all over the field. Until that happens those runs are no better than trick plays just like the fake field goal TDs.
ReplyDelete4:03 Is absolutely correct. Varga gets creamed on almost every play.
ReplyDeleteUm, the idea in football is to tackle the guy with the ball. It's a sort of fundamental thing. That's why he gets tackled a lot. Glad I could shed some light on that
ReplyDeleteSimple question: Did Furman get hurt on a run or a sack? I believe that the O-line had not given up a sack in the first four games. Don't know if they did against Fordham. If not, Furman either got hurt running or tripped on the way to the water cooler.
ReplyDeleteI don't think 4:03 is talking about how anyone got injured or if it was a run or not. As I understand it, the point is that if the QB ran more often or was a running style QB this particular style of offense would work much better. Obviously a non running QB would have more risk of injury when running. Plus its just plain foolish not to take what the defense is giving you. If everyone is tackling Varga on any given play I would say that keeping the ball and running with it more often would result in a lot more rushing yards and far more than 6 TDs. Obviously 6 TDs on 20 rushes are pretty good odds. Why not do it more often?
ReplyDelete