Post by showcase on Sept 5, 2004 9:02:36 GMT -5
Haven't had much of an opportunity to digest how the Hoyas' next opponent fared (beyond the obvious), but I thought I'd start the ball rolling. If anyone has links or insight, let's start collecting it here.
From the box score on ESPN, a few things seem clear:
Lafayette appears to have a very nice dual-threat QB in Brad Maurer. He passed for 59 and a score, and ran for 67 (after sacks are worked in) and a score in what appears to be just one half of work. The recap had Maurer going for 70 yards on the ground in the first quarter.
Maurer likely won't be the focus of the running game for Lafayette, and against Marist the work seemed pretty evenly divided. With Maurer, Lafayette had three guys go over 50 on the ground (although no one went over 100), with senior tailback Joe McCourt (of the two consecutive 1000+ rush yard seasons) leading the way with 86 yards and two scores.
The passing game is harder to figure out, since Lafayette went to the air less than 20 times, and split the work between the two QBs that are auditioning to replace departed star Marco Glavic. Lafayette's leading receiver against Marist was actually an RB, senior Brendon Green, who seems like a third down type back. Given that Lafayette's star WR Weyrauch graduated (along with their next three leading receivers from last year), their passing game appears to be a real work in progress.
All in all, Lafayette was pretty efficient offensively, punting only twice and racking up almost 300 yards on the ground (at a 5.2 yds per carry clip), and over 400 yards overall. This efficiency carried over to their effort on third and fourth down (7-14 and 2-3, respectively), and Lafayette didn't turn the ball over. That being said, Lafayette seemed to be in good field position all day, having to go more than 50 yards for a score only once; it's hard to say state exactly how much Lafayette's statistics were artificially enhanced (defensively) or limited (on offense) by Marist's punting, which cranked out a long of just 23 yards yesterday on 8 kicks. Nevertheless, on defense, Lafayette held Marist to less than 150 yards total and forced 3 turnovers, allowing only a late drive that covered 69 yards midway through the 4th quarter.
sports.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=242480322
Here's a Lafayette recap. There may be some solace to be taken from the fact that Lafayette beat Marist 49-0 last year; by extension, they shouldn't be quite as good this time around...
goleopards.collegesports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/090404aaa.html
As far as progostications go, I'd can't offer much beyond the obvious at this point. McCourt will have to be limited, and Maurer's emergence will make that tougher. That being said, if the Hoyas play disciplined defense, I like our chances. If the defense plays well, it could be a field-postition battle all the way through, and with the way Gillman is kicking now, things could go the Hoyas' way. All in all, it appears to be a matchup of two very similar teams: strong Ds, seemingly solid running games (Lafayette returns a number of solid performers on their O-line in addition to McCourt, and the Hoyas O-line appears to be gelling nicely as well), and two teams trying to find a replacement for their graduated stars in the receiving corps. Let's hope the Hoyas find their answer before Lafayette does.
For those who are interested in exploring things on their own, here's a link to Lafayette's 2004 preview. Note that after the Hoyas, Lafayette faces Princeton and Richmond; maybe the Hoyas will catch them looking ahead a bit to these decidedly 'bigger' contests against more traditional Div. I-AA powers...
graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/lafa/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/FB04_011-054a.pdf
From the box score on ESPN, a few things seem clear:
Lafayette appears to have a very nice dual-threat QB in Brad Maurer. He passed for 59 and a score, and ran for 67 (after sacks are worked in) and a score in what appears to be just one half of work. The recap had Maurer going for 70 yards on the ground in the first quarter.
Maurer likely won't be the focus of the running game for Lafayette, and against Marist the work seemed pretty evenly divided. With Maurer, Lafayette had three guys go over 50 on the ground (although no one went over 100), with senior tailback Joe McCourt (of the two consecutive 1000+ rush yard seasons) leading the way with 86 yards and two scores.
The passing game is harder to figure out, since Lafayette went to the air less than 20 times, and split the work between the two QBs that are auditioning to replace departed star Marco Glavic. Lafayette's leading receiver against Marist was actually an RB, senior Brendon Green, who seems like a third down type back. Given that Lafayette's star WR Weyrauch graduated (along with their next three leading receivers from last year), their passing game appears to be a real work in progress.
All in all, Lafayette was pretty efficient offensively, punting only twice and racking up almost 300 yards on the ground (at a 5.2 yds per carry clip), and over 400 yards overall. This efficiency carried over to their effort on third and fourth down (7-14 and 2-3, respectively), and Lafayette didn't turn the ball over. That being said, Lafayette seemed to be in good field position all day, having to go more than 50 yards for a score only once; it's hard to say state exactly how much Lafayette's statistics were artificially enhanced (defensively) or limited (on offense) by Marist's punting, which cranked out a long of just 23 yards yesterday on 8 kicks. Nevertheless, on defense, Lafayette held Marist to less than 150 yards total and forced 3 turnovers, allowing only a late drive that covered 69 yards midway through the 4th quarter.
sports.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=242480322
Here's a Lafayette recap. There may be some solace to be taken from the fact that Lafayette beat Marist 49-0 last year; by extension, they shouldn't be quite as good this time around...
goleopards.collegesports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/090404aaa.html
As far as progostications go, I'd can't offer much beyond the obvious at this point. McCourt will have to be limited, and Maurer's emergence will make that tougher. That being said, if the Hoyas play disciplined defense, I like our chances. If the defense plays well, it could be a field-postition battle all the way through, and with the way Gillman is kicking now, things could go the Hoyas' way. All in all, it appears to be a matchup of two very similar teams: strong Ds, seemingly solid running games (Lafayette returns a number of solid performers on their O-line in addition to McCourt, and the Hoyas O-line appears to be gelling nicely as well), and two teams trying to find a replacement for their graduated stars in the receiving corps. Let's hope the Hoyas find their answer before Lafayette does.
For those who are interested in exploring things on their own, here's a link to Lafayette's 2004 preview. Note that after the Hoyas, Lafayette faces Princeton and Richmond; maybe the Hoyas will catch them looking ahead a bit to these decidedly 'bigger' contests against more traditional Div. I-AA powers...
graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/lafa/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/FB04_011-054a.pdf
