I keep seeing people saying the offense will open up against LSU

[OttoinGrotto]

I don't really understand why. Is it because people think that gives us a better chance at a statement win? If so, why don't we just play more open on offense anyway? Is it because the thought is if open is our normal style we lose some element of surprise? If so, why would we choose to sacrifice the element of surprise against arguably the team we are least likely to beat?

We've got two more winnable games, and then our swing games. I say let's go balls to the wall against CMU and USF and then let the chips fall where they may.

 

[TheCusian]

I don't really understand why. Is it because people think that gives us a better chance at a statement win? If so, why don't we just play more open on offense anyway? Is it because the thought is if open is our normal style we lose some element of surprise? If so, why would we choose to sacrifice the element of surprise against arguably the team we are least likely to beat? We've got two more winnable games, and then our swing games. I say let's go balls to the wall against CMU and USF and then let the chips fall where they may.

I agree. I wasn't sure before the season - but I think Lester is more conservative than what I'd hoped. There's a lot to like - but I'd like to see him let the kid learn by slinging it. Maybe the give him more vs CMU and it begins to click - that he's at his best with the full playbook in play. Then maybe we throw a bit more at LSU's D.

 

[OrangeinBoston]

I agree. I wasn't sure before the season - but I think Lester is more conservative than what I'd hoped. There's a lot to like - but I'd like to see him let the kid learn by slinging it. Maybe the give him more vs CMU and it begins to click - that he's at his best with the full playbook in play. Then maybe we throw a bit more at LSU's D.

If this game proved anything, it is that Dungey can make the big throw. That should give Lester enough confidence to throw downfield a lot more than he has. Let's see if he draws the right conclusion.

 

[upperdeck]

i think people are confusing results with what kind of plays we ran.. we tried to throw deep several times just didnt work out. the WR were not open and that in itself probably took away 5-6 pass attempts that results in other things happening. the oline is still work in progress and when you only run 4 plays in a quarter not sure how much you really get done.

 

[Mo_Cuse]

Not sure its about surprising anyone so much as managing risk with Dungey. I think people are saying that "opening up the playbook" carries a greater risk/reward. Since we are probably going to lose against LSU anyway, why not take the greater risk/reward path? Dungey can definitely make the throws, but he is still a freshman learning D1 Football who will make mistakes.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Not sure its about surprising anyone so much as managing risk with Dungey.

I get that's a possibility. But then why did he hve so many rushing attempts vs pass attempts?

 

[Mo_Cuse]

I didn't mean risk of him getting hurt, just risk of making freshman mistakes, particularly throwing interceptions. Turnovers were crucial to us winning this game. I think if we turn the ball over against Wake even once we would have lost.

I get what you're saying, but in trying to justify what others are saying and what the coaches look to be doing, I will say that they are trying to micromanage the gameplan, making sure we set ourselves up with the best chance to win. Against these less than stellar opponents, they believe the best way to do that is to limit Dungey's chances of screwing up.

Now, is that the right way of doing things? I don't know. I personally would like to see them open it up a bit more. The second half of the Wake game it actually looked like we had a quarterback back there, something we haven't seen much of in the past decade.

 

[retro44]

The team is young,Dungey is just a freshmen,so yeah...everyweek they will be throwing in new junk.

 

[SoBristol]

Yes, I see these posts that we are plain vanilla now, or conservative run-first now, but just wait, we will open the TCU/Oregon playbooks soon. It isn't going to happen.

We are going to run the ball, stay balanced, limit mistakes, and try to stay out of 3rd and long situations.

 

[dasher]

It's a process. They weren't going to let a frosh's inexperience beat us yesterday if they could help it and I don't blame them. I'm going to let these guys do their job and try to build this up.

 

[Crusty]

I don't really understand why. Is it because people think that gives us a better chance at a statement win? If so, why don't we just play more open on offense anyway? Is it because the thought is if open is our normal style we lose some element of surprise? If so, why would we choose to sacrifice the element of surprise against arguably the team we are least likely to beat?

We've got two more winnable games, and then our swing games. I say let's go balls to the wall against CMU and USF and then let the chips fall where they may.

I don't think it has anything to do with "saving" a surprise for LSU. Lester will script the plays for what they see on film for each team, including LSU, and what they know Dungey can do. Let's face it - right now the offense is Dungey making plays. As we move forward that will change as his passing ability will open up the run game for us. Lester's definition of going balls out is whatever he thinks Dungey on handle - that is probably a good thing!

 

[omniorange]

I think they will start that game off conservatively hoping they can get the ground game going. But if LSU jumps out to an early lead, I think they will have to open things up a lot. At least that is what I would hope they do.

Everyone outside the family and a lot of us inside the family believe this is a sure loss. They really have nothing to lose, unless of course they can establish a decent running game and then it will be a meat grinder.

Cheers,
Neil

 

[JoeSU]

I thought there was a stretch yesterday - I think it was the 2nd qtr- where we tried to get a little too"creative" on offense.

 

[upperdeck]

I thought there was a stretch yesterday - I think it was the 2nd qtr- where we tried to get a little too"creative" on offense.

yes. and it led to no offensive flow for awhile.

 

[tipphill]

lsu? how about cmu---we can't mail that in either---has anyone been paying attention to the way we are playing????? u really think that we held back in the game? if we held back, it was because of a lack of confidence in ol. the ol is NOT GOOD AT THIS LEVEL! lester is calling plays with that in mind!!!! we have yet to see a real deal defense

 

[tipphill]

I agree. I wasn't sure before the season - but I think Lester is more conservative than what I'd hoped. There's a lot to like - but I'd like to see him let the kid learn by slinging it. Maybe the give him more vs CMU and it begins to click - that he's at his best with the full playbook in play. Then maybe we throw a bit more at LSU's D.

there is no competent protection for him---dungey made the ol look good ,not visa versa ---forget lsu, we need to get by cmu, and they have a good defense. dungey is learning ---HOW TO IMPROVISE

 

[money3189]

I didn't mean risk of him getting hurt, just risk of making freshman mistakes, particularly throwing interceptions. Turnovers were crucial to us winning this game. I think if we turn the ball over against Wake even once we would have lost.

I get what you're saying, but in trying to justify what others are saying and what the coaches look to be doing, I will say that they are trying to micromanage the gameplan, making sure we set ourselves up with the best chance to win. Against these less than stellar opponents, they believe the best way to do that is to limit Dungey's chances of screwing up.

Now, is that the right way of doing things? I don't know. I personally would like to see them open it up a bit more. The second half of the Wake game it actually looked like we had a quarterback back there, something we haven't seen much of in the past decade.

Bravo, This is exactly what they are doing. No matter what Shafer tells the media about the comfort level they have with Dungey and the playbook. The staff dont wont opponents to know they are playing it safe. I feel this strategy is necessary for the early part of the schedule because it limits the amount of mistakes he can make putting them in position to win against equal or lesser talented teams. If we got behind a couple TD's because of turnovers and pick 6's and lost the game, people would be going nuts on the staff. CMU has a good defense, expect the same exact game plan. CMU struggles to run the ball just like Wake. We should be able to stop them consistently. Why risk throwing the ball around giving them a chance to get cheap points? We will start taking shots down the field the better Dungey gets. Im hoping by the South Florida game.

 

[Shark58]

LSU is gonna be on us like white on rice

we'll let it hang out, and hope we come out un injured and un crushed

in other words, we gauene

 

[ImperialOrange]

I think a lot of folks still subscribe to the decades old addage of running to open up the pass. Its become apparent to me with SU and other teams we must pass to open up the run. Its tough to break anything big in the run game with safeties cheating up. What you need to be able to do is hurt teams for doing that like Wake's long td and Estime's catch and dash. Safeties got caught looking into the back field on both and both qbs did what they should.

Only thing I didn't like vs Wake is we didn't run off tackle nearly enough imho. Aside from that we called some decent plays some of which we missed but most of which a well coached defense stopped.

LSU might as well be next year. All we should be focusing on is CMU at the moment otherwise we could embarrass ourselves vs a good MAC team.

 

[Briancuse]

Lets take it a week at a time, we aren't Ohio st, lets focus on the gameplan for cmu.

 

[Noexcuse]

I think not having Irv yesterday limited the offense somewhat as well. Not sure if he will be available for LSU or if they should risk losing him for the rest of the season if he's not 100% by then.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

I think not having Irv yesterday limited the offense somewhat as well. Not sure if he will be available for LSU or if they should risk losing him for the rest of the season if he's not 100% by then.

Back after the bye, hopefully.

http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootb..._injury_syracuse_football_1.html#incart_river