2001 SU team vs 2018 team | Syracusefan.com

2001 SU team vs 2018 team

Eric15

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In a hypothetical matchup between these two squads, what would set as the point spread?

I debated this with some buddies yesterday and we had mixed feelings. I put this team at about a 3.5 point favorite.
 
Man that's a tough one. That offense wasn't very good but Freeney was more of a game changer than anyone on this team. I think this team wins by 7. I think Dino is smart enough to keep Freeney from taking over the game and the 2001 offense can't keep up.
 
I think this would actually be a compelling match up. Complete opposites in terms of strengths and weaknesses.

2018 could honestly sell out to stop the 2001 run. Didn't that 01 team have small corners? If so, could exploit that with Custis. Lots of short routes to negate Freeney.

I think it would be close early, with 18 pulling away.
 
Honestly, it doesn’t translate. The game is so much different now that defenses from as little as 15 years ago would look elementary to today’s high powered offenses.

The game utilizes spacing and speed more now than ever.

We’d roll today if that team jumped out of a time machine into the carrier dome.
 
Since we're going hypothetical, let's combine this offense with that defense. We lose to Bama in the Title game.
 
This isn't worthy of starting a new thread, but just for fun...

1998 McNabb senior year team vs. 2018 team -- point spread?
 
2018 vs 2001 all comes down to two things:

1. Whether this years squad would be capable of stopping Mungro. If not, 2001 wins a tight one which would be relatively high scoring. If so, I think this years team wins by multiple scores, maybe even via blowout. The 2001 team was strong in a lot of areas where this team has been weak, but I tend to think they could keep Freeney from taking the game over, and that the offensive talent in 2018 is stronger elsewhere than the defensive talent in 2001.

2. Whether the 2001 OLine can stop the 2018 DLine. We let up around 2 sacks per game in 2001, and our DLine has been vicious this season. If they proved incapable of protecting RJ Anderson and Nunes, it would probably put them in a hole that their running game couldn't dig their way out of.
 
What's crazy is that we already have equaled our 1998 win total, which makes this one a tough call for me. A big part of me thinks McNabb goes ABSOLUTELY CRAZY against our defense. Who do we have at linebacker who would have a prayer of staying with him on the run, and who do we have in the secondary to stop McNabb to Johnson? The 1998 team put up 60+ in 25% of their games, I don't see us slowing them down too much.

On the other hand, that 1998 team gave up 30+ in 33% of their games, so I think Dungey and company would also have some success. I don't see anyone on that Syracuse defense who is shutting down this years offense.

Ultimately, I probably go 1998 team at -4.5.

This isn't worthy of starting a new thread, but just for fun...

1998 McNabb senior year team vs. 2018 team -- point spread?
 
This isn't worthy of starting a new thread, but just for fun...

1998 McNabb senior year team vs. 2018 team -- point spread?
Hmmm, I may actually prefer the 1997 team. Give up a little offense for way better defense. Darius and Jones may have made our recievers cry if they didn't get ejected first for accidentally killing Riley.
 
Different era, but Freeneys impact on a game can’t be overstated. He destroyed every OT not named McKinnice that year. He would still be the best player on the field.

I love this team, but 2001 made a lot of really good offenses disintegrate. I think it would be really close...certainly down to the wire.
 
This isn't worthy of starting a new thread, but just for fun...

1998 McNabb senior year team vs. 2018 team -- point spread?

97 and 98 teams had national championship talent IMO. They are both favored by 10 vs this squad. THis team is fantastic but not sure anyone would say this is playoff talent.
 
97 and 98 teams had national championship talent IMO. They are both favored by 10 vs this squad. THis team is fantastic but not sure anyone would say this is playoff talent.

I believe the highest ranking for those teams was 19th at the end of the year.
 
Those teams in the 90’s underachieved.

In the end Babers>Paqualoni when it comes to getting his team ready for each game.
 
I believe the highest ranking for those teams was 19th at the end of the year.

1997 got up to 13th and 1998 got up to 11th. Both plummeted after losing to NC State.
 
Different era, but Freeneys impact on a game can’t be overstated. He destroyed every OT not named McKinnice that year. He would still be the best player on the field.

I love this team, but 2001 made a lot of really good offenses disintegrate. I think it would be really close...certainly down to the wire.

That game really pissed me off. Freeney torched McKinnie, who held him all game long. There were several times that Dwight got by him, and McKinnie would just fall on him to drag him down from behind -- no flag.

I remember watching a game between the Colts / Vikings several years ago, and Freeney again annihilated that overrated POS to get some sacks. Made me shake my head.
 
The 2001 team was out-gained on the year:

175-170 rushing + 155-189 passing = 330-359 total offense. They fumbled 11 times and lost 7. They forced 27 fumbles and recovered 17. They intercepted 13 passes and got intercepted 13 times for a +15 turnover margin. The was Freeney, pure and simply. We'd have had a losing record without him.

This year's team is a much better team overall but does not have any single individual who could dominate a game like Freeney. But I think pace and versatility of the 2018 team would have won the day.

The 1998 team was more talented than the 2018 team but was more occasionally great than consistently good. But I think the 2019 team will be more talented than either of them.
 
It's impossible to compare teams from different decades, but the 87 (11-0-1) team was better than any of the late 90's / early 2000 teams. A healthy Gregory (DL) made the 87 team special. Without him, the D was still above average. in addition, Coach Mac was a better HC than Coach P.
 

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