Monday, December 16, 2019
Scheduling Blues
The off-season is but one month old and six of the seven Patriot League schools already have their schedules all but set. Here are the out of conference schedules for Patriot League teams in 2020:
Bucknell
09/04 - at Army
09/12 - Villanova
09/26 - at Princeton
10/03 - Cornell
10/10 - TBD
Colgate:
09/05 - at Western Michigan
09/12 - at William & Mary
09/19 - at Syracuse
09/26 - New Hampshire
10/17 - Cornell
Fordham:
08/29 - Stony Brook
09/05 - Bryant
09/12 - at Hawaii
09/26 - at Monmouth
10/10 - at Wagner
Holy Cross:
09/05 - at Boston College
09/19 - Yale
09/26 - TBD
10/03 - at Harvard
10/10 - Brown
Lafayette:
09/05 - at Sacred Heart
09/12 - at Navy
09/19 - William & Mary
09/26 - at Pennsylvania
10/17 - Harvard
Lehigh
09/05 - at Villanova
09/19 - Columbia
09/26 - LIU
10/03 - at Yale
10/24 - at St. Francis
And Georgetown? Just one announced game, a September 26 home game with Columbia that marks the last home game in the eight year series between the teams which ends after 2021. It's likely Georgetown will play none of the other 21 opponents Patriot League schools have secured for next season.
Yes, they will find opponents. No, they will not be of any interest by the casual Georgetown fan. The lack of scheduling foresight by Georgetown continues to be an impediment to program growth.
Earlier this season, we wrote about the logjam Georgetown faces in scheduling, a confluence of low budget, low aspirations, and bad timing. Georgetown is not willing to spend money on road games beyond a bus trip, it is reticent of games against scholarship opponents, and those remaining low-wattage Northeastern teams that are in the cohort are all scheduling up--that is, they don't need to play Georgetown in September.
The blinders of non-scholarship football at Georgetown cannot be ignored in scheduling. When once there were as many as 30 non-scholarship opponents in the Northeast to choose from, in 2020 there are just nine, of which eight do not play for the first three weeks of the season. Outside of the Ivies, there are just two non-scholarship Division I teams within 450 miles of the Hilltop, and GU already plays them both--Marist and Davidson. But there are five non-conference games a year, and therein lies a problem very much of Georgetown's own choosing.
How about some of the other non-conference foes already on PL schedules in 2020? Let's skip past the BC and Syracuse's of the world as a practical matter.
Example #1: Wagner (October 10 at Fordham). The Seahawks were on Georgetown's schedule from 2010 to 2014, a reasonably competitive series. Would they be a suitable opponent for Georgetown in Week 2 (Sept. 12), assuming Georgetown opens Cooper Field II with the likes of Davidson or Catholic?
No chance. Wagner is taking a payday to play the University of Miami, with a likely guarantee game in the $300,000 range. That's certainly not in the ethos and culture of Georgetown, but it's not like Miami called Georgetown, either.
Example #2: William & Mary (Sept. 19, hosting Lafayette). If there was ever a CAA team which looks good in the Georgetown football mirror, it would be W&M. The Tribe isn't too big, it's situated in a colonial village all its own, already plays PL teams, and is a two hour bus trip away. Check, check, and check.
But since Georgetown got thumped by Richmond by a collective 97-10 in the 2008 and 2009 seasons, CAA teams haven't returned to the schedule and with two PL teams already on the 2020 W&M ledger, they certainly don't need another one.
Washington is not in their plans. Palo Alto is. W&M opens its season at September 5 at Stanford in a matchup of two teams that used to be called the Indians but have little else in common. No one in Williamsburg is arguing that it should be playing Georgetown instead of a recruiting visit to Northern California, a trip paid for by an opponent whose athletics endowment that pays out as much in a year in returns as is Georgetown's entire annual athletic budget.
Example #3: LIU (Sept. 26 at Lehigh). Remember C.W. Post, that Division II school just north of the Jericho Turnpike? Would they play Georgetown, much like Stony Brook once did and give New York fans a second local game for the Hoyas in 2020?
Post has since rebranded as Long Island University and jumped right into I-AA football last year, taking advantage of a loophole that LIU's Brooklyn campus was already in Division I. To no surprise, they finished 0-10, but are not scheduling from a position of weakness. Once known as the Pioneers, the newly rebranded Sharks (I was hoping for the "Railroaders") travel to Montana State, Delaware, and Lehigh in 2020.
On the future schedules for LIU? West Virginia, Toledo, Miami (OH) and the University of Ohio - four losses with a check attached to each.
Example #4: Villanova (Sept. 12 at Bucknell): While the Wildcats haven't front-loaded on I-A opponents, they certainly can get them, with an upcoming visit to Penn State in 2021. But Villanova has still been able to schedule the entire PL save Holy Cross over the past decade, but can't find their way to dial the 202 area code. This past season, the Wildcats were 3-0 over Bucknell, Colgate, and Lehigh en route to the NCAA playoffs.
While Andy Talley has moved on, the same business model applies at it pertains to Georgetown: it's a no-win proposition for the Wildcats. Playing the Hoyas in football is the equivalent of Georgetown playing Holy Cross in basketball: wins, and it's expected, lose, and someone is going to be on the hot seat. A trip to and from Bucknell is 150 miles each way--beat the Bison and be home by dinner. Giving up a short trip in each of fans to play in Washington, even with the promise of Cooper Field II, is a non-starter for now.
If Georgetown and Villanova still aren't on speaking terms, how about the other Big East I-AA football team? Butler checks the boxes (no scholarship, not likely to overwhelm their opponents, no guarantee required). But they fail the bus test. Since 1980, Georgetown has traveled just once to an opponent west of Pittsburgh.
Not that it hasn't stopped the Bulldogs from going on the road themselves. They'll open the 2020 schedule at Target Field in Minneapolis versus perennial I-AA power North Dakota State. The remainder of their non-conference schedule features a first ever trip to Princeton and two home games against small Indiana colleges because, well, the Butler Bowl isn't exactly the Yale Bowl, and it's not even a bowl anymore.
In September, we wrote that "Ivy schools don't schedule any opponents in the first three weeks of the season and are themselves increasingly looking beyond the Patriot League for who they do play, though not at the same competitive levels as the PL and NEC. But as PL and NEC schools fill their schedules, Georgetown either has to go further away from the Northeast to find opponents, something they have not shown they are willing to do, or load up on fan-agnostic opponents that are regularly among the 10 or 15 worst teams in the nation by statistical rankings."
That hasn't changed.
If I had to pick one Patriot League school to copy a non-conference schedule over in 2020, give me Bucknell. Show me the excitement of fans to see Georgetown travel to West Point, to host a game with Villanova, and bookend the first month of the season with Princeton and Cornell. Instead, Davidson, Marist, Catholic and Columbia put the fan base to sleep and continues the soft bigotry of low expectations around a program which deserves much better.
"The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark."
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Week 10 Thoughts
Some thoughts following Bucknell's 20-17 win over Georgetown
1. Hey, What Happened
To...Yeah, we missed a few weeks. Too many in fact. I'll take some time in
the off-season to retrofit some comments on those games, but they follow a
trend that this article will hope to tell. 2019 hasn't been disappointing or
discouraging, but, ah, missed opportunities.
Missed opportunities were all over this one. One could not have
drawn up a better defensive stand in the first half for Georgetown
- 3 plays, 3 yards
- 3 plays, 2 yards
- 3 plays, -5 yards
- 3 plays, 4 yards
- 3 plays, no yards
Turnovers and penalties abounded, some more foolish than others.
Personal fouls, late hits, the kind of things that make teams lose games... and
they did. And yet, the defense stopped four drives inside the red zone that
would have put the game well out of reach.
As is the case, the offense was late to the party. Georgetown Georgetown
- 1st: 95
- 2nd: 29
- 3rd: 47
- 4th: 28
2. Player of the
Week. I had to think about this one for a moment.
Brad Hurst is a fine young man with a great career and
family ahead of him. Saturday was not his finest hour. An onsides kick is great,
but a horizontal field goal and yet another blocked punt illustrated the
chronic flaw in Hurst 's kicking motion that the Georgetown Hurst
The staff likes Hurt, I understand it. But like Oliver Hill
before him, Davis Walker didn't add anything to the kicking calculus this year,
and Georgetown
There comes a point every season--maybe once, maybe more,
where a kicker is the outcome of a game. Losing by three following a blocked punt
converted into a touchdown is one such instance. Last season's collapse versus
Holy Cross came down to the same kicker. Hurst
3. Patriot League Tiebreakers. Yet another deflating season
of PL football ends this weekend, with the sole consolation that a 4-8 win team
will not represent the league in the playoffs. Here's the tiebreakers entering
the final week of the regular season:
- Holy Cross (6-5, 4-1 PL) is currently the only team above
.500 this season. HC wins the playoff bid with a win over
- A Lehigh win over
4. Since Last We Met: The front page likes to recall the most recent meeting
between the teams, but I'd like to take a look back at Georgetown Georgetown
Kyle Nolan's 82 yard
quarterback run with 1:57 to play earned Georgetown its most important win of
the season, rallying from an early deficit and dominating the second half in a
28-21 upset of Holy Cross at Fitton Field in Worcester, MA. The win ended an
eight game losing streak for the Hoyas and earned Georgetown
The Hoyas stumbled at the start, with a fumble
by senior RB Nick Campanella on the second play of the game. HC took over in
Georgetown territory, driving 42 yards in six plays for the 7-0 lead three
minutes into the game. The Hoyas punted the ball back but a Holy Cross returned
fumbled the wind-adjusted punt, setting up the Hoyas at the Crusader 26. The
offense stalled over the next three downs, but with nothing to lose, Georgetown
opted to go on 4th and six at the 22, with sophomore QB Kyle Nolan finding
senior TE Dan Sprotte for the first down. Three plays later, sophomore RB Joel
Kimpela went six yards for the score, 7-7.
Holy Cross reasserted
itself over its next series: a nine play, 71 yard touchdown drive late in the
first quarter, aided by a late hit by junior LB Patrick Boyle into the
Georgetown bench that extended the Crusaders' drive. GU ended the first quarter
on a three and out, and following a defensive interception to stall a Holy
Cross drive at the Georgetown 35, the G-men turned in a second three and out.
On its next series, however, Nolan took advantage of the wind, with passes to
Zack Wilke and Brandon Durham to advance inside the HC 20. A Following a
penalty, Nolan found WR Justin Hill with a 29 yard pass to the one yard line,
and took it over on the following play, 14-14, with 5:20 to halftime.
The Hoyas held Holy
Cross in check over the next three Crusader series, forcing three straight
punts. The Hoyas looked to be taking advantage of the wind at its back in its
final series of the half, with Nolan completing passes to Wilke and Elliott
Owusu to close inside the HC 25, but three offensive penalties pushed the Hoyas
back and forced an unwieldy 52 yard attempt from PK Matt MacZura which fell
short at the end of the first half.
Georgetown maintained
the wind direction entering the third quarter and took early advantage, with
Nolan found Wilke in stride with a 49 yard pass to the HC 25. The Hoyas
advanced to the Crusader 10, and cashed in for a 29 yard MacZura field goal,
17-14, its first lead in a third quarter since mid-September.
Holy Cross simply
could not move against the Hoyas and against the wind, failing to post a first
down in its fifth straight series since the second quarter. Georgetown
marched 10 plays to the HC 23, and on the 39 yard field goal attempt appeared
to be faked and Georgetown
The third quarter
Crusaders continued to be generous to the Hoyas, but the touchdowns did not
materialize. On the third play of the next drive, QB Peter Pujals threw a pass
that was picked off by DB Cameron Gamble at the HC 44. Seven plays later, the
drive stalled at the HC 22, with a 39-yard MacZura field goal extending the
count to 20-14.
Holy Cross got the
wind into the fourth, and on its first play of the quarter picked up its
original first down of the second half. The Crusaders picked up three more
first downs before WR Kyle Tolouse fumbled a likely touchdown, recovered by DB
Garrett Powers at the two. A big drive followed for Georgetown at the 11:15
mark of the 4th, where Nolan led the Hoyas on converting three consecutive
third down possessions to keep the clock moving. Another third down followed at
the 6:24 mark, where a 15 yard pass from Nolan to Sprotte was invalidated for
an illegal receiver downfield. Georgetown punted it back at the 5:59 mark, with
HC taking over at its 15. Five plays took the Crusaders across midfield, but a
holding call on the Crusaders set the drive back to its 44 with 3:20 to play.
With 2:56 to play, HC faced a 3rd and 20, whereupon DT Richard Shankle sacked
Pujals at the 36 and forced a punt with 2:15 to play.
Holy Cross wasted no
time to come back, with an eight play drive that advanced to the Georgetown Georgetown
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Week 7 Thoughts
Some thoughts following Georgetown 's
14-10 win over Lafayette
1. What Might Have Been: Just a week ago, we were asking how
five plays might have turned around the finish versus Fordham. This week, Lafayette
This was a very winnable game for the Leopards, in part
because they were able to get distance in the secondary and largely contained Georgetown Lafayette Georgetown Georgetown Lafayette
2. Peak Offense? Well, we knew this wasn't the offense that
steamrolled Marist and Catholic by a combined 103-3, but in recent weeks the
offense has begin to slow and opponents are about to take advantage.
The run game figures to be a point of emphasis for Lehigh
this week. Net of a 94 yard run for a score, Lehigh managed only 40 yards on
the ground and
surrendered 330 yards to Fordham last week and that's not
going to win you many games going forward. The Engineers managed only four
first downs on the ground last week.
3. PL Attendance: It's mid-October but home attendance is
bearing the brunt of poor non-conference performances. Throwing out Georgetown
Bucknell: 3,339 per game in 2019 vs. 3,018 in 2009
Colgate: 4,087 per game in 2019 vs. 4,642 in 2009
Fordham: 3,777 per game in 2019 vs. 3,886 in 2019
Holy Cross: 9,376 per game in 2019 vs. 7,552 in 2009
Lehigh: 4,336 per game in 2019 vs. 8,130 in 2009
4. Thanks For The Memories? Unless the west stands of Cooper
Field are a clever mirage (and after 15 years, nothing is out of the question),
the Nov. 2 game with Colgate will be the final game at the half-finished Cooper
Field configuration, with the promise of a new era in 2020.
While the construction plans do not show seats on the east
side, the camera angles have been outstanding on the PL network, and if
maintained, would allow the video to show the home stands instead of a view
into the Harbin
External communications on the construction have been all
but nonexistent--I've said so publicly and privately. During the bye week,
we'll discuss the considerable opportunity that a new Cooper Field could do to
elevate the program.
Until then, it's on to Lehigh.
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Week 6 Thoughts
Some thoughts following Fordham's 30-27 win over Georgetown Saturday:
1. Georgetown In Five Plays. A winnable game, for sure. Georgetown ran 65 plays and these were five plays that may have settled the game.
1. Georgetown In Five Plays. A winnable game, for sure. Georgetown ran 65 plays and these were five plays that may have settled the game.
- Two point conversion, 14:21 1st. Georgetown had run an early two point conversion three times this season, why would Fordham sleep on a fourth? The Rams sniffed out that play before it started, costing Georgetown early momentum and forcing GU back to the well for two more conversions to make up the difference. They missed them all, a net loss of three points. The margin of defeat in this game? Three points.
- Blocked punt, 5:28 2nd. In four years, no one has taught Brad Hurst to stop line-driving his punts. It caught him again Saturday, setting up the Rams for an 18 yard drive to the end zone.
- Fumble, 3:36 3rd. Driving for the go-ahead score late in the third, Joshua Tomas coughs up the ball at the Fordham 3. Not only do the Hoyas miss the opportunity, but the Rams run off the next 6:05 into the fourth quarter, time that Georgetown needed down the stretch.
- Interception, 2:57 4th. Georgetown's late incerception of FiordhM QB Tim DeMorat should have been the story of the game, much like last year where a late pick sealed the victory against Bucknell. Instead, Georgetown watches the clock more than the down marker, and gives up the ball 96 seconds later.
- 4th and 10, 0:17 left. Fordham had to go to the end zone and Georgetown's defense got caught at the line, opening up a seam in the back of the end zone.
A change in fortune in any of these five probably changes the outcome of the game, but that's college football. Cornell probably had five plays they'd like back against Georgetown and Columbia could say the same. Going forward, however, Georgetown can't give up five game-changing plays in a single game, period.
2. Midterm Grades. At the ahlfway point of the season, how would you rate the 2019 Hoyas? Obviously, it's been a great start, even if the schedule was more remedial than preparatory. The offense has been better than expected and the defense is as good as it has been on the Hilltop in two decades. Georgetown ranks #4 nationally in defense.
The grades would be as follows:
Offensive Line: B+. Giving quarterbacks time a plus, but backs are still not getting enough velocity out of the backfield. Given Georgetown's difficulty in recruiting O-linesman from the nonscholarship ranks, this a good place to be.
Quarterback: B+. Good things this season from Johnson and Brunell, avoiding mistakes and taking advantage of opportunities when they can. Georgetown ranks #15 in passing efficiency even though it is 77th nationally in passing offense. More downfield opportunities will be rewarded.
Running Backs: B. This has been a long term problem for the Hoyas but the backs have responded this year, albeit in games where the opponents did not have a strong rush defense. There are some warning signs, however, given that the remaining opponents are going to really challenge Georgetown on the ground. A 41 percent conversion on third down is a good number in any year.
Wide Receivers: B. Frankly, Georgetown has too much talent in the receiver corps not to use them more often. The Hoyas rank only 77th in passing offense this season.
Defensive Line: A. Simply put, they're good. A healthy Kristian Tate and Wes Bowers would help as well.
Linebackers: A-. The Fordham game exposed some holes in the 3-3-5 but on the whole the linebackers have risen to the challenge.
Secondary: A. This is as strong a secondary as Georgetown may have ever fielded in the modern era.
Special Teams: B. Despite the considerable talents of Joshua Tomas, the Hoyas have not dominated kick returns and the punting and kicking game is a continuing struggle.
3. End of an Era? Saturday's Homecoming should be the last such game played in the current disconfiguration of Cooper Field. I said "should", because after nearly two decades, anything can happen, but a 2020 Homecoming opens a new door to the program and to the students who have, by accident or increasingly by sheer supply, avoided the game because there were no seats.
The final two games in the 1800 seat configuration are sold out.
Monday, October 7, 2019
Sunday, September 15, 2019
Week 3 Thoughts
Some thoughts following Georgetown's 69-0 win over Catholic Saturday.
1. Stating The Obvious: Well, this is why Division I teams do not schedule Division III teams. The disparity in size and speed will eventually take its toll and such was the case in this game. From the first crack of the line in the blocked punt through nine straight possessions where the Catholic defense was a size too small and a step too slow, you see outcomes like this.
Georgetown's situation was not unique. Morehead State walloped Kentucky Christian 73-34, Delaware State beat Lincoln 58-12, UA-Pine Bluff overwhelmed Langston 53-15 and Florida A&M defeated Fort Valley State 57-20.
Unless you're Mount Union or Mary Hardin-Baylor, it is difficult if not prohibitive for Division III schools to recruit to the talent and the depth of even lower tier I-AA teams like a Georgetown or a Morehead State, not strictly on scholarship status (since neither GU nor MSU offers scholarships) but on training, conditioning and strength of schedule. A Division III club can have a great player or two each year, much as Georgetown did during the Scotty Glacken years, but depth will always be an issue.
What each school gained out of this game isn't altogether clear. Catholic will use it as an opportunity to play above its usual schedule (the NEWMAC is one of the weakest D-III leagues overall) and save some money on travel costs. Georgetown gets a win heading into the first bye week but not much else. The cynic will suggest that if Georgetown finishes 9-2 or 8-3, a win over a Division III opponent may cost them an NCAA at-large playoff bid; the realist would suggest the Patriot League has no business proferring an at-large candidate this year. If the Hoyas play .500 football the rest of the season, they've got their second winning season since 1999, which is as tepid a reason as any to play a game like this.
Meanwhile, the original opponent for this week, Howard, lost to Hampton, 41-20, before a smaller than expected crowd of 19,425 at the Chicago Football Classic at Soldier Field. The 0-3 Bison aren't looking back asking "what if" with the Hoyas, having signed a new four year deal with Hampton, which for now is the "real" HU as far as that rivalry goes. Georgetown doesn't share future schedules but it's not likely we'll see Howard soon.
And then there's the question--is the Steven Dean trophy series back on? Named for the late Georgetown alumnus (1972) who served as sports information director at Catholic in the 1970's, it's not cited in any Georgetown wrap-up but mentioned in pre-game and post-game releases from the CUA sports relations team. Either way, the trophy still sits near Rob Sgarlata's office, where it has held residence at McDonough Gym for the last 26 years.
2. Grading The Hoyas: What can you say? Excepting a couple of missed kicks, everyone did largely as expected, which is to say, executed on what they should.
The offense was strong but not running it up, taking advantage of speed on the receivers and a lack of defensive sets that locked down pass plays. Gunther Johnson was solid if not overwhelming at quarterback, while Joe Brunell (8 for 9) continues to get better every week. By November, these names could well be reversed in the depth chart. Offensive line? Not challenged as they will be the rest of the season, but they held Catholic without a sack and allowed the Hoyas on offense to do as they saw fit.
The defense played to its expectations. The Hoyas had advantages across the line in every position, which it should. It held Catholic to a net 72 yards on 2 of 15 on third down conversions. The Cardinals had one first down after halftime.
Maybe to some, the 69 points was a surprise. To the defense, the 0 was not.
3. Goals For The Bye Week: First, watch the game film, then put it away for good. Catholic has no relevance to any other opponent for the rest of the year. Players, coaches, and fans would do well not to use it in any relevant comparison to Columbia, Cornell, or the PL schedule.
Three goals: rest, recharge, and refocus. Columbia (Sep. 28 at Baker Field/Wien Stadium) returns 16 starters and as Hero Sports' pre-season review put it, "The Ivy League is going to be insanely competitive this year. There's no reason the Lions shouldn't be looked at as one of those teams battling at the top. Hitting eight wins again should be the goal for this team, with the ultimate goal of winning even more."
4. Time Flies? There were some comments on the Internet suggesting that with a 2:25 time of play, the third and fourth quarters may have been shortened. It didn't happen.
NCAA rules allow a shortened game upon the consent of both head coaches, but the box score clearly shows a full 15 minutes in the two quarters of the second half. NCAA rules do not allow a running clock, and no such clock appeared to be in use.
5. Around The League: Another rough week for the PL, which is now 4-16 out of conference (2-15 excepting Georgetown.
No easy answers why, since the PL teams have not only lost to teams they expected to (Navy, Temple), but a fair number of losses to teams they should beat (Monmouth, Central Connecticut, and twice to Sacred Heart). Some point to three fewer scholarships, others to the PL's redshirt policy, or that the league isn't competing in recruiting. I'll go with an easier answer: of the 20 games to date, 12 have been on the road, where PL teams are 1-11.
Next week, three of the four PL games are on the road. Your guess is as good as mine.
1. Stating The Obvious: Well, this is why Division I teams do not schedule Division III teams. The disparity in size and speed will eventually take its toll and such was the case in this game. From the first crack of the line in the blocked punt through nine straight possessions where the Catholic defense was a size too small and a step too slow, you see outcomes like this.
Georgetown's situation was not unique. Morehead State walloped Kentucky Christian 73-34, Delaware State beat Lincoln 58-12, UA-Pine Bluff overwhelmed Langston 53-15 and Florida A&M defeated Fort Valley State 57-20.
Unless you're Mount Union or Mary Hardin-Baylor, it is difficult if not prohibitive for Division III schools to recruit to the talent and the depth of even lower tier I-AA teams like a Georgetown or a Morehead State, not strictly on scholarship status (since neither GU nor MSU offers scholarships) but on training, conditioning and strength of schedule. A Division III club can have a great player or two each year, much as Georgetown did during the Scotty Glacken years, but depth will always be an issue.
What each school gained out of this game isn't altogether clear. Catholic will use it as an opportunity to play above its usual schedule (the NEWMAC is one of the weakest D-III leagues overall) and save some money on travel costs. Georgetown gets a win heading into the first bye week but not much else. The cynic will suggest that if Georgetown finishes 9-2 or 8-3, a win over a Division III opponent may cost them an NCAA at-large playoff bid; the realist would suggest the Patriot League has no business proferring an at-large candidate this year. If the Hoyas play .500 football the rest of the season, they've got their second winning season since 1999, which is as tepid a reason as any to play a game like this.
Meanwhile, the original opponent for this week, Howard, lost to Hampton, 41-20, before a smaller than expected crowd of 19,425 at the Chicago Football Classic at Soldier Field. The 0-3 Bison aren't looking back asking "what if" with the Hoyas, having signed a new four year deal with Hampton, which for now is the "real" HU as far as that rivalry goes. Georgetown doesn't share future schedules but it's not likely we'll see Howard soon.
And then there's the question--is the Steven Dean trophy series back on? Named for the late Georgetown alumnus (1972) who served as sports information director at Catholic in the 1970's, it's not cited in any Georgetown wrap-up but mentioned in pre-game and post-game releases from the CUA sports relations team. Either way, the trophy still sits near Rob Sgarlata's office, where it has held residence at McDonough Gym for the last 26 years.
2. Grading The Hoyas: What can you say? Excepting a couple of missed kicks, everyone did largely as expected, which is to say, executed on what they should.
The offense was strong but not running it up, taking advantage of speed on the receivers and a lack of defensive sets that locked down pass plays. Gunther Johnson was solid if not overwhelming at quarterback, while Joe Brunell (8 for 9) continues to get better every week. By November, these names could well be reversed in the depth chart. Offensive line? Not challenged as they will be the rest of the season, but they held Catholic without a sack and allowed the Hoyas on offense to do as they saw fit.
The defense played to its expectations. The Hoyas had advantages across the line in every position, which it should. It held Catholic to a net 72 yards on 2 of 15 on third down conversions. The Cardinals had one first down after halftime.
Maybe to some, the 69 points was a surprise. To the defense, the 0 was not.
3. Goals For The Bye Week: First, watch the game film, then put it away for good. Catholic has no relevance to any other opponent for the rest of the year. Players, coaches, and fans would do well not to use it in any relevant comparison to Columbia, Cornell, or the PL schedule.
Three goals: rest, recharge, and refocus. Columbia (Sep. 28 at Baker Field/Wien Stadium) returns 16 starters and as Hero Sports' pre-season review put it, "The Ivy League is going to be insanely competitive this year. There's no reason the Lions shouldn't be looked at as one of those teams battling at the top. Hitting eight wins again should be the goal for this team, with the ultimate goal of winning even more."
4. Time Flies? There were some comments on the Internet suggesting that with a 2:25 time of play, the third and fourth quarters may have been shortened. It didn't happen.
NCAA rules allow a shortened game upon the consent of both head coaches, but the box score clearly shows a full 15 minutes in the two quarters of the second half. NCAA rules do not allow a running clock, and no such clock appeared to be in use.
5. Around The League: Another rough week for the PL, which is now 4-16 out of conference (2-15 excepting Georgetown.
No easy answers why, since the PL teams have not only lost to teams they expected to (Navy, Temple), but a fair number of losses to teams they should beat (Monmouth, Central Connecticut, and twice to Sacred Heart). Some point to three fewer scholarships, others to the PL's redshirt policy, or that the league isn't competing in recruiting. I'll go with an easier answer: of the 20 games to date, 12 have been on the road, where PL teams are 1-11.
Next week, three of the four PL games are on the road. Your guess is as good as mine.
Friday, September 13, 2019
They Can't Be Serious?
If you didn't read the post below, this prophetic quote:
"But as Northeast schools continue to realign their early season schedules to major opponents, it reduces the pool of available games to which Georgetown is a candidate for...Or they could get stuck with Division III games, which is a net negative on the reputation of the University to recruits and other opponents?"
Avert your eyes at this quote from the Catholic University game notes of September 13:
"The germination of Saturday's game began when Catholic Athletic Director Sean Sullivan first communicated with Georgetown officials in August of 2016.
"They reached out to us," Sullivan said, "and I jumped on it."
The Hoyas and Cardinals will play again in 2022 at Cardinal Stadium and at Georgetown in 2023."
"But as Northeast schools continue to realign their early season schedules to major opponents, it reduces the pool of available games to which Georgetown is a candidate for...Or they could get stuck with Division III games, which is a net negative on the reputation of the University to recruits and other opponents?"
Avert your eyes at this quote from the Catholic University game notes of September 13:
"The germination of Saturday's game began when Catholic Athletic Director Sean Sullivan first communicated with Georgetown officials in August of 2016.
"They reached out to us," Sullivan said, "and I jumped on it."
The Hoyas and Cardinals will play again in 2022 at Cardinal Stadium and at Georgetown in 2023."
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
CUA: WTH?
Two years ago, the weekend of September 14 seemed to be a golden opportunity for Georgetown football. Howard University, led by former Virginia coach Mike London, had scheduled games with Maryland and Georgetown to help open the 2019 season. Though the previous games between the schools had been somewhat lackluster (the 2008 game was moved to a Sunday over weather, while the Bison band did not travel to the 2009 game at Georgetown), the premise of another local game would be otherwise favorable for the schedule, at either school's location.
Instead, Georgetown will play a Division III team for the first time in a quarter century. Before we ask why, we must know how this took place.
Scheduling Georgetown has never been popular in Howard football circles. Excepting "guarantee games", Howard prefers its non-conference games are held against other historically black colleges and universities (HBCU's) for the purposes of raising money for its football team and ostensibly the rest of its sports programs. A "classic" game between Howard and another HBCU could draw as many as 25,000 people, with copious amounts of corporate sponsorship to bring the band and dance teams to a community outside the Northeast. Though its schedule is not exclusively HBCU (Howard traveled to Youngstown State last week and to Harvard next month), a game with Georgetown in football is like Georgetown playing GW in basketball--not a lot to gain, but a lot to lose.
When London left for William & Mary after the 2018 season, new coach Mike Prince saw an opportunity to schedule Hampton (having left the MEAC for the Big South) and pick up a corporate payday. Goodbye "Mayor's Cup IV", hello, "Chicago Football Classic".
Truth be told, Howard-Hampton will draw a lot more interest than Howard-Georgetown. The web site for the game promotes such ancillary civic activities as a pep rally in downtown Chicago, an HBCU college admissions fair, a "Battle of the Bands", and a step dance show to raise interest in the school's in the nation's second largest African American media market, one without an HBCU football program of its own.
Howard was out. But there now was a hole in a Georgetown schedule, a schedule which wasn't strong to begin with. Instead of casting a net for I-AA schools with an open week on September 14 or September 21 (Georgetown's bye week), it stayed small time. Very small. While Georgetown could have potentially worked a deal with Western Carolina, Cal Poly, Youngstown State, or 12 other schools looking for games in week 3 earlier this spring, that would have come with a cost--none of these schools would accept a game on the Cooper construction lot, and the travel costs to places like Cullowhee, NC or San Luis Obispo, CA would cost Georgetown money and weren't going to be met by a corporate sponsor. Instead, the fan-unfriendly confines of Cooper Field will welcome Division III Catholic University Saturday for the first time since, well, since Rob Sgarlata was a starter in the Georgetown backfield and Cooper Field was part of the New South parking lot.
Byproducts of the club football era, the schools played 26 times between 1966 and 1993, with Georgetown winning 17 of them and eight of the last 10. With the Hoyas' move out of Division III and into the MAAC after the 1992 season, the teams played one final time on October 30, 1993, an unremarkable 10-0 Georgetown win that retired the Steve Dean Memorial Trophy.
The Catholic team that arrives on the bus Saturday bears scant resemblance to that 1993 team. The Cardinals now compete in a league known as the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference, with most opponents in Massachusetts, Maine, or Vermont. The Cardinals were 1-9 last season in the NEWMAC and lost its opener last week to Kenyon (OH), 32-31. Last year's CUA team traveled to Utica, NY for its week 2 game, so a visit to Georgetown isn't unwelcome given its own travel budget.
Short of the final score, it's a no-lose situation for a program that hasn't posted a winning season since 2013. But what does it mean for Georgetown? Is this the best the Hoyas can do?
Many fans ignore the low-wattage schedules the Hoyas build as an opportunity to get a winning season. Better to beat Marist than get slaughtered by Maryland, a false choice notwithstanding. But the Hoyas' arcane scheduling patterns are increasingly contrary to that employed by the Patriot League and increasingly the Northeast Conference, a group of schools like Duquesne, St. Francis, Wagner, etc. that are no less competitive than GU but which has suddenly attracted major college opponents.
Let's start with the PL, whose out of conference record to date is 2-12 but which has seen its teams face the likes of Air Force, Navy, Temple, and Villanova. What these teams lose in outcomes they are gaining on recruiting, fan interest, and the game experience against better competition.
Six PL teams now up-schedule with I-A opponents, and one does not. I'm sure that playing Syracuse at the Carrier Dome does not fit the "ethos and culture of Georgetown" but the other six schools provide its opponents something Georgetown does not--a win for bowl eligibility.
And so do Northeast schools, despite a scholarship limit 20 below the PL. Former Division III opponents like Duquesne (with future games against Coastal Carolina, Charlotte, Hawaii and West Virginia through 2024), Robert Morris (Buffalo), St. Francis (Eastern Michigan, Akron) and Wagner (UConn, Miami) are all jumping into the pool. Even LIU, a Division II school joining the NEC, has already lined up a game at West Virginia in 2021.
I'm not arguing Georgetown needs to play West Virginia to be relevant. Howard's foray into Byrd Stadium meted a 79-0 outcome, the second largest margin for an opening game in I-A since 2000. But as Northeast schools continue to realign their early season schedules to major opponents, it reduces the pool of available games to which Georgetown is a candidate for.
What about Ivy League schools? Ivy schools don't schedule any opponents in the first three weeks of the season and are themselves increasingly looking beyond the Patriot League for who they do play, though not at the same competitive levels as the PL and NEC. But as PL and NEC schools fill their schedules, Georgetown either has to go further away from the Northeast to find opponents, something they have not shown they are willing to do, or load up on fan-agnostic opponents that are regularly among the 10 or 15 worst teams in the nation by statistical rankings.
Or they could get stuck with Division III games, which is a net negative on the reputation of the University to recruits and other opponents? What does it say when a Holy Cross coach can discuss their games at Boston College and UConn to a recruit and Georgetown is left with filling a schedule with such lightly regarded opponents?
Georgetown has chosen not to competitively schedule outside the non-scholarship ranks for a decade, so we should not be altogether surprised with a 2019 lineup of Davidson, Marist, and Catholic that is lamentable compared to its fellow PL schools. Even lowly Bucknell will feature the likes of Temple, Villanova, and Princeton on its 2019 slate.
A new(er) Cooper Field might help. A winning record might help. But in the end, there are less fish in the sea from which to land opponents in the years to come, none moreso than for a program with a record of conservative scheduling that has offered little in return.
It's not 1993 anymore. Georgetown can and must aim higher for its scheduling in the years to come, to give the fans something it has lacked for years--something to look forward to.
"You are what your schedule says you are," says the football proverb. Scheduling is identity. What is Georgetown's identity?
Instead, Georgetown will play a Division III team for the first time in a quarter century. Before we ask why, we must know how this took place.
Scheduling Georgetown has never been popular in Howard football circles. Excepting "guarantee games", Howard prefers its non-conference games are held against other historically black colleges and universities (HBCU's) for the purposes of raising money for its football team and ostensibly the rest of its sports programs. A "classic" game between Howard and another HBCU could draw as many as 25,000 people, with copious amounts of corporate sponsorship to bring the band and dance teams to a community outside the Northeast. Though its schedule is not exclusively HBCU (Howard traveled to Youngstown State last week and to Harvard next month), a game with Georgetown in football is like Georgetown playing GW in basketball--not a lot to gain, but a lot to lose.
When London left for William & Mary after the 2018 season, new coach Mike Prince saw an opportunity to schedule Hampton (having left the MEAC for the Big South) and pick up a corporate payday. Goodbye "Mayor's Cup IV", hello, "Chicago Football Classic".
Howard was out. But there now was a hole in a Georgetown schedule, a schedule which wasn't strong to begin with. Instead of casting a net for I-AA schools with an open week on September 14 or September 21 (Georgetown's bye week), it stayed small time. Very small. While Georgetown could have potentially worked a deal with Western Carolina, Cal Poly, Youngstown State, or 12 other schools looking for games in week 3 earlier this spring, that would have come with a cost--none of these schools would accept a game on the Cooper construction lot, and the travel costs to places like Cullowhee, NC or San Luis Obispo, CA would cost Georgetown money and weren't going to be met by a corporate sponsor. Instead, the fan-unfriendly confines of Cooper Field will welcome Division III Catholic University Saturday for the first time since, well, since Rob Sgarlata was a starter in the Georgetown backfield and Cooper Field was part of the New South parking lot.
Byproducts of the club football era, the schools played 26 times between 1966 and 1993, with Georgetown winning 17 of them and eight of the last 10. With the Hoyas' move out of Division III and into the MAAC after the 1992 season, the teams played one final time on October 30, 1993, an unremarkable 10-0 Georgetown win that retired the Steve Dean Memorial Trophy.
The Catholic team that arrives on the bus Saturday bears scant resemblance to that 1993 team. The Cardinals now compete in a league known as the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference, with most opponents in Massachusetts, Maine, or Vermont. The Cardinals were 1-9 last season in the NEWMAC and lost its opener last week to Kenyon (OH), 32-31. Last year's CUA team traveled to Utica, NY for its week 2 game, so a visit to Georgetown isn't unwelcome given its own travel budget.
Short of the final score, it's a no-lose situation for a program that hasn't posted a winning season since 2013. But what does it mean for Georgetown? Is this the best the Hoyas can do?
Many fans ignore the low-wattage schedules the Hoyas build as an opportunity to get a winning season. Better to beat Marist than get slaughtered by Maryland, a false choice notwithstanding. But the Hoyas' arcane scheduling patterns are increasingly contrary to that employed by the Patriot League and increasingly the Northeast Conference, a group of schools like Duquesne, St. Francis, Wagner, etc. that are no less competitive than GU but which has suddenly attracted major college opponents.
Let's start with the PL, whose out of conference record to date is 2-12 but which has seen its teams face the likes of Air Force, Navy, Temple, and Villanova. What these teams lose in outcomes they are gaining on recruiting, fan interest, and the game experience against better competition.
Six PL teams now up-schedule with I-A opponents, and one does not. I'm sure that playing Syracuse at the Carrier Dome does not fit the "ethos and culture of Georgetown" but the other six schools provide its opponents something Georgetown does not--a win for bowl eligibility.
And so do Northeast schools, despite a scholarship limit 20 below the PL. Former Division III opponents like Duquesne (with future games against Coastal Carolina, Charlotte, Hawaii and West Virginia through 2024), Robert Morris (Buffalo), St. Francis (Eastern Michigan, Akron) and Wagner (UConn, Miami) are all jumping into the pool. Even LIU, a Division II school joining the NEC, has already lined up a game at West Virginia in 2021.
I'm not arguing Georgetown needs to play West Virginia to be relevant. Howard's foray into Byrd Stadium meted a 79-0 outcome, the second largest margin for an opening game in I-A since 2000. But as Northeast schools continue to realign their early season schedules to major opponents, it reduces the pool of available games to which Georgetown is a candidate for.
What about Ivy League schools? Ivy schools don't schedule any opponents in the first three weeks of the season and are themselves increasingly looking beyond the Patriot League for who they do play, though not at the same competitive levels as the PL and NEC. But as PL and NEC schools fill their schedules, Georgetown either has to go further away from the Northeast to find opponents, something they have not shown they are willing to do, or load up on fan-agnostic opponents that are regularly among the 10 or 15 worst teams in the nation by statistical rankings.
Or they could get stuck with Division III games, which is a net negative on the reputation of the University to recruits and other opponents? What does it say when a Holy Cross coach can discuss their games at Boston College and UConn to a recruit and Georgetown is left with filling a schedule with such lightly regarded opponents?
Georgetown has chosen not to competitively schedule outside the non-scholarship ranks for a decade, so we should not be altogether surprised with a 2019 lineup of Davidson, Marist, and Catholic that is lamentable compared to its fellow PL schools. Even lowly Bucknell will feature the likes of Temple, Villanova, and Princeton on its 2019 slate.
A new(er) Cooper Field might help. A winning record might help. But in the end, there are less fish in the sea from which to land opponents in the years to come, none moreso than for a program with a record of conservative scheduling that has offered little in return.
It's not 1993 anymore. Georgetown can and must aim higher for its scheduling in the years to come, to give the fans something it has lacked for years--something to look forward to.
"You are what your schedule says you are," says the football proverb. Scheduling is identity. What is Georgetown's identity?
Tuesday, September 10, 2019
Week 2 Thoughts
Some thoughts following Georgetown's 43-3 win over Marist Saturday:
1. Mission Accomplished: Excepting an injury to Duval Paul, Georgetown got exactly what it wanted out of the game: first a win; second, game time experience for a lot of players; and three, momentum.
Georgetown needed all three. The Davidson opener was flat on many levels and a bounce back was in order. The Hoyas were certainly favored over Marist in the Red Foxes' first game of the season, but Marist seemed to fold its tents following the second quarter. This is often a byproduct of a game one effort--the contrast with pre-season practice will take a toll on a team when it falls behind. The Marist running game has a long year ahead of it and the caliber of its remaining non-conference games (Cornell, Dartmouth) will be another tough test on Jim Parady and the Marist coaching staff.
Sgarlata and Parady go way back. Parady was in his third season when the Red Foxes joined the MAAC in 1994--they won the conference title that first season. He helped guide the program to be the last survivor from the sunken ship that was the MAAC Football League, a feat that the likes of Fairfield, Iona, St. Peter's, Siena, Canisius, and St. John's were not able to do. But at 138-147, with one Pioneer title since joining that league, it won't be an easy season for him of the Foxes take a sixth consecutive season under .500.
Does Georgetown gain any momentum from this win? A little, perhaps. No one wanted to go into week 3 at 0-2, but getting Joe Brunell some game time experience that he will need and rotating the defense through a variety of options will prove vital as October nears. Marist will never be a marquee opponent for a program that doesn't get on the marquee, but it was a good early test. Georgetown excelled in all there areas of the game and a fourth which can be jsut as important: expectations.
We don't know how good or bad Marist will turn out, but maybe Davidson is a whole lot better than its Pioneer brethren would give them credit for.
2. Stadium Coverage (without the stadium): An A+ to the new high definition broadcast of Saturday's game. For a tight budget, Stadium/PL Network continues to hit the ball out of the park, to mix sports metaphors. Compared to some ESPN3 broadcasts where it sounds like the announcers are calling the game from a studio in Bristol, CT, the PL Network crew is connected to the game and makes the best out of what Cooper Field gives them, which isn't very much.
Also, to its credit: no wisecracks about the Cooper press box, arguably the worst in Division I. Where the press is usually afforded a sandwich tray and snacks in the areas surrounding the press box, there are no such amenities this year st Georgetown. Next year? You would think but...wait a minute, we've been down this road before...
3. Upon Further Review: Saturday's official attendance took a nosedive this week. The original count for the game was 3,336, which would not only have made it the best attended home opener since 2005, it would have been the second largest crowd in the history of 2,500 seat Cooper Field (fka Multi Sport Field).
Except at least half the seating no longer exists, having been razed in 2017 for the2018 2019 2020 grand reopening.
The revised total is now 1,943.
1. Mission Accomplished: Excepting an injury to Duval Paul, Georgetown got exactly what it wanted out of the game: first a win; second, game time experience for a lot of players; and three, momentum.
Georgetown needed all three. The Davidson opener was flat on many levels and a bounce back was in order. The Hoyas were certainly favored over Marist in the Red Foxes' first game of the season, but Marist seemed to fold its tents following the second quarter. This is often a byproduct of a game one effort--the contrast with pre-season practice will take a toll on a team when it falls behind. The Marist running game has a long year ahead of it and the caliber of its remaining non-conference games (Cornell, Dartmouth) will be another tough test on Jim Parady and the Marist coaching staff.
Sgarlata and Parady go way back. Parady was in his third season when the Red Foxes joined the MAAC in 1994--they won the conference title that first season. He helped guide the program to be the last survivor from the sunken ship that was the MAAC Football League, a feat that the likes of Fairfield, Iona, St. Peter's, Siena, Canisius, and St. John's were not able to do. But at 138-147, with one Pioneer title since joining that league, it won't be an easy season for him of the Foxes take a sixth consecutive season under .500.
Does Georgetown gain any momentum from this win? A little, perhaps. No one wanted to go into week 3 at 0-2, but getting Joe Brunell some game time experience that he will need and rotating the defense through a variety of options will prove vital as October nears. Marist will never be a marquee opponent for a program that doesn't get on the marquee, but it was a good early test. Georgetown excelled in all there areas of the game and a fourth which can be jsut as important: expectations.
We don't know how good or bad Marist will turn out, but maybe Davidson is a whole lot better than its Pioneer brethren would give them credit for.
2. Stadium Coverage (without the stadium): An A+ to the new high definition broadcast of Saturday's game. For a tight budget, Stadium/PL Network continues to hit the ball out of the park, to mix sports metaphors. Compared to some ESPN3 broadcasts where it sounds like the announcers are calling the game from a studio in Bristol, CT, the PL Network crew is connected to the game and makes the best out of what Cooper Field gives them, which isn't very much.
Also, to its credit: no wisecracks about the Cooper press box, arguably the worst in Division I. Where the press is usually afforded a sandwich tray and snacks in the areas surrounding the press box, there are no such amenities this year st Georgetown. Next year? You would think but...wait a minute, we've been down this road before...
3. Upon Further Review: Saturday's official attendance took a nosedive this week. The original count for the game was 3,336, which would not only have made it the best attended home opener since 2005, it would have been the second largest crowd in the history of 2,500 seat Cooper Field (fka Multi Sport Field).
Except at least half the seating no longer exists, having been razed in 2017 for the
The revised total is now 1,943.
Monday, September 2, 2019
Week 1 Thoughts
Some thoughts following Davidson's 27-20 win over Georgetown:
1. What We Learned: This was a disappointing game in a lot of ways, not merely as a reflection of the score.
For all the pre-season factors which were prepared to send the Hoyas skyward in 2019 (depth, defensive talent, team speed, recruiting), none of these were in evidence at the Davidson game.
Start with the defensive line, which was incapable of understating nor compensating for the Davidson run game. Granted, the Wildcats' motion option isn't a common strategy but after 30 or 40 carries it's no longer new. Actually, it was 75 carries, with a grand total of two tackles for loss. However you define it, this was a major step backward for a nationally ranked defense such as Georgetown.
Davidson controlled the game from start to finish and were it not for an unusual run of three consecutive turnovers in as many series might have run away (no pun intended) with the game. Davidson controlled the ball for over 40 minutes in the game, 10 of 17 (58%) on third down and 5 of 6 (83%) on fourth down--compare that to Georgetown's 2018 season totals of 32% and 36%, respectively.
We learned that the Georgetown offense still isn't very good. Granted, you can't do a lot with less than 20 minutes on the field, but the 20 minutes weren't much to remember. Against a Davidson defense that gave up over 40 points a game last season and didn't allow fewer than 35 points all last season in the Pioneer League, the Hoyas got one offensive drive and a pair of short fields off turnovers. The Georgetown run game managed 89 yards and four first downs. Georgetown's 234 yards total offense was just 23 yards more than an undermanned Bucknell offense could grind out versus Temple in a 56-12 walkover.
This wasn't a late game spoiler. Lehigh lost to St. Francis on a missed field goal on the last play of the game. Fordham lost to Central Connecticut on a CCSU field goal with no time remaining. Georgetown gave up touchdowns on drives of 15, 12 and 19 plays to open the game. No spoiler, but a little stinky.
2. What We Did Not Learn: The defense will get better. But what about the offense?
Gunther Johnson finished as the sixth of seven PL quarterbacks in 2018 and Saturday's game was evidence that the Hoyas may have reached his peak skills. He doesn't have the line strength which forces him in to run situations--he'll get them early in games, but is usually shut down by the late second quarter and onward. While not altogether tall (6-1), he tende to throw a lot of passes low to receivers, as if he is compensating for the crown of college fields, which on turf fields don't exist as they once did. He doesn't have time to throw deep and while he usually gets one long pass (Saturday's being a 51 catch and run by Joshua Tomas), the other stats are remarkably understated. Take out that pass and Johnson was 10 for 18 for 83 yards against a pass defense ranked 117th in 2018, giving up an average of 275 yards a game against the likes of Brevard, Chowan, Guilford, and eight Pioneer teams. Johnson has thrown under 100 yards in five of the last six games.
Georgetown has receivers that can run the long patterns but aren't getting the time to do so. Johnson is forced to rely on the dump-off pass when he has no pocket time. If the O-line can't protect Johnson better, all the Michael Dereuses and Joshua Tomases on the depth chart won't matter.
And above it all, the running game looked remarkably unchanged. If the Hoyas can't run on Davidson, who can they run against?
3. What To Look For, Week Two: Over the years, it's best not to read too much into the annual game with Marist--there are years where the Hoyas have dominated and struggled the rest of the year, while in 2018 the Hoyas fell late and still managed a productive season.
But Georgetown doesn't want to stare at 0-2 with the schedule they have ahead of them. Marist enters the game ranked ahead of Davidson in the pioneer pre-season poll, and take advantage of a recruiting option that the PL stubbornly refuses to do--redshirting. The Red Foxes will feature 22 redshirt freshmen, 18 redshirt sophomores, 30 redshirt juniors and six redshirt seniors--that's 76 redshirts on a roster of 107.
Saturday's game won't settle that issue, but Georgetown has to settle it on the field. The Hoyas haven't allowed more than two touchdowns in a game in any of the last five games in the series and given the state of the 2019 offense so far, that's a good number to repeat this week.
Look for a more consistent effort on both sides of the ball Saturday.
1. What We Learned: This was a disappointing game in a lot of ways, not merely as a reflection of the score.
For all the pre-season factors which were prepared to send the Hoyas skyward in 2019 (depth, defensive talent, team speed, recruiting), none of these were in evidence at the Davidson game.
Start with the defensive line, which was incapable of understating nor compensating for the Davidson run game. Granted, the Wildcats' motion option isn't a common strategy but after 30 or 40 carries it's no longer new. Actually, it was 75 carries, with a grand total of two tackles for loss. However you define it, this was a major step backward for a nationally ranked defense such as Georgetown.
Davidson controlled the game from start to finish and were it not for an unusual run of three consecutive turnovers in as many series might have run away (no pun intended) with the game. Davidson controlled the ball for over 40 minutes in the game, 10 of 17 (58%) on third down and 5 of 6 (83%) on fourth down--compare that to Georgetown's 2018 season totals of 32% and 36%, respectively.
We learned that the Georgetown offense still isn't very good. Granted, you can't do a lot with less than 20 minutes on the field, but the 20 minutes weren't much to remember. Against a Davidson defense that gave up over 40 points a game last season and didn't allow fewer than 35 points all last season in the Pioneer League, the Hoyas got one offensive drive and a pair of short fields off turnovers. The Georgetown run game managed 89 yards and four first downs. Georgetown's 234 yards total offense was just 23 yards more than an undermanned Bucknell offense could grind out versus Temple in a 56-12 walkover.
This wasn't a late game spoiler. Lehigh lost to St. Francis on a missed field goal on the last play of the game. Fordham lost to Central Connecticut on a CCSU field goal with no time remaining. Georgetown gave up touchdowns on drives of 15, 12 and 19 plays to open the game. No spoiler, but a little stinky.
2. What We Did Not Learn: The defense will get better. But what about the offense?
Gunther Johnson finished as the sixth of seven PL quarterbacks in 2018 and Saturday's game was evidence that the Hoyas may have reached his peak skills. He doesn't have the line strength which forces him in to run situations--he'll get them early in games, but is usually shut down by the late second quarter and onward. While not altogether tall (6-1), he tende to throw a lot of passes low to receivers, as if he is compensating for the crown of college fields, which on turf fields don't exist as they once did. He doesn't have time to throw deep and while he usually gets one long pass (Saturday's being a 51 catch and run by Joshua Tomas), the other stats are remarkably understated. Take out that pass and Johnson was 10 for 18 for 83 yards against a pass defense ranked 117th in 2018, giving up an average of 275 yards a game against the likes of Brevard, Chowan, Guilford, and eight Pioneer teams. Johnson has thrown under 100 yards in five of the last six games.
Georgetown has receivers that can run the long patterns but aren't getting the time to do so. Johnson is forced to rely on the dump-off pass when he has no pocket time. If the O-line can't protect Johnson better, all the Michael Dereuses and Joshua Tomases on the depth chart won't matter.
And above it all, the running game looked remarkably unchanged. If the Hoyas can't run on Davidson, who can they run against?
3. What To Look For, Week Two: Over the years, it's best not to read too much into the annual game with Marist--there are years where the Hoyas have dominated and struggled the rest of the year, while in 2018 the Hoyas fell late and still managed a productive season.
But Georgetown doesn't want to stare at 0-2 with the schedule they have ahead of them. Marist enters the game ranked ahead of Davidson in the pioneer pre-season poll, and take advantage of a recruiting option that the PL stubbornly refuses to do--redshirting. The Red Foxes will feature 22 redshirt freshmen, 18 redshirt sophomores, 30 redshirt juniors and six redshirt seniors--that's 76 redshirts on a roster of 107.
Saturday's game won't settle that issue, but Georgetown has to settle it on the field. The Hoyas haven't allowed more than two touchdowns in a game in any of the last five games in the series and given the state of the 2019 offense so far, that's a good number to repeat this week.
Look for a more consistent effort on both sides of the ball Saturday.
Monday, August 26, 2019
2019 Preview: Secondary & Special Teams
The Georgetown defense enters the 2019 season as talented as any in the last two decades, with depth across the board. One area worth watching on depth is the secondary, where a number of talented reserves will be expected to challenge four starters from 2018.
The Hoyas are solid to open the season at cornerback. Junior Cameron Deen and senior Jalen Goldwire have grown into the roles which saw each play a strong role in 2018, as the Hoyas bent but did not break in the secondary, finishing third in the nation in 2018 in pass efficiency defense. At 6-2, Goldwire is taller than many of his predecessors in the GU lineup, which were often at a disadvantage against taller receivers. However, both will be tested on speed, where the Hoyas are at risk against deeper routes.
Five reserves will back up Deen and Goldwire, but do not yet have the game day experience. One to watch is junior Jonathan Honore, who saw action in 11 games last season but will look up to pick up the momentum as junior Andre Danove is sidelined in 2019.
When Georgetown goes to the three safety package, two positions are in good hands: senior Leon Agee and Ahmad Wilson combined for 77 tackles and five interceptions last season. Junior Roemello Walton figures to be a strong contender for the nickle package and has a great oppotunity to be that bridge to the 2020 secondary leadership when Agee and Wilson graduate.
"Leon has really progressed through camp and is looking sharp, right where we need him to be," said assistant coach Trey Henderson at GUHoyas.com. "Ahmad is also doing a nice job as we are moving him around a bit at a few different positions, but mentally he is doing a good job out there as far as making calls and getting guys lined up. Roemello has started to come along, playing more of a spur position for us and has done everything we have asked of him. His length and athleticism helps us out a lot. Dawson, Zaire and Delano are all working extremely hard and I think they have gotten better from practice one of preseason camp to now. They are really coming along and will provide excellent depth and be key components for us in the fall."
Georgetown's reserves are untested, and injuries could be a big factor in evaluating how well this team can defend against the pass. The Hoyas were only fifth of seven in the PL in pass defense and improved offenses at Bucknell and Lehigh figure to test them deep.
The kicking game is a test of a different kind. Senior Brad Hurst remains a solid punter with a career arc that should put him into the top five on the Georgetown record books. Pencil Hurst in 11 games at punter.
The kicking, that's another story. Hurst did not make a single FG in the last nine games last season, missed five of five versus Lehigh, and struggled mightily down the stretch. It seems likely that Tulane transfer Davis Walker will get a look to back up ore replace Hurst on PAT's and field goal attempts. A steady kicking game may mean the difference for a winning season in 2019, just as it (wasn't) in 2018.
All in all, there's a lot to look forward to in 2019, even with another year where the mirage of Cooper Field stands in the distance. Fans will have to wait yet another year for the promises of 1999 and 2000, much less 2005, 2009, or 2018. Those who do find their ways to the windswept east stands should take some solace in the fact that the Hoyas figure to send out the 15 year temporary seats out in style, with its best season in eight years.
The Hoyas are solid to open the season at cornerback. Junior Cameron Deen and senior Jalen Goldwire have grown into the roles which saw each play a strong role in 2018, as the Hoyas bent but did not break in the secondary, finishing third in the nation in 2018 in pass efficiency defense. At 6-2, Goldwire is taller than many of his predecessors in the GU lineup, which were often at a disadvantage against taller receivers. However, both will be tested on speed, where the Hoyas are at risk against deeper routes.
Five reserves will back up Deen and Goldwire, but do not yet have the game day experience. One to watch is junior Jonathan Honore, who saw action in 11 games last season but will look up to pick up the momentum as junior Andre Danove is sidelined in 2019.
When Georgetown goes to the three safety package, two positions are in good hands: senior Leon Agee and Ahmad Wilson combined for 77 tackles and five interceptions last season. Junior Roemello Walton figures to be a strong contender for the nickle package and has a great oppotunity to be that bridge to the 2020 secondary leadership when Agee and Wilson graduate.
"Leon has really progressed through camp and is looking sharp, right where we need him to be," said assistant coach Trey Henderson at GUHoyas.com. "Ahmad is also doing a nice job as we are moving him around a bit at a few different positions, but mentally he is doing a good job out there as far as making calls and getting guys lined up. Roemello has started to come along, playing more of a spur position for us and has done everything we have asked of him. His length and athleticism helps us out a lot. Dawson, Zaire and Delano are all working extremely hard and I think they have gotten better from practice one of preseason camp to now. They are really coming along and will provide excellent depth and be key components for us in the fall."
Georgetown's reserves are untested, and injuries could be a big factor in evaluating how well this team can defend against the pass. The Hoyas were only fifth of seven in the PL in pass defense and improved offenses at Bucknell and Lehigh figure to test them deep.
The kicking game is a test of a different kind. Senior Brad Hurst remains a solid punter with a career arc that should put him into the top five on the Georgetown record books. Pencil Hurst in 11 games at punter.
The kicking, that's another story. Hurst did not make a single FG in the last nine games last season, missed five of five versus Lehigh, and struggled mightily down the stretch. It seems likely that Tulane transfer Davis Walker will get a look to back up ore replace Hurst on PAT's and field goal attempts. A steady kicking game may mean the difference for a winning season in 2019, just as it (wasn't) in 2018.
All in all, there's a lot to look forward to in 2019, even with another year where the mirage of Cooper Field stands in the distance. Fans will have to wait yet another year for the promises of 1999 and 2000, much less 2005, 2009, or 2018. Those who do find their ways to the windswept east stands should take some solace in the fact that the Hoyas figure to send out the 15 year temporary seats out in style, with its best season in eight years.
Sunday, August 18, 2019
2019 Preview: Defensive Line & Linebackers
With a varsity football program that dates to the first Grover Cleveland administration, I'm hesitant to suggest that any one team or one player is the "best ever" at Georgetown University. While it's admittedly difficult to compare players across years or decades or even centuries, a case can be made that the 2019 Georgetown defense could well be the best such group of the last 50 years, and then some.
The 2018 Hoyas were defensive standouts, ranking eight in rushing defense nationally and 11th in total defense--numbers you don't normally see from the lower wattage leagues such as the Patriot. In 2019, Georgetown returns nine starters from that 2018 group, and the reserves may be just as good at season's end.
The defensive line discussion starts with senior Khristian Tate, who in his three seasons has made a case of being one of Georgetown's very best at the position. His 145 tackles and 16.5 sacks are team bests, but Tate has yet to reach the national stage as a defensive tackle, as much for his size (6-0) as well as his alma mater, because...well, Georgetown doesn't produce football stars. Even in the Patriot League, Tate takes a back seat to Colgate DL Nick Wheeler, who was named the pre-season Defensive Player of the Year candidate. If Tate stays healthy, his skills and maturity will make this a special year on the defensive line, not only for Tate being there, but for those around him.
This could be a big year for junior Duval Paul, whose growth at tackle in the 3-3-5 alignment opened the way for Tate to move to the outside. Like Tate, Paul is smaller for his size in the position (6-1) but had a strong 2018, with 41 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and two fumble recoveries. Along with fifth year senior Mike Taylor, the Hoyas are solid up front, but the depth on the line is remarkable. Any combination of Brennan Sawicki, Kingsley Umemba, Marquis Parris, Ibrahim Kamara, and Quincy Chunwuko could challenge for the starting lineup, and that's not to mention a pair of freshmen and sophomore candidates in the deepest defensive line Georgetown has every fielded.
The Hoyas' biggest enemy up front may well be injury. It's unlikely Georgetown will platoon the linemen, but the defensive line can tire in games and the coaches will likely see this in a pair of September games against capable rushing offenses in Davidson and Marist. How do you keep the defensive line fresh? Ask the offense.
Georgetown appears equally loaded at linebacker, returning three juniors who can be game-changers, led by Wes Bowers. If Bowers can pick up more lateral speed, he's going to be a real tough option for opposing offenses, where he is a strong defender on and off the ball and underrated for his impact on the defensive charts.
Georgetown carries 12 LB's this season, and not as many will see time in 2019 as will the linemen. Owen Kessler and Xavier Reddick are pre-season favorites to return to the starting lineup, and will be challenged by sophomores Justin Fonteneaux and Palmer Nix. Add in junior George Ikott and GU has one of its deepest linebacker corps in a generation.
While the sheer number of returnees is impressive, the defense will be expected to pick it up in 2019. Historically bad offenses at Bucknell and Lafayette depressed the PL last season and Georgetown (and other teams) took advantage. As the offense improves at these schools, as well as the returning core at Lehigh and Holy Cross, Georgetown's defense may again have to carry the load for an offense which is not at the caliber of the other schools. This time, they've got all the tools to do so.
The 2018 Hoyas were defensive standouts, ranking eight in rushing defense nationally and 11th in total defense--numbers you don't normally see from the lower wattage leagues such as the Patriot. In 2019, Georgetown returns nine starters from that 2018 group, and the reserves may be just as good at season's end.
The defensive line discussion starts with senior Khristian Tate, who in his three seasons has made a case of being one of Georgetown's very best at the position. His 145 tackles and 16.5 sacks are team bests, but Tate has yet to reach the national stage as a defensive tackle, as much for his size (6-0) as well as his alma mater, because...well, Georgetown doesn't produce football stars. Even in the Patriot League, Tate takes a back seat to Colgate DL Nick Wheeler, who was named the pre-season Defensive Player of the Year candidate. If Tate stays healthy, his skills and maturity will make this a special year on the defensive line, not only for Tate being there, but for those around him.
This could be a big year for junior Duval Paul, whose growth at tackle in the 3-3-5 alignment opened the way for Tate to move to the outside. Like Tate, Paul is smaller for his size in the position (6-1) but had a strong 2018, with 41 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and two fumble recoveries. Along with fifth year senior Mike Taylor, the Hoyas are solid up front, but the depth on the line is remarkable. Any combination of Brennan Sawicki, Kingsley Umemba, Marquis Parris, Ibrahim Kamara, and Quincy Chunwuko could challenge for the starting lineup, and that's not to mention a pair of freshmen and sophomore candidates in the deepest defensive line Georgetown has every fielded.
The Hoyas' biggest enemy up front may well be injury. It's unlikely Georgetown will platoon the linemen, but the defensive line can tire in games and the coaches will likely see this in a pair of September games against capable rushing offenses in Davidson and Marist. How do you keep the defensive line fresh? Ask the offense.
Georgetown appears equally loaded at linebacker, returning three juniors who can be game-changers, led by Wes Bowers. If Bowers can pick up more lateral speed, he's going to be a real tough option for opposing offenses, where he is a strong defender on and off the ball and underrated for his impact on the defensive charts.
Georgetown carries 12 LB's this season, and not as many will see time in 2019 as will the linemen. Owen Kessler and Xavier Reddick are pre-season favorites to return to the starting lineup, and will be challenged by sophomores Justin Fonteneaux and Palmer Nix. Add in junior George Ikott and GU has one of its deepest linebacker corps in a generation.
While the sheer number of returnees is impressive, the defense will be expected to pick it up in 2019. Historically bad offenses at Bucknell and Lafayette depressed the PL last season and Georgetown (and other teams) took advantage. As the offense improves at these schools, as well as the returning core at Lehigh and Holy Cross, Georgetown's defense may again have to carry the load for an offense which is not at the caliber of the other schools. This time, they've got all the tools to do so.
Sunday, August 11, 2019
2019 Preview: The Receivers & Offensive Line
The second of our five part series on the 2019 Georgetown Hoyas.
If Georgetown is going to stake its claim as a contender for the 2019 Patriot League title, the offense must be championship caliber--a tall order given nearly two decades of struggle on that side of the ball. This season, however, offers fans some hope that the Hoyas are up to the challenge.
Georgetown has vacillated between a run and a pass offense for years.The addition of former Clemson offensive coordinator Rob Spence in 2018 sent a message that GU was committing to a pass-first offense. Georgetown finished the 2018 season ranked 108th nationally and sixth in the PL in passing offense, but return three of its top five receivers from last season.
First on Spence's go-to list may be senior Michael Dereus. held to eight games by injury, Dereus is a reliable option for over the middle options and has the speed to get past defenders. He has eight receiving TD's over the last two seasons and led the Hoyas in receiving yardage last season. If Dereus can get time in the opponent secondary, he's a string candidate for All-PL honors at season's end.
A different receiving option offers even more opportunity. Sophomore Joshua Tomas has great speed and is an elusive target, but didn't get many catches last season. A three catch day versus Lehigh was all Tomas got in PL play last season, must be a more consistent target for Georgetown to take full advantage of what he can bring to the offense. Given Tomas' value as a punt and kick returner, Georgetown is not looking to put him at risk of getting worn down in the pass game, but his versatility cannot be overlooked--or ignored.
Two juniors need to step up in 2019. A 52 yard catch from Max Edwards versus Holy Cross was a season high but Edwards needs more touches to improve on a 14 yard per game average from 2018. Skyler Springs appeared in only two games and has an opportunity to get back into the rotation.
Despite the bizarre selection as an all-Patriot league fullback, senior Isaac Schley leads a group of six candidates at tight end. The position has been diminished of late in the college game, but Schley was third on the team in receptions last season and at 6-5, 245 points, can made a difference on third down, where Georgetown was just 26 percent on third down conversions.
Giving receivers the time is a precondition to success. Georgetown returns eight of its 10-man two deep at offensive line from 2018, a young group that struggled at times in supporting Gunther Johnson and the pass game. Two to watch will be senior Ryan Jelinek and junior Chris Caylor as leaders at offensive tackle, a vital position to contain opponents' pass defense. If senior Justin Wood can join this group along the line, Georgetown's pass offense will benefit right away.
A key driver for the offensive line: health. Injuries can decimate an offensive line and Georgetown has seen it over the years. "Next man up" is one thing with back and receivers, but it's tougher in the trenches. For the Hoyas to contend in the PL, it needs a stable starting lineup on the line, one which has not only learned from the non-conference slate, but survived it. None of the starters in game one of the 2018 season made it to game 11 in their same position. Stability on the line is a key ingredient to success in November.
Next week: The defensive line and linebackers.
Sunday, August 4, 2019
2019 Preview: The Backfield
Here's the first of our five part series on the 2019 Georgetown Hoyas.
No position has typified the two decades Georgetown has wandered in the Patriot League wilderness quite like running backs. With few exceptions, PL teams have feasted in the Georgetown ground game, as much to its offensive line as to the lack of significant talent GU has been able to recruit. Absent the now-puzzling pick of Charlie Houghton as PL Rookie of the Year in 2006, the running game at Georgetown remains a long running deficiency.
In his second year as offensive coordinator, Rob Spence figures to double-down on the passing game--after all, it's where he earned his fame as the offensive coordinator at Clemson.Spence needs a credible running game however, something GU did not enjoy in 2018. The Hoyas finished the season ranked 114th nationally in rushing offense, with just under 94 yards a game. The only thing that prevented this from being a season-killer is that Bucknell and Fordham fared even worse.
Georgetown returns its top three rushers from 2018 but, in a sign of its emphasis on the pass, signed just one freshman in the position and will carry only five backs this season.
Herman Moultrie was the leading gainer for 2018, though a total of 358 yards is the fewest yards by a running back to lead the team in this category since Philip Oladeji in the winless 2009 season. Nearly 40 percent of his total came in one game, a 135 yard effort against Bucknell with thee runs totaling 80 yards. At 185 pounds, Moultrie can struggle opening up holes, and needs a stronger line to support him in the trenches. He is s solid option in short yardage situations and his 4.2 yards per carry was a team high among the regular starters.
Similar in size to Mountrie, junior Jay Tolliver rushed for 170 yards on the season (17.0/game) but was an effective dump-off option on screen passes, catching 12 passes for 145 yards. Tolliver's season high in carries was just 15 yards, and he will not drive the ground game as a result. The only real option to do so comes with a price. Joshua Tomas has exhibited the speed to be a real threat in the lineup, but more as a wideout than a pure running back. It's likely that Tomas would be an injury target if he was continually battered in the backfield. Going to Tomas in the backfield risks him for duty in punt and kick returns, where he excels, and doesn't change the calculus on Georgetown's emphasis on passing.Seeing Tomas beaten up in the backfield isn't a good long term option, however tempting it would be against teams with intermittent defensive lines.
One option could be junior Jackson Saffold. The 220 lb. back is a bigger option than the 185 lb. Moultrie or Tolliver, and Saffold's two touchdowns in the Lehigh game proved the margin from which Georgetown was able to get the upset. He needs more time in the backfield, but one back sets to focus on passing can't always be split among three (or four) options. Absent a true fullback (and no, Patriot League, tight end Isaac Schley doesn't count), Saffold needs a good start in games to gain momentum and get the carries needed to make a difference.
Senior Zac Saltzman has rushed five times in three years and likely won't see much duty in 2019 in the backfield, although he could be an option on special teams. Freshman Joshua Stakely was not heavily recruited but has some good outside speed which will likely take a season to develop at the college level.
In some ways, this a position (along with offensive line) where the lack of scholarships is among the most evident. Georgetown must rely on smaller backs that wear out in the Division I ground game, and GU lacks the recruiting depth to present a serious offensive option. The Hoyas remain reliant on "all-county" rather than "all-state" talent who could really make a difference at its level of competition.
Georgetown may also be the only I-AA/FCS team--dare we say it, anywhere--that carries more quarterbacks on its active roster (seven) than running backs (five). No more than three would be expected to be seen in 2019.
In his senior season, Gunther Johnson returns as the favorite. Having taken over for Clay Norris midway in the 2017 season, Johnson has all the tools to succeed at this level but often was held back by defensive pressure and/or the game plan. Johnson has finished sixth of seven in PL quarterback statistics each of the past two seasons and averages a tepid 143 yards per game in the air and about 11 yards per pass. A mobile QB, Johnson will often scramble rather than sit in the pocket, and the degree to which the Spence offense can give Johnson a legitimate opportunity to take the time to find better options downfield will tell a lot about this season.
Sophomore Lorenzo Linsey saw spot time in 2018 and struggled in limited action. Potentially, he could be a third down wildcat option, something the Hoyas have done rarely over the years and with little success.
The most likely competitor for Johnson's starting role could be junior Joe Brunell, who sat out the entire 2018 season with an injury. Having seen no game action as a freshmen, it's difficulty to predict how Brunell would adjust to the college game, but 2019 needs to be the year he makes the case as Johnson's successor. Georgetown signed three freshman quarterbacks and while neither Tyler Knoop, Martin Butcher, or Pierce Holley are likely to see time in 2019, it's a sign that Georgetown is planning for the future.
All three have some intriguing options. Knoop was a standout at Ft. Worth Christian, throwing for 45 touchdowns, Butcher broke the school passing record at New Orleans Newman once held by Peyton Manning, while Holley is a QB in the Gunther Johnson mold, earning honorable mention All-State honors at the Colorado 5A level. The two first teamers above him on the list were signed by Nebraska and Iowa, respectively.
Sophomore backup Jack Elliott completes the seven man depth chart for the Hoyas.
Coming next week: receivers and the offensive line.
No position has typified the two decades Georgetown has wandered in the Patriot League wilderness quite like running backs. With few exceptions, PL teams have feasted in the Georgetown ground game, as much to its offensive line as to the lack of significant talent GU has been able to recruit. Absent the now-puzzling pick of Charlie Houghton as PL Rookie of the Year in 2006, the running game at Georgetown remains a long running deficiency.
In his second year as offensive coordinator, Rob Spence figures to double-down on the passing game--after all, it's where he earned his fame as the offensive coordinator at Clemson.Spence needs a credible running game however, something GU did not enjoy in 2018. The Hoyas finished the season ranked 114th nationally in rushing offense, with just under 94 yards a game. The only thing that prevented this from being a season-killer is that Bucknell and Fordham fared even worse.
Georgetown returns its top three rushers from 2018 but, in a sign of its emphasis on the pass, signed just one freshman in the position and will carry only five backs this season.
Herman Moultrie was the leading gainer for 2018, though a total of 358 yards is the fewest yards by a running back to lead the team in this category since Philip Oladeji in the winless 2009 season. Nearly 40 percent of his total came in one game, a 135 yard effort against Bucknell with thee runs totaling 80 yards. At 185 pounds, Moultrie can struggle opening up holes, and needs a stronger line to support him in the trenches. He is s solid option in short yardage situations and his 4.2 yards per carry was a team high among the regular starters.
Similar in size to Mountrie, junior Jay Tolliver rushed for 170 yards on the season (17.0/game) but was an effective dump-off option on screen passes, catching 12 passes for 145 yards. Tolliver's season high in carries was just 15 yards, and he will not drive the ground game as a result. The only real option to do so comes with a price. Joshua Tomas has exhibited the speed to be a real threat in the lineup, but more as a wideout than a pure running back. It's likely that Tomas would be an injury target if he was continually battered in the backfield. Going to Tomas in the backfield risks him for duty in punt and kick returns, where he excels, and doesn't change the calculus on Georgetown's emphasis on passing.Seeing Tomas beaten up in the backfield isn't a good long term option, however tempting it would be against teams with intermittent defensive lines.
One option could be junior Jackson Saffold. The 220 lb. back is a bigger option than the 185 lb. Moultrie or Tolliver, and Saffold's two touchdowns in the Lehigh game proved the margin from which Georgetown was able to get the upset. He needs more time in the backfield, but one back sets to focus on passing can't always be split among three (or four) options. Absent a true fullback (and no, Patriot League, tight end Isaac Schley doesn't count), Saffold needs a good start in games to gain momentum and get the carries needed to make a difference.
Senior Zac Saltzman has rushed five times in three years and likely won't see much duty in 2019 in the backfield, although he could be an option on special teams. Freshman Joshua Stakely was not heavily recruited but has some good outside speed which will likely take a season to develop at the college level.
In some ways, this a position (along with offensive line) where the lack of scholarships is among the most evident. Georgetown must rely on smaller backs that wear out in the Division I ground game, and GU lacks the recruiting depth to present a serious offensive option. The Hoyas remain reliant on "all-county" rather than "all-state" talent who could really make a difference at its level of competition.
Georgetown may also be the only I-AA/FCS team--dare we say it, anywhere--that carries more quarterbacks on its active roster (seven) than running backs (five). No more than three would be expected to be seen in 2019.
In his senior season, Gunther Johnson returns as the favorite. Having taken over for Clay Norris midway in the 2017 season, Johnson has all the tools to succeed at this level but often was held back by defensive pressure and/or the game plan. Johnson has finished sixth of seven in PL quarterback statistics each of the past two seasons and averages a tepid 143 yards per game in the air and about 11 yards per pass. A mobile QB, Johnson will often scramble rather than sit in the pocket, and the degree to which the Spence offense can give Johnson a legitimate opportunity to take the time to find better options downfield will tell a lot about this season.
Sophomore Lorenzo Linsey saw spot time in 2018 and struggled in limited action. Potentially, he could be a third down wildcat option, something the Hoyas have done rarely over the years and with little success.
The most likely competitor for Johnson's starting role could be junior Joe Brunell, who sat out the entire 2018 season with an injury. Having seen no game action as a freshmen, it's difficulty to predict how Brunell would adjust to the college game, but 2019 needs to be the year he makes the case as Johnson's successor. Georgetown signed three freshman quarterbacks and while neither Tyler Knoop, Martin Butcher, or Pierce Holley are likely to see time in 2019, it's a sign that Georgetown is planning for the future.
All three have some intriguing options. Knoop was a standout at Ft. Worth Christian, throwing for 45 touchdowns, Butcher broke the school passing record at New Orleans Newman once held by Peyton Manning, while Holley is a QB in the Gunther Johnson mold, earning honorable mention All-State honors at the Colorado 5A level. The two first teamers above him on the list were signed by Nebraska and Iowa, respectively.
Sophomore backup Jack Elliott completes the seven man depth chart for the Hoyas.
Coming next week: receivers and the offensive line.
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