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More Clues from Saturday's Media Day

As we Lehigh fans get more clues on what our football team may be like in 2006, this picture to my left seems to show something: #11, senior ILB Travis Stinson, isn't fighting for a job - he's pencilled in. After the first scrimmage of 2006 this past weekend, some more answers... and more questions.

Announcing media day this year were three online articles, one from LehighSports.com, one from the Morning Call and one from the Express-Times. (There's a nice photo gallery as well from Media Day on the school website - but you may want to ask coach Coen why Kevin Ackler, Brannan Thomas, Greg Fay and Lee Thomas are *gasp* sitting down in their respective shots... a little winded, are we, from the picture-taking?)

Nothing really new enough to warrant a press mash-up, but there are some interesting developments to take note:

* The big bombshell from the Morning Call is that senior DT Royce Morgan is going through "personal and academic issues", and his status is uncertain. Of course we're all pulling for Royce to get through, but the prospect of having a 255 lb gap in the defensive line is one I'd rather not face. Coach Coen did single out DL Erik Rakus for praise, however, so it looks to me like he will get the nod at NT. His role will increase if Morgan is unable to play.

* Senior DB(/LB?) Rusty Campion appears to be impressing in camp, with a stint with the first-team offense on Saturday. Also catching coach Coen's eye are DBs Aaron Gilliard and Daynin Blake. It's got to be good news that we have plenty of depth throughout our secondary. I think Campion will be getting more looks through practice...

* The Morning Call said that senior CB Brannan Thomas was still recovering from a separated shoulder, but it sure didn't look like it from the media day photos....

* Junior OL Ben Caffery had a major knee injury, with early returns showing he could be out 4-6 weeks. A terrible blow to a good kid who was looking at a backup tackle role.

* Our three RBs - senior RB marques Thompson, sophomore RB Matt McGowan and junior RB Josh Pastore all look very good. I still think creative ways will need to be devised to get the ball in the hands of all three guys. All looked great Saturday from all reports.

* P/K Jason Leo is getting high marks both with a strong and accurate leg.

* Is "Air Lehigh" finished? There were no "wristbands" at practice with the complicated Lehigh aerial attack from years past. As of yet, there's no real "burner" on the edge like WR Gerran "G" Walker. Though I like the new emphasis on running, will the passing game be the same again?

I think the real unwritten story this offseason is that last point - the possibility that Air Lehigh will be grounded in 2006. Are we seeing a run-first mentality? No more hurry-up offense? No more complicated spread shotgun formations? All key questions in face of Lehigh's home opener September 2nd, now a scant 12 days away.

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