HCSS and this Coaching Staff

[GoSU96]

It sucks not having any playmakers on offense. Our "best" WR isn't even that good, nor is he explosive in any way (Broyld). The rest of the WR's are either undersize or too slow. There's no big play potential anywhere with those guys. We have a good stable of RB's, but I'm not sure there's a breakaway threat, or a guy that can turn nothing into a big play. PTG is a nice player and should get the majority of the work, but he's not great. The young kids behind him are meh.

College football is about playmakers and getting them the ball. When you don't have any, it's tough to consistently put up points, unless you have a fantastic QB.

Oh, and playcalling. Yeah, yuck.

They had five different guys make catches of 20 yd or greater today. Gully went for a 40 yd run today, Hunt a 20, AM 19. There have been multiple runs of 60 plus yds this season.

The ONLY problem with this offense is redzone and 3rd down, which is where QB's and coaches earn their money. The ingredients are there, they just need to up their game.

You don't go for almost 600 yds against a P5 opponent with "no playmakers" a phrase I'm getting sick of.

 

[texasorange]

Lucy, you've got some Splaning into do!!

 

[Crusty]

They had five different guys make catches of 20 yd or greater today. Gully went for a 40 yd run today, Hunt a 20, AM 19. There have been multiple runs of 60 plus yds this season.

The ONLY problem with this offense is redzone and 3rd down, which is where QB's and coaches earn their money. The ingredients are there, they just need to up their game.

You don't go for almost 600 yds against a P5 opponent with "no playmakers" a phrase I'm getting sick of.

This was always the problem with our offense back in 2009, 2010, 2011 as well. Even the 2012 team did not score as much as their yardages might suggest.

Yardage between the 20's means little to us especially without a FG kicker. MD reminded me of us - bend but don't break.

 

[Stern]

Here's the thing sport, the fact they struggled scoring doesn't surprise me one bit. I think I have a pretty good handle on the state of the program.

Not if you think today wasn't a blowout loss at home...sport!

 

[Shrmdougluvr]

My thoughts on the coaching (positives and negatives) from someone who is beyond a "lay fan" but well below someone with real football knowledge:

1. It took Marrone and Hackett a few years to get there, but they finally realized that they had to scheme to their talent, and be different in a way that made up for deficiencies. They were uniquely qualified to do this as Marrone had served under an offensive genius and Hackett was a blank slate. I don't get what McDonald/Shafer are trying to do with the offense. Running what Oregon and Clemson do with far less talented players is never going to yield Oregon/Clemson type results.

2. The indecision with where players play is a recurring problem. To me, the two most dominant athletes on the team are Ashton Broyld and Ron Thompson. Ashton has played two consecutive seasons (even practice seasons) at the same position since he go on campus. To me, he would have made an excellent mike (though i am told he has an aversion to contact), but on offense, the prototype is Sanu at Rutgers. Instead they waste a year with him at RB (i blame Marrone for that) and use him as a slot receive (a spot generally reserved for jitterbug-types). Thompson came in with all kinds of promise at TE. Was shifted to defensive end because it was thought he would "outgrow" tight end (an idiotic premise). Then they had him slim down to fit within the defensive system (more on that next). Now he is mostly playing as a woefully undersized defensive tackle. Is it not obvious that Thompson should be wreaking havoc as a 285 lbs defensive end?

3. The defense is too small. Villanova was able to play with us because we are about the size of a 1-aa defense. Really tiny up front (though they play the run fairly well). We keep trying to get faster, but all that speed can't help us compete with bigger (and still fast players). I don't know if i am barking up the right tree here, but too me, i would recruit kids to more natural positions. I think Davis would have been an amazing 215 lbs strong safety. Instead we have Desir in their at a 180. this is an example.

4. The running back rotation is dreadful and silly. If gulley is who the coaches deem best, he should be in as often as possible. I can't recall whether it was second or third quarter, but we needed to score, and Morris came in. We had a big 3 and 2 and i believe he got stuffed. Gulley or Moore needed to be in there.

5. Love the energy and camaraderie of the staff. Shafer is an amazing advocate and spokesman for the program.

6. I know folks love to bag on McDonald, but the "I'd be fine with McDonald just as a position coach" comments are laughable. We wouldn't sniff a coach with his recruiting pedigree if he wasnt offered a coordinator gig.

 

[GoSU96]

Not if you think today wasn't a blowout loss at home...sport!

A blowout means dominated, non competitive, doesn't belong on the same field.

That wasn't today, not even close.

 

[GoCuse44]

Maybe the AD should give the football program a bigger salary pot to work from, so we don't have to hire D2 and D3 coaches...

Maybe the AD can cut his staff which is top heavy with a bunch of Assistant AD's and put that money into the football program.

 

[Full_Rebar]

Maybe not a blowout, but Maryland was never threatened in the 2nd half, so I'd say they won comfortably. When an average P5 team is able to do that on the road these days, it's not far from a blowout.

 

[Chris02M]

For me personally; watching what's going on a few miles to the West in the NFL, it really strikes home just how good the previous staff was at actually coaching... Didn't appreciate the caliber of coaching talent that left for Buffalo...

its 2 games in buffalo easy now they were pretty terrible last year with same offensive staff

 

[PASyrFan]

Shafer is not HC material & NEVER was. I said that from day 1 & was attacked by most on this board. Marrone leaving set this program back a few years, but if we give Shafer too much time, it will set us back to the Robinson years. God help us!!!

 

[Stern]

A blowout means dominated, non competitive, doesn't belong on the same field.

That wasn't today, not even close.

Scoreboard says it was. We went down 31-13 at halftime and never made it a game after that. The entire 2nd half SU wasn't competitive or got within 18pts till the final touchdown in garbage time. It was a blowout! Never got within a 3 score game from halftime on...BLOWOUT!

 

[GoSU96]

Scoreboard says it was. We went down 31-13 at halftime and never made it a game after that. The entire 2nd half SU wasn't competitive or got within 18pts till the final touchdown in garbage time. It was a blowout! Never got within a 3 score game from halftime on...BLOWOUT!

Actually, it wasn't.

 

[Chris02M]

Shafer is not HC material & NEVER was. I said that from day 1 & was attacked by most on this board. Marrone leaving set this program back a few years, but if we give Shafer too much time, it will set us back to the Robinson years. God help us!!!

overly dramatic much

 

[TheCusian]

Scoreboard says it was. We went down 31-13 at halftime and never made it a game after that. The entire 2nd half SU wasn't competitive or got within 18pts till the final touchdown in garbage time. It was a blowout! Never got within a 3 score game from halftime on...BLOWOUT!

BS. They couldn't move the ball in the 2nd half, and we could run all day. Just couldn't punch it in and had some self-destruct moments. Their D was really awful against the run. I thought we just needed Gulley to break one or get a TO and they'd self destruct. That's not how a blowout looks.

 

[Chip]

Scoreboard says it was. We went down 31-13 at halftime and never made it a game after that. The entire 2nd half SU wasn't competitive or got within 18pts till the final touchdown in garbage time. It was a blowout! Never got within a 3 score game from halftime on...BLOWOUT!

Good lord, it wasn't a blowout loss, just stop.

It was a bad loss, filled with backbreaking mistakes.

You don't move the ball at will, to the tune of 600 yards, in a blowout loss. If you're a Syracuse fan, you should have a better handle on the term, because God knows we've seen them over the years.

 

[TheCusian]

Scoreboard says it was. We went down 31-13 at halftime and never made it a game after that. The entire 2nd half SU wasn't competitive or got within 18pts till the final touchdown in garbage time. It was a blowout! Never got within a 3 score game from halftime on...BLOWOUT!

Also: do you only post after losses?

 

[CanadianSU]

Sorry if we dont shoot ourselves in the foot

We blowout Maryland.

 

[Stern]

When the game isn't within 3 scores from halftime on, its a blowout people. Maryland was never threatened or in trouble the whole 2nd half. From halftime on Maryland was never in trouble. They took an 18pt lead into halftime and held onto it the entire 2nd half until that garbage TD at the end. If you don't think being down by 3 scores for an entire half and never getting any closer isn't a blowout you are fooling yourself.

Who cares how many yards SU got? They keep score in points! That's right POINTS! Nobody cares about yards totals!

 

[Stern]

Also: do you only post after losses?

Nope. I'm here after every game. You just choose to ignore my stuff after wins. That's on you!

 

[SUfanNC]

I personally would not consider this a blow out as well. We moved the ball all day but when it mattered could not seal the deal. We had penalties that knocked us out of scoring (which is on the coaches) and the pick 6. Offensively we were ok but I really think some play calls need to be adjusted. Defensively I am bothered, it seems like we could not stop them. 3 and 4 and it seemed liked they converted all day.

Our staff really needs to make some adjustments and connect with what works for us and doesn't. We will not be able to hang wit ND unless we fix theses issues quickly

 

[SmilinBob]

This was always the problem with our offense back in 2009, 2010, 2011 as well. Even the 2012 team did not score as much as their yardages might suggest.

Yardage between the 20's means little to us especially without a FG kicker. MD reminded me of us - bend but don't break.

The Bills seem to have that same problem as well...hmmm.

 

[SmilinBob]

Maryland made big plays and scored TD's on them...SU did not. To get to that next level you need a guy that can turn the corner and road runner their butt into the end zone. You NEED to take advantage of opportunities. SU guys get caught and have to execute more plays to score TD's and yesterday that didn't happen (The TD part). Average teams win some and loss some and SU is an average team.

 

[ORANGEsPHK]

When the game isn't within 3 scores from halftime on, its a blowout people. Maryland was never threatened or in trouble the whole 2nd half. From halftime on Maryland was never in trouble. They took an 18pt lead into halftime and held onto it the entire 2nd half until that garbage TD at the end. If you don't think being down by 3 scores for an entire half and never getting any closer isn't a blowout you are fooling yourself.

Who cares how many yards SU got? They keep score in points! That's right POINTS! Nobody cares about yards totals!

I get that you are trying to prove that this game was a blow-out but you can't ignore how the team played. I saw a lot of good things from our team out there today but the score made it seem like UMD dominated us, which wasn't the case. There were many mistakes - the pick six was pretty bad, fumble, holding calls in the redzone, and our secondary continues to be an area of large concern.

With the way we moved the ball I never thought, at least until after 4th Q started, that we couldn't win this game. In a blow-out I would never have such optimism. SU against CMU was a blow out - CMU never had a chance in that game. SU had a chance against UMD if things we played out better (executed better). There is reason for optimism IMO for this team but we need a few more cycles of recruiting to get the burners on offense and a stronger/lockdown secondary. I thought both our D/O lines did fine. I personally would not consider this game a blow-out because we had a chance with the way the we moved the ball, but it is still a loss, and that sucks.

 

[TheCusian]

When the game isn't within 3 scores from halftime on, its a blowout people. Maryland was never threatened or in trouble the whole 2nd half. From halftime on Maryland was never in trouble. They took an 18pt lead into halftime and held onto it the entire 2nd half until that garbage TD at the end. If you don't think being down by 3 scores for an entire half and never getting any closer isn't a blowout you are fooling yourself. Who cares how many yards SU got? They keep score in points! That's right POINTS! Nobody cares about yards totals!

Nope. A blowout it is losing in all three phases over the whole game.

 

[Stern]

Nope. A blowout it is losing in all three phases over the whole game.

Um, no. Look at the scoreboard. You want to count "moral victories" to prove its not a blowout. Nobody gives a flying crap how many yards SU got on offense. From halftime on the game was over and SU never was in the game. They keep score in POINTS!!! Not yards. SU was beaten badly on the scoreboard in POINTS. Never a close game from halftime on.