Cornell-Princeton Varsity Football, November 2, 2024

[rss77]

Starting another thread.  I'd like to see more run plays too but the o -line has to win the scrimmage line. A pick'em game IMO.

[Ken711]

I have a feeling losing a close game they should have won against Brown may linger against Princeton, resulting in a big letdown. I hope I'm proven wrong and Cornell can make a game of it.  If Wang ends up being the leading rusher again, there's not much of chance they can win games.

[Local Motion]

It's always easier for offensive linemen to run block than pass block. The Cornell offensive line are plenty big and strong to open up holes for our running backs.  Run the ball like we did against Yale and Bucknell!   Look at the NY Jets last night, they absolutely stunk in the first half, then they came out running the ball in the second half, and they surprised Houston.   Wang is a proven  Ivy QB, but we have to run the football to open up the passing game a little more.   Run the ball, win time of possession, and we knock off the Tigers.   Go Big Red!

[Al DeFlorio]

Running sounds good, but you need a back who can get an extra yard or two when hit, not just go down.

[ugarte]

It's always easier for offensive linemen to run block than pass block.

Eh. I think it's more like they are different skillsets. The baseline of "be strong" to run block is probably easier to find than the speed/technique combination that is the key to pass blocking, but if you have a relatively small line, run blocking probably isn't going to be all that easy. In any event it hasn't looked easy for us.

[Ken711]

Running sounds good, but you need a back who can get an extra yard or two when hit, not just go down.

I think this is on point. Wang is currently Cornell's leading rusher with 304 yards. 5'7" 176 lbs Ean Pope is second with 283 yards.  Cornell's big back Johntu Reed, 6'2" 230 lbs is mostly used in short yardage situations, is the 4th leading rusher with 74 yards.  It'll take some creativity to get the running game going like they did in the Yale game. Teams have likely figured out on film why they were so effective in that game and have been able to shut the running game down for the most part.

[ugarte]

Great opening drive. They were already across midfield by the time I tuned in. After that, Wang kept picking apart soft coverage on the right sideline to get inside the 10. After a short run from Pope, the CB followed Musungu into the end zone, Wang took off for the pylon and Musungu threw a block that guaranteed the path. Cornell opens with a crisp drive to go up 7-0.

[ugarte]

Followed by a great opening stand: on 4th and 1, Princeton throws a WR screen but Cornell D knows you can't commit DPI in the backfield and they hit the receiver before the ball gets there.

Offense takes over at the 35 and on the first play, Wang rifles one on a dime to Musungu at the 5. Another short run from Pope followed by play action, easy peasy toss to a wide open Kurtz for the TD.

Princeton committed a penalty I've never heard of on the XP: delay of game for distracting clapping (imitating the snap signal is illegal, I guess; now I know) but Cornell didn't switch to a 2-point coversion. 14-0 Cornell, about halfway through Q1.

[ugarte]

Another big defensive stand. After a busted coverage led to a Tigers first down across midfield, Cornell got another big 4th down stop. A massive sack on 4th and 3 gives Wang the ball back just shy of the 50.

[ugarte]

Robert Tucker III* takes over for Pope at FB and is more effective. Seems to take the handoff more cleanly so he's hitting the hole faster. Wang to Musungu unstoppable today. From the 11, Wang drops back, rolls out, Kurtz adjusts to the scramble, runs to the pylon, hits the brakes and turns around. Wang finds him for another TD. Under review on whether Kurtz held on... call stands! 21-0 with 13 seconds left in Q1.

* ESPN Gamecast has this wrong because we also have a safety with Tucker's number.

[ugarte]

Another great defensive stand. After Princeton muffed the kickoff and started at the 10, Cornell broke up a screen pass, forced an incomplete pass on a blitz,* then another incomplete pass to end the quarter when Princeton took a deep shot into perfect bracket coverage.

* Incomplete is generous. Could have been called intentional grounding in the end zone, though there was plausibly a receiver in the area. Also probably went backwards in the air (wind? because he was being spun around? idk.) and should have been called a fumble through the end zone. Two different ways it should have been a safety but we didn't get the call, even after review. So it goes.

[mike1960]

So far so good!

[mike1960]

Wishbone offense!

[ugarte]

Kickoff to the 50. Quick hit to Kurtz for 5. Pope back in and runs for 15. Musungu again, dodges a tackle and gains 12. Option toss to Pope for 3. Slot wide open to the left but Wang chooses a toss to Pope for no gain. Pass to Woodring for 10; first down at the 7. Wang avoids the blitz... and barely throws it away (could plausibly have been grounding). Wang pass to Kurtz for 5 to the 2. Heavy package in the backfield, handoff to Tillman for the score. 28-0!

[mike1960]

We need to play all 60. We had a lead against the Brown Bears and lost it.