A sober view.

[IthacaBarrel]

Look is clear SU should dominate this matchup. Uconn's D is horrible mostly based on the fact there starting D is at least 2/3rs made up of True and Red-shirt freshmen. They just gave up 49 pts to Rhode Island and their secondary might be the weakest part of the D and we have plenty of talented and experienced pass catchers - Custis, Nykiem, Butler, Pierce etc. This also appears to be a much better overall team then in the past when people would call for a blowout in these types of games and before you knew it we were up single digits in the 3rd quarter.

That said its clear Edsall is likely to have these guys coming out like their hair is on fire and he will probably throw the kitchen sink at us. They also have the kind of QB (though not the skill guys besides rb) that has given us problems in the past. Based on that and our history I am not going to look past any game save for a lower FCS team at this point. SU should win easily but we also need to play like we did in the 2nd half versus FSU and not think we can just go through the motions like were did in the 3rd quarter against WMU. I trust Babers learned his lesson from the MTSU game and MTSU this Uconn team is not but let's see how this team handles success and being the big favorite for a change.

Frank Giufre their O Line coach was also part of those Maine teams that gave us fits as well. I can see plenty of gadget play nonsense and UCONN scoring points and if they can score some points, guess what? the game could be closer than some may be anticipating. Look, nobody in their right mind thinks that Syracuse won't move the ball pretty easily versus UCONN. The key is not giving up big plays on defense and getting a bunch of stops on defense.

Again, Syracuse won 4 games the last 2 years and I am by no means saying UCONN is good but I will wait and see before I check the box on a Syracuse team that can just destroy an inferior opponent. They (UCONN) are better than Wagner and I believe their offense is better than FSU at this point because they at least have one.

I am expecting a much closer game than most

 

[orangezen]

Because this year UConn is the UConniest UConn that ever UConned.

Instant classic!

 

[Crusty]

An interesting dimension may be that Dungey is being pushed for the first time in his Syracuse career. He may want to prove something. If so, whoa Nellie!

That's one side benefit of competition for PT - no game is taken for granted because the competition is also on your own team.

I just don't think this team will look past anyone.
LGO!

 

[nzm136]

UConn must be destroyed.

 

[FRANKIEFAN]

An interesting dimension may be that Dungey is being pushed for the first time in his Syracuse career. He may want to prove something. If so, whoa Nellie!

That's one side benefit of competition for PT - no game is taken for granted because the competition is also on your own team.

I just don't think this team will look past anyone.
LGO!

Yeah week 4 is too early for a let down its not the same thing as a week 8 game off an emotional win vs a cupcake with Clemson on deck the next week. I think we get up for this one.

 

[Tylermarona]

I love the optimism but I don’t think we have matured enough as a program to pencil in anybody, short of an FCS team, as an automatic win. What strikes me as different and makes me optimistic as well is how different our athletes look compared to a couple of years ago. Our guys pass the ACC look test; we are no longer small and slow.

This is exactly what the perspective should be. The Orange have real ACC power 5 athletes. From here the discipline of the program will be the determining factor. Coach is a guy I trust to do his best. Coach Baber's best might be one of THE best the further we go along.

 

[Tylermarona]

An interesting dimension may be that Dungey is being pushed for the first time in his Syracuse career. He may want to prove something. If so, whoa Nellie!

That's one side benefit of competition for PT - no game is taken for granted because the competition is also on your own team.

I just don't think this team will look past anyone.
LGO!

I am not sure if Dungey is getting pushed for PT but he certainly will be more competitive by proxy. I know that if you feel that someone is coming for you there is no choice but to ball out. Constantly position battles are taking place whether or not it is visible to the eye. Coaches say in the meeting rooms, no ones job is safe ..ever.

It is up to the backups to take the job.

 

[Pyle]

I think I understand the problem. During the Gerg years, Randy brought this type of Husky to the Dome:

Maybe a little goofy but still had a mean side and some fangs. Unfortunately for Storrs, Randy's bringing something more like the following this time around:

 

[SWC75]

I am not sure if Dungey is getting pushed for PT but he certainly will be more competitive by proxy. I know that if you feel that someone is coming for you there is no choice but to ball out. Constantly position battles are taking place whether or not it is visible to the eye. Coaches say in the meeting rooms, no ones job is safe ..ever.

It is up to the backups to take the job.

I wonder what a more competitive Dungey would be like. And in what game did he not "ball out"?

 

[Tylermarona]

I wonder what a more competitive Dungey would be like. And in what game did he not "ball out"?

Physically Dungey always has been great. For clarity early in is career it was the mental aspect (per players and coaches on the team). More competitive to me just means always keeping his mental focus locked in. When there is no one to challenge you the mental aspect can tend to lapse. Again I never doubt his physical abilities.

 

[Ish88888]

For the last few years, it has been difficult to look at our schedule at this point (or any other point) and easily come up with 6 wins. This year, we clearly can see wins over UCONN, Louisville and Chapel Hill.

Perhaps more importantly, we actually have a legitimate shot at beating anybody on the remaining schedule.

Yeah, I know we have all done it in prior years but this time it's different. This time it looks like the floor rather than the ceiling. I won't argue with any number higher than 6.

So, I am convinced we will make a bowl. How much better depends on how quickly the D matures.

For me, making a bowl is big - make that huge. Extra practices, recruiting, fan support and RESPECT.

Dino is not only restoring the program rep, he is doing it with an identity and charisma.

Next stop - top 25.

LGO!

While we have over scheduled lately, we took it easy this year and the stars are aligning. FSU is not down, they are lost and not FSU. Also, NC as our crossover looked rough 4 years ago and now may be a layup.

 

[Crusty]

I love ED and he has been my avatar for three+ years. That said, he can get reckless and sloppy. He has a habit of trying to do too much.

His pass completion pct has gone down each year, while his rushing yards per game have gone up. Not sure why. The staff professes to be trying to get him to not take off so quickly.

Hard to imagine him more competitive but more focused and under control is when he is best - also, less vulnerable.

 

[CousCuse]

I love ED and he has been my avatar for three+ years. That said, he can get reckless and sloppy. He has a habit of trying to do too much.

His pass completion pct has gone down each year, while his rushing yards per game have gone up. Not sure why. The staff professes to be trying to get him to not take off so quickly.

Hard to imagine him more competitive but more focused and under control is when he is best - also, less vulnerable.

IF ED didn't try to "do to much" they would not have won the games against VaTech and Clemson. The reason his rushing yards have gone up is because he has no real running backs to get yardage on the ground so he has to do it himself to keep the defense off balance. That is a big fail by Dino. This scheme that Dino employs where the running back has to be some kind of manager instead of just a great athlete doesn't seem to get the best running back on the field.

 

[SmilinBob]

I love ED and he has been my avatar for three+ years. That said, he can get reckless and sloppy. He has a habit of trying to do too much.

His pass completion pct has gone down each year, while his rushing yards per game have gone up. Not sure why. The staff professes to be trying to get him to not take off so quickly.

Hard to imagine him more competitive but more focused and under control is when he is best - also, less vulnerable.

The more running and pounding you take the more your mechanics break down.