Don't Look Now But...

[anomander]

FPI has Syracuse favored in 5 of the next 6 games.

I really think this could be a special year and now the schedule is opening up.

I know it's hard to gauge performance vs Wagner, but we did to Wagner what we haven't been able to do in previous year vs FCS squads.

Our ST's are looking elite.

DL is very good and can create pressure from the edge.

Defense is creating turnovers for the first time in i don't know how many years.

Defensively there is a ton of young talent that will only get better with experience as the season progresses.

Offensively we have that rare 4 year starting QB who is at his best against elite competition. He is that game changer that can single handily keep you in games when other parts of the game break down.

While we may not have that elite go to WR a la AET and Ish, Custis should be a just a step below their production. The difference is the large pool of super talented, young WR's that can serve as a receiver by committee to compliment Custis. Nykeim Johnson can develop into that big time home run threat. The key will be Butler. He consistently wins at getting open. Now if he can ever figure out how to catch the bowl the offense will only be that much more deadly.

Mostly this schedule is opening up where it can be exploited. We have proved to be a successful home team under Babers.
FSU is down, no confidence, and come to the Dome for a noon game.
UConn may be the worst G5 team in the country
Clemson will most likely be a loss
@Pitt who looks like they don't have a QB and will have a down year
UNC who will be the dregs of the ACC, who also don't have a QB
NC ST lost most of their playmakers and aren't nearly as explosive, while having a below avg defense.
@Wake will be tough, but this is a team with equal talent
Louisville (also favored by a large amount by FPI) at the Dome on a Friday night where we always seem to win. QB imo is not good at all
ND @ Yankee stadium. Wimbush is suspect. Just struggled to beat Ball St at home
@BC it's not like we will be out talented. 1 dimensional

We are so due to have a year where we stay mostly healthy and have a break out year. I wouldn't be shocked to see us get 9 wins and a bowl. I would be pretty disappointed with anything less than 7 at this point.

It's there for the taking

 

[RF2044]

Terrific post -- the season is really shaping up favorably. Could be a special year if we can keep Dungey upright.

But agree with your premise -- UNC, FSU, Pitt, and Louisville are all struggling. We need to take them behind the woodshed. To paraphrase N. Johnson from that article today -- they want to annihilate teams.

Saturday is a prime opportunity to make a statement.

Let's Go Orange!!!

 

[Alsacs]

If we can just limit explosion plays this team could/honestly should win 8 games.

If we are going to play 4-2-5 than the free safety has to keep every player in front of them. Just play deeper 15-20 yard plays are okay to give up but 40+ yard plays have to be tightened up.

 

[rocklloyd]

On the radio, Whigham just adjusted his win total to 10.

 

[upperdeck]

Lets get past this week. 3-2 at the Bye week or 4-1 Pitt game still drives the bus.

 

[CuyahogaCuse]

I don’t post much. But those that have been around a long time know me. RF2044 and TexanMark and others know me.

I’ve watched a lot of Syracuse football through the years. I have a Syracuse man cave. I have a 15 year old son who, in his lifetime, has two Pinstripes, a Texas Bowl and a generation of lackluster Saturdays in the memory bank, and yet he reps the Cuse all the time here in Buckeye country.

It’s not in the Cali post, because I’ve been hesitant to go on record, but what the heck. I said 10-2 prior to the season. We take a revenge L in Death Valley and run the table until stubbing a toe on the road at BC.

The Saturday is THE BIGGEST GAME since I don’t know when. You want to talk about turning corners? The corner is right in front of us. It’s five days away. Win this game, and we’re on to the best season since we walked out of Phoenix after spanking Kansas State and sending SuperPurpleCat into permanent hibernation.

What a long week this will be. But what a fun week. Buckle up.

 

[UnknownOrange]

God damn you people I am falling victim to the possible hype. I'm so nervous/excited. LFGO

 

[mvorange]

2-0, with 1 to go!!

 

[OrangePA]

I really think the board is getting ahead of itself.

The win against Wagner was misleading in some respects.

The Seahawks moved the ball a bit and made some unforced errors.

The ACC schedule will be challenging - we will not out-talent any of the teams we face.

In my opinion six wins - if we can get that many - will be a successful season.

 

[RandomGuy]

ESPN Football Power Index - 2018 - ESPN

Current projected record of 7-5

Not sure how you calculated... I see 3 of the next 6 with a higher FPI..
Clemson #5
NC State #42
FSU #45
Cuse #51

 

[RoatanCuse]

I think we win on Sat, too. Great posts above...especially Anomander. One thing just occurred to me, and Dino should know this...that the Seminoles know our backup QB situation is suspect, and will likely be going all out to get ED out of the game. They might see it as their only chance to win.

 

[anomander]

I really think the board is getting ahead of itself.

The win against Wagner was misleading in some respects.

The Seahawks moved the ball a bit and made some unforced errors.

The ACC schedule will be challenging - we will not out-talent any of the teams we face.

In my opinion six wins - if we can get that many - will be a successful season.

That imo would be a HUGE disappointment.

The Wagner win isn't misleading if you compare it to the prior 2 years vs FCS opponents. Wanger wasn't as good as Colgate, but on par with CCSU. We were far more dominate vs Wagner in all 3 phrases. Combine that with the beating we put on WMU, on the road, when Dungey was playing, imo tells a lot.

 

[dasher]

I really think the board is getting ahead of itself.

The win against Wagner was misleading in some respects.

The Seahawks moved the ball a bit and made some unforced errors.

The ACC schedule will be challenging - we will not out-talent any of the teams we face.

In my opinion six wins - if we can get that many - will be a successful season.

You are correct. I think what the board is seeing however is also true. many of the schools that we have been behind look to be weaker than normal. 7 or 8 wins is out there for us if we can keep Dungey on his feet. I happen to believe that as the season goes on, some of our younger kids can blossom and really help.

 

[sutomcat]

I don’t post much. But those that have been around a long time know me. RF2044 and TexanMark and others know me.

I’ve watched a lot of Syracuse football through the years. I have a Syracuse man cave. I have a 15 year old son who, in his lifetime, has two Pinstripes, a Texas Bowl and a generation of lackluster Saturdays in the memory bank, and yet he reps the Cuse all the time here in Buckeye country.

It’s not in the Cali post, because I’ve been hesitant to go on record, but what the heck. I said 10-2 prior to the season. We take a revenge L in Death Valley and run the table until stubbing a toe on the road at BC.

The Saturday is THE BIGGEST GAME since I don’t know when. You want to talk about turning corners? The corner is right in front of us. It’s five days away. Win this game, and we’re on to the best season since we walked out of Phoenix after spanking Kansas State and sending SuperPurpleCat into permanent hibernation.

What a long week this will be. But what a fun week. Buckle up.

Cuyahoga dropped the big one. Sweet.

Agree, this is one of those special opportunities to make a major step forward with the program. Winning this game makes getting to 6 wins so much more possible, and really establishes credibility for the SU coaching staff, especially with recruits in the Florida area.

It is an unusually big game for the third game of the season. The ramifications could be huge and change the program for a decade or two.

 

[Scooch]

I really think the board is getting ahead of itself.

The win against Wagner was misleading in some respects.

The Seahawks moved the ball a bit and made some unforced errors.

The ACC schedule will be challenging - we will not out-talent any of the teams we face.

In my opinion six wins - if we can get that many - will be a successful season.

Agree.

I still have a lot of concerns about this team. I'm not convinced we have a RB who can average 4.0 YPC agaisnt ACC opponents. I'm worried we don't have a WR corps that goes more than 2 deep. I've yet to see our OL run block consistently. The D gets beat on far too many big plays.

All of these things are surmountable, hopefully, but it's premature to predict 8+ wins.

Let's see how we fare against the elite athletes of FSU. Game could be there for the taking. Could be.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I really think the board is getting ahead of itself.

The win against Wagner was misleading in some respects.

The Seahawks moved the ball a bit and made some unforced errors.

The ACC schedule will be challenging - we will not out-talent any of the teams we face.

In my opinion six wins - if we can get that many - will be a successful season.

Yeah. Our board thought we were going to run the table after we beat Clemson last season.

Instead, the table... ran... us.

Wasn't sure how to phrase that. You know what I meant.

I just want 6 wins and a bowl appearance. I think there's a path to more, for sure.

But having a winning season this year sets us up for a really nice season next year.

 

[OrangePA]

That imo would be a HUGE disappointment.

The Wagner win isn't misleading if you compare it to the prior 2 years vs FCS opponents. Wanger wasn't as good as Colgate, but on par with CCSU. We were far more dominate vs Wagner in all 3 phrases. Combine that with the beating we put on WMU, on the road, when Dungey was playing, imo tells a lot.

That's my point.

If you expect this team to win 8-10 games I think you will be disappointed.

I don't think we have advanced that far and nothing I saw this Saturday changes that.

But, I hope you are right!

 

[Pyle]

we did to Wagner what we haven't been able to do in previous year vs FCS squads.

Revisionist history at best. Wagner went to OT last year with Central Conn State. We beat Central Conn State by a score of 50-7. Saying we haven't done this before is flat out wrong, we did it last year before finishing 4-8. We did ok against WMU but UM put a real beatdown on them. That's what we should be looking at, not Wagner. Michigan annihilated the Broncos, we did not. Book is still out. This Sat is huge.

 

[Old hank]

As a true Cuse fan I don't speculate on bowls until the 7th win... see 2003

 

[SmilinBob]

That's my point.

If you expect this team to win 8-10 games I think you will be disappointed.

I don't think we have advanced that far and nothing I saw this Saturday changes that.

But, I hope you are right!

I agree. The OL and WR's did not impress me either and even though I think they will get better as the season progresses I didn't see what I wanted to see for this team to be a bowl team other than possibly the future teams not nearly being as good as many had thought...currently that is. They too will be looking to improve and changes in their lineups may also occur that could be a positive impact. Plus the pass coverage if the DL doesn't get pressure will have problems with speed.

The OL did a nice job vs FSU last year and I hope that continues but somebody has to step up in the RB and WR positions for this season to be a 6 or 6+ win season other than ED running and Custis.

 

[Chip]

We haven't been 4-0 in 27 years.

I'm not going to believe it will happen until it actually happens.

If we win this weekend, which is certainly possible, then I'll start believing it can happen again. UConn is a trap game, but it's game I feel like we could win even if we wore blindfolds.

I just hope everyone realizes how big this weekend is and the Dome looks way more full than not. I unfortunately cannot be there, as much as I want to, but we've ensured our seats will be filled.

 

[Cuse12]

Very exciting. I do have my worries about this Cuse team (WR and too many big plays on D) but man if we can improve on these weaknesses and keep up the greatest advantage we have had so far this season (Special Teams). We have the chance to win more games then I would say most of us imagined 3 weeks ago.

I will have this nervous/anxious feeling all week about the FSU game, knowing how important this game is to our season and our future.

That 9am Saturday beer will be glorious.

 

[RF2044]

I really think the board is getting ahead of itself.

The win against Wagner was misleading in some respects.

The Seahawks moved the ball a bit and made some unforced errors.

The ACC schedule will be challenging - we will not out-talent any of the teams we face.

In my opinion six wins - if we can get that many - will be a successful season.

I don't think that the board is ahead of itself at all. Especially given what I'm seeing from the likes of UNC, Pitt, Louisville, FSU, etc.

Being excited about the team's prospects is a GOOD thing. When was the last time our program played an opponent like the one we have coming up, and the fanbase felt good about our chances of winning? I'm not talking about orange-goggled hopefulness -- I'm referring to actually feeling a buzz because we see EVIDENCE that we can beat the team. It's been a long time for me.

And this resurgence isn't going to be linear -- as Dino Babers has explained from the beginning. Sometimes you see the team make a jump. We're at the precipice of making one of those jumps if we can win Saturday.

 

[texascpa]

I really think the board is getting ahead of itself.

The win against Wagner was misleading in some respects.

The Seahawks moved the ball a bit and made some unforced errors.

The ACC schedule will be challenging - we will not out-talent any of the teams we face.

In my opinion six wins - if we can get that many - will be a successful season.

Wagner had 288 total yards, 70 of that coming on one 2-play drive. they moved nothing!

 

[DeGrozz]

I feel like we've gotten our hopes up too many times because of positive starts to the season against lesser opposition.

I'm not sure there's much from our WMU game that screamed 8/9/10-win team and the Wagner game, while nice to take care of business, is terribly hard to read.

If we can control the FSU game, maybe I'll let myself start dreaming, but it's gonna be hard for me to get too excited about a huge season before then. Luckily, we've got a down conference this year, so at least it's more possible this year than others.