Cornell Preview

The Bulldogs travel to Ithaca this week to take on the Cornell Big Red at 3 PM ET.  You can watch the game on ESPN+ using the free 7 day trial ($5 a month after that).

Cornell faced off against the Delaware Blue Hens last week and lost the contest 27-10.  Despite the lopsided final score, the game was actually 14-3 going into the final quarter.  Cornell’s defense is not the biggest or fastest we will face this season, but the players are scrappy and do not make many mental mistakes.  Delaware missed a number of open receivers on long pass plays that could have buried Cornell earlier in the game.  Nine defensive starters return from a year ago including All-Ivy corners David Jones and DJ Woullard.  The Cornell secondary struggled to contain Delaware’s top receiver who posted 6 catches for 154 yards on the afternoon.  The Big Red were able to slow down Delaware’s rushing attack limiting them to 137 net yards on the day with the longest run being only 13 yards.  On Run-Pass Option plays, the Big Red overcommitted to stopping the running backs allowing the quarterback to gain chunks of yardage.

Seven offensive starters return from a year ago including quarterback Dalton Banks.  Cornell played three different quarterbacks in their opener and could opt for a similar strategy against the Bulldogs as no quarterback separated himself from the rest of the pack.  Banks looks stronger than he did last season and is now listed at 6’3″, 245 lbs.  When he runs the ball, he puts his head down and tries to bowl over defenders.  Although his arm strength is above average, he struggles with accuracy and decision making.  Junior QB Mike Catanese threw for more yards than Banks with less than half the attempts.  Big Red running backs Harold Cole and SK Howard are both talented backs that possess speed and power.  Cornell’s offensive line has size and can generate an initial push against defensive linemen, but really struggle blocking linebackers and defensive backs.  Cornell netted just 91 rushing yards and 141 passing yards against the Blue Hens.  The offense is at its best when it attacks the edges with swing passes and jet sweeps.  Cornell was able to get JD Pickell and Thomas Glover in space on such plays during the opening drive that yielded a field goal.