 |
| Team, Excellence, Attitude, Class |
However, times are changing up at Lewis and Clark. Head Coach Jay Locey and his staff are in their 3rd year in taking over a program in the gutter and has slowly but surely are turning the nose up on the fortunes of the Pioneers. The first real signs of life for Lewis & Clark was registering the first win under Coach Locey with a 40-29 road victory over Pomona-Pitzer back on September 16th. The Pios followed that up with their first conference win over Willamette since the 2000 season. The momentum was finally derailed last week up at Puget Sound in a 35-13 loss at Puget Sound but the 2017 season has already been a success on many levels for Lewis & Clark.
The Pios offense leans on a nearly 50/50 pass to run ratio out of the shotgun and putting up a respectable 320 yards per off. Leading the charge for Lewis and Clark is an improved offense with Freshman QB Sawyer May calling the shots for the Pioneers. May has a nice touch on the football and has shown an ability to extend plays with his legs while looking for a capable group of receivers led by Sophomore Heisman Hosoda who has pulled in 18 receptions for 295 yards and 3 TDs.
L&C is splitting up the running back duties with a thunder and lightning combo with senior Erik Hawkins being the lightning (5’ 8”, 180lbs) portion of the duo (44 rushes, 177 yards, and 44.3 YPG) and bruising freshman Michael Abraham (6’ 2”, 230lbs) acting as the Thunder (45 rushes, 135 yards, 33.8 YPG, and 2 TDs). May is also someone who can pull the ball down and run but has also fumbled the ball three times so far this season.
Over on Defense, we’ll see another 3-4 defensive front with a number of active linebackers. The Pioneers did bring back a great majority of their defensive starters but are currently giving up 30.5 PPG and allowing 401.8 yards per game as well. It’s an improved group but they are still giving up the second most points in the conference and have yet to play the top end of the NWC.
For Linfield, Saturday is another opportunity for this team to put another foot forward and continue to grow. I still think this 2017 Linfield isn’t near their ceiling of what they could be, but over the past weeks, the ‘Cats have taken significant steps towards the finished product. Linfield still has many areas where they could tighten up their game and other areas (i.e. kickoff coverage) where Linfield can’t wait much longer to get on the stick. Again, I think this Saturday again comes down the mindset and maturity. The Pioneers are improved and the roster is improved significantly from just a few years back. Even with that said, if Linfield puts in a strong week of practice and shows up on The Hill on a mission, our ‘Cats should be an animal that the Pioneers haven’t seen up to this point in their season.
Wildcat11’s Keys To Victory
Another opportunity to get better: At Linfield, you only get nine guaranteed chances to play football per season and this team has the chance to build towards something great. Each week you can see the improvement, guys getting more settled in the role, leadership continuing to emerge, young players earning more opportunities to make their mark, etc, etc. This Saturday is another chance for this group to take another step towards who this team will ultimately be. Seize the moment and keep on playing Linfield football for four quarters.
Be physical at the point of attack: That is one of the biggest strengths of this 2017 Linfield football team is our physicality on the line of scrimmage, the way our backers fill holes, and the way our receivers have been getting after it on the perimeter in the blocking game. If the ‘Cats want to take control of Saturday’s game and put it away as quick as possible, Linfield has to bring it in terms of establishing the brute force nature of this team. Let ‘em know.
Run The Hill: Linfield’s offense is going to see another 3-4 front this week out of Lewis and Clark. Andrew Werst is a big and tough defensive end that will need to be dealt with on the line and the Pio linebackers are active. However, L&C is giving up 164.8 rushing yards a game and they haven’t seen the front line or RB talent of Linfield up to this point. The ‘Cats have to make them pay early and often on the ground.
Don’t give up big plays: For as incredible as our defense has been this year every now and again an offense can use Linfield’s aggression to their advantage and pop a big play. If the Pios are going to put points up on the board against the ‘Cats, then let’s make L&C earn it and not give them an easy one on a blown coverage or assignment.
Make ‘em pay in the passing game: Linfield’s passing game has improved dramatically since the first game of the season and we know if the ‘Cats can get rolling in the rushing attack, Linfield is going to eventually take their shots deep throwing the ball. Linfield needs to connect on these plays and put the pressure on the L&C defensive backfield to not overcommit to defending the run for fear of giving up the big play.
Kick off team pin them deep: I’m throwing down the gauntlet for Linfield’s kick off team this week. I want to see some pins between the 10-20 yard line this week and no returns past the 35-yard line. This group has a truckload of talent, and I know the coaching is there. It’s a matter of the players deciding that they’re going to get the job done.
Overall.
‘Cats by 21. Lewis & Clark is in a much better place in year 3 of their Jay Locey era. They are getting better players and retaining them. The Pios are on a path towards respectability and while they will compete hard this weekend, this Linfield team should be way too much for them to handle. The ‘Cats will have more size, talent, speed, depth, and unless Linfield comes into the game asleep at the wheel, should eventually seize control and open up a sizable lead. I can’t wait to see this Linfield team have another chance to compete. They are onto something special in the ‘Catdome.
No comments:
Post a Comment