My Take

[sutomcat]

Put a major project on line this weekend, didn't even get to the game until the 2nd quarter, exhausted and about to go to sleep, so this will be short.

We continue to have no offense. Can get 4 or 5 yards pretty consistently on running plays or passing plays but rarely are able to get more than 10 to 15 yard gains. Get a penalty, a sack or lose yardage on a play and we have to punt. The OL rarely gives the QB time to wait for timing patterns to develop and they struggle to open holes as well. Thought I should note that they run blocked better in the 2nd half. I suspect at least some of that is due to the defense focusing on defending the pass since SU fell steadily behind as the game ensued. The QB overthrew open receivers too many times, at least looked panicked and rushed throws at times. I want to credit Any Bailey with a solid game. He ran really hard out there, broke some tackles and clearly played his heart out. There is no margin for error with this offense, at least not against decent defenses. Nothing new there.

Special teams continue to be the weakest area of the team. We struggle to start drives on the 20 yard line. The other team regularly starts at their 40 yard line or better. It is tough to say which is worse, the KOs or the coverage units. Our punts are consistently short and low and our coverage unit almost never gets near the return man. They can't tackle either. Their punts are consistently higher and longer and if we block anyone, we do it illegally. Hard to imagine worse units. And it has been this way all season. This is the kind of performance that gets people fired. Sadly. this performance with the special teams units is also not a new thing.

Our defense looked pretty good early in the season but has fizzled out since then. Even played troubled offensive teams. Yes Bearcats, that means you and the 22 fans you brought to the Dome from Cincy.

Losing P Thomas late has hurt. S Thomas hasn't been himself all season...the early injury has put a damper on his play since he has returned. Maybe he returned too soon? The LBs overrun and miss tackles almost every play and the DL gets blown off the LOS too often.

To my eye, Cincinnati had a major speed advantage. When they got a guy a seam, he was gone. When we got one of our players a seam, he was gone too. For 5 yards. Have to get more speed on the field.

Thought the defense gave up around halftime. Didn't gang tackle, a lot of players went through the motions, too many instances where we had a play blown up for a loss behind the LOS except no one came to help out and the guy got away for a long gain. The offense executed badly and the play calling was not good but they at least tried. The OL played physical in the 2nd half and were not far from pulling off a number of long TD drives.

Maybe 25K in the stands today. They made some noise for a small crowd. Band had 9 tubas and put on a nice Motown influenced halftime show.

The primo where a fat middle aged guy is given a chance to win a car if he can make a 50 yard FG is ridiculous. Run promos where the fan has a chance of being successful...something like this is so far fetched it is just an embarrassing waste of time.

Frustrating team to watch. Frustrating season. I know it might sound crazy but I think the team next year is going to be a lot better. I hope so. This has been ugly to watch. Really ugly.

 

[dash-30-dash]

Cat, what do you see that would lead you to believe next year will be better? I need to hear it.

 

[Toga]

Other than that, they were pretty good.

 

[IHeartSUFball]

i mean since we recruit and get 2 star players they will be sophs and jrs next year so I am assuming that means this is what they are going for the more experience the better team?

 

[Fjoinkay]

Agree with everything, and I believe next year will be better(hopefully a lot better). Next year SU might finally have competition at every position which would be nice. The special teams play is a major disappointment.

 

[Scooch]

Great as always Tom.

I sure hope next year we can be better than being the worst team in the worst BCS conference.

Dare to dream.

 

[cuseclappy]

The primo where a fat middle aged guy is given a chance to win a car if he can make a 50 yard FG is ridiculous. Run promos where the fan has a chance of being successful...something like this is so far fetched it is just an embarrassing waste of time.

worst promo i have seen at any sporting event ever

 

[richard levy]

The difference between last year, this year, and next year is like baseball, strength up the middle. Last year, bigger, stronger, more experienced up the middle, center, DT, middle linebacker. Hopefully, next year that should be improved. The QB and the wide receivers are about the same, and who is the #1 Rb. Still don't have RB's and WR's that can seperate with a burst. Dosen't look like we have them recruited yet, either. Hopefully, they are the unannounced recruits that are allowing Doug to turn away some possible 3/4 star names

 

[OrangePA]

Great as always Tom.

I sure hope next year we can be better than being the worst team in the worst BCS conference.

Dare to dream.

Sorry, but can we stop with the woe is me stuff.

And the worst BCS conference stuff.

These self hating posts are a waste of time.

 

[Stern]

And the worst BCS conference stuff.

Are you claiming the Big East ISN'T the worst BCS conference? I would love to read the support for that stance

 

[44PRIDE]

It's supremely aggravating to see this team go into a hurry-up no huddle offense and rip off 3 plays for 50 yards...

...only to watch them punt after running the ball on three consecutive plays for a total of 7 yards.

 

[OrangePA]

Are you claiming the Big East ISN'T the worst BCS conference? I would love to read the support for that stance

I really don't spend my time contemplating silly talk radio issues like "rate the BCS conferences."

I couldn't care less how or to what extent the BE is rated.

Like it or not, Rutgers, UConn, Pitt, WVU, So. Florida, Cincy et al. are decent college football programs.

They provide decent competition and there is no shame in losing to those kinds of teams.

I have no interest in moaning, and the self-hate.

The fact is that we need better players - it's pretty simple, e.g. we need a punter and KO specialist to start - and we need fans who remain positive and supportive.

And that's what I intend to be.

 

[44PRIDE]

The preseason talk on Nassib was that he had no excuses this year. He has an experienced receiver corps, a relatively stable offensive line, and has a firm understanding of the system. Boy-oh-boy....that worked out really well, didn't it.

The scary thought is that with the loss of senior talent, we could be in a much worse place next year.

 

[NineOneSeven]

That was actually a 57 yard field goal I think. How ridiculous is that? There are maybe 10 people in the Dome tops that would come close.

 

[storange]

I really don't spend my time contemplating silly talk radio issues like "rate the BCS conferences."

I couldn't care less how or to what extent the BE is rated.

Like it or not, Rutgers, UConn, Pitt, WVU, So. Florida, Cincy et al. are decent college football programs.Yea

They provide decent competition and there is no shame in losing to those kinds of teams.

I have no interest in moaning, and the self-hate.

The fact is that we need better players - it's pretty simple, e.g. we need a punter and KO specialist to start - and we need fans who remain positive and supportive.

And that's what I intend to be.

Yea but I think we need fans that bitch, like myself, that will also buy season tickets again next year like I always do

 

[kcsu]

it isnt just the talent coaching has been horrible starting with Doug

 

[Scooch]

Sorry, but can we stop with the woe is me stuff.

And the worst BCS conference stuff.

These self hating posts are a waste of time.

Kumbaya, my friends, kumbaya!

 

[MadNY3]

OPA,

It is OK to allow fellow fans to kvetch and complain when their team melts down to make a promising season turn into an underachieving one. In, yes, a conference that is mediocre.

The better players comment..where are they? Three years in and the former coaches players are dominating the O while the current coaches players are dominating special teams. And both are woefully underachieving. And the discipline on the field - penalties, fumbles, missed assignments - are frustrating from a team that is supposed to be about discipline.

We might need better players. But the current ones need to be lead a lot better.

 

[syr02esq]

Anything will be better than this season.

 

[RF2044]

We continue to have no offense. Can get 4 or 5 yards pretty consistently on running plays or passing plays but rarely are able to get more than 10 to 15 yard gains. Get a penalty, a sack or lose yardage on a play and we have to punt. The OL rarely gives the QB time to wait for timing patterns to develop and they struggle to open holes as well. Thought I should note that they run blocked better in the 2nd half. I suspect at least some of that is due to the defense focusing on defending the pass since SU fell steadily behind as the game ensued. The QB overthrew open receivers too many times, at least looked panicked and rushed throws at times. I want to credit Any Bailey with a solid game. He ran really hard out there, broke some tackles and clearly played his heart out. There is no margin for error with this offense, at least not against decent defenses. Nothing new there.

Didn't you hear, Tom--talent isn't the issue on offense.

 

[Cuse2010]

The difference between last year, this year, and next year is like baseball, strength up the middle. Last year, bigger, stronger, more experienced up the middle, center, DT, middle linebacker. Hopefully, next year that should be improved. The QB and the wide receivers are about the same, and who is the #1 Rb. Still don't have RB's and WR's that can seperate with a burst. Dosen't look like we have them recruited yet, either. Hopefully, they are the unannounced recruits that are allowing Doug to turn away some possible 3/4 star names

Hopefully Gully? He seems to have a great burst...if he can stay away from knives and not break his collar bone

 

[Cuse2010]

That was actually a 57 yard field goal I think. How ridiculous is that? There are maybe 10 people in the Dome tops that would come close.

Okay but how many not playing for 'Cuse or Cincy

 

[44cuse]

Sorry, but can we stop with the woe is me stuff.

And the worst BCS conference stuff.

These self hating posts are a waste of time.

Ahhhhh...SYR is the last place team in the worst conference in the BCS. What issue could you possibly have with that fact?

We suck. Own it.

44cuse

 

[Stern]

I really don't spend my time contemplating silly talk radio issues like "rate the BCS conferences."

I couldn't care less how or to what extent the BE is rated.

Like it or not, Rutgers, UConn, Pitt, WVU, So. Florida, Cincy et al. are decent college football programs.
.

Someone defending the Big East and NOT willing to admit its the worst BCS conference. That's a state of denial that they don't make a pill for!! Now I have read it all on this board. Hell must have frozen over. And its NOT a talk radio debate it is what is behind the whole conference re-shuffling. SU, Pitt, and WV getting out of a terrible football conference that is the worst and dying and getting to more stable ground where you can make more money. To pass it off as its nothing shows you aren't looking at the whole picture and are narrow minded.

And I hate to break it to ya but UCONN, Rutgers, Pitt, USF, and CINCY are ONLY decent in the worst conference in the land. Put them in any real conference and they are all a last place team lucky to have 3 or 4 wins total. These aren't decent programs they are below average programs on the same level as SU with the same talent level as SU...just coached up better!

 

[hoopsupstate]

Where do you see us being better next year? Where do you see 7-8 wins? If we open with the first three teams, we could be 0-3 to start the season and we're done.

at Minnesota
vs. Northwestern
vs. Southern California (at the New Meadowlands Stadium)
at Cincinnati
vs. Connecticut
vs. Louisville
vs. Pittsburgh
at Rutgers
at South Florida
at West Virginia