A couple of quick post-game impressions

[RMH44]

• I'm no fan of Pyrrhic victories, but our kids had to gain some confidence today. When was the last time we played competitively with a top 10 team? 10+ years? Sitting at 3-1, we're very well positioned for the month of October, with some winnable games on the upcoming schedule. I love our chances in the 50/50 games on our remaining schedule, given what we've seen

• Love Lester's offense. There, I said it.

• Zach Mahoney is legit. The future is bright at the QB position these next few years. Kudos to the staff for leaving no stone unturned on the recruiting trail.

• It was so much fun to see our ultra conservative head coach lay it all on the line and play like we had nothing to lose, instead of playing not to lose. Hope we see more of that this season.

• Leonard Fournette is a rare talent. Seems like a real class act, too. We won't play another guy nearly as talented the rest of the season.

• Brisly Estime is a legit difference maker. What a talent. It is great to FINALLY have a player that teams / opposing DC's need to game plan for.

• Special teams was great today, punt return notwithstanding. Hope we see the same type of play the rest of the year, because it was a big factor.

• Two years ago, we went on the road against a top team [FSU] and looked like a JV squad playing against the big boys. Tons of players injured, etc. Today, we held our own and escaped without injuries. Despite being short handed, we looked like we belonged.

• The defense continues to get better and better. Heading into the season, the front 7 were a question mark. I don't think there are any question marks about that group anymore. Still need to figure out some stuff at CB.

• Antwon Cordy is legit. So is Rodney Williams. Safety was a huge concern heading into the season, but I like the development of these youngsters [I'll add Scissum in here, as well].

• Ron Thompson is playing like a first or second round pick. He's making a ton of plays now that he's healthy. Great to see.

• Speaking of DEs, entering the season, we had a TON of question marks with that unit, but Thompson, Arcinega, and Simmons have really stepped up.

• One of the biggest adjustments that probably went unnoticed was shifting Emerich into the starting lineup for Shanley. Nothing against the walk on--he's going to provide quality depth. But in several instances this year, Emerich has had to come into the game and has more than held his own. Trudo is better at OG than C. OL was one of the "weakest" positional units on the team, and I believe this move solidifies things for the last 2/3 of the season. Great adjustment by the staff.

• We have an extra week off to prepare for our first road game. I love our chances against USF.

• Eric Dungey will have three full weeks to recuperate from that brutal hit, to say nothing of get more comfortable with his overall capability of running the full offense.

• It was great to see a packed house... even if nearly 1/4 of the crowd was LSU fans. I hope the fair weather fans had their eyes opened today about what this team's potential is.

• Not looking TOO far ahead, but we return 8 starters on BOTH sides of the ball next season--along with several other members of the two deep. That type of year-over-year consistency is when you'll see a jump in performance. It will also enable us to redshirt a lot of incoming players, who won't be rushed onto the field to fill gaps in the roster. Man, does the future ever look bright.

• I honestly believe that we will get to a bowl this year. I truly do.

• I can't remember the last time we had such a big game day atmosphere on campus. It's only going to get better, with the talent we have.

• Our head coach and staff deserve a lot of credit for improving the overall size, talent, and speed of the roster. I'm not saying we've 100% turned the corner and arrived, but we are close. Syracuse football is back--and I'm sure LSU fans agree.

• If you'd told me before the season that we'd be 3-1, I would have signed up for that in a heartbeat. Hell, if you told me we'd be able to keep the game respectable today against a legit NC contender, I wouldn't have believed it. Instead, we come out of today's loss with a ton of momentum / confidence.

• I'm happy that we had some recruits on campus, for both football and hoops. And judging from the twitter responses from a couple of other high profile 2017 recruits, today's performance left a memorable impression.

• A loss is a loss. But I can't remember being this optimistic coming out of a loss. It is amazing how playing toe-to-toe with a legit, top 10 team can do for confidence. Our team is knocking on the door--I feel it.

• Erv Philips should be back in two weeks. I can't wait to see what the offense can do with him AND Estime as dynamic playmaking threats.

• I have to qualify a lot of the above by acknowledging that LSU didn't take us seriously. With a walk on QB starting, they clearly thought that they could just show up and win. Very proud of our kids for rising to the occasion and making this a close game.

• I believe 100% that we are going to pound USF.

• 6 wins and bowl eligibility are clearly within grasp. We need to TCB, but it isn't hard to envision this group getting to bowl eligibility, given what we saw today.

• I watch a ton of college football, and see teams struggle all over the place. After all these years of fielding a generally inept offensive attack, it is so much fun to see us FINALLY field a formidable offensive concept.

• I love SU football. It feels GREAT to be relevant again. We are going to open some eyes in conference. Last place my a$$.

Let's Go Orange!!!

Great, great point regarding the subtle OL changes that no one has mentioned. I was going to start a thread about it until I read your post.

Trudo is a beast at guard and it allows us to get our best 5 OLmen on the field.

 

[SouthernCuse]

I know--I planned on just posting 5 or 6 bullets, but I'm pretty pumped up after today's performance. Our team is knocking on the door of being a top 25 team. I honestly believe that. Might not happen this year, but it will either this year or next. I believe that 100%.

It was fun to read because you got yourself more excited as you went along. Comments went from 'I like our chances against USF' to 'I 100% believe we are going to pound USF' Wait? Is this the same guy? same post?

 

[Townie72]

Kudos just for using 'Pyrrhic' on an internet sports board.

Well, except that he used Pyrrhic Victory incorrectly.

A Pyrrhic Victory occurs when you win but that the losses you incur in doing so are so severe that you actually end up worse than you would have if you had not fought the battle. You win, but it wasn't worth it.

In this case, we lost. But we did so valiantly.And there's a lot of hope that has been generated as a result.

A great thing ...but not a Pyrrhic Victory.

 

[supp]

Well, accept that he used Pyrrhic Victory incorrectly.

A Pyrrhic Victory occurs when you win but that the losses you incur in doing so are so severe that you actually end up worse than you would have if you had not fought the battle. You win, but it wasn't worth it.

In this case, we lost. But we did so valiantly.And there's a lot of hope that has been generated as a result.

A great thing ...but not a Pyrrhic Victory.

Yes, what he means is a moral victory.

 

[Shenexon]

The two biggest things to me were that we got 21 first downs to their 17 and had the ball slightly longer than LSU. In talking with Ottomets before the game, we settled on 20 points being the minimum we'd need to score to make it respectable. The team covered.

 

[Townie72]

The two biggest things to me were that we got 21 first downs to their 17 and had the ball slightly longer than LSU. In talking with Ottomets before the game, we settled on 20 points being the minimum we'd need to score to make it respectable. The team covered.

I wouldn't hang my hat on time of possession. Part of the reason for that was LSU scoring so quickly with Fournette ripping of those big gains.

 

[TheCusian]

I wouldn't hang my hat on time of possession. Part of the reason for that was LSU scoring so quickly with Fournette ripping of those big gains.

Compared to last season though? We could drive the ball on anyone. The fact that we didn't go threw and out all 2nd half is also in part due to sustained drives by our offense.

 

[Shenexon]

I wouldn't hang my hat on time of possession. Part of the reason for that was LSU scoring so quickly with Fournette ripping of those big gains.

Good point, but it's a sign at least that we showed some offensive life. I don't think most people thought SU would score 24 points. Only 10 on this board of SU crazies picked them to get over 20 points. It was tough going but we moved the ball and scored, though inconsistently.

Edit: My point being that the offense we did generate kept the ball away from LSU to at least some degree and helped keep them from scoring even more.

 

[RMH44]

Good point, but it's a sign at least that we showed some offensive life. I don't think most people thought SU would score 24 points. Only 10 on this board of SU crazies picked them to get over 20 points. It was tough going but we moved the ball and scored, though inconsistently.

Hey...we had 21 first downs which is a great sign!

You know what else skews the time of possession stats? Punt returns for TD's ;-)

 

[SUFaninNJ]

Good point, but it's a sign at least that we showed some offensive life. I don't think most people thought SU would score 24 points. Only 10 on this board of SU crazies picked them to get over 20 points. It was tough going but we moved the ball and scored, though inconsistently.

Edit: My point being that the offense we did generate kept the ball away from LSU to at least some degree and helped keep them from scoring even more.

I predicted something like 48-9 LSU. I am very glad that we played much better than I predicted. I was also impressed that so many SU fans stood and cheered the team when the game ended. I'm not sure I've seen that before in a loss. Very proud of the Orange today. I can't wait to get Dungey back and watch this team continue to develop. Not to get too far ahead of myself, but it looks like taking the over with SU at 4.5 wins might have been a good bet after all!

 

[OrangeJohn]

I know that moral victories are for losers and all that, but I'm really proud of the Orange today!

We just played one of the best teams in the nation with our 5th string, inexperienced QB and we never looked outmatched. I was truly impressed. I see a lot of talent on this team and if we can add a few more top recruits, we could be one of the better teams in the ACC much faster than a lot of people might think.

Here's a pic from a time when Syracuse actually beat LSU. I hope we return to this one day.

 

[javadoc]

Good point, but it's a sign at least that we showed some offensive life. I don't think most people thought SU would score 24 points. Only 10 on this board of SU crazies picked them to get over 20 points. It was tough going but we moved the ball and scored, though inconsistently.

Edit: My point being that the offense we did generate kept the ball away from LSU to at least some degree and helped keep them from scoring even more.

I thought 56 - 0. Really did not expect to score at all.

 

[jekelish]

If anyone had told me we would score 24 points (and should have had 27) against a top 10 SEC team, while playing a former 5th string walk-on QB, and without our most dynamic offensive player (arguably), I'd have laughed in their face.

 

[TheCusian]

If anyone had told me we would score 24 points (and should have had 27) against a top 10 SEC team, while playing a former 5th string walk-on QB, and without our most dynamic offensive player (arguably), I'd have laughed in their face.

This. I'm the sunshine and unicorns guy and I didn't even think that would happen. Really impressed.

 

[SoBeCuse]

Great recap! Do we have anybody who can replace Whigham? He is awfully stiff out there and obviously playing poorly. A better CB out there and maybe we squeak out a W.