2024 Preseason/Training Camp

Wow, Robinson as a Soph surprised me. Big expectations for him. Also Jaworski as DPOY a bit of a dark horse. He’s very good (and I actually think better than Conway) but I would have guessed he would have been 3rd in voting.

Lafayette overwhelming favorites to repeat. Only 3 points separating HC at #2 and Fordham at #3. Interesting the Lafayette voters choose Fordham and Colgate as their #1 instead of HC as team reps can’t vote for themselves.

I mean the incoming freshman this fall who I didn’t list on the two deep since they would have to win battles in camp. Prichard-Sewell, Croley, Gardner, Coleman etc. 

I don't know much about Fordham's depth at QB after Montes, but I do know that Lehigh and Lafayette have very little to show in their QB rooms after their starters. Outbound portal transfers have decimated quality depth for both squads. In Lehigh's case this is the worst year to be facing Army in their opener. Forget the score, if their starter Perri survives that game they will be very happy.

2024 Patriot League Football Preseason Poll
1. Lafayette, 72 (12 first-place votes)
2. Holy Cross, 56
3. Fordham, 53 (1)
4. Colgate, 46 (1)
5. Georgetown, 27
6. Lehigh, 24
7. Bucknell, 16

While the voting is admittedly close (between 2nd and 4th), the 2nd place prediction surprises me as I was thinking a .500-ish season is in the cards (with at least a couple of PL losses). If we stay healthy at key positions.

I think there is a hope senior Joe P can be at least an average starting PL QB in terms of arm strength/accuracy and footspeed/escapability. Coach Curran has repeatedly complimented his leadership and the fact the rest of the team really respects him.

Sluka factor, we were 65% rush attempts last season; designed QB power runs + pass plays that turned into runs rather than throw aways. 

We should be close to 50/50 this season?

 

I think that all of these teams will lose a game or two they thought they had in the bag. While I wouldn't say that is more likely than not, I wouldn't be shocked to see our guys go 4-2 which might well tie for the PL title although I would guess we would lose the head to head tiebreaker.

I think we'll be as good as our offensive line turns out to be. If the mostly new starters aren't ready we'll struggle against good teams, if they're ready we'll do very well. Defense may be young and lacking obvious star power but they were better late with a slew of newcomers.

Lehigh continues to have questions at quarterback and offensive line which is generally a recipe for disaster. The good news is the staff was able to land two of the top QB prospects in PA last year which was an incredible feat. Overall, the recruiting class was very good. However, how many will stick around? How many are simply trying to leverage a downtrodden program at a historic low into immediate playing time so they can have 2-3 years of eligibility somewhere else? Regardless of a recruit's/player's agenda, Cahill and company have to show the ship is headed in the right direction. The head coach, OC, DC dynamic is in itself is a bit weird since Hunt and Nagy were former head coaches. Plus, Hunt was never known as an offensive guru during his time as Colgate's OC/head coach. Lehigh's offense is desperate for development and imagination. 

Personally, I think Fordham is the most talented team but Lafayette has the best combo of talent and coaching. I simply don't trust Conlin/Fordham in big games/critical situations. As long as Troxell is at Lafayette the Leopards will be a factor. He can coach! Everyone else, including Curran? There's still a lot to prove. Colgate has @ Maine, Villanova, @ Akron, Cornell, @ Penn, Holy Cross to start the year. It would not shock me if Dakosty is penning another letter after a 1-5 start. With that said, outside of Villanova and maybe Akron, those should be winnable games if Colgate is indeed going to elevate from 6-5. 

Troxell has been a head coach for 18 years. 

If he wins another PL title this year he will be on the short list for the likely opening Temple job or a MAC in 2025 or latest 2026. He’s legit.

Good perceptive points NJ! I’ll add a couple :

DL - It’s actually FOUR Soph starters with Ross’ medical redshirt and 5 with the top Reserve DL as Colin Reynolds will play a lot and also has 5th year eligibility! FIVE potential Sophomore DL tells me this group should be solid this year but won’t hit their ceiling until 2025/2026!

LB - Spins v Boyer is probably the most intriguing camp battle to me. I think both will see run regardless but someone will emerge (similar to Monte v. Bolden heading into camp last fall as Frankie eventually won that battle) Kane is still technically a LB but he doesn’t play inside in the 4-2. He’s been strictly a specialty OLB rusher in nickel packages, which is why I have him listed on the edge.

DB - you mentioned Jarmo as the only sure thing but I’m sure you just forgot Curtis Harris-Lopez has the most experience of any of the returning defensive backs. He should contend for All-PL this year. I think our three safety spots all have a legit two-deep and feel really good about them heading into camp.

Again, my biggest question is how the corner positions shake out.

You are correct that Comestro “DC” can play both free safety or corner and had to move to FS last year after Jarmo went down in the Yale game and Jon Wood had already been injured before the season started.

Eli “ET” got a lot of good reps as a freshman but as happens often when frosh have to play, hurt his shoulder trying to make a tackle at the 2nd level in the Lafayette game.

That’s why I have those 2 starting as of now. Cam Jones is going to be really interesting to watch because he was more of an “athlete” in high school playing running back, returner and some corner. He needed at least a full year to develop technically and IQ wise.

The frosh CB I’m most interested in pushing the current two deep is Amari Gardner. Really loved his game coming out of Archbishop Curley in MD. Probably only ~170 pounds right now but he brings it all when he tackles, has very good hips and ball skills as well.