I think almost all SU fans have been dreading playing this game. We all remember what happened in 2017. The team was poised to get ranked and go to a great bowl game after the Clemson game, but injuries/lack of depth caught up with the team, almost everyone on defense played hurt and we could not stop simple power run plays. Just got physically dominated the second part of the season.
When Clemson and Pitt dominated the late stages of those games this season with power runs, and our defense was clearly exhausted, the outlook for the rest of the season didn’t look good. How could we stop ND and BC from running the ball? Heck, how could we stop Wake and N.C. State?
Props to the coaches for recognizing that we couldn’t stop the run running 4 2 5. Once we started playing Shy against run formations, everything changed. I thought Shy again played really well yesterday. There was a graphic displayed during the game saying BC threw tee ball to the TE more than any other school (over 60%!). The BC TEs have terrorized the SU defense I. The past but not this time. I saw a lot of targets though, and it seemed like Shy was covering the TE just about every time and breaking up the play every time. It had to be very sweet for Shy to have a big game in front of his friends and famiy, against a lot of players he must know from growing up in the area. His speed, strength, toughness and smarts (he has a knack of being in the right place at the right time) were huge. And he did it all playing with a broken thumb.
On the subject of linebackers, the ascent of Ryan Guthrie as this season has developed needs to be talked about more. He is playing at an insanely high level. Seems to make a great tackle a couple of times every series. What a tackling machine. I will be very disappointed if he doesn’t make at least 2nd team all conference. Whitner doesn’t have Guthrie physical gifts. He isn’t the biggest or strongest guy in the world, isn’t a big hitter and doesn’t have awesome speed. But he makes his reads well and I think he is really good defending the pass.
When I heard no Josh Black and no Kendall Coleman (and no Cordy), I was really worried. Wanted to credit Kingsley for continuing his improvement at DE. He has been quietly been making strides at DE but really stepped up yesterday, particularly against the run. It is a shame Black got hurt; he has been playing the best ball of his career and just displaced McKinley Williams as the starting NT. McKinley really stepped up with Black out though.
Robinson had another big game. He has become more than a good pass rusher who can’t defend the run his season. Much more disciplined, noticeably stronger and tougher holding the edge and blowing up running plays. There are some great DEs in the ACC. BC has 2, Clemson has 3 and #99 for Florida State is awesome too. Coleman, when healthy, is damned good too. But Robinson needs to be at least 2nd team all conference. He has become a complete player, a focal point of the defense and has elevated the entire defense with his play.
Chris Slayton doesn’t make many tackles. He doesn’t get many sacks either and most of the time, you can’t even see him in the mass of humanity he works from every play. But he occupies 2 OL just about every play and that gives players like Robinson and Guthrie to shine. I hope he makes all conference. I haven’t said this in a long time but there is no doubt in my mind he will get drafted and play in the NFL. Enjoy him while we still have him.
Thought Trill was terrific except for the foolish late hit. That interception was something AA types do. He shut down his guy much of the game and made some huge hits too. Can defend in space like no one else on the team and is making some good plays defending the run too. I kind of take Fredrick for granted at this point. He is good In man coverage and solid against the run too.
Foster also did a good job taking the BC TEs out of the game. He is tackling much better this season. Probably the biggest hitter on the team. Has the size and speed we need at SS. And Cisco had another good game. He is up there now in Tommy Myers/Markus Paul territory with interceptions now, and keeps getting better defending the run too. I think he is going to be 2nd team all conference as a frosh.
I like Tommy Devito a lot. The guy has a ton of talent and i expect him to win a lot of games during his time at Syracuse. But this is not his time. If there was any doubt who the first team all conference QB was in the ACC this year, that issue was settled on Saturday. Ryan Finley is a fine quarterback and I have a lot of respect for him. He makes good reads and throws it accurately. But Eric does all that plus serves as another RB out of the backfield plus brings a special ability to make a big play out of nothing, often in crucial situations, that makes this offense so hard to defend.
I can’t believe he played. Period. Then he dominates the game and makes play after play where there should have been a sack or an interception or an incomplete pass. Dino likes to say there will be a lot of tall tales told about Eric when he is gone. Yeah. Exactly,
I am really happy these seniors get a chance to see their team get national respect, a place in the top 25, highlights on SportsCenter, enjoy the excitement of bowl talk, get the bling bowl teams get, etc. So good to see the senior roomies Whitner, Guthrie and Dungey go out like this. Richly deserved. But perhaps the guy I am most happy from is Strickland.
He hasn’t enjoyed a ton of success on the field. Even his own fan base has not been very supportive. I am sure he has gotten a ton of crap from RU freaks at home and then there is the whole nightmare he went through in HS. He is having a really good senior season and had a monster game Saturday. Was great to see how hard he ran and how well he did.
What was up with that awful crowd for BC?
That hit #28 made on Stritz was a cheap shot and that thug should have been ejected. Officials are entrusted with the health of the kids playing the game and thry have to make protecting them their top priority. Was also disappointed at the shockingly late whistle when BC had Dungey tied up with 4 guys running him backwards and the incompetent officials were too lazy to blow their whistles. Another cheap shot where the officials were just as responsible as the BC thugs.
Camping Bowl. There should be no debate from anyone. Syracuse is clearly the 2nd best team in the ACC. This is the 2nd best landing spot this year. End of story. NC State, enjoy Charlotte.
Loved Dino’s presser. He is so smart and enjoyable to listen to. It is great to have the most intelligent and articulate coach in the country. I so like being relevant again. Like everyone else, hoping and praying an extension will be forthcoming. This is a major fork in the road for the football program. I don’t expect Syracuse to pay $5 million a year for Dino. If he wants SEC money, he can get to be able to get.it going elsewhere. I hope Dino is not just about money. I hope SU is not just about keeping salaries and spending low. I hope Dino will stay if we complete the Dome reno, give the staff substantial raises and address other infrastructure issues to level the playing field for recruiting. The issue of player housing needs to be addressed. Hoping some big money alums, probably former players, can step up and help here.
This is it. Do we want to be a player in college athletics? The Dome reno is a huge step. We are so close. C’mon Dino. C’mon John. C’mon alums. Let’s make this happen!
