It's time for four-down Friday. Here are four things to look for when Yale returns home to the Yale Bowl to host Columbia at 12:30 p.m.
Roberts response: Yale needs QB Morgan Roberts to get things together. He threw three INTs in the red zone (two in the end zone) last week had has eight INTs over the last three games. It's not all his fault though, as Roberts has not had a healthy group of WRs to throw to all season. Perhaps a game at the Bowl is what Roberts needs to get back on track.
Devastating defense: Columbia's defense is tough. The Lions are talented, experienced and playing well. Last week they did an impressive job against a electric Dartmouth offense in a 13-9 loss to the Big Green. Niko Padilla highlights the unit and is one of the best DLs in the league. This could be a tough matchup for an injury-riddled Yale offense.
Don't get burned: Yale secondary has gotten beat on one big play after another this year, including several last week against Penn. Columbia has Skyler Mornhinweg, a talented QB transfer from Florida, under center. Mornhinweg can throw the deep ball and has WRs that can stretch the field.
A new look: Yale has won 11 of the last 12 against the Lions. But this Columbia team is no longer the league doormat. Legendary Ivy League coach Al Bagnoli is now leading Columbia. The Lions are having fun and have a newfound energy. Columbia's defense is very good. The Lions snapped a 24-game losing streak earlier this year and held their own against Dartmouth. Columbia may still be a few years away, but this is a program on the upswing. Expect Saturday's game to be a close, low-scoring contest.
Don't get burned: Yale secondary has gotten beat on one big play after another this year, including several last week against Penn. Columbia has Skyler Mornhinweg, a talented QB transfer from Florida, under center. Mornhinweg can throw the deep ball and has WRs that can stretch the field.
A new look: Yale has won 11 of the last 12 against the Lions. But this Columbia team is no longer the league doormat. Legendary Ivy League coach Al Bagnoli is now leading Columbia. The Lions are having fun and have a newfound energy. Columbia's defense is very good. The Lions snapped a 24-game losing streak earlier this year and held their own against Dartmouth. Columbia may still be a few years away, but this is a program on the upswing. Expect Saturday's game to be a close, low-scoring contest.
Chris:
ReplyDeleteWould you please confirm the time of tomorrow's kick off. I heard it was changed to 1:00.
It's 12:30
ReplyDeleteY1967
ReplyDeleteThis should be an interesting game. I would think that there is no question but that Columbia has the better coach. Maybe at some time in the future Reno wil have the same chops as Coach Al, but that's a long time in the future. But, for now I think we would all agree that Yale, even with all the injuries, has better talent than Columbia. So, who wins--nature or nurture? I'm on the nature side of the argument. Even with all the injuries, I think Yale wins at home.
Now, in two or three years, if Reno doesn't up his game, I think the tables may turn.
Al may be the better coach, but Reno has beaten him twice in the last three years, including his first year when Penn won the Ivy League and Yale was 2-8.
ReplyDeleteThat was a quite a Dartmouth-Harvard game.
ReplyDeleteThose defenses last night were the best I've ever seen in this league.
ReplyDeleteThe best coaches are the best recruiters. Is Murphy a great coach because he takes mediocre talent and wins? No. Harvard gets the best players.
ReplyDeleteIt was the same for Bagnoli at Penn. We will see if Bagnoli is really a great coach when we see the talent he brings to Columbia in the next few years.
Of course, you can still have the best players year after year and still lose big games, like Carm Cozza did consistently and Buddy Teevens did last night, but coaching in college is recruiting, first and foremost.