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Georgetown Football: 2007 Season Preview

The first year of coach Kevin Kelly's tenure did not lack for effort or enthusiasm, but the team's offensive struggles put the Hoyas two steps back of nearly every team it faced. Its 2-9 record set a school record for the most losses in a season, largely the result of a -16 turnover margin that cost it critical leverage in at least three close games last year. This year's squad sees significant improvements in the backfield tempered by major surgery on an offensive line that is vital to Georgetown getting the ball beyond the line of scrimmage. An upgraded schedule has traded in two weaker Ivies (Columbia, Brown), for two better ones (Yale, Penn), giving Georgetown a major test for 2007. The seeds are in place, but is there enough time in 2007 for the Hoyas to grow?

Offensive Line

With one returning letterman returning to the offensive line, it's a cause of considerable concern heading into the 2007 season.

The 2006 season saw an underrated line, but only sophomore center Dan Matheny returns. He's added 20 pounds to his frame for 2007, but at 6-2, 260, Matheny is still somewhat small among the league's centers.

Interior depth was expected from rising juniors Jerry Batchelder and Tom Hutton, but neither returned to the team this season. Sophomore lineman James Cherundolo, ranked as the #18 senior in New York as a senior in 2005, is off the roster as well. With holes to fill, the 2007 media guide reports that senior Dan Osterhout (6-4, 300) will move to guard, while sophomore Kelvin Moses (6-4, 280) will get his first game experience as early as the Stony Brook game. More changes follow at the tackles, where senior Brad White (6-3, 250) is an early candidate for the starting role, while junior Collin Meador (6-3, 245) moves from special teams. None have started a game on the line in their college careers. The Hoyas' heaviest player from 2006 was 320 lb. lineman Tom Amaro, who has dropped down to 285 and may be a legitimate candidate at tackle this season.

Georgetown added only three freshmen as offensive linemen, ranging between 230 and 250 lbs. Each figures to use 2007 as a preparatory year to compete for positions next year.

Lineman in the Georgetown system need to be as agile as they are physical, so an early test of the line will be in how they react to more active offensive sets, not only in moving the line forward, but in adjusting to shifts and opening holes on the outside. The line's ability to achieve this within the Kelly system may be the single most important development of the Hoyas this season.

Receivers, Backs

Since 2001, the Patriot League era has seen a revolving door of names in the starting slot for Georgetown: David Paulus, Morgan Booth, Sean Peterson, Andrew Crawford, Alondzo Turner, Keith Allan, Nick Cangelosi, Ben Hostetler, and now Matt Bassuener. Bassuener is the undisputed starter entering the season, with Cangelosi having graduated and Hostetler pursuing lacrosse. In fact, of Georgetown's six QB's on the roster last season, only two (Bassuener and reserve Brad Hartung) return in 2007.

Bassuener started eight games, throwing for 1,359 yards and 15 of the Hoyas' 22 overall TD's last season. Bassuener's size and speed fits the Hoyas' offensive sets, and while not a pure drop-back passer in the mold of a David Paulus, nor in the running mold as an Alondzo Turner, Bassuener can provide a steady hand on the offensive engine for the Hoyas, which will feature some of its best offensive weapons in years.

A concern, however, is stability. In the last seven years, only one Georgetown QB has been able to start all 11 games in a season. For the Hoyas to make progress in 2007, Bassuener must remain consistent as well as healthy, as the coaches must avoid the temptation to yank Bassuener early.

Georgetown's second string QB is converted running back Robert Lane, who had a successful spring practice season but would be starting from scratch with game experience. Lane doesn't possess breakout speed, but inserting him in a lineup alongside Bassuener could pose some interesting options for the play calling.

Junior QB Brad Hartung and three freshmen should be limited to sideline time--but that's what fans thought about Bassuener, too.

The running back corps shows great potential, led by PL Rookie of the Year Charlie Houghton. Houghton's stats don't look overly impressive (403 yards) but his end of season production was clearly in evidence by the PL coaches which awarded him the season-ending honors. Houghton was out of spring practice with injuries, but is expected to be ready to go in the season opener. He'll be joined by at least there considerable options at the "slot" back position, with senior Emir Davis, junior Kenny Mitchell and sophomore transfer Luke Lagera in the mix.

After three years at fullback, Erik Carter did not return to the team in 2007, leaving the Hoyas with another big hole to fill. Receiver Kyle Van Fleet has been tabbed to move behind the line, but at 6-1, 220, he will be tested to help Houghton and the quicker backs get yardage. Spring practices suggest additional support coming from junior Dean Duchak and sophomore Matt Burgner who saw time at fullback late last season.

Some better news may be in store in the receiver corps, where 12 of 15 returners have game experience.

With Van Fleet and Mitchell moving off the line, senior Brent Craft figures to be a key element if the Hoyas choose to go in the air. Craft is coming off a career season for a team not always known for major passing stats, and figures to give Bassuener reasonable options in the secondary. Juniors Anthony Homsey and Sidney Baker also will see time, with Baker's speed in the secondary worth watching.

Defensive Line, Linebackers

For the second straight year, Georgetown will be replacing a mainstay in its defensive line and linebacker corps, but with four veteran starters, Georgetown appears up to the challenge.

Senior Nnamdi Obiako will join returning juniors Anthony DiTomasso and Ataefiok Etukeren on the defensive line. Etukeren could be a breakout performer this year, following up on a 2006 season which saw him finish second to Alex Buzbee in sacks and post 52 tackles. Nick Umar was also a key contributor, with 21 tackles last season.

Georgetown also sees good things at linebacker where seniors Mike Greene and Stephen Smith could contend for conference honors. Greene is among the team leaders in tackles while Smith finished eighth in tackles overall. The third position appears to be in play as of August, with a number of contenders from both the upperclass and underclassmen ranks.

Secondary, Special Teams

Georgetown's depth will be tested in the secondary. The Hoyas finished 104th of 116 teams in pass efficiency defense and this secondary figures to be a target this season. However, of the 16 players profiled in the 2006 media guide for the safeties and corners, only four remain in the discussion in 2007. Graduation, injuries, and attrition have taken its toll on what was still a secondary work in progress, leaving Georgetown even more holes to fill.

Sophomore Travis Mack appears as a likely starter at safety, with Kevin Cherepski at cornerback. Mack's 37 tackles elevated his efforts heading into 2007, while Cherepski was the team's leading tackler returning for 2007. The remaining positions could be filled from a variety of candidates including safeties Darren Craft, John Lancaster, and Chris Parker, along with corners Darren Alberti and Torre Soderlund. Lancaster has played a variety of positions over his career-the 2007 media guide lists him in the secondary but his bio places him at running back.

Special teams remain stable entering 2007. Punter Christopher MacGriff and place kicker Eric Bjonerud return for their senior seasons, with MacGriff averaging 37 yards a kick while Bjonerud took only four field goal attempts all season, connecting on three. Both figure to see time on kickoffs.

The Hoyas' return game looks promising as well. Kenny Mitchell remains the Hoyas' go-to returner, but a number of options among the freshman offer some opportunity to see new names rise to the forefront.

Freshmen

If all goes well in 2007, freshmen will be under the radar for Georgetown. It's sometimes easy to point to a recruit with considerable local buzz in his hometown or on a recruiting web site and point to them as the next big thing, but experience proves otherwise. Many of the "name" recruits that have opted to go to Georgetown in recent years have never made the lineup and did not make it past a season or two.

The coaches know that there is considerable potential in this year's group, but they must make it happen in practice and on the field. It's that kind of effort which elevated Charlie Houghton last season, and it could do again for another freshman this season. Where basketball previews can point to a player or two and assume immediate results, football isn't as exact. There are as many as five freshmen which could likely make an impact on the starting lineup by season's end, but it's up to the coaches (and the players themselves) to make that happen.

Schedule

Kevin Kelly didn't build this schedule, but he's got to live with it.

Georgetown will likely be an underdog in at least 10 of the 11 games this season. The Hoyas open at Stony Brook on September 1, a team Georgetown has defeated three straight times. What makes 2007 different is that Stony Brook has added 42 scholarships en route to its joining the Big South Conference and sees this game as a must-win in its development. The Hoyas are 1-3 in games against merit-based scholarship teams in the PL era.

The Hoyas return for three of its next four games at home in September. Lafayette (September 8) returns 12 starters from the 2006 PL title team and has won three straight against the Hoyas. Yale arrives on September 15 as the defending Ivy champion and its pre-season favorite for 2007. The Bulldogs return nine defensive starters and feature the Ivy's top returning back in Mike McLeod. It's the first ever meeting between the schools and kicks off a six year series.

Georgetown goes on the road to Worcester on September 22 for a game with Holy Cross. The Crusaders have defeated the Hoyas seven straight times and most haven't been close, as the HC passing attack has traditionally played havoc with inexperienced GU secondaries. Quarterback Dominic Randolph leads the Crusaders in defense of its 7-4 record in 2006, its best finish since 2000 and only its third winning season since 1992.

Homecoming follows on September 29 with Cornell. The Big Red is picked for a mid-level finish in the Ivy, but routed the Hoyas 57-7 in 2005. Georgetown will be attempting to stretch a run of seven straight Homecoming wins before the home crowd.

October figures to be an equally tough test for the Hoyas. Georgetown's first visit to Philadelphia since 1948 arrives October 6, which sees the Hoyas meet Pennsylvania, a pre-season Ivy contender with 16 returning starters, 10 of which made All-Ivy teams. On October 13, Georgetown hosts Fordham in a battle of the supposed cellar dwellers in the 2007 race. Don't tell that to the Rams, who return 10 offensive starters and 17 overall from a unit which put up 423 yards on the Hoyas in last year's season finale.

The Hoyas go one the road for three straight as the season hits the final stretch. Bucknell (Oct. 20) returns 15 starters for the nation's #5-ranked running game in 2006. A week later, Georgetown visits Lehigh, where the Engineers have never lost to the Hoyas in I-AA play, with margins of victory not fewer than three touchdowns in any one game. Lehigh returns only eight starters from last season's 6-5 team, but will be led by 2000+ yard passer Sedale Threatt.

The road half of the schedule concludes Nov. 4 at Marist, which at first glance appears to be a game strongly in GU's favor. Marist has played opponents tough in recent years and nearly upset the Hoyas last season, falling 24-21 in Washington in the last three minutes of the game. In its MAAC days, Leonidoff Field gave the Hoyas fits, with three Georgetown wins coming by a combined total of eight points, including two one point wins. Expect Marist to be ready in this one.

The season concludes Nov. 11 at home with Colgate, with 14 returning starters and an All-America candidate in LB Mike Gallihugh. Georgetown coughed up five turnovers in last season's 31-14 loss in Hamilton, NY.

The schedule is a challenging one, but one which can continue Georgetown's progress up the Patriot League ladder.The coaching is there, the recruiting is there, and now it's time to see the results on the field.