So as for the game, it came down to ~10 plays like most competitive games do. I will say that I don’t know how we can be that critical of the offense when they dropped 514 yards and 35 points against a Top 20 FCS defense. If someone would have told me that we ran for 429 yards, I would have guessed we had controlled the clock enough to grind out a W. By way of comparison, Monmouth has had one of the top FCS rushing attacks for the past 2.5 seasons and Laffy held them to 59 yards on the ground.
Sluka didn’t look comfortable throwing in the downpour v UNH last year either. The nature of his release and velocity just might not be suited for really wet games. Designed QB runs with “the best RB in the country that just happens to play QB” - (Coach Smith) gave us the best chance to win. Fuller also went for 95 yards on 16 carries (~ 6 YPC). Phenomenal against that Laffy front 7. While we would have definitely been more balanced on a dry day, the O-line played outstanding.
I would have never have guessed we would have had more TFLs (5) than them (4).
So for the D: the trenches were not good but knowing the outcome before watching the game, I actually thought they would be worse. The young and depleted secondary was the story of the game. I firmly believe we win that game with Jarmo and Haskins. It is what it is.
Big plays:
1) Open Laffy drive - Frosh safety falls down on slant route that goes for ~45-50 yards setting them up inside the 5.
2) Late 1st Q - 3rd and 9 - Spence has very good coverage in man to man (which is the hardest thing to do in football esp on a wet field). Tip of the hat to Laffy, perfectly thrown ball and sideline catch. Sometimes the other guys can just win the battle.
3) Deep post TD pass to TE - same Frosh Safety stumbled in his turn.
4) I didn’t have a huge problem with not going for 3 at the end the half. Into the wind at that end zone and same kick/angle that Ng came up short v. UNH last year in a kick that was headed right down the middle. Plus snap and hold in weather a gamble. Ng with an injured plant foot late last year probably similar distance capability to Luis has now. Tough decision either way.
5) Fuller illegal Chop block on Sluka ~20 yard run. I guess the right call with the rule change but drive killer.
6) Phantom hold on Sluka ~65 yard run. I saw the illegal blind side block by Schon at the end of the run so maybe worst case ball is on the Laffy 40 instead of their 20 but I re-wound and watched the LOS 3 times. Only 3 Laffy DL were engaged and none were held. Ref didn’t call out the number of the offending player either.
7) Big kick-off after we score to put us within 10 as others have pointed out.
8) A different Frosh Safety gets caught looking in the back field on the play action and another big TD pass over the top.
9)The must stop drive after game 31-28. 2nd series: James dials up a blitz (we called pressures all day FWIW. Monte Dobbs and Kane when he played. At least one came almost every time in a run stunt or blitz v the pass) Again, Frosh safety comes untouched off the edge and for some reason takes the QB at the mesh point. Even if he has “contain”, gotta try and make a play on Curtis there as it was his legs killing us and who they wanted to ride on that drive, not DeNobile. Much different if Laffy looking at 2nd and 12 there vs 2nd and 4.
10) As for the PIs, it did look like Jalen was held on the near sideline no-call. Interesting the the official on the other sideline called Eli for PI which looked similar. Tough break.
How did the D get here:
It’s helpful to take a step back to remember. Some have mentioned recruiting holes that happen on every team. I only count 3 non Freshman players that were expected to be starters or the top reserve at their respective positions and haven’t been…from some mix of underperformance and repeated injuries. (2 DL and 1 Safety)
So Preseason, we bring in a Junior - John Wood - starter from SHU to compete/provide depth as an overhang safety and likely start at Nickel S in Dime packages. He goes down to a season ending injury in the Spring. Junior DT - Josh Williams (played ~30% of NG snaps last year) no longer with the team come late spring for personal issues. DE Osa Nowura forced to take year off. A reminder to not take Chem, Bio and Calculus in the same semester as a Frosh when assimilating to college ball time management. Hopefully he’s back in 2024 as he’s physically different. 5th year safety/nickel Kam Molton just hasn’t been able to recover fully from the leg fracture suffered late against G’Town last year. He can play some STs but the time table was too quick a turnaround for the strength needed to play DB.
So now your down a total of 7 key D players for various reasons. FS Jarmo (who had put on 15 lbs of muscle in the off-season and looked great first 2 games) goes down v Yale. While Haskins wasn’t having the same production this season, he’s still way different than the rest of the roster from a talent, experience and upside potential stand point. Injured v Colgate, misses Harvard game and then more serious injury v Bucknell. So now you’re down 9.
Junior S Curtis Harris Lopez (now 10) comes up lame with what looks like a hamstring pull with 13 min left to go in the 3rd quarter. I look across the D-backfield and now it’s 4 freshman and T Spence. Then one of those Frosh (Eli) goes down with a shoulder injury in the 4th quarter.
One last note about the end of the game. Spence was absolutely right to get in that kid’s face that started dancing on the midfield logo and then tearing into it with his cleats while another joined in. Several of us played with a few guys that would have punched that kid in his throat. Spence actually showed restraint IMO. I’m guessing that video will be aired during Laffy week many times in 2024.
As for Fordham, I’m guessing we have to score in the 40’s to win this one. Some TO’s would be huge. These kids won’t quit. Bet on that. The football gods gave us tremendous fortune last few years (sans Dobbs injury in 2022), maybe they will take a break on collecting this year. Geez.