Fordham Preview

The 2-3 Fordham Rams travel to New Haven this Saturday to take on the Bulldogs at 1PM. The game will be streamed on ESPN+, but let’s try to pack the Bowl with at least six thousand fans this week.

The Rams are much improved this season and just beat a solid Richmond team 23-16 last week. This will not be the easiest game on our schedule as some believed in the preseason. Quarterback Tim DeMorat is an average Patriot League signal caller who has thrown for 185.8 yards per game with 8 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. DeMorat’s two favorite targets in the passing game, Hamze El-Zayat and Fotis Kokosiolus, are likely the best receivers we have faced thus far. El-Zayat and Kokosiolus are averaging 10.0 and 12.2 yards per catch respectively. The running game is clearly the strength of Fordham’s offense led by Wallingford’s Zach Davis. Davis has rushed for 511 yards or 102.2 yards per game with an average rushing attempt of 6.1 yards. Fordham’s offensive line is large and appears to be on par with Cornell’s based on game film. The Rams have struggled on 3rd downs converting on just 36% of their attempts this season. The Bulldogs will need to create penetration with the front seven to shut down the running game on early downs and force Fordham into uncomfortable 3rd and long positions. Ball security is an issue for the Rams as they have already fumbled nine times this season.

Sophomore linebacker Ryan Greenhagen leads Fordham’s defense with a whopping 55 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks. Glastonbury’s Glenn Cunningham is another standout linebacker with the ability to cover tight ends and running backs. Our offensive line will need to get to the second level to spring Dudek on running plays. Anthony Diodato and Ellis Taylor are the best playmakers for Fordham along the defensive line. Diodato and Taylor each have 15 tackles and a blocked kick. Taylor has a knack for pass rushing racking up 4 sacks. Fifth year senior James Biggs-Frazier leads the secondary with 25 tackles and a forced fumble. The Fordham defense has been outscored 42-14 in the first quarter and 49-25 in the second quarter, so Yale must look to put points on the board in a hurry before Paul Rice (former Yale captain) can get his defense to clamp down on the Elis.

Andrew Mevis is Fordham’s kicker and punter. He is 6 for 8 on field goal attempts with a long of 42 yards, while his punting average is a respectable 39.9 yards.

Fordham’s head coach, Joe Conlin, was Yale’s former offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, so he’ll be fired up to try to knock off the Bulldogs. With a brutal matchup against Dartmouth looming, it’s imperative to clean up the mental mistakes this week and above all, stay healthy.