Concrete Reasons for Optimism - Is it Enough?

[Trueblue25]

** mods please move to football forum, my fault

Screw it, need an upbeat thread.

QB competition will inevitably force the cream to rise to the top and catalyze any hidden potential these guys may have. Also, it should allow time for Jacobian and Justin to develop further. Say what you will but Morgan had moments last year that looked promising considering the dumpster fire situation he was thrown into.

The O line is reasonably healthy and returning experience. Servais has a chance to end his career on a strong note being the captain of a more stalwart line. Big hopes for our bezerker Bergeron.

Wide Receiver can only get better. Taj can be a real star, and imo has a higher upside than Trishton Jackson. If he just focuses his energy I see no reason he can’t be Amba like assuming the ball has time to get to him. Queely, Courtney, Javontar, Alford etc will each have their chances. We’re dangerous if Lutz and Pena can be incorporated as well.

Our running backs are back to being formidable. That’s where Cuse makes the magic happen.

The whole key to this year is sustained drives. Keep the defense off the field and fresh. White’s D will be ready and angry. Mikel Jones is a good leader and our boys stick hits. Just can’t have them on the field twice as much as the O

 

[storange]

LBs also will be formidable.

 

[donniesyracuse]

** mods please move to football forum, my fault

Screw it, need an upbeat thread.

QB competition will inevitably force the cream to rise to the top and catalyze any hidden potential these guys may have. Also, it should allow time for Jacobian and Justin to develop further. Say what you will but Morgan had moments last year that looked promising considering the dumpster fire situation he was thrown into.

The O line is reasonably healthy and returning experience. Servais has a chance to end his career on a strong note being the captain of a more stalwart line. Big hopes for our bezerker Bergeron.

Wide Receiver can only get better. Taj can be a real star, and imo has a higher upside than Trishton Jackson. If he just focuses his energy I see no reason he can’t be Amba like assuming the ball has time to get to him. Queely, Courtney, Javontar, Alford etc will each have their chances. We’re dangerous if Lutz and Pena can be incorporated as well.

Our running backs are back to being formidable. That’s where Cuse makes the magic happen.

The whole key to this year is sustained drives. Keep the defense off the field and fresh. White’s D will be ready and angry. Mikel Jones is a good leader and our boys stick hits. Just can’t have them on the field twice as much as the O

Those are nice reasons for optimism, but are they really “concrete?”

 

[007]

** mods please move to football forum, my fault

Screw it, need an upbeat thread.

QB competition will inevitably force the cream to rise to the top and catalyze any hidden potential these guys may have. Also, it should allow time for Jacobian and Justin to develop further. Say what you will but Morgan had moments last year that looked promising considering the dumpster fire situation he was thrown into.

The O line is reasonably healthy and returning experience. Servais has a chance to end his career on a strong note being the captain of a more stalwart line. Big hopes for our bezerker Bergeron.

Wide Receiver can only get better. Taj can be a real star, and imo has a higher upside than Trishton Jackson. If he just focuses his energy I see no reason he can’t be Amba like assuming the ball has time to get to him. Queely, Courtney, Javontar, Alford etc will each have their chances. We’re dangerous if Lutz and Pena can be incorporated as well.

Our running backs are back to being formidable. That’s where Cuse makes the magic happen.

The whole key to this year is sustained drives. Keep the defense off the field and fresh. White’s D will be ready and angry. Mikel Jones is a good leader and our boys stick hits. Just can’t have them on the field twice as much as the O

The season will live or die with the development of the OL. Period. That's the concrete. But, we won't know until we see them perform on the field. OL depth, talent, communication, and coaching were all abysmal last season. There is no place to go but up - there's the optimism. Let's hope Schmidt is the real deal. If he is, the running game will be much better and teams won't be able to get away with playing 5 in the box. That's the path to 6.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

We're going to be fine.

 

[CapitalO]

The season will live or die with the development of the OL. Period. That's the concrete. But, we won't know until we see them perform on the field. Depth, talent, communication, and coaching were all abysmal last season. There is no place to go but up - there's the optimism. Let's hope Schmidt is the real deal. If he is, the running game will be much better and teams won't be able to get away with playing 5 in the box. That's the path to 6.

Yes lets hope ( Schmidt ) happens.

 

[SoBristol]

The season will live or die with the development of the OL. Period. That's the concrete. But, we won't know until we see them perform on the field. OL depth, talent, communication, and coaching were all abysmal last season. There is no place to go but up - there's the optimism. Let's hope Schmidt is the real deal. If he is, the running game will be much better and teams won't be able to get away with playing 5 in the box. That's the path to 6.

People tend to focus on the OL, but the QB play was substandard, the receivers very ordinary (other than Taj) and the defense gave up 30 points or more per game, except for GT, Pitt and BC. There needs to be development in every unit.

‘The OL has to be better, with multi-year starters in most spots, plus depth. A couple of those starters (Bergeron and Dakota Davis) actually are legit ACC quality lineman. That unit is certainly in better shape than in 2019 or 2020 in terms of experience, size, and depth. So, now about the other units?

 

[007]

People tend to focus on the OL, but the QB play was substandard, the receivers very ordinary (other than Taj) and the defense gave up 30 points or more per game, except for GT, Pitt and BC. There needs to be development in every unit.

‘The OL has to be better, with multi-year starters in most spots, plus depth. A couple of those starters (Bergeron and Dakota Davis) actually are legit ACC quality lineman. That unit is certainly in better shape than in 2019 or 2020 in terms of experience, size, and depth. So, now about the other units?

I hear you. When you are 1-10 there are multiple, legitimate areas of concern, not only relative to units, but coaching and talent as well. To the point of my post, improvement in all those other areas won't be sufficient until the OL becomes at least functional.

 

[baggerbob]

I hear you. When you are 1-10 there are multiple, legitimate areas of concern, not only relative to units, but coaching and talent as well. To the point of my post, improvement in all those other areas won't be sufficient until the OL becomes at least functional.

Would like to see Mang the TE used like rhino, if he can run and catch. You could kill defenses with a player who is 6-7-265 to 270 lbs. Way to big for linebackers or defensive backs. If teams try to blitz, just drop the ball to him in the flat, and the defense has a big problem.
You can throw it high enough so he's the only one who can catch it.

 

[syrBossHogg]

I'll add that while our secondary is young and still inexperienced, we have some talent there and our best coaches on staff to coach them up. There will be some growing pains but hopefully by the end of the season they'll be a solid unit.

We'll also have better depth on the D-line

 

[kcsu]

People tend to focus on the OL, but the QB play was substandard, the receivers very ordinary (other than Taj) and the defense gave up 30 points or more per game, except for GT, Pitt and BC. There needs to be development in every unit.

‘The OL has to be better, with multi-year starters in most spots, plus depth. A couple of those starters (Bergeron and Dakota Davis) actually are legit ACC quality lineman. That unit is certainly in better shape than in 2019 or 2020 in terms of experience, size, and depth. So, now about the other units?

We need a straw to stir the drink and lead La Familia to the Ohana land.

 

[sdhall01]

The season will live or die with the development of the OL. Period. That's the concrete. But, we won't know until we see them perform on the field. OL depth, talent, communication, and coaching were all abysmal last season. There is no place to go but up - there's the optimism. Let's hope Schmidt is the real deal. If he is, the running game will be much better and teams won't be able to get away with playing 5 in the box. That's the path to 6.

The other thing is, we don’t have to be great. We just have to be passable and the RBs and QB play can pick up the slack.

 

[RandomGuy]

The season will live or die with the development of the OL. Period. That's the concrete. But, we won't know until we see them perform on the field. OL depth, talent, communication, and coaching were all abysmal last season. There is no place to go but up - there's the optimism. Let's hope Schmidt is the real deal. If he is, the running game will be much better and teams won't be able to get away with playing 5 in the box. That's the path to 6.

This is everything. As the line goes, so goes the QB.

Last year, Dakota received our only passing PFF grade - for run block. I have no doubts that Schmidt will have them all passing. I still think we need to stay relatively healthy. Between youth, lingering injuries- or injuries that had guys unable to improve themselves? It may take a little into the season for the entire 2 deep to be ready. Certainly hope it happens sooner. If it does, or noone goes down? Definite reason for optimism.

 

[IthacaMatt]

People tend to focus on the OL, but the QB play was substandard, the receivers very ordinary (other than Taj) and the defense gave up 30 points or more per game, except for GT, Pitt and BC. There needs to be development in every unit.

In defense of the defense, I think they played strong for up to 3 quarters of most games. As the season became more dire, the games blew open earlier and earlier, but there were still some good guys on that defense. I think if the offense could let the D play 10-15 minutes less per game, they both would be so much more effective.

 

[IthacaMatt]

The other thing is, we don’t have to be great. We just have to be passable and the RBs and QB play can pick up the slack.

Our line should be good, not passable.
I think we have 9 guys with starting experience.
That would ordinarily indicate a strong likelihood of a bowl quality team.
Of course, 1-10. So there's that.

 

[Goin' Deep]

WHY was Syracuse so bad last year?
Covid...the team canceled practice twice in August due to team testing concerns.
New OC...how do you put in a new system/terminology with less practice time?
Injuries...could it be off season conditioning wasn't what it could/should have been?
ON top of that, the OLINE was brutally bad ...so bad it resulted in Cavanaugh moving on.
Bad Oline means your QB has to improvise/extend plays..our QB couldn't do that.
2 top RBs sat out...geez how was it our offense was a huge pile of steaming excrement?

Why will the ORANGE be better?
These issues either don't exist or have been addressed AND...




how could we be any worse?

 

[AAM62]

WHY was Syracuse so bad last year?
Covid...the team canceled practice twice in August due to team testing concerns.
New OC...how do you put in a new system/terminology with less practice time?
Injuries...could it be off season conditioning wasn't what it could/should have been?
ON top of that, the OLINE was brutally bad ...so bad it resulted in Cavanaugh moving on.
Bad Oline means your QB has to improvise/extend plays..our QB couldn't do that.
2 top RBs sat out...geez how was it our offense was a huge pile of steaming excrement?

Why will the ORANGE be better?
These issues either don't exist or have been addressed AND...




how could we be any worse?

Stopped reading after the OC part. For the love of god! ITS NOT A NEW SYSTEM.

 

[TheCusian]

Stopped reading after the OC part. For the love of god! ITS NOT A NEW SYSTEM.

I agree that it’s not a new system…. But why change coordinators then?

What’s to be gained? And could those gains be realized with camp cancelled, Covid and BLM disruptions near constant in summer/fall 2020?

 

[Orijinal]

This is everything. As the line goes, so goes the whole team.

Last year, Dakota received our only passing PFF grade - for run block. I have no doubts that Schmidt will have them all passing. I still think we need to stay relatively healthy. Between youth, lingering injuries- or injuries that had guys unable to improve themselves? It may take a little into the season for the entire 2 deep to be ready. Certainly hope it happens sooner. If it does, or noone goes down? Definite reason for optimism.

FIFY

 

[Orijinal]

In defense of the defense, I think they played strong for up to 3 quarters of most games. As the season became more dire, the games blew open earlier and earlier, but there were still some good guys on that defense. I think if the offense could let the D play 10-15 minutes less per game, they both would be so much more effective.

Absolutely

 

[Orijinal]

** mods please move to football forum, my fault

Screw it, need an upbeat thread.

QB competition will inevitably force the cream to rise to the top and catalyze any hidden potential these guys may have. Also, it should allow time for Jacobian and Justin to develop further. Say what you will but Morgan had moments last year that looked promising considering the dumpster fire situation he was thrown into.

The O line is reasonably healthy and returning experience. Servais has a chance to end his career on a strong note being the captain of a more stalwart line. Big hopes for our bezerker Bergeron.

Wide Receiver can only get better. Taj can be a real star, and imo has a higher upside than Trishton Jackson. If he just focuses his energy I see no reason he can’t be Amba like assuming the ball has time to get to him. Queely, Courtney, Javontar, Alford etc will each have their chances. We’re dangerous if Lutz and Pena can be incorporated as well.

Our running backs are back to being formidable. That’s where Cuse makes the magic happen.

The whole key to this year is sustained drives. Keep the defense off the field and fresh. White’s D will be ready and angry. Mikel Jones is a good leader and our boys stick hits. Just can’t have them on the field twice as much as the O

Love this post

 

[Orijinal]

Another reason why offensive line play is so key is that we need push when we are in first and goal situations.

How many times has the Syracuse program had to settle for field goals...not only last year but on prior years ...when they were in the perfect position to grab 7 points? Too many of those gimme TD's become field goals because we can't push a running back through the hole

 

[IthacaMatt]

I agree that it’s not a new system…. But why change coordinators then?

What’s to be gained? And could those gains be realized with camp cancelled, Covid and BLM disruptions near constant in summer/fall 2020?

Different play calling.

You might run certain formations, but have different variations, different calls the coordinator would make, compared to the old guy.

 

[TheCusian]

Different play calling.

You might run certain formations, but have different variations, different calls the coordinator would make, compared to the old guy.

Agreed. The benefits from that would have been stunted by no practice (what do I have? How can I use these pieces? Let’s try x) and a majorly injured and depleted OL and to a lesser extent RB. Throw in a QB who needs work and then was injured, and it’s easy to see that we’re already in plus territory just be being healthy and have spring ball under their belts. Not to mention a new OL coach.

 

[HRE Otto IV]

I think our ceiling is the 2019 Duke Louisville Wake stretch. The fact that it took 12 weeks to figure things out is a bit worrisome. That plus the fact that we looked like crap again to start 2020. During that stretch to end 2019 we went 2-1 scored 36.3 ppg offensively 448.6 ypg 206.3 pypg 242.3 rypg. Interesting that TD was a non factor in all three of those games. We need to run the ball and we need a QB to manage the game. A QB who doesn't make mistakes (that includes sacks), can move the chains, and keeps the D honest with both his arm and legs. We don't need a great passer or gunslinger.