Gate is a sneaky opponent tomorrow

[JeremyCuse]

I thought UConn would give SU all it could handle last week for a number of reasons (that I mentioned in some posts) and unfortunately they did. Thankfully we were able to pull that one out even if it was by the skin of our teeth.

Gate is an interesting 1AA opponent. They are 0-2 but both games were against top 25 FCS schools. They lost by 3 to Monmouth (42-39) and by a TD to Villanova (24-17). Their new HC Fitzpatrick has done a nice job of quickly getting that program in better shape ala Marrone. He runs a high profile offense, they had 541 yards in their opener against Monmouth and 350 vs Nova. They have an excellent WR in Treyvhon Saunders who has put 223 and 137 yards receiving in their two games this year.

Now I am not saying SU is in danger of losing this game or that it's going to be a one score game into the 4th tr. What I am saying is that SU is going to be missing some key pieces on Friday in Grant and Willis and probably one or two others as well. Gat isn't a Wagner level pushover where we can just show up and win by 40. IF SU comes out lackadaisical and going through the motions this could be much more of a game then people realize.

Now the good news is SU should have a massive advantage through the Air. While Gate did have 4 interceptions in their opener to Monmouth they also gave up 491 yards to Monmouth and 299 yards to Nova in the passing game. They actually gave up an incredible 678 yards in the opener overall to Monmouth and 416 to Nova. Even with Ross and Johnson still out Angeli should be able to put up Huge numbers. Would like to see the O-line really impose their will even with Mack out.

Again SU should win pretty comfortably but I am very interested to see how the team looks.

 

[721Comstock]

I thought UConn would give SU all it could handle last week for a number of reasons (that I mentioned in some posts) and unfortunately they did. Thankfully we were able to pull that one out even if it was by the skin of our teeth.

Gate is an interesting 1AA opponent. They are 0-2 but both games were against top 25 FCS schools. They lost by 3 to Monmouth (42-39) and by a TD to Villanova (24-17). Their new HC Fitzpatrick has done a nice job of quickly getting that program in better shape ala Marrone. He runs a high profile offense, they had 541 yards in their opener against Monmouth and 350 vs Nova. They have an excellent WR in Treyvhon Saunders who has put 223 and 137 yards receiving in their two games this year.

Now I am not saying SU is in danger of losing this game or that it's going to be a one score game into the 4th tr. What I am saying is that SU is going to be missing some key pieces on Friday in Grant and Willis and probably one or two others as well. Gat isn't a Wagner level pushover where we can just show up and win by 40. IF SU comes out lackadaisical and going through the motions this could be much more of a game then people realize.

Now the good news is SU should have a massive advantage through the Air. While Gate did have 4 interceptions in their opener to Monmouth they also gave up 491 yards to Monmouth and 299 yards to Nova in the passing game. They actually gave up an incredible 678 yards in the opener overall to Monmouth and 416 to Nova. Even with Ross and Johnson still out Angeli should be able to put up Huge numbers. Would like to see the O-line really impose their will even with Mack out.

Again SU should win pretty comfortably but I am very interested to see how the team looks.

This may sound odd, but - I'd like for this to be a more challenging game than it appears on paper.

Not that I don't wanna blow 'Gate out, but -
we still have a LOT of question marks on O and D, schemes, tackling, etc.

Let's give our 1's (and their stand-ins) a little game pressure for maybe 1.5 quarters, before we start pulling away.
Make everybody have to give full effort, not just mail it in vs. an overmatched opponent.

Get the 2's in maybe halfway thru the 3rd Q, and then empty the bench towards the end of the 4th.

We still have a lotta kinks to work out, and you can't do that if you're blowing out a soupcan from the jump.

 

[690West]

This sounds counterintuitive but I think the best thing going for us was our piss poor performance for 3.5 quarters last week. I think we will play with hair on fire based on that alone.

 

[JeremyCuse]

This sounds counterintuitive but I think the best thing going for us was our piss poor performance for 3.5 quarters last week. I think we will play with hair on fire based on that alone.

I think that and Frans familiarity with their HC will both help.

 

[FrancoPizza]

If I’m gate I’m sending all kinds of delayed blitzes and stunts.

 

[Cuse House]

When I was playing at Utica, Fitz was our offensive coordinator. Really nice guy and a great coach. He will have Gate in a great spot in 2-3 years. He will eventually be a coordinator or more at a D1 program, no doubt about it.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

When I was playing at Utica, Fitz was our offensive coordinator. Really nice guy and a great coach. He will have Gate in a great spot in 2-3 years. He will eventually be a coordinator or more at a D1 program, no doubt about it.

For sure, really good coach, he's definitely on an upward trajectory, building a solid resume with his HC experience. Syracuse could be looking for a new OC soon

 

[DPCuse]

For sure, really good coach, he's definitely on an upward trajectory, building a solid resume with his HC experience. Syracuse could be looking for a new OC soon

I would love to see him as SU's next OC and then possibly head coach down the road.

 

[Archbold44]

I would love to see him as SU's next OC and then possibly head coach down the road.

Any chance that Ross Douglas would come back to be O.C.? He is not a West Coast guy. Learning the Oregon offensive scheme could add to the resume.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

I would love to see him as SU's next OC and then possibly head coach down the road.

Like I said, think he has a really bright future so who knows.