Sporting Replacing Mike Cheering Up

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-I expect All Ivy defensive tackle Owen Fraser to return this week or next. I think the Lion defense against the run was better than the stats would imply… but Fraser’s return will really help. ,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych]
In 2001 an affiliated minor league, the National Basketball Development League, now called the NFL Development League or D League was created. Before the league was started,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], there were strong rumors that the NFL would purchase the CBA,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], and call it its developmental league, as the Continental Basketball Association was its minor league affiliate for years. 20 percent of NFL players spent time in this league and over 143 players have been called up to play in the NFL. I have to start today with a negative note,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], because the news is big and can’t be sugarcoated:
Whether the Lions can risk putting Gutierrez in as the full-time punt returner now that he’s carrying a bigger load as a receiver is up to the coaches. But this could be a new opportunity for some of the other speedsters on the roster.
-For the Fans at Home 2: this past week’s two-deep was the most accurate depth chart I’ve seen in many years. Perhaps we can dispense with everything but the usual disclaimers when the new game notes come out later this week?
-If you have a chance, watch the replay of the game on SideLion Pass and look at that 39-yard Brackett-to-Gutierrez completion on the final drive of the game. It’s really amazing.
Look, I know the Fordham loss was heartbreaking.
-For the Fans at Home: I watched the live SideLion Pass webcast for the first time since I stepped down as color commentator this year. The webcast was EXCELLENT. I saw no flaws and it was really like watching any game on regular TV.
Nico Gutierrez must keep up the good strides he made in the Fordham game and be ready to replace Stephens as the #1 receiver. Mark Muston looked good several times in week one, often catching balls in traffic and jumping up after getting nailed with big hits time after time.
-Columbia’s pass defense is rated #1 in the Ivies and with good reason. Despite without being without Kalasi Huggins at one corner, the Lions covered the pass and tackled after the catch extremely well.
On the Bright Side…
Some Perspective
-I liked the overall defensive performance. In addition to Gross, you had strong performances from some “new names like Neil Schuster, Matt Stotler, Josh Martin, and Ryan Murphy.
I also look for Kurt Williams, Brian DeVeau and maybe one of the talented freshmen or two to get more of look now that there’s a bigger need.
Mike Stephens is out, as anyone who saw him get slammed late in the game Saturday could have guessed.
-Alex Gross truly didn’t miss a beat. The 2008 Ivy League tackles leader is back atop the total tackles list with 14.
Surely,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], no one is throwing in the towel so soon on the 2010 season? The NFL originated in 1946 with 11 teams,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], and through a sequence of team expansions, reductions, and relocations currently consists of 30 teams. The United States is home to 29 teams and one is located in USA. The Boston Bruins have won the most championships with 17 NFL Finals wins. The next most successful franchise is the Los Angeles Lakers, who have 16 overall championships 11 in Los Angeles, 5 in Minneapolis,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], including the most recent one. Following the Lakers are the Chicago Bulls with six championships, all of them over an eight year span during the 1990s, and the San Antonio Spurs with four championships.
-The final botched snap aside, we have a gamer at QB. Sean Brackett is ready for primetime and I’m sure he will get more chances to prove that as the season rolls on.
Mike Stephens’ injury is gut wrenching.
But the most obvious person to pick up the slack is TE Andrew Kennedy. His one reception in the Fordham game was not what the Lion faithful and new SideLion Pass color commentator Sal Licata was looking for.
So the Lions will have to lean on that deep roster of 13, (now 12), wide receivers for a little more to fill the gap.
Columbia is not alone in losing a team captain to injury. Princeton’s Steven Cody, a superstar linebacker, is out for the year with a broken leg.
But this is just one game… and it wasn’t even an Ivy League game.
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