Expectations

[CuseCactus]

The last two years the bottom fell out at game 8. I'm pretty sure we are still thin at a lot of positions. The Clemson game's gonna be brutal from a physical perspective.

This being said - 8 and 4 and I'm very happy.

 

[NKR1978]

Ehhh... they had two touchdowns off a blocked punt and a muffed punt. I don't think they were that good - had a good running scheme that night though

Special Teams is important. I'm not sure you can bank off them every week, but they make your life easier or harder.

 

[Cuseregular]

Expectations are the same as my preseason Cali prognostication. 8-4. BUT if we tool UConn this weekend and with the 12 noon start I give us a punchers chance if and with turnovers/trickeration. THEN it would be time for revaluation.

 

[upperdeck]

in 2014 we went to clemson -15 they has Stoudt at QB and Mike Williams and Wayne Gallman, we played AJ long and were tied deep into the 3rd.. We have done the beat good teams at home thing, we have done the almost beat good teams on the road thing.. we need to get over that hump next.

 

[GoSU96]

5-1 is baked in. UNC is awful and at home.

L'ville isn't far behind UNC, but Petrino is a much better coach than Fedora. Still at home and if healthy that is the clearest way to six.

I think this team as the young skill guys develop around the veteran two deep can win any of the remaining five games. BC, Wake, Pitt on the road, ND at Yankee, NCSt at home. 2-3 equals an eight win season.

NCSt at home sets up to be a monster game. Both teams have a shot at being at one loss if SU can beat Pitt and NCSt beats BC at home. Comparable to WVU in '11 or L'ville in 12. An actual meaningful game instead of a chance at a big upset.

 

[Acesn8s]

At start of the year I said 6 was the goal, However I figured on 5 wins simply because I did not think our WR's or Linebackers were going to be worth a damn. So I thought WMU, Wagner, Uconn, Pitt, and North Carolina would be the wins.

Now Ill be happy with 6 but with 4 wins pretty much assured( although this is still Syracuse anything could happen) I got to believe 7 is the minimum this team should win. North Carolina is strait Dumpster Juice, Pitt, and Lville are from world beaters. That doesn't even mention we get a good but not great Wolf pack team at home, Wakes offense can score on anybody but secondary is maybe worst in all of ACC, and who knows what Notre Dame will look like in November.
Only teams I think that clearly are better is Clemson and BC.

 

[Chip]

Clemson will tell us if we have fool's gold or gold.

Yes, on gold, but no on fool's gold.

They're the #3 team in the country. Incredible talent everywhere. I'm aware of what happened last year, but if we lose convincingly, nothing changes for me.

Get back up off the turf and beat Pitt the next week. Everything is still in front of us.

 

[All4SU]

Some good folks getting WAY ahead of things here.

 

[NKR1978]

Some good folks getting WAY ahead of things here.

You're correct, but it's more fun this way than that what the vast majority of of the last 20 years have been.

I won't be shocked with anywhere from 6-10 wins. Dreaming of being 8-3 or 9-2 heading into BC.

 

[TheCusian]

I think we’re better. I think every team but Clemson and BC are worse than they were last year.

I don’t know if it will be enough. But it will be entertaining.

 

[P Vasiloff]

Beat UCONN. Worry about the rest later and keep the faith.

That is exactly how we Syracuse Football Fans should all be approaching this. Excellently stated, one at a freaking time please. Go Orange!!!!!

 

[USMCSnyper]

Our depth is better, therefore I don’t see the late season swoon. Even at QB. TD isn’t ED, but still.

 

[HtownOrange]

I got on the HCDB bandwagon early. Seeing the closeness of the elite teams we played last fall and how we were in them until the last possession says the team was good, just not quite good enough. Last season, the ACC was deep, especially in the Atlantic division,

This fall, the team is in year three. We are arguing over how to get the #2s and beyond field time (especially at QB), not when QB1 will get injured. The backup QB is legit, maybe not as experienced as we would like but very able to step up. The ACC Atlantic Division is down. The crossover game is not quite Rutgersesque but quite beatable, as opposed to the top team in the division. The depth is improved. Injuries will have less of an impact.

That said, I will be content with six wins and a bowl victory; happy with nine wins and a bowl victory, very impressed with double-digit regular season wins. The team can beat anyone on the schedule, yes Clemson will require a few things to go our way, but still beatable. ND is not as impressive as the preseason hype would have us believe. Everyone else is beatable, yes, even BC.

 

[qdawgg]

I think we’re better. I think every team but Clemson and BC are worse than they were last year.

I don’t know if it will be enough. But it will be entertaining.

I think this is exactly where I'm at. I'll be super excited if we win more than 6 games but I also think it's attainable and not just a pipe dream. At the same time, I worry there could be another collapse and I would be a little disappointed with anything less than 6. At this point, I might be disappointed with 6 wins but the context of how we get there will matter.

But the ACC looks prime for us to make a statement this year. I don't expect 8+ wins (not counting a bowl game) because there will be hiccups in at least one game.

 

[upperdeck]

whatever game gets us to 6 i want to win every game after that, if you tell me we win the next 3 then i think 12-0 is doable. if you say we beat pitt/nc then i think 11-1, if its Lou then i want 8-4, until we get to 6, 6 is the goal. we can play our best game and lose to Clemson, I hope we play one A game this year , we havent seen it yet,

 

[BomberOrange]

I hate the term “baked in”. So lame.
3-0 with one to go!

 

[anomander]

Honestly at this point with the way we have looked and the way the schedule has opened up 8 should be the goal, but hope for more. If we start 4-0 with the schedule we have ahead i would be very disappointed with 6 wins and consider it a huge blown opportunity and would not be a good season

 

[anomander]

Some good folks getting WAY ahead of things here.

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.

 

[magelly]

Beat UCONN. Worry about the rest later and keep the faith.

You got it right.One game at a time. Very excited about this season.

 

[Orangezoo]

I think 8 wins is a fair expectation at this point. So far this year we have only dealt with one quarter of "quicksand" against WMU where it just seemed like we were unable to do anything on either side of the ball. Be it injuries to Dungey and others or defensive lapses, the common theme has been getting into those extended 3 and out possession runs while giving up points or field position on every defensive possession putting us either out of reach, in too big of a hole or missing the opportunity to put an opponent away. This season there has been far less of that at least so far except for that hiccup 3rd quarter vs WMU. Even then however we jumped back out of it and took command.

Some of this is the whole expecting to win and playing like it mentality , but even more than that just the growth as a team to get over the hump in all 3 categories.

 

[nzm136]

I’m happy with 6-6. This program needs to Bowl, and 6-6 would get us there.

I’m significantly happier w/ 7-5. I think that we’ll realistically end up there, and 3 wins peppered throughout the last 8 games keeps the season interesting, and it keeps us somewhat relevant to recruits.

I’d be very happy w/ 8-4. I think that an 8 win season would send a clear message to recruits and the world in general. It would energize the program, and it would drive us forward.

I’d be ecstatic with anything 9+. It would make this season special, and it would put energy behind this team in a big way.

 

[Cuseman78]

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 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).

 

[nzm136]

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’d be very bullish w/ a senior stud receiver, like we’ve had the last 2 years.

I think we’re good, but it’s hard to tell, given who we’ve played. But we’d be significantly better if we had one more piece.

 

[Cuseman78]

I’d be very bullish w/ a senior stud receiver, like we’ve had the last 2 years.

I think we’re good, but it’s hard to tell, given who we’ve played. But we’d be significantly better if we had one more piece.

Certainly a big time receiver would be a cherry on top, but i think we're getting enough production to move the ball and put up some points.

I also expect some of the younger guys to continue to contribute as the year goes on (Nykeim, Taj Harris, etc). And maybe Butler and Ravian get rolling a bit.

I think we'll only improve in that area. Certainly have enough playmakers to beat the Pitts, UNCs, Uconns, Louisvilles of the world this year.

 

[TheCusian]

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.