2025 Preseason Camp Thread | Syracusefan.com

2025 Preseason Camp Thread

I asked the question in another thread. Does anyone know if the players will be staying in dorms again during camp?
 
Should be a very exciting camp with real position battles throughout the depth chart.

Outside of the much discussed battle for QB1 between Angeli and Collins, I think there are two areas of this team that will dictate our season.

1. Offensive Line
  • Last year we had a great Offence, we didn’t have a great Offensive Line. Nixon’s week-to-week/ in-game scheme adjustments and play calling + McCord’s ability to process and distribute faster than anyone in the country might have given us the illusion of a good offensive line, but I think they were average at best.
  • Nixon and that big brain of his are back, but even the most orange-tinged Cuse fan knows that neither Angeli nor Collins will be at McCord’s level of quick processing and quick trigger throws.
  • Thankfully the staff spent a lot of time at the stockyards and brought in some quality bulls and steers through the portal: Rice (Former 5 Star), Ferguson & Pringle (Former 4 Stars), Collins & Bertrand (High 3 Stars) and True Freshman/ Bi-pedal Mountain Byron Washington was here for the Spring (if Matthew Bergeron could effectively start as a True Freshman, why can’t Washington get in the mix?)
  • I think we’ve built solid depth here over the last couple classes, and injected some more seasoned beef to the unit through the portal. I have faith we will have a deeper and more talented top 10 O-lineman this year than last year
  • Will a solid top 5 separate themselves and gel by August 30th?
2. Pass Rush
  • We basically averaged only 2 sacks a game last year, and we lost arguably our two best pass rushers to the NFL (Diggs & Wax).
  • I don’t have data to support this beyond the eye test and my questionable memory, but it seemed like Robinson wasn’t big on blitzing to get pressure and wanted to rely and his front four to generate a pass rush.
  • Will Robinson come into 2025 with a similar approach? Or will he let the dogs eat and get more aggressive and creative with pressure?
  • We brought in David Reese through the portal, who had 16 TFLs and 11 Sacks over the past two seasons with Cal. I think he will be relied on as our best “twitchy” pass rusher.
  • Redshirt Sophomore “Slimy” David Omopariola seems to have all of the tools needed to be a great pass rusher. Does he make a jump and settle in as a mainstay on passing downs?
  • We also had four True Freshman DL enrolled in January, so maybe one or some of those guys will surprise and shoot up the depth chart.
  • Overall, I think we have a lot of depth and talent for 3-tech & 5-tech DL (think traditional DTs and traditional 3-4 DEs), but do we have guys who can lineup outside the tackle and quickly beat their man off the snap to cause some chaos?
Overall I’m optimistic, but unfortunately OL and DL are the hardest position groups for the media and us keyboard warriors to evaluate before August 30th.

Go Cuse!
 
It will all come down to the play of our oline and dline. If they do what we need, I feel good about the skill guys to then perform on offense and if our dline is doing what they need, it will make it easier for our LBs and DBs and I think there's enough talent in those 2 groups to optimize a good dline.
 
steve deberg said:
Should be a very exciting camp with real position battles throughout the depth chart.

Outside of the much discussed battle for QB1 between Angeli and Collins, I think there are two areas of this team that will dictate our season.

1. Offensive Line
  • Last year we had a great Offence, we didn’t have a great Offensive Line. Nixon’s week-to-week/ in-game scheme adjustments and play calling + McCord’s ability to process and distribute faster than anyone in the country might have given us the illusion of a good offensive line, but I think they were average at best.
  • Nixon and that big brain of his are back, but even the most orange-tinged Cuse fan knows that neither Angeli nor Collins will be at McCord’s level of quick processing and quick trigger throws.
  • Thankfully the staff spent a lot of time at the stockyards and brought in some quality bulls and steers through the portal: Rice (Former 5 Star), Ferguson & Pringle (Former 4 Stars), Collins & Bertrand (High 3 Stars) and True Freshman/ Bi-pedal Mountain Byron Washington was here for the Spring (if Matthew Bergeron could effectively start as a True Freshman, why can’t Washington get in the mix?)
  • I think we’ve built solid depth here over the last couple classes, and injected some more seasoned beef to the unit through the portal. I have faith we will have a deeper and more talented top 10 O-lineman this year than last year
  • Will a solid top 5 separate themselves and gel by August 30th?
2. Pass Rush
  • We basically averaged only 2 sacks a game last year, and we lost arguably our two best pass rushers to the NFL (Diggs & Wax).
  • I don’t have data to support this beyond the eye test and my questionable memory, but it seemed like Robinson wasn’t big on blitzing to get pressure and wanted to rely and his front four to generate a pass rush.
  • Will Robinson come into 2025 with a similar approach? Or will he let the dogs eat and get more aggressive and creative with pressure?
  • We brought in David Reese through the portal, who had 16 TFLs and 11 Sacks over the past two seasons with Cal. I think he will be relied on as our best “twitchy” pass rusher.
  • Redshirt Sophomore “Slimy” David Omopariola seems to have all of the tools needed to be a great pass rusher. Does he make a jump and settle in as a mainstay on passing downs?
  • We also had four True Freshman DL enrolled in January, so maybe one or some of those guys will surprise and shoot up the depth chart.
  • Overall, I think we have a lot of depth and talent for 3-tech & 5-tech DL (think traditional DTs and traditional 3-4 DEs), but do we have guys who can lineup outside the tackle and quickly beat their man off the snap to cause some chaos?
Overall I’m optimistic, but unfortunately OL and DL are the hardest position groups for the media and us keyboard warriors to evaluate before August 30th.

Go Cuse!
Expand...
Great write-up. I certainly hope Robinson gets more aggressive. Fran refused to criticize Robinson last year when his decision to not pressure the QB on the key play against Stanford lost that game. That decision to play passive led to a loss at home to the worst team in the ACC. Inexcusable.

Having Freeney on staff hopefully leads to better edge rushing.
 
OrangeinBoston said:
Great write-up. I certainly hope Robinson gets more aggressive. Fran refused to criticize Robinson last year when his decision to not pressure the QB on the key play against Stanford lost that game. That decision to play passive led to a loss at home to the worst team in the ACC. Inexcusable.

Having Freeney on staff hopefully leads to better edge rushing.
Expand...
Fran says the end of Stanford was all on him. He called the defense and didn’t listen to his staff.
 
GoSU96 said:
Fran says the end of Stanford was all on him. He called the defense and didn’t listen to his staff.
Expand...
He may just be providing cover for his staff (like a good boss does).

I certainly hope Fran and Robinson aren’t two pees in a no pressure pod (from a defensive philosophy standpoint).

Unless we have 2-3 guys who can consistently win with speed and finesse in obvious passing situations, we need to bring pressure more than we did last year.
 
OrangeinBoston said:
Great write-up. I certainly hope Robinson gets more aggressive. Fran refused to criticize Robinson last year when his decision to not pressure the QB on the key play against Stanford lost that game. That decision to play passive led to a loss at home to the worst team in the ACC. Inexcusable.

Having Freeney on staff hopefully leads to better edge rushing.
Expand...
Robinson did the worst combo on the Stanford disaster. Somehow dropping back and leaving the NFL draft pick WR in single coverage. If you're going to play wimp ball at least double the obvious WR1. If you're going to single cover the receivers then bring the house. This dude did neither and should have been fired on the spot.
 
steve deberg said:
He may just be providing cover for his staff (like a good boss does).

I certainly hope Fran and Robinson aren’t two pees in a no pressure pod (from a defensive philosophy standpoint).

Unless we have 2-3 guys who can consistently win with speed and finesse in obvious passing situations, we need to bring pressure more than we did last year.
Expand...
Go to 4:13

 
OrangeFreek said:
no crazy talk of practice starting TOMORROW??? WOW!!! WAKE UP PEOPLE! HAHAHAHA
Expand...

i need a crash course refresher on the 2deep

I feel like we signed 3-4 transfer OL

angeli vs collins

is 17 year old demetreus really going to play both ways AND at a high level? hell yeah if both are true

This is a mostly intact coaching staff (at least HC/OC/DC) - what did you all learn from last year to avoid shirts in 2025 with 4th and 9, 4th and 1

young team with a tough schedule - how will they handle it

WE MADE IT
 
If it makes you feel any better. Camp actually started today. But I agree. Feel like there has been a real lack of videos, behind the scenes stuff, hype compared to last year. I’m just eager for some camp videos, media questions to players and coaches. Give me something
 
This is the best summary I have seen
RF2044 said:
Right on. I get the concerns -- and not just about the schedule. We have a LOT of unknowns / question marks right now, across MANY positional units:
  • Losing the most prolific QB in program history
  • Losing a stud RB who had 1000+ yards rushing / 500+ yards receiving [only achieved something like 6 times since 2000 in college football]
  • Losing the top three WRs [counting OG here]
  • OL turnover
  • Losing a key DT
  • Losing our most versatile rush specialist
  • Losing our best LB
  • Losing several key players in the secondary

So on paper, massive losses on both sides of the ball. So I get why the pundits and people who don't follow the team as closely as we do would have doubts.

However, we have potential answers to each of those question marks:
  • Angeli could be ready to break out, and could be poised to thrive in our system
  • Willis gained experience last year, and is bigger than Allen
  • Return several key WRs ready to step up, and got two key portal transfers [including a 5 star]
  • Landed several portal transfer OL, who COULD [emphasis on "could"] improve the unit
  • We brought in two experienced portal transfer DTs, who could IMPROVE the DT unit
  • Brought in a productive portal transfer who is similar to Diggs [probably not as good]
  • Brought in a stud LB portal transfer, who was prolific at a lower level conference
  • Safety experience could stabilize the secondary, and we have recruited well here [HS and portal]

But those things are unproven until they prove it on the field. So... it isn't hopeless. We just need some things to fall into place favorably, which certainly could happen -- but also isn't a guarantee.

I believe in Fran. And it looks like on paper we re-stocked. But we really won't know until the Tennessee game.
Expand...
 
Last edited:
I think we need to wait until mid season to judge this team...too many new moving pieces to expect excellence out the box.
 
UD1954 said:
I think we need to wait until mid season to judge this team...too many new moving pieces to expect excellence out the box.
Expand...
Other than Clemson and SMU I think the same could be said for every team on the schedule. Seems like every team has had lots of movement.
I’m not worried as others at RB if Nixon comes back healthy. It will be running back by committee.
WR seems like a strong group. TE is a TBD.
OL is a complete remake. Fran clearly was not happy after spring and went out and got almost a whole new line. I expect Pringle LT, Ferguson LG, Collins C, Wetherspoon RT. Only unknown position RG. There will be quality backups Rice, Beltran, Miller, Cruz.
DL looks good but need a true pass rush specialist.
LB is a TBD
S are all experienced upper classmen.
CB is another TBD.
 
UD1954 said:
I think we need to wait until mid season to judge this team...too many new moving pieces to expect excellence out the box.
Expand...
No we don't. Looking forward to analyze each play and each player. Fun times being a fan!
 
OrangeXtreme said:
Expand...

1000005598.gif
 

Similar threads

OrangeXtreme
    • Like
    • Don't Like
2025-26 All-ACC Team / All-Academic Team
2
Replies
39
Views
3K
Cstate
C

Forum statistics

Threads
175,117
Messages
5,328,085
Members
6,227
Latest member
cuse_1997

Online statistics

Members online
288
Guests online
3,934
Total visitors
4,222
Totals may include hidden visitors.


Top Bottom