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.
Monday, August 26, 2019
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.
Monday, November 26, 2018
Week 11 Thoughts
Some very brief thoughts following the worst second half in my 38 years of following Georgetown football:
1. This Was Bad: Bad on so many levels--coaching, strategy, individual effort-- that if there was any modicum of interest in the general Georgetown fan base, there would be some serious brickbats lobbed at the Sgarlata staff for letting this get away. But it's November, basketball season is underway, and it's like the state of Cooper Field--not much to see, so not much to get worked up over.
It's the single biggest collapse in a Georgetown football game dating back to losing a 27 point lead to Davidson in 1999, 28-27, back when Davidson was a pretty good opponent and Georgetown finished that season 9-2. (Yes, a 10-1 season was that close.) Come December, no one will be talking about this one. Good thing, too. If this had happened in basketball, Patrick Ewing would be getting the JT III treatment.
2. Brad Hurst. There's a special place in Georgetown purgatory for kickers whose plays on the field really let the team down. Years ago, it was reserved for Michael Gillman, who once stood by while a Bucknell returner raced past him along the Georgetown sidelines. From the game recap, Oct. 2, 2004:
"Bucknell opened the second half with an encore for [Dante] Ross, this time an 85 yard return, the first time a PL player has returned not only two kicks for TD in a game, but in a season. As Ross raced down the field, kicker Michael Gillman stood in Ross' way, but, owing to an arm injury suffered in the second quarter, Gillman stood still at the 30 and made no effort to obstruct Ross' run to the end zone. Gillman was replaced by punter Brad Scoffern on remaining kicks."
Hurst's efforts Saturday were awful, but they were altogether preventable, and to this let's not leave blame solely on the kicker. His kicking trajectory was at risk in teh Lehigh game, was noticeably horizontal in the Bucknell game a week ago, and no solution was apparently made to fix it in either case.
This is why you have backups. This is why you don't rely on one person all season. This is why Georgetown lost Saturday.
3. Lessons Learned: The 2018 season was a successful one despite the loss, but speaks to a larger issue: the bar is set incredibly low on expectations for this team. The Hoyas benefited from a weak Patriot League- one that has likely regressed since adding scholarships-- but have to build from this, lest 2018 look like 2011--a hiccup on a string of noncompetitive PL finishes since 2001.
The three lessons:
1. Defenses win championships, as they say, but offenses win games, and Georgetown's offense remains an underperforming group. How do you fix that without scholarships? It;s not clear.
2. There are three phases of football: offense, defense, and special teams. The Hoyas learned that lesson the hard way, but need to start treating recruiting for special teams, particularly, kickers, with some more attention.
3. Better times are ahead. We need more students, alumni, and friends of Georgetown to pay attention to football. Fan support is not a zero sum game.
Were that a few thousand of us could gather in the first week of September in the shadow of the shiny new Cooper Field, glistening in the late summer sky and completed ahead of schedule.
OK, enough dreaming for now. See you next year.
1. This Was Bad: Bad on so many levels--coaching, strategy, individual effort-- that if there was any modicum of interest in the general Georgetown fan base, there would be some serious brickbats lobbed at the Sgarlata staff for letting this get away. But it's November, basketball season is underway, and it's like the state of Cooper Field--not much to see, so not much to get worked up over.
It's the single biggest collapse in a Georgetown football game dating back to losing a 27 point lead to Davidson in 1999, 28-27, back when Davidson was a pretty good opponent and Georgetown finished that season 9-2. (Yes, a 10-1 season was that close.) Come December, no one will be talking about this one. Good thing, too. If this had happened in basketball, Patrick Ewing would be getting the JT III treatment.
2. Brad Hurst. There's a special place in Georgetown purgatory for kickers whose plays on the field really let the team down. Years ago, it was reserved for Michael Gillman, who once stood by while a Bucknell returner raced past him along the Georgetown sidelines. From the game recap, Oct. 2, 2004:
"Bucknell opened the second half with an encore for [Dante] Ross, this time an 85 yard return, the first time a PL player has returned not only two kicks for TD in a game, but in a season. As Ross raced down the field, kicker Michael Gillman stood in Ross' way, but, owing to an arm injury suffered in the second quarter, Gillman stood still at the 30 and made no effort to obstruct Ross' run to the end zone. Gillman was replaced by punter Brad Scoffern on remaining kicks."
Hurst's efforts Saturday were awful, but they were altogether preventable, and to this let's not leave blame solely on the kicker. His kicking trajectory was at risk in teh Lehigh game, was noticeably horizontal in the Bucknell game a week ago, and no solution was apparently made to fix it in either case.
This is why you have backups. This is why you don't rely on one person all season. This is why Georgetown lost Saturday.
3. Lessons Learned: The 2018 season was a successful one despite the loss, but speaks to a larger issue: the bar is set incredibly low on expectations for this team. The Hoyas benefited from a weak Patriot League- one that has likely regressed since adding scholarships-- but have to build from this, lest 2018 look like 2011--a hiccup on a string of noncompetitive PL finishes since 2001.
The three lessons:
1. Defenses win championships, as they say, but offenses win games, and Georgetown's offense remains an underperforming group. How do you fix that without scholarships? It;s not clear.
2. There are three phases of football: offense, defense, and special teams. The Hoyas learned that lesson the hard way, but need to start treating recruiting for special teams, particularly, kickers, with some more attention.
3. Better times are ahead. We need more students, alumni, and friends of Georgetown to pay attention to football. Fan support is not a zero sum game.
Were that a few thousand of us could gather in the first week of September in the shadow of the shiny new Cooper Field, glistening in the late summer sky and completed ahead of schedule.
OK, enough dreaming for now. See you next year.
Monday, November 12, 2018
Week 10 Thoughts
Some thoughts following Georgetown
Things That Don't
Change: This series is unique among the PL games in that defense always
seems to predominate. In the last seven games, the average score of this game
rarely tops 20 points. Getting up early is essential, and that's exactly what Georgetown
Defense saved the Hoyas late in the second and saved it
again late in the fourth. Were that Georgetown
Things That Did Change:
With the exception of the Brown game, which was a one-off of sorts, Saturday's
run output was some of the best of the year and certainly a strong effort in PL
play coming off a grim offensive effort versus Colgate.
What was especially encouraging, now and going forward, was
youth. A freshman (Moultrie) and a sophomore (Tolliver) accounted for 195 of
199 yards. That's a solid step forward given the state of the offensive line
and that Georgetown
Punting Concerns?
Little things matter. At the start of
the season, Brad Hurst's punting was among the best weapons the Georgetown Dartmouth , 45 versus Columbia , 44 versus Fordham, and 46 versus Lehigh made a
demonstrable difference in field position--not a big difference in the outcome
with Dartmouth
Against Bucknell, not so much. Hurst
The difference over the course of a series might be four or
five yards, an extra play, maybe 30 to 40 seconds. You can't underestimate what
an extra five yards could do to stall or repel a drive, so that's why punting
average doesn't get the attention but can be powerful within a game.
But it wasn't just the seating, which to no surprise no one
seemed to know where to sit or where the Georgetown
- No band. While fans got a taste of the enthusiasm of the Eastern
High marching band, there's no good excuse that
- No cheerleaders. Take everything said above for
"band" and substitute "cheerleaders". A program needs cheerleaders as a measure of
support. Cheerleading doesn't get a lot of support at
- No dance team.
- No pre-game activity.
- No post game activity.
Finally,
- No students. Where were they? Or, better said, where are they? By the turnstiles at Capital One Arena, they weren't camped out for that game either.
It harkens back to a quote in a Georgetown Voice article
last year. Two generations ago, 99 percent of the turnout was students. In 2018?
Maybe a third. Saturday? Even less.
More to talk about in the off-season, I'm sure.
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
Week 9 Thoughts
Some brief thoughts following Colgate's 38-0 win over Georgetown
1. That's How It's
Done: I can't imagine that too many were surprised by the outcome Saturday.
Georgetown has never defeated a ranked team in
Division I-AA play and the ability to travel in the rain and cold to Hamilton , NY
But Colgate showed from the start why it is the best team in
a not very good Patriot League: on defense. They shut down the Hoyas from the
opening series and never let up. For its part, the Georgetown
Colgate has held opponents to a remarkable 3.2 points per
game this season. Georgetown
As noted on the front page, the total yards set a school
record for the fewest in any game in the modern era. Seven of these were in the
Division III years, three in I-AA. Of the three, this was not a game, like Richmond
2. That's How It (Can
Be) Done: Think about this: Eight of 11 starters on defense return in 2019.
And of the three seniors, they have some great players coming up the depth
chart.
As of now 13 of the top 16 tacklers return. Ramon Lyons can
pass the torch to Cameron Deen (20 tackles,
nine games). Mike Taylor has freshman Ibrahim Kamara (12 tackles, nine games) ready
to make the next move. And while sophomore Dawson Hawkins (6 tackles, nine
games) hasn't seen as much game time behind Blaise Brown, he had close to 250
tackles in high school. He'll be ready.
What does this mean? Colgate is where they are in 2018 with
defensive might and offensive consistency--they don't make mistakes. They were
ranked as high as #2 nationally in some statistical categories. Georgetown
3. Where Was Everybody?
OK, 36 degrees and rain is not a driver
for crowds, even at Colgate. And yes, 1,827 is not the actual attendance at
this game, we get it. But it raises an issue that is worth discussing far
beyond a cold and rainy game--what brings fans to Division I-AA games, and what
gets them to come back?
There's no Million Dollar Band in the PL and no one is
running around yelling the northeast equivalent of "Rammer Jammer, Yellow Hammer..."
with 90,000 of his or her closest friends. But if the league in general, and Georgetown
Cooper Field in 2019 offers an opportunity to change this dynamic.
We'll talk more about it next week.
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