In just over two weeks, the 2019 Yale Bulldogs football team will begin Spring Ball on a quest to bounce back from the middling 5-5 record in 2018.
The goods news is that every starter returns on our high-powered offense. Hinish, Eiselen, Strother, Cepalia and Warfield will anchor the offensive line. Tribble could reclaim his spot on the first team offense with an impressive performance.
Tight ends JJ Howland and D. Major Roman will form the best tight end rotation in the Ivy League. They are both big targets that can leave linebackers and safeties in the dust with their route running abilities.
Kurt Rawlings returns from his leg injury, while Griffin O’Connor will stand ready for the call. While the Princeton fanbase believes the Tigers have the most reserve talent at the quarterback position, Yale fans know better. O’Connor holds the single game passing yards record and was named Ivy League Rookie of the Year despite starting only three games.
The running back position is stacked and the depth continues to grow thanks to our successful recruiting efforts. Lamar, Dudek, and Alston could start anywhere in the league. Charles gives us a lightning fast option as a third-down back.
JP Shohfi and Reed Klubnik create one of the most formidable wide receiver duos in Yale history. Sprinkle in Rouse, Sandifer, White, Carrington, and Aaron and the opposition will have a difficult battle to stay balanced against the passing and running games.
To improve offensively, the Bulldogs will have to focus on strength, consistency and smart schemes. In each game that we lost last season, the offensive line was pushed around and did not show the same tenacity that we witnessed in 2017. Consistency comes down to sustaining drives, avoiding penalties, converting on opportunities and staying healthy. Developing the best schemes week to week is always a challenge for coaches, but we need to master plays that can give our playmakers the best opportunity to score and continue to tweak the scheme throughout the season to keep defenders guessing.
7 replies on “15 days to spring ball”
Do we really have six home games this season, or is something going to change on the schedule?
I remember the good old days of six or even seven home games when we never went to Dartmouth and the two (not three) non-Ivy contests were always at the Bowl.
Yes, six home games in 2019:
HOLY CROSS
CORNELL
FORDHAM
@dartmouth
@richmond
PENN
COLUMBIA
@brown
@princeton
HARVARD
This is a very good summary of the offensive position players coming back and the need to improve.
I’m wondering if Zane Dudek is 100% recovered or will he be limited in spring drills to be safe. He is a home run hitter and we need him fully recovered to open up the offense. Speaking of which count me among the people who wants to see more two back sets, for two reasons. We have several great backs to keep happy and we shouldn’t allow defenses to key on the single back. Remember Lamar taking it to the house on the first play when he and Dudek lined up in the same backfield?
Looking forward to the post on the defense….which was manhandled by Dartmouth, Princeton and Harvard.
What about Sexton?
I hope we have good — at least decent — kickers to replace K/P Galland. Will it be Tuckerman? Culhane? A combination?
How is the Defense looking? What do we have coming back
NEW YALE FOOTBALL COACH–MATHIEU ARAUJO ( DB )