Expectations | Page 3 | Syracusefan.com

Expectations

I'm with you here. I had us winning 7 or 8 and feels like we're on pace.

I think people are still gun-shy predicting success given our recent past (which I get), but the truth is we have a really quality senior QB (and a good back-up if he goes down), legitimately good line play on both sides, a good head coach, some young playmakers who've already contributed (Cisco and Jarveon ie.), and a manageable schedule.

And look at the product on the field. Trust your eyes people: We're a good football team. 6 wins would be a disappointment (barring major injuries of course).

I think your dead on with people being beaten down for so long they can't actually believe it's possible. The thing is it is very possible. I think it's abundantly clear by using the eye test that this team is heads and shoulders above past teams. The only team in the last 15 years you can think was this good was the 2012 team, but i think this one has an edge in depth at key positions. As you said we have all the things that typically lead to break out seasons. A season 4th year QB, a elite HC in his 3rd year with a top of the line scheme, 2 senior OT's, a solid DL, and a greatly improved secondary. Hell we even have an excellent kicker out of no where. I think a lot of people are so hung up on how a rebuild "should look". Like there is no possible way they can go from back to back 4-8 seasons to flipping that and going 8-4 or better. There is no set rules that say you have to incrementally improve. Year 3 of new coaching staffs are typically the years where totally new systems click. Our offense hasn't even really played their B+ game yet and they are still averaging in the mid 40's ppg. On top of all that you throw in one of the easiest remaining schedules that we have seen in i don't know how many years and everything is coming together. My projection is actually more about who we play and where then it is about us. Sure we have depth like we didn't have in past years to keep us at the same level if we do experience some injuries, but getting our crossover as someone like UNC who is awful is a lot easier then playing at Miami when they're undefeated . Even the road games vs Wake you get a defense that has been leaking all year and a Freshman qb. Louisville who is usually better then us doesn't have a QB. Pitt is down. Even ND hasn't looked all that great the first 3 weeks and we get them in Yankee stadium. Clemson and BC will be tough, but it's not like BC has much more talent then us top to bottom. We are really set up to have a special season. You can just tell listening to the interviews with the guys. I LOVE them picking up the phrase of wanting to annihilate the opponent. I also loved Dungey's comment of them having a chip on their shoulder and this isn't just a basketball scoll anymore. He's been around the block. He has seen 3 previous installements. Obviously he sees something with this team that he likes and had the confidence to come out and say that. Last year was basically our notice to the league. Beating Clemson, and playing LSU, Miami, and FSU on the road to a 1 possession game when the whole team was healthy gave the guys confidence that they can play with and beat the best of the best. Just because we didn't finish 6-6 doesn't mean we didn't learn a ton. Injuries are very much a part of the game, but we sustained them. We didn't have the depth. We do now. Last season was basically taking the next step. This year is just following up on that. I am so confident that this team will get more than 6 wins i can't stress it enough. Time will tell, but I think some people are going to be surprised.
 
My eyes tell me we beat some flawed teams. Real bullets haven’t started yet.

I *think* this year will be different. I’ve been a Babers guy and will continue to be even with 6 wins and a bowl game. The good news is that there are a lot more flawed teams on the schedule than the last 2 years and we’re better. How much and how many wins that will be is the question.

Who are the real bullets though? Clemson, ND and BC? Everybody else is down and some far down. Even BC and ND are very much beatable. FSU will have a bad year, but they still have a roster full of 4 and 5 star studs. Sure their OL was putrid, but there was nothing wrong with their defense and we moved the ball up and down the field all day. I think they get a lot of grief for only beating Samford by 10 points, but Samford is also one of the better FCS schools in the country and have a stud QB. Let's see what FSU does this week.
 
Who are the real bullets though? Clemson, ND and BC? Everybody else is down and some far down. Even BC and ND are very much beatable. FSU will have a bad year, but they still have a roster full of 4 and 5 star studs. Sure their OL was putrid, but there was nothing wrong with their defense and we moved the ball up and down the field all day. I think they get a lot of grief for only beating Samford by 10 points, but Samford is also one of the better FCS schools in the country and have a stud QB. Let's see what FSU does this week.
I just looked at NIU's schedule to judge how tough a game it should be for FSU.

NIU, a MAC school, played at Iowa and Utah back-to-back to start the season. Week 4 they play @FSU and week 8 they play @BYU. What in God's name are they doing to themselves?
 
Who are the real bullets though? Clemson, ND and BC? Everybody else is down and some far down. Even BC and ND are very much beatable. FSU will have a bad year, but they still have a roster full of 4 and 5 star studs. Sure their OL was putrid, but there was nothing wrong with their defense and we moved the ball up and down the field all day. I think they get a lot of grief for only beating Samford by 10 points, but Samford is also one of the better FCS schools in the country and have a stud QB. Let's see what FSU does this week.

FSU - worst P5 OL I’ve ever seen, new systems on both sides of the ball

They have issues. It was still impressive and important that we destroyed them. Especially after the last bunch of losses to them.

Clemson, ND, BC, NC State, @Pitt - these are the teams I want to see something against. Even Wake. And to be clear, I think we can win any of those games - maybe even a majority. Just not sure we know exactly what we have yet.
 
You would really be happy with going 2-6 the rest of the way with the schedule we have ahead?

I really don't think people pay attention to the rest of the CFB world. Some of these teams we have coming up are at an all time low, and the others are just average at best.

I’m not sure your question is for me. My point was, beat Uconn, then worry about the next game.
 
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I think your dead on with people being beaten down for so long they can't actually believe it's possible. The thing is it is very possible. I think it's abundantly clear by using the eye test that this team is heads and shoulders above past teams. The only team in the last 15 years you can think was this good was the 2012 team, but i think this one has an edge in depth at key positions. As you said we have all the things that typically lead to break out seasons. A season 4th year QB, a elite HC in his 3rd year with a top of the line scheme, 2 senior OT's, a solid DL, and a greatly improved secondary. Hell we even have an excellent kicker out of no where. I think a lot of people are so hung up on how a rebuild "should look". Like there is no possible way they can go from back to back 4-8 seasons to flipping that and going 8-4 or better. There is no set rules that say you have to incrementally improve. Year 3 of new coaching staffs are typically the years where totally new systems click. Our offense hasn't even really played their B+ game yet and they are still averaging in the mid 40's ppg. On top of all that you throw in one of the easiest remaining schedules that we have seen in i don't know how many years and everything is coming together. My projection is actually more about who we play and where then it is about us. Sure we have depth like we didn't have in past years to keep us at the same level if we do experience some injuries, but getting our crossover as someone like UNC who is awful is a lot easier then playing at Miami when they're undefeated . Even the road games vs Wake you get a defense that has been leaking all year and a Freshman qb. Louisville who is usually better then us doesn't have a QB. Pitt is down. Even ND hasn't looked all that great the first 3 weeks and we get them in Yankee stadium. Clemson and BC will be tough, but it's not like BC has much more talent then us top to bottom. We are really set up to have a special season. You can just tell listening to the interviews with the guys. I LOVE them picking up the phrase of wanting to annihilate the opponent. I also loved Dungey's comment of them having a chip on their shoulder and this isn't just a basketball scoll anymore. He's been around the block. He has seen 3 previous installements. Obviously he sees something with this team that he likes and had the confidence to come out and say that. Last year was basically our notice to the league. Beating Clemson, and playing LSU, Miami, and FSU on the road to a 1 possession game when the whole team was healthy gave the guys confidence that they can play with and beat the best of the best. Just because we didn't finish 6-6 doesn't mean we didn't learn a ton. Injuries are very much a part of the game, but we sustained them. We didn't have the depth. We do now. Last season was basically taking the next step. This year is just following up on that. I am so confident that this team will get more than 6 wins i can't stress it enough. Time will tell, but I think some people are going to be surprised.


Terrific post.

You nailed it -- people are afraid to let themselves hope that the program can have nice things. I made the same point last week about progress not necessarily being incremental.

We've not only turned the corner, Babers has stepped on the gas and accelerated away.
 
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Florida st. And V-tech game
Terrific post.

You nailed it -- people are afraid to let themselves hope that the program can have nice things. I made the same point last week about progress not necessarily being incremental.

We've not only turned the corner, Babers has stepped on the gas and accelerated away.
I agree wholeheartedly. We deserve to have a good team. I also think we can win every game and the only one we won’t is Clemson. Not being a downer but this is their game marked on calendar but we can play with them. After that we could win any some or all the rest. ND and BC are the remaining best but after Clemson but without a doubt we could win them games. And if we don’t I will be mad cause I expect a winner. I want the dome filled to the max. Let’s go SU. We can have shiny things and we are gonna.
 
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This team will go as far as the OL and DL take them. In games that they brake down or struggle SU will as well and if say the OL struggles the DL better be as good as against FSU and visa versa if the DL struggles. There is a lot of talent there and each game is going to bring its challenges, some unique but if the specials stay consistent that will help them stay in games, especially if SU keeps getting good field position.

As for the other teams it might be harder to judge this year more than any other. The 4 game redshirt rule could come into play whenever SU plays another team and we don't know what they might have that could give them a spark we have yet to see. Again, each game will bring its own challenges but there is no doubt that this team is the most confident I've seen since 2012 and very talented and deeper than that squad. I'm looking forward in seeing how this team handles adversity when somebody punches them hard. WMU spanked them in a quick burst and SU responded well and they have yet to fall behind in a game, correct?

Go Orange and take care of UConn like we know you can.
 
Oh and another thing. I like how Babers is talking about the 3-0. He knows how some players can get ahead of themselves and the beauty part are what happened the last 2 years after the big wins. Yes, injuries happened but I think this past experience will help them handle winning and what you have to do to actually get to the next step...play your butt off and stay focused.
 
To me this entire season will boil down to how we survive Clemson health/mojo wise. If we go down there and get smoked 49-0, lose a few key players..that can turn a season on its head. We need to put the conference on notice that we can play w them and keep intact for the second half of the season when we're playing our true peer schools.
 
Another expectation...to have SU play on channels that the whole Orange nation can see, not that interweb game thing but the main sports channels for all our eyes to see the Fastest Show on Turf. Gotta win to do that.
 
Another expectation...to have SU play on channels that the whole Orange nation can see, not that interweb game thing but the main sports channels for all our eyes to see the Fastest Show on Turf. Gotta win to do that.

The slots do far have been good. WMU was on the wasteland channel (CBS’s sports) due to the MAC. Wagner is Wagner.

FSU, UCONN, and Clemson are all on ESPN family - but not ACC network + or ESPN3
 
Firstly, if Syracuse were to lose to UCON, Dino should resign, so that game is in the win column. After that, the ACC Atlantic is ripe for a changing of the guard and an Orange takeover. FSU has been dispatched and will be down for a long while. Only 1 team really stands in the way: Clemson. Engineer a second straight win, and at their house, and the Orange can lay a claim to being top dog. The time has come and we have the team to do it.
 
To me this entire season will boil down to how we survive Clemson health/mojo wise. If we go down there and get smoked 49-0, lose a few key players..that can turn a season on its head. We need to put the conference on notice that we can play w them and keep intact for the second half of the season when we're playing our true peer schools.
Yeah, I think is fair.
 
To me this entire season will boil down to how we survive Clemson health/mojo wise. If we go down there and get smoked 49-0, lose a few key players..that can turn a season on its head. We need to put the conference on notice that we can play w them and keep intact for the second half of the season when we're playing our true peer schools.
The team went on the road to 4 power teams last year and lost by 1 play in each of them. This years team is much deeper, stronger better. How do you come up with 49-0 is beyond me. Dino, Dungey, Defense, Devito and everybody else are going there to get a win.
 
Terrific post.

You nailed it -- people are afraid to let themselves hope that the program can have nice things. I made the same point last week about progress not necessarily being incremental.

We've not only turned the corner, Babers has stepped on the gas and accelerated away.

Nah, nah, nah. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
As much as I want to believe. As much as I WANT to believe, we've seen the start of this movie before. I am truly taking a game by game approach to the season. Why?

1. It is actually allowing for maximum enjoyment of this team for a change.

2. I'll believe the depth issues are solved when we win with linemen out. ED & TD do not depth make. It's great to have a capable back up QB with incredible potential for next year but that doesn't solve all our depth problems. I hope it doesn't happen, but let's wait and see if a lineman or 3 go down and then see what happens.

3. We've lived in the ugly backwaters of football for so long that I will believe it when I see. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love what I am currently seeing. However, I also see a flawed football team. FSU is a mess and our first two games our defense played at a high JV level If we can sustain what we saw against FSU then we just may have something special but I'm not completely convinced that we aren't still turning the corner. I guess that's what too many 4-8 seasons can do to a person...

I do want to believe.
 
Nah, nah, nah. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
As much as I want to believe. As much as I WANT to believe, we've seen the start of this movie before. I am truly taking a game by game approach to the season. Why?

1. It is actually allowing for maximum enjoyment of this team for a change.

2. I'll believe the depth issues are solved when we win with linemen out. ED & TD do not depth make. It's great to have a capable back up QB with incredible potential for next year but that doesn't solve all our depth problems. I hope it doesn't happen, but let's wait and see if a lineman or 3 go down and then see what happens.

3. We've lived in the ugly backwaters of football for so long that I will believe it when I see. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love what I am currently seeing. However, I also see a flawed football team. FSU is a mess and our first two games our defense played at a high JV level If we can sustain what we saw against FSU then we just may have something special but I'm not completely convinced that we aren't still turning the corner. I guess that's what too many 4-8 seasons can do to a person...

I do want to believe.
When will you believe, when it's a done deal? The team needs you to believe now.
 
My expectations were a bowl game at 6-6. I didn't think Florida State was going to be as bad as they have appeared, so I am excited at the prospect of heading to Death Valley as a 4-0 team if they take care of business against UConn. From there, I think they can win seven games. Pittsburgh, Louisville, Wake and UNC are all games that can be won. I would be disappointed if they did not clinch a bowl berth this season. They've set themselves up perfectly for one.
 
I predicted 8-4 preseason including the win over FSU so things are going pretty much how I expected so far. However, this team looks different than recent years past. They are slowly warming me up to believing this could be a 9-10 win team. The second half of the schedule is gonna be the real test and recent history hasn't been kind to us.
 
Nah, nah, nah. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
As much as I want to believe. As much as I WANT to believe, we've seen the start of this movie before. I am truly taking a game by game approach to the season. Why?

1. It is actually allowing for maximum enjoyment of this team for a change.

2. I'll believe the depth issues are solved when we win with linemen out. ED & TD do not depth make. It's great to have a capable back up QB with incredible potential for next year but that doesn't solve all our depth problems. I hope it doesn't happen, but let's wait and see if a lineman or 3 go down and then see what happens.

3. We've lived in the ugly backwaters of football for so long that I will believe it when I see. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love what I am currently seeing. However, I also see a flawed football team. FSU is a mess and our first two games our defense played at a high JV level If we can sustain what we saw against FSU then we just may have something special but I'm not completely convinced that we aren't still turning the corner. I guess that's what too many 4-8 seasons can do to a person...

I do want to believe.

I get what you are saying, but isn't it a bit of hyperbole to say our defense was "high JV level" the first two games? I was at the WMU game so I know all about that 3rd quarter, but what was so bad about our d against Wagner?
 
Florida st. And V-tech game
I agree wholeheartedly. We deserve to have a good team. I also think we can win every game and the only one we won’t is Clemson. Not being a downer but this is their game marked on calendar but we can play with them. After that we could win any some or all the rest. ND and BC are the remaining best but after Clemson but without a doubt we could win them games. And if we don’t I will be mad cause I expect a winner. I want the dome filled to the max. Let’s go SU. We can have shiny things and we are gonna.
I’m not saying that we will win by any means, but watch us shock the world vs Clemson (again). I’m not sure how I would react if we KO’d them after they “marked their calendar.”
 
I get what you are saying, but isn't it a bit of hyperbole to say our defense was "high JV level" the first two games? I was at the WMU game so I know all about that 3rd quarter, but what was so bad about our d against Wagner?
We had a bad quarter vs WMU. We were otherwise pretty good.
 

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