Lehigh- Fordham: Effectively for all the marbles

Forum Forum Lehigh Sports Lehigh Football Lehigh- Fordham: Effectively for all the marbles

This topic contains 39 replies, has 16 voices, and was last updated by sundayamqb sundayamqb 8 years, 3 months ago.

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 40 total)
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  • #28954
    LUHawker
    LUHawker
    Participant

    So with 3 games to go, Lehigh and Fordham have the inside track.

    After a woeful first 2.5 games, Lehigh suddenly turns on dime starting at the 30 minute mark of the Penn game and hasn’t looked back.

    My griping was justified up until that point. Since then, I’ve had to walk back some (not all, mind you) of my criticism of the coaching staff. I find it remarkable that things on D “switched” so abruptly and makes me wonder why that occurred.

    The O seemed to find itself at Penn as well and I have to say Shaf’s passing, specifically the vertical game, improved sharply as well.

    All considered, Lehigh is playing well across the board. Outside of the Colgate game, it’s difficult to say how solid Lehigh really is because the competition has been unremarkable. Penn was the only other real test during this winning streak, as Yale, HC and G’Town have been woeful. Princeton is somewhere in the middle.

    The real question for me as Fordham comes to town is: can Lehigh’s defense slow down Chase Edmunds. We have not played a team since Monmouth that has had a a real rushing attack (Nova is not a prototypical running team) and the inability to stop a team with a legitimate running game has been Lehigh’s Achilles Heel.

    Still, the defense looks much better and the stats (and W’s) bear that out, but I think we’ve yet to prove we can stop a solid run game. Even during the Yale beat down, we gave up 243 running yards.

    Nonetheless, I like our chances, but believe that we match up worst with FU than any other team on our schedule because of the rushing game. I’d love to be proven wrong.

    #28955

    Anonymous

    I think we are fine. This league does not play defense and the coaching is sub-par. How do teams come in against us and not try to ball control us to death? And defensively drop seven and disguise coverages with an occasional blitz. I know I make it sound easy but honestly, what are these teams doing in there meetings? The Patriot league is equivalent to arena football. Score on every other play and last team with the ball, wins!!! How can you call what Yale played against us a prepared d1 defense? Even Colgate, it was awful. Alot of coaches collecting paychecks. These coaching staffs are not under the pressures that big 5 coaching staffs are. Most of these guys were selling insurance two years ago or used cars. No joke!!! I think Lehigh is good and I am happy for them but we will not respond to a team that actually has a plan. Fordham has a terrible defense also. Was hoping for some better games. I know it sounds like I am complaining but I am worried of how easily we are beating teams that once we get in a battle we will not know how to respond. Just a thought. GO LEHIGH!!!

    #28956
    LUHawker
    LUHawker
    Participant

    GO-

    That was one interesting stream of consciousness. Other than your comment that “we’re fine”, I’m not sure if you think Lehigh is actually any good or that everyone else is pathetic. I don’t know what you mean by “we will not respond to a team that actually has a plan”. Does that mean we will fold like a cheap suit or basically ignore what they throw at us and just have our way?

    You’re funny today.

    #28957

    Anonymous

    No, keep in mind I am a Lehigh fan. I think we have not had a game since we lost. Teams that get good all of a sudden usually are teams that are most vulnerable. You have to fight compacency. I think we are decent but our schedule is not allowing us to get prepaired for a team that can actually match up with us. Not Lehighs fault…you can only play the team thats next on your schedule. Our receipe offensively is not a great mystery. Get 5 or 6 on first down then you have the defense guessing run or pass? I would make Lehigh run run and run. See if they can be patient and not make mistakes. On defense I think Lehigh is extremely vulnerable to legit running game. Fordham runs the ball well but does not have a great throwing offense. In a 3-5-3 the stunting is crucial and if you stunt wrong your going to get gashed for big runs. Just a thought from an old-ball coach. Heard that somewhere else before??? GO LEHIGH

    #28958

    lfnadmin
    Keymaster

    It is true that in Lehigh’s two losses they gave up some big rushing games. It is also true that Chase Edmonds, whom I’m going to be calling this week the roboRB, is a once-in-a-generation Patriot League football player that has bedeviled Lehigh in particular. 347 yards last year vs. the Hawks don’t lie.

    However I don’t envy opposing DC’s job to scheme against us. We might have bar arguments about who was/is better, Spadola/Drwal or Casey/Pelletier, but what is clear is that as a complete eleven man offensive unit the 2016 offense is better than the 2011 crew. Double Pelletier? Gatlin Casey. Play a 3-3-5? Hello, Dom Bragalone. Attack us with blitzes? We have plenty of answers.

    Holy Cross tried to test our defense by pulling their somewhat successful pocket passer QB and tried to become a Colgate-like offense with Bell and Cozier, who let’s not forget had 100 yards rushing vs. Harvard last week. The Lehigh D held him to 50 net yards rushing, many of which came on the first drive and the last drive. So there’s also reason to believe that the Lehigh D was better tested against a run game than it initially might seem.

    #28959
    van
    van
    Participant

    Rams had no respect for Hoyas run game and blitzed a lot, sacking QB something like 6 times, a good day from Dom might be just what we need to keep Rams secondary honest

    #28961

    LehighGuy
    Participant

    GameOn is spot on. The excitement about our D is understandable but put it in correct perspective. The competition was terrible. during this winning streak we have played horrible offenses with 2nd, 3rd, 4th string Qbs. Our run D is still suspect and will get exposed this week ( we have been giving up big rushing # against horrible teams). If we play any QB with a decent arm we will give up points. Our safeties and cbs continue to get beat deep every week, the qbs have been horrible and cant connect. PLEASE change the punt team, the guys on it are slow and give up big runs every week. Im excited we are sitting at 6-2, i see all the holes in LU game though. If we can pull this one out we have a excellent chance at a PL championship and the playoffs. Lets hope the boys are ready!

    • This reply was modified 8 years, 3 months ago by  LehighGuy.
    • This reply was modified 8 years, 3 months ago by  LehighGuy.
    #28964
    RichH
    RichH
    Participant

    AGS poll has us at #21.
    Having Lambert at River now should help edge run D. Agree that D has not been challenged for the last 3 weeks. Ram O will be tough assuming Anderson plays. Ram D particularly the 2ndary is porous. Fordhame is getting back some of their injured starters but not likely they can stopus.

    #28965

    buck
    Participant

    I call out the Patriot League as average to poor and get called a troll. Seems like others agree with my assessment. Fordham is the only team that can possibly beat Lehigh but I still see Lehigh winning by 3 TD’s. Bucknell and Lafayette’s QB’s would have a tough time starting for Moravian, lot of slow white dudes on both of those teams.

    #28966

    toddcudd
    Participant

    Question for the “PL Sucks” crowd: what are you measuring against? Per NCAA FCS stats, Fordham is #4 in total offense, LU is #6, ‘gate is #41, HC is #56. PL has pretty soundly beaten Ivies. JMU is the only CAA team with a higher-rated offense than Fordham or LU. Gate played Richmond close, we played ‘nova close.

    #28967

    lfnadmin
    Keymaster

    I do not agree that Fordham at Lehigh is “for all the marbles”. The Mountain Hawks cannot clinch a share of the title this weekend. They can only do that with a win this weekend and another win next weekend vs. Bucknell.

    #28968
    LUHawker
    LUHawker
    Participant

    [quote quote=28967]I do not agree that Fordham at Lehigh is “for all the marbles”. The Mountain Hawks cannot clinch a share of the title this weekend. They can only do that with a win this weekend and another win next weekend vs. Bucknell.

    [/quote]

    Come on LFN! You cleverly avoided a key word in quoting the thread title “Effectively”.

    Of course there are two more games for LU after this one and three for the Rams, but if LU defeats FU, but LU should be able to take care of business against the Bison and Pards.

    However, first order of business is to limit Chase Edmonds and get some pressure on the QB. If that happens, I like our post-season appearance chances, Bucknell and Lafayette notwithstanding.

    #28970

    TMH
    Participant

    Interesting:
    Lehigh is #8 in the country in total offense, Fordham is #5

    Lehigh is #55 in the nation in total defense, Fordham is #50

    #28972
    RichH
    RichH
    Participant

    Pretty damn even. Not surprised. Surprise is Barrett favors us by 18.5 :)

    #28973
    van
    van
    Participant

    guessing Shaf starts this week, anyone have info?

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