The bad news is that the defense on the Columbia football team was one of the worst in the Ivy League last season, but the good news is that most of the strongest players on that defense are coming back for the 2008 campaign. Linebacker Alex Gross, the reigning Ivy League Rookie of the Year, rising senior captain Drew Quinn, and defensive lineman Phil Mitchell head the long list of Light Blue defenders that will be hassling quarterbacks throughout the league next season.
One’s eye might be drawn to the fact that the Lions had the best pass defense in the Ancient Eight last year, which is statistically true. However, this was more of a result of Columbia having the worst rush defense in the league than it was the defense clamping down on the air attack. When facing the Light Blue, teams did not have to the throw the ball as much—Columbia faced the fewest pass plays of any team in the Ivy League—because running the ball was largely more effective.
The Lions were the only team to allow more than 200 rushing yards per game, surrendering 2,311 yards in its 10 contests in 2007. Opposing teams also averaged 4.4 yards per carry and averaged three rushing touchdowns per game.
Next year’s defense, which will be returning at least eight starters, will definitely be focused on stopping the run. At times last year, Mitchell, who usually plays defensive end, moved to nose tackle in the Lions’ 3-3-5 defensive scheme, which strengthened the defensive line. When Mitchell would play nose tackle, Matt Bashaw and Conor Joyce would play defensive end. All three of those linemen will be back in the fall stronger, faster, and ready to play.
One player who is under the radar is rising junior Justin Masorti, a reckless linebacker that is not listed on the Light Blue’s 2008-2009 roster. Last season, the linebacker was in the top 50 in the league in tackles, recording 41 on the season and 4.6 per game. The Lions’ corps of linebackers is strong, as Quinn and Gross are two of the top 20 tacklers in the Ancient Eight, but without Masorti, the team would definitely be at a loss both in terms of ability and experience.
The area on the field in which the Lions are losing the most talent and experience is in the secondary, as JoJo Smith and Eugene Edwards have completed their four years and are set to graduate in the spring. However, many young corners and safeties stepped up last season and gained valuable experience, which will help them in the fall. Rising sophomores Adam Mehrer, Calvin Otis, and Augie Williams all played a lot of minutes in the secondary, which should help create some depth for this season. Outside of this group of sophomores are veterans Grant Jefferson, Clark Koury, and Andy Shalbrack, who will be called on to be leaders of a young group of players.
Cornerback Chad Musgrove, who did not play last season, will be returning to the team for his senior season in the fall. At six-feet-three-inches tall, he has good height and athleticism for a defensive back, but the year off from football could have been detrimental. The Blue and White Game should provide a good gauge for how much he could contribute in the 2008 campaign.
All of the pieces for a strong defense are there, and were there last year, which begs the question: will the defensive structure change at all from last year to this one? Head coach Norries Wilson had great success when introducing the 3-3-5 to the team in 2006, but for whatever reasons, the Lions were not as effective in 2007. It is unlikely that Wilson—strategic as he is about keeping changes under wraps—will show any new defenses in the spring game, but that doesn’t mean that changes might not be on the horizon. The only way to find out for sure will be on to check back on Sept. 20 when the Lions kick off the 2008 season against Fordham in the Liberty Cup.