7th in media poll. No surprise.

[Jake]

League is up for grabs.

 

[44PRIDE]

We have a seasoned coaching staff, full stable of players, a senior QB that's had 4 years with the playbook......AND WE ARE STILL PROJECTED TO FINISH 7TH!

I know preseason polls mean nothing, but its still so totally frustrating.

 

[KaiserUEO]

We have a seasoned coaching staff, full stable of players, a senior QB that's had 4 years with the playbook......AND WE ARE STILL PROJECTED TO FINISH 7TH!

I know preseason polls mean nothing, but its still so totally frustrating.

yeah, but isnt this the 1st time in like 7 years they havnt been picked 8th?

'clonk!' on my way to 1st sam!!!

Oh Lord

 

[MaxwellCuse]

There is little respect for Syracuse in the Big East media or among Big East fans. There won't be any respect until we earn it. By playing and beating good teams, not multiple FCS teams. And by beating those FCS teams we do play soundly. We're playing a schedule that can earn respect this year, but only if we win.

 

[Millhouse]

a senior QB that's had 4 years with the playbook

you say that like it's a good thing in this instance

 

[Whitey23]

I'm surprised Cuse and Pitt weren't tied for 8th.

 

[LeMoyneCuse]

How does USF always get love in the preseason polls? They never play up to expectations.

 

[OrangeMojo]

We have a seasoned coaching staff, full stable of players, a senior QB that's had 4 years with the playbook......AND WE ARE STILL PROJECTED TO FINISH 7TH!

they're on a 5 game losing streak, went 1-7 in the conference last year, the one team they beat is gone and SU probably returns less starters than pretty much every other team in the conference - throw in a brutal OOC schedule and of course everyone is going to predict them at the bottom. If I didn't follow SU as closely as I do and saw a team that couldn't even beat that crappy UConn squad last year with only 12 starters returning I'd pick them only above Temple too.

 

[kingottoiii]

We have a seasoned coaching staff, full stable of players, a senior QB that's had 4 years with the playbook......AND WE ARE STILL PROJECTED TO FINISH 7TH!

I know preseason polls mean nothing, but its still so totally frustrating.

We have a lot of big ?s in most of our units. I only feel comfortable with QB, DT, and DB. And most people here question two of those three. We have a team that folded last year and has gotten worse start to finish every year under Marrone. We have a difficult pre BE schedule so we could be down heading into conf play. We have an OL that returns its two weak links, lost two experienced players, and will be missing its best player for nearly half the year. If the BE wasn't so goddamn bad we would be looking at a 2-3 W season this year. Instead we have an outside shot at winning the title.

This is the worst I have ever felt about SU FB preseason. I don't count 2008 as that was a lost year and meaningless before it even started.

 

[JeremyCuse]

they're on a 5 game losing streak, went 1-7 in the conference last year, the one team they beat is gone and SU probably returns less starters than pretty much every other team in the conference - throw in a brutal OOC schedule and of course everyone is going to predict them at the bottom. If I didn't follow SU as closely as I do and saw a team that couldn't even beat that crappy UConn squad last year with only 12 starters returning I'd pick them only above Temple too.

Mojo pretty much hit the nail on the head. No one should be surprised by this ranking. Between a ridiculously difficult OOC and a BE schedule that once again basically gives us 1 home for the last quarter of the season (oh by the way that home game is Lville the toughest BE team) its a miracle we aren't listed 8th.

 

[JJReddawg]

How does USF always get love in the preseason polls? They never play up to expectations.

Skip Holtz --->Lou Holtz---->Notre Dame

 

[SoBristol]

Could count up to 14 starters returning for the BE season (Pugh back by then; add Sales who has started in 2009-10 seasons). Plus, the kicking specialists are back. So, we might be better than most if the number of returning starters was the measure.

But it's not. It is the quality and depth that teams have at key positions. Recruiting successes (Louisville). Impact DEs for the pass rush. All-league LBs. Special teams that make positive differences.

 

[GoSU96]

We have a lot of big ?s in most of our units. I only feel comfortable with QB, DT, and DB. And most people here question two of those three. We have a team that folded last year and has gotten worse start to finish every year under Marrone. We have a difficult pre BE schedule so we could be down heading into conf play. We have an OL that returns its two weak links, lost two experienced players, and will be missing its best player for nearly half the year. If the BE wasn't so goddamn bad we would be looking at a 2-3 W season this year. Instead we have an outside shot at winning the title.

This is the worst I have ever felt about SU FB preseason. I don't count 2008 as that was a lost year and meaningless before it even started.

I thought Hay was the weak link?

 

[Faegan]

Who cares. Tell the players to get pissed. Go practice. Go play.

 

[billsin01]

I thought Hay was the weak link?

I'm not sure what this references with kingotto, but Hay was a pretty weak link. I'm not trying to knock the kid personally, but he struggled mightily at times.

 

[billsin01]

Could count up to 14 starters returning for the BE season (Pugh back by then; add Sales who has started in 2009-10 seasons). Plus, the kicking specialists are back. So, we might be better than most if the number of returning starters was the measure.

But it's not. It is the quality and depth that teams have at key positions. Recruiting successes (Louisville). Impact DEs for the pass rush. All-league LBs. Special teams that make positive differences.

Yes and yes and I'd add an OL that takes a step forward. There is so much focus on Nassib and we'd all love to have more playmakers at LB and WR. But, ultimately, they've already shown they can win in this league with the guys at WR and QB. If our LBs improve we should at least be OK there.

The scary part is that two of the three biggest names on this coaching staff -- the HC and Adkins (Shafer is the third) -- are OL guys and we've had an OL that has ranged from dreadfull to poor for three years. Yes, I realize this is all GRob's fault and the players' fault and none of the blame shall ever fall on a Syracuse head coach approved by alums, but any way you slice it, this area has to improve, perhaps dramatically, for us to have success.

Edit: And specials -- Christ. Please get better here. Please!!! I'm begging. I swear if nothing else changed from last year except far more consistent -- not even spectacular -- play from our specials we could at least be around .500 and bowling. Like with the offense and the OL, three years we might be able to rationalize, four years becomes a nasty trend.

 

[SU2NASA]

Who the cares? No matter what happens this year, I'll still be happy at the end of it that we're the ones getting the out.

 

[44PRIDE]

I thought Hay was the weak link?

I'm not sure what this references with kingotto, but Hay was a pretty weak link. I'm not trying to knock the kid personally, but he struggled mightily at times.

Oh look, another flag. I think Hay just jumped off-sides again....

 

[44PRIDE]

Who the **** cares? No matter what happens this year, I'll still be happy at the end of it that we're the ones getting the **** out.

I care. I really care...ALOT!

I'm tired of going into seasons staring a losing record in the face.
I'm tired of reading how Phil Steele predicts us not to hit a bowl-game...only to have our team jump out to a 5-1 record...then watching them blow it to prove him right.
I'm tired of waiting until next year.
I'm tired of reading how losing one player to injury (or suspension) will cause the team to fold. (Arthur/Chandler Jones, Delone Carter, Mike Williams, Marcus Sales...and now Justin Pugh)
I'm tired of reading the over-inflated skill reviews of our players in August camp...only to watch them get owned in November.

I'm tired of mediocre being acceptable....every single year.

 

[SU2NASA]

I care. I really care...ALOT!

I'm tired of going into seasons staring a losing record in the face.
I'm tired of reading how Phil Steele predicts us not to hit a bowl-game...only to have our team jump out to a 5-1 record...then watching them blow it to prove him right.
I'm tired of waiting until next year.
I'm tired of reading how losing one player to injury (or suspension) will cause the team to fold. (Arthur/Chandler Jones, Delone Carter, Mike Williams, Marcus Sales...and now Justin Pugh)
I'm tired of reading the over-inflated skill reviews of our players in August camp...only to watch them get owned in November.

I'm tired of mediocre being acceptable....every single year.

First, who cares what the media thinks?

Second, at the end of the year, if it is a shitty season - I'd rather be going to the ACC than going to a BCS game and being stuck in the Sun Beast. That's my point.

 

[SoBristol]

Yes and yes and I'd add an OL that takes a step forward. There is so much focus on Nassib and we'd all love to have more playmakers at LB and WR. But, ultimately, they've already shown they can win in this league with the guys at WR and QB. If our LBs improve we should at least be OK there.

...we've had an OL that has ranged from dreadfull to poor for three years. ...

Edit: ... if nothing else changed from last year except far more consistent -- not even spectacular -- play from our specials we could at least be around .500 and bowling. ...

OL -- at least we have candidates with size for the open positions, but the coaches have a lot of work to do in 4 weeks.
LBs -- seriously undersized, and no real stars. Spruill looked real good as a frosh, but did not take another step up when moved to the middle. No match for Hogue & Smith -- and they were the guys who carried the guys we had at WR and QB.
Pass rush -- this is the key to the defense. Have to hope that Calif juco is the real deal because the only other way we get pressures is by committing LBs.
Specials -- at least, for coverage teams, we have some depth in the key reserves (DB, LB, TE) that contribute to coverage. Not sure we will ever see a punt return or a punt block under the current coaches.

Now, every team has challenges entering August. We need a few positive surprises from a group that includes Broyld, Stevens, Thompson, West and Kobena, good health throughout the secondary, and a couple of linemen who didn't see the field last season (Sloan, Hickey, Robinson, Curtis, maybe Jones). As you work through this long list, at least we have a lot of possible upside.

 

[Millhouse]

We have a lot of big ?s in most of our units. I only feel comfortable with QB, DT, and DB. And most people here question two of those three. We have a team that folded last year and has gotten worse start to finish every year under Marrone. We have a difficult pre BE schedule so we could be down heading into conf play. We have an OL that returns its two weak links, lost two experienced players, and will be missing its best player for nearly half the year. If the BE wasn't so goddamn bad we would be looking at a 2-3 W season this year. Instead we have an outside shot at winning the title.

This is the worst I have ever felt about SU FB preseason. I don't count 2008 as that was a lost year and meaningless before it even started.

this is going to be the most forgettable year ever

it could be worse, some years are memorable for being so bad.

i think this year is a ho hum 4 or 5 win year. get it over with.

 

[OrangePA]

How does USF always get love in the preseason polls? They never play up to expectations.

They have great athletes - and a very good QB with a lot of experience.

 

[Scooch]

this is going to be the most forgettable year ever

it could be worse, some years are memorable for being so bad.

i think this year is a ho hum 4 or 5 win year. get it over with.

Yeah, I keep looking at this roster, and at our schedule, and I'm not seeing any more than a handful of wins, at best.

It's unfortunate because this conference is simply God-awful. One of those '99-'04 post-McNabb editions might have run the table in a league of this quality (as long as Walter Washington isn't suiting up for Temple).

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Yeah, I keep looking at this roster, and at our schedule, and I'm not seeing any more than a handful of wins, at best.

I'm really looking forward to the prediction thread when so many people through everything out the window and talk themselves into putting down 9 wins and a bowl victory.