Yale Football Blog

It was a short and sweet Spring Game this year, but the progress this offseason has been encouraging to say the least.  The standout units on Saturday were the defensive backs and defensive line, while the special teams left much to be desired (with a starting punter/kicker out this was expected).  The offensive line that appeared to be coming together well just weeks ago was hit with injuries as Strother was seen on crutches and the unit struggled at times containing the rush.

Rawlings, Moore and Chapple looked light years ahead of where they were during preseason, although we do not anticipate Reno conducting a lengthy QB battle as we witnessed last year.  This might be one of Yale’s deepest receiving corps in years with Williams-Lopez, Hines, Klubnick, Siragusa, Drwal, Shohfi, Locke, Marcinick, Herring and others.  The most interesting position battles in preseason might be for the starting WR slots.

Copache Tyler was seen on the sidelines and it certainly does not appear that he will be transferring to Northwestern as one poster suggested.

It was nice to see Bezney, Hines and Siragusa bounce back from their injuries from last season and each player should be a key contributor on the 2017 squad.

The annual Spring game will be held this Saturday at 1:30 PM at the Class of 1954 Field.  Those who have attended practices have mentioned that the O Line appears to developing nicely with Strother and Eiselen holding down the left side, Marback at Center, and Bezney and Lee manning the right side.  Jaeden Graham and Conor Furey are competing for the starting TE role.  Timing between the QB’s and WR’s has improved tremendously this offseason.

Yale announced that Paul Rice has taken over coaching duties for the defensive backs and oft-criticized Steven Vashel will now be coaching the OLB’s.  This is a smart move for Reno as the defensive backfield is loaded with experience, but has yet to become dominant against great passing teams.  Anyone who watched the Lehigh game last year understands that a change was necessary as a backup QB marched down the field relentlessly on the hapless secondary.  With another talented recruiting class coming in and wise coaching adjustments, Reno has shown that he is developing as a head coach and is not content with a single win over Harvard under his belt.

It’s that time of year again when the Bulldogs shed the fat accumulated over Spring Break and sharpen their skills for the 2017 season.  Team 145 is officially here!

As others have noted, Sean McGowan has taken the reins as Defensive Coordinator, while Steve Vashel will be coaching the OLB’s.  We applaud this decision as McGowan’s contributions to the Harvard win cannot go unnoticed.  We still have not seen a response from the administration in regards to the understaffed and mistake-prone sports medicine department.  Let’s pray that we avoid significant knee and shoulder injuries this spring as Team 145 is talented, but not as deep as one would hope at several positions.

The Senior Dinner will be held April 12th at the Yale Club in NYC and don’t forget about the Reno Road Show from May 2nd to the 18th in a city near you.

 

The keys to a successful spring:

Develop the younger offensive linemen to fill the holes left by Cannon, Friedline and Iverson

Improve timing between QB’s and WR’s

Work on QB fundamentals: footwork, reads, staying in the pocket as long as possible

Create more penetration along defensive front

Promote unity within the defensive backfield

Implement the TE’s more effectively in the offense

 

 

Yale’s Athletic Medicine Department has come under intense scrutiny in the past months as Yale’s injury plague derailed its football and basketball campaigns among others.  As the YDN reported, the department is understaffed, underfunded and most importantly has been misdiagnosing athletes.  The fact that Rafe Chapple, while in contention for the starting QB position, has to circumvent Yale’s internal process to get an MRI scheduled is appalling.  The trainers and physical therapists should be vocal advocates for getting the athletes scheduled for diagnostic imaging procedures as soon as possible.  Shoulders and knees are complex joints that demand specialists to properly diagnose ailments as even MRIs can fail to show the true extent of damage.  This will require bringing in additional orthopaedic surgeons to consult on a part time basis as Dr. Ruwe alone cannot solve the issues.  Clearly the department needs more hands on deck to manage the massive inflow of athletes (Qpac interns do not count) as well as an overhaul of the entire infrastructure.  We can’t let the strength and conditioning department off the hook either as injury prevention begins there.

Here is the updated recruiting roster, but keep in mind a lot can change between now and kickoff for the 2017 season (admissions, homesickness, decommitments, etc):

Micah Awodiran, LB, 6-1 217, Marist (Chicago, IL)

Noah Pope, LB, 6-1 195, St. George’s Independent School (Collerville, TN)

Christian Sampleton, DE, 6-3 223, Nazareth Academy (La Grange Park, IL)

Jake Hinish, OL, 6-2 280, Central Catholic (Pittsburgh, PA)

John Dean, LB, 6-2 225, Choate Rosemary Hall (Wallingford, CT)

Jimmy Check, QB, 6-5 195, Paul VI Catholic (Fairfax, VA)

Patrick Conte, QB, 6-4 229, Fairfield College Preparatory (Fairfield, CT)

Walker Lott, DB, 6-2 222, Choate Rosemary Hall (Wallingford, CT)

Jordan Carey, LB/RB, 5-11 190, Hazelwood Central (Florissant, MO)

Blake Hill, MLB, 6-1 220, Milford (Milford, MA)

Donovan Slater, OL, 6-3 285, Central Catholic (Pittsburgh, PA)

D. Major Roman, DE/TE, 6-5 202, New London (New London, CT)

Thomas Vissman, RB/S, 6-0 210, Upper St. Clair (Pittsburgh, PA)

Ethan Campbell, MLB, 6-4 214, La Salle (Cincinatti, Ohio)

Brandon Peterson, DE, 6-3 250, Alamo Heights (San Antonio, TX)

JJ Howland, TE, 6-6 230, Choate Rosemary Hall (Wallingford, CT)

Cameron Warfield, OL, 6-4 280, Gonzaga (Washington, DC)

Michael Purvey, RB, 5-10 188, Strake Jesuit (Houston, TX)

Darrion Carrington, WR, 6-3 175, Toms River North (Toms River, NJ)

Melvin Rouse, CB, 5-9 170, Charlotte Latin (Charlotte, NC)

Zane Dudek, RB, 5-10 190, Armstrong (Kittanning, PA)

Sasha Hoban, TE, 6-4 245, Newton South (Newton, MA)

Demani Hansford, CB, 5-11 170, St. John’s College (Washington, DC)

Tyler Jost, OT, 6-6 280, Libertyville (Libertyville, IL)

Deonte Henson, CB, 5-9 160, West Brook (Beaumont, TX)

Grant Neagli, OT, 6-7 295, Episcopal (Alexandria, VA)

Jaylan Sandifer, WR, 6-3 185, Northside (Warner Robins, GA)

Rodney Thomas, WR/DB, 6-0 170, Central Catholic (Pittsburgh, PA)

Darnell Robinson, CB, 5-10 175, Oxbridge Academy (West Palm Beach, FL)

AJ Ryan, LB/TE, 6-2 230, Xaverian Brothers (Westwood, MA)

Michael Chime, DT, 6-1 260, St. Ignatious (Cleveland, OH)

 

Here are our awards for the 2016 Bulldog squad:

MVP: Alan Lamar

Rookie of the Year: Alan Lamar

Offensive Lineman of the Year: Karl Marback

Receiver/TE of the Year: Reed Klubnik

QB/RB of the Year: Alan Lamar

Defensive Lineman of the Year: Kyle Mullen

Linebacker of the Year: Darius Manora

Defensive Back of the Year: Hayden Carlson

Special Teams Player of the Year: Jason Alessi

Ironman Award: Dale Harris

 

We’d love to hear where you think we went wrong on the list!  We’ll continue updating the recruiting list as we receive news.

Spencer Rymiszewski was elected Captain for the 2017 squad after missing all of 2016 recovering from double shoulder surgery.  Rymiszewski was a 1st Team All-Ivy performer in 2015 and the secondary welcomes him back with open arms.

On the topic of All-Ivy performers, Yale players were snubbed from 1st Team honors, but Alan Lamar (RB) and Jason Alessi (PR) earned 2nd Team honors.  Dale Harris, Mason Friedline, Marty Moesta, Karl Marback, Kyle Mullen, Matt Oplinger, and Darius Manora all received honorable mention.

Potential recruits:

Micah Awodiran, LB, 6-1 217, Marist (Chicago, IL)

Noah Pope, LB, 6-1 195, St. George’s Independent School (Collerville, TN)

Christian Sampleton, DE, 6-3 223, Nazareth Academy (La Grange Park, IL)

Jake Hinish, OL, 6-2 280, Central Catholic (Pittsburgh, PA)

John Dean, LB, 6-2 225, Choate Rosemary Hall (Wallingford, CT)

Jimmy Check, QB, 6-5 195, Paul VI Catholic (Fairfax, VA)

Patrick Conte, QB, 6-4 229, Fairfield College Preparatory (Fairfield, CT)

Walker Lott, DB, 6-2 222, Choate Rosemary Hall (Wallingford, CT)

Jordan Carey, LB/RB, 5-11 190, Hazelwood Central (Florissant, MO)

Blake Hill, MLB, 6-1 220, Milford (Milford, MA)

Donovan Slater, OL, 6-3 285, Central Catholic (Pittsburgh, PA)

D. Major Roman, DE/TE, 6-5 202, New London (New London, CT)

Thomas Vissman, RB/S, 6-0 210, Upper St. Clair (Pittsburgh, PA)

Ethan Campbell, MLB, 6-4 214, La Salle (Cincinatti, Ohio)

Brandon Peterson, DE, 6-3 250, Alamo Heights (San Antonio, TX)

JJ Howland, TE, 6-6 230, Choate Rosemary Hall (Wallingford, CT)

Cameron Warfield, OL, 6-4 280, Gonzaga (Washington, DC)

Michael Purvey, RB, 5-10 188, Strake Jesuit (Houston, TX)

Darrion Carrington, WR, 6-3 175, Toms River North (Toms River, NJ)

Melvin Rouse, CB, 5-9 170, Charlotte Latin (Charlotte, NC)

Zane Dudek, RB, 5-10 190, Armstrong (Kittanning, PA)

Sasha Hoban, TE, 6-4 245, Newton South (Newton, MA)

Demani Hansford, CB, 5-11 170, St. John’s College (Washington, DC)

Tyler Jost, OT, 6-6 280, Libertyville (Libertyville, IL)

Deonte Henson, CB, 5-9 160, West Brook (Beaumont, TX)

Grant Neagli, OT, 6-7 295, Episcopal (Alexandria, VA)

 

Everything finally seemed to click for the Bulldogs on Saturday.  Almost every position group had their best outing of the season and it could not have come at a better time for our squad.  The offensive line gave Rawlings just enough time to deliver strikes to Klubnik and Shohfi.  The vaunted Harvard defensive line was pushed around in the redzone as Lamar cruised in for a score.  Klubnik caught everything in sight and is our choice for Co-Player of The Game along with Rawlings.  Clemons, Gaines, Little and Rich had fantastic blocks all day to allow Rawlings to break free on the ground and burn the clock.

Coach Paul Rice and his special teams unit performed flawlessly.  From the fake FG to the onside kick, we caught Harvard with their pants down and they never could recover from the momentum swings.  K Blake Horn showed patience and intelligence as he waited for the ball to move 10 yards before scooping it up.  LB Quintin Herbert had the hit of the season on that play as he absolutely blasted the only Crimson player within range of the ball.  Leo Haenni hauled in a wobbly short pass from Andrew Johnson on the fake FG.

The defense stepped up to shut down Viviano, Shelton-Mosley and Firkser.  Linebackers Egu and Manora made plays all over the field and were an absolute nightmare for RB Charlie Booker.  The defensive line and blitzing linebackers/safeties flustered Viviano and forced him to run.  Alessi made game saving tackles and Oplinger had the best game of his career.  Oluokun put a huge hit on Booker in Harvard’s first series and Booker never ran up the middle with the same determination after that punishment.  With Dale Harris out and Marquise Peggs injured during the game, the secondary hung in there and only allowed two big plays (one to Firkser and one to Shelton-Mosley) that did not even go for touchdowns.

Hats off to Reno and the entire staff for a fantastic conclusion to the season!

 

It’s not often that Tim Murphy gets outcoached, but that’s exactly what happened last week in Harvard’s loss to Penn.  Harvard was gaining yardage at will on the ground, yet Murphy consistently chose to throw down field.  QB Viviano likes to stare down one receiver and if that receiver is covered, he immediately panics and tries to scramble.  Viviano has a great arm and has the speed to run the ball, but when he gets flustered, Harvard’s offense sputters.  The interior of the Crimson’s line is stout featuring Larry Allen’s son, but Penn was able to expose their tackles.  RB Charlie Booker led the Crimson on the ground last week with 62 yards and was aided by Semar Smith (27 yards), Adam Scott (19 yards) and Lavance Northington (17 yards).  The key to shutting down Harvard’s aerial attack is covering electric WR Justice Shelton-Mosley.  Shelton-Mosley had a tame outing at Penn with only 51 receiving yards, but look for Murphy to try to get him in space against the Bulldogs.  TE Anthony Firkser is a staple of the offense and had a big 19 yard reception last week.

Harvard’s defensive line is on par with Princeton’s talented position group this season and has size and strength across the board.  The unit is led by DT James Duberg, a Second Team All-Ivy pick from a year ago.  The linebackers are average for the Ivy League, although the secondary is a talented and experienced group spearheaded by their captain CB Sean Ahern, a First Team All-Ivy selection in 2015.  Keep in mind Penn’s Justin Watson was still able to torch Harvard’s secondary.

Keys to the game:

Get inside Murphy’s head (he’s a lowly Springfield grad)

Fluster and hit Viviano

Key on Shelton-Mosley and Firkser in pass coverage

Protect Rawlings

Spread the ball around

Control the clock with Lamar and Salter

 

BEAT HARVARD!