Some additional notes for this week...
SCOUTING COLGATE
The Raiders are coming off a big 31-30 win over Princeton and have won four straight. They’ve played a competitive schedule, which included Ball State and Delaware, who is just outside the FCS Top 25. They use an odd front on defense. They have a talented secondary that is good in man coverage. Their group of linebackers are aggressive and they have athleticism up front. Yale will have to do a good job of picking up pressure and the different schemes.
Offensively, quarterback Jake Melville leads the team in rushing and passing. Colgate’s receivers have good size on the outside and 6-6 tight end John Quazza has good size and runs well. The Raiders will use four different running back to change looks and pace. They will use sets with four receivers and at times, two to three tight ends. Kick returner John Maddaluna will be one of the best Yale will see this season.
LOCKE MOVING TO OFFENSE?
Yale freshmen Jamal Locke has shown exceptional speed as the Bulldogs kick returner. He’s averaging 23.5 yards per return. Locke is listed as a cornerback, but with his playmaking ability, could possibly move to offense.
“It’s something we have to reassess during the spring,” Reno said. “We have guys playing at corner with offensive skills.”
INJURY NEWS
Reno wouldn't say much about injury updates. He did say, however, that LB Andrew Larkin should not miss the rest of the season. Larkin left Saturday's game against Dartmouth. Reno did not give a timetable on his return.
As for freshman OL Jon Bezney, there is no timetable for his return either. He has missed the last three games. Bezney was perhaps the most highly touted recruit out of all the Yale freshmen this season.
"We're taking it slow because he's young," Reno said. "We're being very cautious with him. He's a big-time player."
NFL COACHES
Two former Yale players are now coaching in the NFL. Pat Graham a former tight end that graduated from Yale in 2001, is a defensive assistant for the Patriots. He’s in his sixth season in New England. Graham, a Waterbury native, was a member of Yale’s 1999 Ivy League title team.
Michael McDaniel, who graduated from Yale in 2005, is a Browns receivers coach. He’s in his eighth NFL season. He also coached the Texans, Broncos and Redskins.
A LOOK AT VARGA
Running back Tyler Varga leads the FCS in scoring average (13.5) and is ninth in yards per carry (6.8). Despite just playing 18 career games, Varga is seventh on the Bulldogs all-time list with 2,082 yards and 10th with 17 touchdowns. Varga has gone over 100 yards in three of Yale’s four games this year. He also posted his career-long run of 56 yards against Lehigh.
RANDALL MOVES UP
Deon Randall has moved up on Yale's all-time reception list. He is now No. 2 with 182 career receptions. Ralph Plumb (192) is No. 1.
Randall's 1,831 career receiving yards is the third most in Yale history.
Reno going to complain about the grass field this weekend?
ReplyDeleteWhat else do you complain about.
ReplyDeleteDoes'nt your boss get mad when you steal time from work.?
Go back to scrubbing those dishes Im hungry.
Your Boss Jon Harris
Go Bulldogs
Chris; Is Egu also out this weekend?
ReplyDeleteCozza used to have the best athletes on defense.That was his philosophy for his teams.
ReplyDeleteJon Harris
Any news on the ebola issue with yale students?
ReplyDeleteI understand Cozza’s philosophy and agree with him Jon Harris. Having great athletes on defense is a key to having a good defense. However offensive skills is what was specified not athletic ability. These are two very different things.
ReplyDeleteObviously someone on staff see’s the opportunity for big play potential in this kid. He is now listed as a CB on the roster but in the beginning of the season was listed as QB/CB. Looking at his HS film he was a QB and he was able to make some big time plays on offense from there. I made a comment on an earlier post that he looked like the kind of athlete that Reno wanted at QB the most of all of the incoming recruits at QB based on their HS films. I would assume that there was somewhat of a plan to give him a shot there when he arrived. However 10 QB’s (including him) on the roster made that switch to CB a reality quickly. Good thing for us and him as this would have had him buried on the depth chart and most likely not even had him returning kicks.
There are a good amount of young guys (underclassmen) playing DB and if the kid has “offensive skills” and “play making ability” then the thing to do would be to get the ball in his hands as much as possible and see what he can do with it. On the first depth chart of the season he was a 2nd team PR behind Randall but played KR since game 1. This goes right along with this philosophy as well. Get him a shot to do something ASAP instead of burying him behind one of our best players being the 2nd PR. Seems like it was a good decision as he has done a nice job returning kicks. I’m looking for him to break one soon, seems like it may be on the horizon. It will be interesting to see how this goes in the spring and what decisions Reno makes with him and others for that matter.
TNC
Thanks TNC, how about 2 way player.Like they have done with Deon at times.
ReplyDeleteYale could use a shut down corner back and another reciever.
I would like to see them use Opplinger in the same manner.
He is a hell'va reciever as well.
Cheers Jon Harris
put in a "wildcat package" for Locke right now and have Oplinger run some seam passes right down the hash every now and then fro the TE spot. Would give us an extra touchdown or two every game.. guaranteed..
ReplyDeleteJon, agree again. CB with some offensive touches; that thought may be what Reno is thinking, we shall see. I also agree that Oplinger is a player; he may have something in the works for him as well.
ReplyDelete3:37 PM, I agree with you also in that may be a good idea to put together some sort of wildcat package with him or even him and Oplinger. An extra TD or 2 per game is a bit of a stretch. But I do think his speed and elusiveness at QB would add another dimension that would not only benefit us but that teams would definitely have to account for.
TNC