Mcfarlane A Redshirt?

[Sullycuse]

Any recent talk about whether Devante will be redshirted or not? I know Marrone was leaning towards it because of the lack of time at RB this summer. I remember he was getting great reviews before coming in (particularly on this board) last year, and have only heard about his athleticism and flexibility this summer. Can Marrone really afford to redshirt anyone like that in an important 4th year of his tenure? Personally I think you have to use him (maybe special teams at least) and expect he can learn on the fly if he's really that impressive in his raw state, especially if no-one else really separated from the pack all that much.

 

[jekelish]

I wouldn't mind seeing him redshirt unless he's going to be a big part of the return game. We have, what, three upperclassmen, Morris, and Broyld already who are probably going to get some carries. I don't know that I like having six active RBs when three of them are true freshmen. It's not a horrible thing to space them out a little bit (and I know Broyld won't really be a RB, but still, even five active RBs feels like a lot).

 

[PhatOrange]

It sounded to me like they are going to redshirt him at this point in time.

Dont need him on specials either. I'd assume all the athletes expected to play will be on specials as well so it's not necessary to play him there. You're looking at George Morris, Cornelius, Jaston George, Rene, Eskridge, Desire, Reddish, Morgan, PTG, Hale, maybe Whigham, maybe Ben Lewis, Kobena, Broyld etc.

 

[Rocco]

Any recent talk about whether Devante will be redshirted or not? I know Marrone was leaning towards it because of the lack of time at RB this summer. I remember he was getting great reviews before coming in (particularly on this board) last year, and have only heard about his athleticism and flexibility this summer. Can Marrone really afford to redshirt anyone like that in an important 4th year of his tenure? Personally I think you have to use him (maybe special teams at least) and expect he can learn on the fly if he's really that impressive in his raw state, especially if no-one else really separated from the pack all that much.

Yes RS, he has a legit chance at serious PT next year (possibly starting) with a year of the playbook under his belt and getting a little stronger/bigger. The staff really, really likes him.

 

[Sullycuse]

All of that makes sense, and I love the depth we're finally starting to get at these positions. My interest stems from the debate of how long you should give a coach these days to turn around a team/keep a team competitive (not looking to start that debate here). Don Mcpherson said in an interview that Marrone deserves 6 years rather than 4 to be judged as "the right man for the job", but in this day most fans (and their attention spans/patience) think 4 years is the judgment deadline. Given that thought, saving him a year means nothing if Marrone is gone in 1 or 2... Again this question was posed more from what Marrone should do to put the best product on the field for his job and success...not what fans want (obviously it's better for us and the program if the talent is there to be spread out, but that's not necessarily the best case for Marrone's job). I realize it seems like Doc Gross and the school support Marrone right now, but who knows where that goes with another losing/middling season or two? Marrone hasn't seemed very impressed with the RB competition, until he brought Mcfarlane over from the defense...so playing him where possible seems to make sense to me. If it takes him part of, or even half, the season to become a legitimate RB threat, so be it, it's worth it to keep a balanced offense, and that's just in time to keep us from stumbling through the big east schedule that for some reason has given us so much trouble in the past several years. With all this in mind, it seems like the redshirt, spread the talent out, approach is kind of the safe way to go from a fan's perspective...as if we're expecting to have down times in recruiting...which only winning early and often can be sure to address.

 

[Sullycuse]

...Then again, I suppose it can just be seen as confidence in the product going on the field this year. Which is comforting.

 

[Crusty]

DM must think he is really special to RS him this year. We have enough RB that won't see much time this year so we don't need another. Either Morris or Run DMC should RS.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

From this morning's articles:

Syracuse University football rookie tailback Devante McFarlane may have run out of time this season, but his future remains bright. Moved from safety to tailback late in preseason camp, McFarlane impressed coach Doug Marrone with his potential, although he will begin the season on the scout season and will likely redshirt.

 

[JoeSU]

Not to pick nits, but technically, RSs are not awarded until a player's 5th year in the program, and they are not automatic. It's not like they put the RS label on McFarlane now which disqualifies him from from playing the rest of the season. There may be some a priori decision to hold him out, but but of course that could change during the season due to injuries, lack of production from other players, etc. I also assume McFarlane would be consulted in making this decision.
What I would hate to see is for McFarlane to burn a year of eligibility for a couple of meaningless carries in mop-up duty.

 

[orangenirvana]

I think it's friggin fantastic that we've finally reached the point where we can redshirt talented players. This is cause for celebration.

I'm assuming they're planning on redshirting Lewellyn Coker, too. Can anyone confirm?

 

[Sullycuse]

Yeh, I saw all of this and expected him to redshirt. However, I read an article on fizz talking about him and made it sound like his playing this year was still a potential option, just wasn't sure if something had changed or something definitive came out. Clearly seems like the article is just for the sake of profiling him though.

 

[Crusty]

Not to pick nits, but technically, RSs are not awarded until a player's 5th year in the program, and they are not automatic. It's not like they put the RS label on McFarlane now which disqualifies him from from playing the rest of the season. There may be some a priori decision to hold him out, but but of course that could change during the season due to injuries, lack of production from other players, etc. I also assume McFarlane would be consulted in making this decision.
What I would hate to see is for McFarlane to burn a year of eligibility for a couple of meaningless carries in mop-up duty.

Sure, I think we are all aware of that. I am just saying that, barring something unforeseen, one of them needs to retain a year of eligibility.

 

[LeMoyneCuse]

I'm assuming they're planning on redshirting Lewellyn Coker, too. Can anyone confirm?

I doubt it. Guy's been around for three summers and still hasn't picked up the playbook.

 

[orangenirvana]

in this day most fans (and their attention spans/patience) think 4 years is the judgment deadline. Given that thought, saving him a year means nothing if Marrone is gone in 1 or 2...

Again this question was posed more from what Marrone should do to put the best product on the field for his job and success...not what fans want (obviously it's better for us and the program if the talent is there to be spread out, but that's not necessarily the best case for Marrone's job).

These two paragraphs completely contradict each other. You say Marrone should feel pressure to win now because the fans are impatient. Yet, it's better for the fans to redshirt the players? Huh?

It's a shame that because fans are more impatient and stupid now, coaches get less time to rebuild a football program and prove they're the right man for the job.

Marrone hasn't seemed very impressed with the RB competition, until he brought Mcfarlane over from the defense...so playing him where possible seems to make sense to me.

How can you tell?

 

[OrangeXtreme]

I think it's friggin fantastic that we've finally reached the point where we can redshirt talented players. This is cause for celebration.

I'm assuming they're planning on redshirting Lewellyn Coker, too. Can anyone confirm?

I'm thinking that if you can't make the two-deep as a Junior, you'll just take your degree after 4 years.

 

[Sullycuse]

These two paragraphs completely contradict each other. You say Marrone should feel pressure to win now because the fans are impatient. Yet, it's better for the fans to redshirt the players? Huh?

It's a shame that because fans are more impatient and stupid now, coaches get less time to rebuild a football program and prove they're the right man for the job.



How can you tell?

Setting aside the initial premise that none of this was argumentative, but hypothetical. (because I was initially simply asking about the status of one particular player - and only went on with the hypothetical of how long a coach deserves to prove himself to further explain my interest in the situation at hand)

1. Those two paragraphs are decidedly NOT contradicting because NEVER in my post did I say that Marrone SHOULD feel pressure by the fans, nor did I imply it, insinuate it, or think it. The two are completely separate thoughts... nor did I say he should feel pressure by the "4-year judgment" paradigm set in college football today. My point was, what is best for Marrone (or rather a head coach in general, since the specifics have muddied the water), is not necessarily what is best for the fans. I simply noted that, push come to shove, the typical college football coach should be more interested in short term than long term...short term is his potential tenure determined by his success or lack there of, long term is the future of the school/program regardless of whether that coach reamains. GRANTED, because a coach like Marrone has so much history and interest in Syracuse football, long term may very well matter more to him than short term, or at least equal it (I would actually argue it does, but that's conjecture) ...he may also have assurances of several years and feels he has breathing room, who knows, I certainly don't. The point is, Mcfarlane is redshirting, and if he is, it should be because Marrone is confident in the product that's taking the field this year (I would assume that he does) and not to stockpile for the future that may be with a different coach (i do not feel that this is what he is doing).

2. He has been specifically quoted as saying there hasn't been the separation for the RB position that he would have liked, so I don't have to be able to tell, I was told. I concede, the lack of separation may be because they were all so amazing...but it seems unlikely that that's the case, I take it to mean no-one stood out as the clear-cut favorite.

3. I don't believe that he should be judged this year, and do feel he should plan long-term and save talent for future seasons where it's possible because I feel he deserves/will get the chance to see it through to a certain extent, but not all fans do, not even on this board.

 

[orangenirvana]

Setting aside the initial premise that none of this was argumentative, but hypothetical. (because I was initially simply asking about the status of one particular player - and only went on with the hypothetical of how long a coach deserves to prove himself to further explain my interest in the situation at hand)

1. Those two paragraphs are decidedly NOT contradicting because NEVER in my post did I say that Marrone SHOULD feel pressure by the fans, nor did I imply it, insinuate it, or think it. The two are completely separate thoughts... nor did I say he should feel pressure by the "4-year judgment" paradigm set in college football today. My point was, what is best for Marrone (or rather a head coach in general, since the specifics have muddied the water), is not necessarily what is best for the fans. I simply noted that, push come to shove, the typical college football coach should be more interested in short term than long term...short term is his potential tenure determined by his success or lack there of, long term is the future of the school/program regardless of whether that coach reamains. GRANTED, because a coach like Marrone has so much history and interest in Syracuse football, long term may very well matter more to him than short term, or at least equal it (I would actually argue it does, but that's conjecture) ...he may also have assurances of several years and feels he has breathing room, who knows, I certainly don't. The point is, Mcfarlane is redshirting, and if he is, it should be because Marrone is confident in the product that's taking the field this year (I would assume that he does) and not to stockpile for the future that may be with a different coach (i do not feel that this is what he is doing).

2. He has been specifically quoted as saying there hasn't been the separation for the RB position that he would have liked, so I don't have to be able to tell, I was told. I concede, the lack of separation may be because they were all so amazing...but it seems unlikely that that's the case, I take it to mean no-one stood out as the clear-cut favorite.

3. I don't believe that he should be judged this year, and do feel he should plan long-term and save talent for future seasons where it's possible because I feel he deserves/will get the chance to see it through to a certain extent, but not all fans do, not even on this board.

I know your not being argumentative and most of your post is hypothetical. But it still seems like a contradiction to me. Idk, not a big deal.

I do know that Marrone is not redshirting McFarlane or anyone else with the thought of "Well, we need him, but the next coach will appreciate this gesture."

McFarlane is on schedule to be redshirting right now because it's determined by the coaching staff that he's not needed. But that doesn't mean he won't be playing this season if in Week 4 it's determined that our other running backs stink.