Few quick Army and UVA Thoughts

[JeremyCuse]

What you saw on Sunday offensively was pretty much the nightmare scenario going into this year after losing so much offense to graduation. With Donahue held in check the offense was just way to stagnant and if not for some key turnovers/sequences that led to non 6on6 goals the ending would have probably been different.

To me a few things are clear
1. Lack of recruits panning out in the 13 and 14 classes is really starting to have an effect. The #2 overall class is basically down to Evans, Lane, Westin, and Simmons. Of those 4 only Evans and Lane have really earned significant PT and we all know the issues Evans is still having. 2014 has been even worse, outside of Thorpe (who I am sky high on) that class has been a disaster so far. None of the 4-5 middies who have redshirted last year have made an impact and while there still only red shirt frosh, that's still very disappointing.

2. Transfers work both ways. While Mariano and Piroli were clearly huge pickups its clear this team could use Forkin, Maltz, Dejohn and the middie who got suspended last year and transferred. Even if two of those guys were still around this offense would look completely different. Forkin who I believe left due to grade issues really stings as he could be playing that feeder role with Piroli out.

3. This team desperately needs Piroli back on the field. If he's even close to being ready I hope he plays on Friday because this teams entire offensive makeup changes with him out there. It allows Barber back to middie where he belongs and allows Desko to have two guys who can be feeders in Donahue and Piroli.

A few other random thoughts
I know Desko and staff are still trying to mix up the lines and find the right combination of players but we need to figure this stuff out in practice. We cant be running a mixed second and third line late in the game like we did vs Army when the game is very much in doubt. If you want to try some mix and matching early in the game based on practice results no problem but it the 4th quarter we need our go to guys. Would also like him to give Shewell and Thorpe some more PT, I love Solomon but I don't know if he's ready for extended minutes at this point. Shewell and Thorpe are guys who can put up points and will free up Piroli and Donahue to work from X. Solomon I think will be that feeder type that we will need with Donahue and Piroli graduating next year but without getting him major minutes I don't think he can be as effective as the other two.

Dejoe needs to get some first line run and Lane needs to go back to the second line with some mixing and matching. When you have a midfield that's trying to break in so many new faces and struggling to get much of its second line you need to mix the first line up a little bit. With Barber hopefully back at midfield a second line of Dejoe, Lane, and Salcido/Westin offers some promise. I would like to see Dejoe get at least one or two runs a half with the 1st line as he is playing excellent right now and would benefit from playing with Mariano, Salcido, Barber etc. Also with Westin and Simmons still struggling at some point you have to wonder if giving Romano, O'Reilly, or Hutchings a shot wouldn't be the worst thing in the world especially with a guy like Romano who was so highly rated.

In regards to UVA this matchup is potentially scary with it being the first road game with an offense that is no where near as good as last years and breaking in so many new faces. I think SU has a clear advantage at the X and a slight advantage on defense based on our depth of experience there but first road game that is outside against a desperate team I worry that game could get away from them if their not careful. UVA has plenty of question marks of its own so its likely to come down to which offense shows up. Big opportunity for this team to show Army was a blip on the screen caused by an opponent who always gets up for the Orange vs chronic offensive issues being exposed for the first time.

 

[jr4750]

What you saw on Sunday offensively was pretty much the nightmare scenario going into this year after losing so much offense to graduation. With Donahue held in check the offense was just way to stagnant and if not for some key turnovers/sequences that led to non 6on6 goals the ending would have probably been different.

To me a few things are clear
1. Lack of recruits panning out in the 13 and 14 classes is really starting to have an effect. The #2 overall class is basically down to Evans, Lane, Westin, and Simmons. Of those 4 only Evans and Lane have really earned significant PT and we all know the issues Evans is still having. 2014 has been even worse, outside of Thorpe (who I am sky high on) that class has been a disaster so far. None of the 4-5 middies who have redshirted last year have made an impact and while there still only red shirt frosh, that's still very disappointing.

2. Transfers work both ways. While Mariano and Piroli were clearly huge pickups its clear this team could use Forkin, Maltz, Dejohn and the middie who got suspended last year and transferred. Even if two of those guys were still around this offense would look completely different. Forkin who I believe left due to grade issues really stings as he could be playing that feeder role with Piroli out.

3. This team desperately needs Piroli back on the field. If he's even close to being ready I hope he plays on Friday because this teams entire offensive makeup changes with him out there. It allows Barber back to middie where he belongs and allows Desko to have two guys who can be feeders in Donahue and Piroli.

A few other random thoughts
I know Desko and staff are still trying to mix up the lines and find the right combination of players but we need to figure this stuff out in practice. We cant be running a mixed second and third line late in the game like we did vs Army when the game is very much in doubt. If you want to try some mix and matching early in the game based on practice results no problem but it the 4th quarter we need our go to guys. Would also like him to give Shewell and Thorpe some more PT, I love Solomon but I don't know if he's ready for extended minutes at this point. Shewell and Thorpe are guys who can put up points and will free up Piroli and Donahue to work from X. Solomon I think will be that feeder type that we will need with Donahue and Piroli graduating next year but without getting him major minutes I don't think he can be as effective as the other two.

Dejoe needs to get some first line run and Lane needs to go back to the second line with some mixing and matching. When you have a midfield that's trying to break in so many new faces and struggling to get much of its second line you need to mix the first line up a little bit. With Barber hopefully back at midfield a second line of Dejoe, Lane, and Salcido/Westin offers some promise. I would like to see Dejoe get at least one or two runs a half with the 1st line as he is playing excellent right now and would benefit from playing with Mariano, Salcido, Barber etc. Also with Westin and Simmons still struggling at some point you have to wonder if giving Romano, O'Reilly, or Hutchings a shot wouldn't be the worst thing in the world especially with a guy like Romano who was so highly rated.

In regards to UVA this matchup is potentially scary with it being the first road game with an offense that is no where near as good as last years and breaking in so many new faces. I think SU has a clear advantage at the X and a slight advantage on defense based on our depth of experience there but first road game that is outside against a desperate team I worry that game could get away from them if their not careful. UVA has plenty of question marks of its own so its likely to come down to which offense shows up. Big opportunity for this team to show Army was a blip on the screen caused by an opponent who always gets up for the Orange vs chronic offensive issues being exposed for the first time.

Spot on with your concerns about Friday Jeremy. No doubt UVA will play SU tough. They always do and they are "desperate," (maybe too strong, but lets use it anyway) to get some positivity after a brutal loss last week. Think we will be fine at the X, but worry about our issues on defense, Warren Hill's struggles and his first true test against an ACC team, being the most pressing concern. The outdoors component is big too. How much has SU even played on grass thus far. Perhaps not since the Fall. Thats big.

Think the offense will be ok, but we need a defined feeder, so we can run Dylan off screens. If he is out by the midfield the whole time, we are losing by far our best weapon. Need him shooting towards the goal with someone who can get him the ball. Evans simply cannot turnover the ball as much anymore in these bigger games, and I think he is pressing way too much. Piroli would be HUGE to have here. Agree that Solomon is just not ready yet, but he does have that Kevin Rice look. Lot of quirks with this team, think we will lose a game or two we shouldn't but probably win a few that we didn't think we would too. Nonetheless, UVA/Cuse is my favorite game of the year, every year. Can't wait! High scoring and fast paced!

 

[Powellfan]

Piroli is out for UVA ... think Barber is a better midfielder than attackman, but I feel better with him playing attack than the youngsters right now.

 

[Hoo's That]

UVA has plenty of question marks of its own so its likely to come down to which offense shows up.

^^^This. Big Time.^^^^^

We have used up our margin for error. ND is playing much, much stronger than us right now and dook has our number; 2 more probable losses. We can't afford any more of them. The "easiest" way for us to get in the NCAAT may turn out to be to win the ACCT. I'm not holding my breath.

 

[JeremyCuse]

Piroli is out for UVA ... think Barber is a better midfielder than attackman, but I feel better with him playing attack than the youngsters right now.

Ya I was hoping against hope but I thought the earliest he might be back was Hopkins with an outside shot of St. Johns next Saturday. Based on the way Desko was talking you knew it was going to be probably a month at least.

 

[JeremyCuse]

^^^This. Big Time.^^^^^

We have used up our margin for error. ND is playing much, much stronger than us right now and dook has our number; 2 more probable losses. We can't afford any more of them. The "easiest" way for us to get in the NCAAT may turn out to be to win the ACCT. I'm not holding my breath.

I think were in kind of the same boat, I don't see this team beating Duke on the road and UNC at home will be a dogfight. Desko has done well throughout his career against ND so I actually think we matchup pretty well with them despite ND having a much better offense and probably a slightly better D on paper. Its why the OOC games are so important to Syracuse we need to run the table because I could see this team not making the ACC tourney unfortunately especially we lose to you guys on Friday. Its a huge game for both teams.

 

[ThruWayWest]

Its why the OOC games are so important to Syracuse we need to run the table because I could see this team not making the ACC tourney unfortunately especially we lose to you guys on Friday. Its a huge game for both teams.

It is amazing that a single loss could keep us out of the ACC Tournament.

 

[JeremyCuse]

It is amazing that a single loss could keep us out of the ACC Tournament.

The lack of a sixth team really hurts in that regard. With six you could give the first two teams a bye and play a 3 game tourney. We nearly missed the ACC tourney our first year so we hopefully we can grab this win today. the only good news is that Brown is the team the 5th place finisher plays which will be a quality opp.

 

[PhatOrange]

Is there a game/team you are not worried about?

This will obviously be a dogfight because it’s a rivalry game, but the difference I see, to Syracuse’s advantage, is that UVA is not going to play a slow down game.

My biggest worry is the weather (low 40’s) though I still expect the scoring to hit the teens and Syracuse by 4 or 5.

 

[JeremyCuse]

Is there a game/team you are not worried about?

This will obviously be a dogfight because it’s a rivalry game, but the difference I see, to Syracuse’s advantage, is that UVA is not going to play a slow down game.

My biggest worry is the weather (low 40’s) though I still expect this game to hit the teens and Syracuse by 4 or 5.

Siena for sure, Albany for the most part and definitely st. Johns and Bingo.

 

[jr4750]

Is there a game/team you are not worried about?

This will obviously be a dogfight because it’s a rivalry game, but the difference I see, to Syracuse’s advantage, is that UVA is not going to play a slow down game.

My biggest worry is the weather (low 40’s) though I still expect this game to hit the teens and Syracuse by 4 or 5.

Weather is solid at the moment. Brisk but no too bad. Good running weather!