Can We Talk Football, Please? Offensive Edition

[SUFan44]

All this yapping about the former and current coaching staff is really overshadowing a very important 7 months for this football program.

The team needs to get back to a bowl this year - at all costs. There is no reason it can't, IMO, even with another tough schedule on the horizon.

Some question marks I am looking forward to seeing addressed over spring practice and fall training camp:

1) QB - Obviously this was a source of much drama this past year. People clamoring for Terrel Hunt's removal even before he got hurt. Despite playing in only five games last year, he still finished third on the team in rushing and led the team in passing yardage. Not sure if this says more about the backups or him, but I am hopeful he is healthy and can play his game rather than trying to play a game that does not suit his strengths. He's by far our best option at the position at this point - not saying it's a great one, but I don't think the others are ready.

2) OL - For all the talk about the QB position, our offensive line was below average last year despite having four returning starters. There were injuries, yes, but the performance of all our linemen was below that of the prior year - IMO, at least. There are some big holes to fill - namely LT, where Sean Hickey will be gone. I'm interested to see who the coaching staff has in mind to replace him. I am hopeful Denzel Ward has done what he has needed to do in the strength and conditioning program to step in and compete for a spot. He was one of our top recruits and it will help solidify the line for the next 3-4 years if he can step in and be an impact-type guy. Will also be interesting to see what happens at the center position. Can Emerich become a two-year guy at the position? Or will the coaching staff go in a different direction as they did last year? I think Foy, Robinson and Trudo is a good base to start but the two more important positions on a line are LT and C. Both will need to be replaced.

3) RB - Can one of the two rising juniors step up and become a go-to guy? I think McFarlane has a slight edge over Morris based on performance last year, but I thought Morris was the better of the two players as freshmen. Going to be a fun battle to follow. Will Strickland come in and be a game-breaking, take-it-to-the-house player? What are the two NY kids going to look like at the position? Will one of them switch positions? Will both redshirt? With Ervin Phillips moving to slot WR, there are only two scholarship RB's with any experience on the roster. Hopefully there are no injuries at this position and both the NY kids are able to come along at their own pace.

4) WR - There were a slew of injuries last year that limited the playmaking ability of the group. Broyld and Estime were our most proven options, and both missed the second half of the year. If both are back and ready to go, it can only help Steve Ishmael - who stepped up and was one of our go-to guys last year as a true freshman. Usually the biggest leap in a player happens between their freshman and sophomore seasons - the game slows down and they're able to use their athletic ability and not think as much. Ishmael could make a leap next year. Losing Jarrod West could sting a little, but the raw materials with this unit are there. A lot will also depend on the QB throwing them the ball, and the offense that is installed by Lester.

Which brings me to the final part of this post. This coaching staff needs to figure out the offensive side of the ball - in a hurry. This goes without saying, but it has been a hindrance for the better part of a decade minus the 2012 season. And even that year, we had a 3-game stretch of 10, 14, 15 points scored with a 28-point outing against Stony Brook. Shafer is a quality human being and is a very good defensive coordinator, but his inability to create a consistent offense can and will lead to his demise if it is not remedied quickly. In all of the interviews he has given, Lester seems like a smart guy. The end of last year was a cluster from all perspectives, but with an off-season to work with and with a group who has heard his voice before, I am cautiously optimistic that the offense can and will improve. Will it be enough to win more games? I think we all hope it will be.

 

[Doc5120]

Great topic. Here's what I hope to see...

QB - I may be in the minority here, but I want to see AJ Long play his way into the starting role. Hunt is fantastic getting those extra yards with his feet, but his accuracy, especially throwing the ball downfield is subpar. I know AJ isn't there yet either, but again...this is what I'm hoping to see. An improved Soph QB who is ready to lead the team, that can make plays with both his arm and his legs. A big concern with Long is durability. Can he take the pounding with such a small frame?

OL - Good news - we have 4 starters back. Bad news - we have 4 starters back. I'm torn on what is going to happen here. Would be great to see Ward step in and cement his spot at LT. This is the 1st year in a while we haven't had a dominant O-lineman returning. If Ward can be that guy, it'll go a long way.

RB - I was really high on Morris when he came in, but last year seemed like a regression for him. I don't know if it's confidence, not getting enough touches, or just not being into it. I really think DMC is the most talented back on the roster. I hope he sees the bulk of the carries with Morris getting 6-8/game and Phillips lining up in the backfield on 3rd downs. Ideally, it'd be great if we could red-shirt Strickland, but if he's the real deal and can contribute immediately, get him on the field.

WR - I thought we had plenty of talent at this position last year, but it didn't show through. Ishmael was good and I think he's a star in the making. Pair him with a healthy Broyld and Estime (big question marks, I know), and I think that's a really good top 3. Custis looks like a guy that can really help this team, making plays up the seam or over the middle. Can he make big jump from Frosh to Soph yr? If so, I think we have some very nice options for whoever the QB is.

 

[Chip]

Two posts and no mention of TEs yet? I'm curious what this new TE with the funny name can bring to the offense. And how the TEs will be used if there is more 12 personnel groupings than we're used to.

 

[javadoc]

Didn't I read that one of the NY RB's was going to grayshirt?

 

[Doc5120]

Two posts and no mention of TEs yet? I'm curious what this new TE with the funny name can bring to the offense. And how the TEs will be used if there is more 12 personnel groupings than we're used to.

They've been so absent from the offense we just assumed the position went the way of the dinosaurs.

 

[steve deberg]

QB- We aren't afforded the luxury of evaluating any position in a vacuum, and that is most true with the QB's. It's hard to say how our inadequacies at OL and WR last year affected our QB play. Hunt gives us the most experience and will likely be our starter. Long and Wilson getting meaningful playing time will help competition in camp and hopefully they can all push each other to be better. I expect a healthy roster and a full offseason with Lester implementing his system to benefit this group immensely. QB play will be better, if only because it can't be worse.

RB- It's be championed on this board since September - let two guys get the lion's share of the carries. I believe DMC and Morris can be good backs for us if they are given enough carries to get in a rhythm and build some confidence. DMC has more big play ability and I think Morris brings a little more power. I would like to see those two get 90% of our carries from the RB position. Strickland will get some playing time this year - he is that good. Perkins is gray shirting and hopefully we can redshirt Fredrick. I am bullish on this group.

OL- I don't think we played a single game with a fully healthy offensive line this year. We return experience and talent, although it was disheartening seeing what appeared to be regression from some of our more promising lineman. Trudo, Robinson, and Palmer are a solid group at G. These three will have a great battle in the spring and I wouldn't be surprised if those are our three starting interior offensive lineman come September. Ward had about 15 other FBS offers and is a mountain of a man. I expect him to take the LT position and become an anchor for years to come. Foy missing spring last year hurt the cohesion of this group. Between those five and Emerich, I think there is a combination for a solid OL unit. Some young guys got some run last year and I believe we are starting to see some solid depth develop at one of the most important units.

WR- A healthy Estime will be huge for us. He is a gamebreaker, something we sorely lacked this year. Ish became a stud once he got comfortable last year and is undoubtedly our best pure WR. Phillips showed a lot as a freshman this year. I like his position switch and am excited to see how he is used. Broyld, for all the flack he takes, is a big body and a good athlete. With improved OL play and some consistency at QB, I think these four can make a pretty solid primary unit. Lewis was a pleasant surprise last year and will be a good contributor again. Really wish we could have redshirted Custis. Him and Enoicy are two wild cards with the transition to Lester's system. They both have the size and athleticism to be big contributors. We have a lot of pieces at WR and I'm excited to see what they can do.

TE- It sounds like we are going to try to emphasize the TE position more this year. Parris is a decent TE who seems to have pretty good hands. Moore is a big body who has made some plays (is he still a TE?). Dunkleberger sounds like the real deal and is here for the spring. Custis split time with the TE's and may be inline to get more tread with this unit. It will be interesting to see how the TE is used in Lester's offence. We have some pieces here but unless Dunkleberger is lights out, I don't think we have that big athlete that can do it all and be a game changer with his versatility.

Overall I am optimistic that a full offseason under Lester can get more out of the talent we have here. It seems like we have depth across the board but not much top shelf talent. Hopefully a few guys can make big individual strides in the offseason so this unit can make big strides in the fall. It has to be better, because it can't be any worse.

 

[OrangeAggieArmy]

Yes, SU Football was offensive last season. Ha ha. I'll be here all week! Try the veal!

 

[TheCusian]

I'm interested in how we line up on offense, how many WR screens we still throw, and how the TE situation plays out. I'm also amped to see/hear about the freshman RB's. Could be real interesting to see if they push for time.

 

[Full_Rebar]

QB- Hoping to see Hunt bounce back. I'm not saying he's at that level, but watching what Jones did for Ohio St gave me some hope for how Syracuse could use Hunt's size to their advantage. I think he throws a decent deep ball and if the offense is designed to go more vertical he can make some plays through the air as well as on the ground. Long's turnovers were a problem and I'm not sold on him being a starting QB caliber player, which is why I don't get why SU isn't all over the possible transfer QB's for 2016.

RB- Not sure what happened to Morris last year, but he's shown flashes and I know Marrone's staff loved his ability. He and McFarlane should be able to handle a majority of the carries. I think we'll see Phillips and Estime get some touches out of the backfield as a change of pace.

OL- Really curious to see if Trudo stays at G, or is moved to C. There has been a lot of talk about his pro potential being at C and as an intelligent player with size, he might be the better option there. Moving him would allow Palmer and Robinson to handle the guard spots provided Ward is ready to be the LT.

WR- Ishmael showed the ability to be a go-to guy, but he only had 12 catches in the final 5 games. Some of this can be attributed to the play of the entire offense, but really Lester needs to find ways to get him the ball. Having Broyld and Estime back and with Phillips in the slot, this should help open things up and as I've said before, I'd like to see more creative in the route design. A lot of teams use the spread formations to run natural picks to make for easy throws and to get guys into space and it's time for Syracuse to get on board.

TE- Not sure what to make of this group. Clearly there seems to be a group of very athletic players in the mix, so how they are deployed will be interesting. I don't mind having a 2 TE set if you are using it for more than just running dives into an 8-man box. Hope that at some point we can run a fade to Custis in the red zone and take advantage of his size.